Like the Motorcycle Action Group, the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) has been taking government to task on two important areas for biking – one global, the other more local. The global story is, of course, the push to phase out petrol-powered machinery in favour of battery powered electric bikes as part of the drive to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, that is pushing up global temperatures. On a more prosaic level, the NMC continues to heap pressure on Hackney Council following its outlandish bike parking charges scheme, which the NMC has dubbed a ‘Poverty Tax’ on poorer bike riders.
Decarbonisation
On decarbonisation, the NMC points to EU rule changes which aim to phase out most internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035 in favour of battery power, while also reaching an agreement with Germany on a new category of machine which run on ‘e-fuels’. These will be produced in a carbon-neutral manner, and could include hydrogen, bio-fuels like ethanol, or even proposed synthetic liquid hydrocarbons produced from atmospheric CO2 and water.
The agreement looks like it might be a bit of a fudge, aimed at placating the car manufacturers. But the NMC says it reinforces the case for ‘technological neutrality’ when it comes to decarbonisation. Put simply, the UK government hasn’t included this alternative approach of allowing e-fuel use in its plans – and the NMC reckons it should, particularly for motorcycles, where practical battery-powered equivalents to the likes of a BMW R1250 GS or Honda Fireblade don’t exist (or seem likely any time soon).
NMC executive director Craig Carey-Clinch said: “The compromise on e-fuels reached in Brussels is technically complex, so it will be some time before we see how this translates into new vehicle developments, but the key point is that the case for e-fuels is now mainstream and will ‘fuel’ development in this fledgling sector. The government clearly has much to think about when it comes to the current proposals for 2030 for cars, but it does now have the opportunity to make the right proposals for motorcycling, which makes space for all net zero technologies, not just battery electric.”
On the Hackney parking front, the matter is much less complex: the council is introducing massively expensive parking charges for bikes that the NMC says could add up to £2300 per annum for a commuter. And it’s ploughing ahead with its scheme despite extensive opposition from local campaigners and even a pledge of the Hackney mayor to look again after accepting that PTW use was a positive method of commuting.
A spokesperson for grassroots organisation Save London Motorcycling, said: “The charges are unaffordable and disproportionate, pushing thousands of riders in low paid work into transport poverty, and out of work in Hackney altogether. This is an inexcusable approach from a council that claims to care about workers’ rights and welfare”.
Craig Carey-Clinch added: “We are alarmed by the apparent bad faith demonstrated by Hackney Council officers on this issue and urge Cabinet to reject the report and instruct officers to engage motorcycling organisations in a meaningful way to develop sensible and fair proposals for motorcycle parking policy.”
www.uknmc.org