do you think car drivers should be able to ride bikes up to 125cc?

The current focus of the European mobility strategies is on public transport, cycling and walking. However, public transport will never reach everywhere in urban areas and cycling and walking are only possible for limited distances. There will always be a need for individual motorised personal transport. FEMA (the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations) foresees a growing role for powered two-wheelers, especially motorcycles, instead of cars.

In some European countries, car licence holders (B licence) are allowed to ride an A1 motorcycle, that is a motorcycle up to 125cc.

FEMA would like to know how you – the European motorcyclists – feel about this subject and has produced an online questionnaire.

Background
A1 motorcycles are bikes with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 125 cubic centimetres (7.6 cu in) and a power not exceeding 11 kilowatts (15 hp); and motor tricycles with a power not exceeding 15 kilowatts (20 hp).

An A1 licence can (in most countries) be obtained from the age of 16 years (17 years in the UK, 18 years in Denmark, Greece, Belgium and the Netherlands).

B licence holders in the following countries are allowed to drive A1 motorcycles within their own country:
– Czech Republic (only motorcycles with automatic transmission)
– Italy (after a training of 10 hours)
– Latvia (after a training of 10 hours)
– Malta (after a training of 10 hours)
– Slovakia (after two years and only motorcycles with automatic transmission)
– Spain (after three years)
– Poland (after three years)
– Portugal (at least 25 years old or additional licence for mopeds)
– Belgium (only with a Belgian Driving Licence, after two years)
– Austria (after five years, training of 6 hours)
– France (after two years, a training of 7 hours)
– Luxembourg (after two years, training of 7 hours)
 

Source: Wikipedia

In the UK, the rules are as follows:

Car driving test passed before 1 February 2001

You do not need to take compulsory basic training (CBT) to ride a moped if you passed your car driving test before 1 February 2001. You’ll still need to complete CBT to ride a motorbike, however.

Car driving test passed on or after 1 February 2001

You need to take CBT to ride a moped if you passed your car driving test on or after 1 February 2001.

However, you will not need to take further theory and practical tests or take CBT again.