Welcome news from the Motorcycle Action Group this month, as the riders’ rights group reports a positive result from a meeting with government and police. This time it was a meeting with a member of the Scottish Parliament, Daniel Johnson, Police Scotland and City of Edinburgh council, which supplied the good news. Police Scotland had previously launched an anti-bike theft campaign over the summer, Operation Soteria, which resulted in 36 arrests and the recovery of 131 motorcycles between June and September.
Daniel Johnson, Labour MSP for the Edinburgh Southern constituency, spoke in favour of more action. “Motorcycle theft and motorcycle-enabled crime is a growing problem in our capital city,” he said. “It’s crucial that we treat this issue seriously and put a coordinated system in place that helps tackle it.”
And councillor Scott Arthur, convener of Edinburgh council’s transport committee, tweeted afterwards about the event. “Many thanks to @djohnsonmsp for hosting a meeting on motorcycle thefts in Edinburgh. I was quite shocked to hear details of some quite brazen thefts of motorcycles in Edinburgh. This has had a huge impact on Edinburgh’s biker community. Given the seriousness of the situation, I was happy to give @MAGUKCentral an assurance that I would request a review of secure motorcycle parking in Edinburgh.”
MAG’s director of campaigns and political engagement, Colin Brown, said: “I was pleased to take part in this important meeting. There was much ground covered and some tangible action points came from the meeting. We know the issue will not be solved easily, but I am glad to report that the need is recognised and the will to get results is there.”
MAG has also recommended a full review of the UK’s motorcycle licencing regime. According to the group, British riders are passing their full bike test later than car drivers – aged 24 compared with 17 – and for every five CBT certificates, only one full licence is issued. The result is a suppression of rider numbers as people move on to cars, and as MAG points out, it’s hard to refute a connection with the higher casualty rates for younger riders as compared with younger drivers.