NMC gears up to fight for biking in new political era
The UK parliament is still in summer recess, and there’s a bit of a ‘Phoney War’ feel to the political scene – not much is happening. But September will see the new Labour government springing into action at Westminster, and the National Motorcyclists Council is getting ready to fight the corner for two wheels.
The NMC has already pointed out that opportunities are being missed, though, with the first King’s Speech of the 21st century offering little for motorcycling. Despite 40 new bills being planned, there’s no specific Transport Bill, which is thought to be the best way to reform areas of concern for motorcycling: road transport strategy, licensing reform, e-scooter legislation, and traffic regulation orders.
The NMC says there will be some minor legislation to deal with anti-social behaviour on illegal off-road bikes in the Crime and Policing Bill and laws on e-bike battery safety in a product safety bill, but little else. The organisation has been in touch with all MPs to highlight where motorcycling organisations need action from the new government. Dialogue has also reopened with departmental officials, and the NMC has also responded to the government’s consultation on granting motorcycles access to bus lanes by default, calling for that to be introduced as soon as possible.
NMC executive director Craig Carey-Clinch said: “The King’s Speech is notable by what it doesn’t say, and it could have gone much further on areas of concern to motorcyclists. The NMC will be taking a close interest in the Home Office Bill relating to anti-social off-road biking to ensure that it only contains measures which will have a genuinely positive impact on this area of concern to communities. But motorcycling is much more about opportunities for society than problems caused by a few, and we will also engage ministers at both the DfT and other departments with our proposals for motorcycling as part of the future of transport.”