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BMF nonplussed by MEP "ignorance"
Support shown by many members of the European Parliament (MEPs) for strict new restrictions on biker licensing has baffled the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF).
At a recent meeting of the Parliament's Transport and Tourism Committee, MEPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of proposals such as barring access of more powerful bikes to young riders, while rejecting amendments to make these new regulations less stringent.
The BMF believes that the outcome does not now look good for Europe's bikers and has slammed the MEPs who participated for their lack of knowledge about motorcycling and of recent research highlighting its positive aspects.
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Senior government relations executive Trevor Magner lamented: "In spite of the BMF having written to every MEP, there was a display of ignorance about motorcycling that beggars belief.
"No note has been taken of an improving safety record or of the European [Motorcycle Accidents In Depth Study] that proved that the majority of bike accidents are caused by other drivers."
With the EU now looking to turn these propositions into laws over the next five years, Mr Magner opined that the prospects for motorcycling are "dire" and that many people will be deterred from taking up biking because of the new costs and intricacies involved.
His organisation has resigned itself to one more effort at lobbying MEPs to change their minds in support of the Federation of European Motorcyclists Association, which has also expressed incredulity at the result of the recent vote.
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