M4 Bus Lane

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

ooooooooh YEAH! Very Happy

andrew · Mister Road Rage Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

you been smoking again bendy?

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

no, just riding along in it with a smug feeling of superiority Cool

I should probably explain...

the M4 bus lane is now open to motorcycles. it's where the outside lane would be on a normal motorway, but was previously for buses and taxis only. it's always reaaaalllllyyyy empty and cars aren't allowed in. More like this please!

Wingchunal · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Jun 2002 Karma :

WildGoose · White Van Man Joined: 20 Mar 2002 Karma :

you been smoking again Wingchunal? :lol:

curryhead · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 19 Jun 2002 Karma :

i think we all need to smoke now and again although i over did it last night i ended up puking up too much and no nookie. but the m4 bus lane sounds great, shame about the 60 mph speedlimit though
____________________
take it easy, watch out for blind car drivers!

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

speedlimit-schmeedlimit. there's like 1 camera Smile

Korn · Admin Joined: 01 Feb 2002 Karma :

The cameras on the M4 heathrow spur bus lane are the best, front facing - make sure you smile as you ride through them Laughing

Ropehead · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 02 May 2002 Karma :

AHHHHHH so u can get bikes, give em a wave aswell Laughing

Doddmaster · World Chat Champion Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Korn, dont taunt them too much or we will have front number plates again Confused

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

https://www.bmf.co.uk/press/graphics/number-plate.jpg

We’re all quite used to the small number plate debate, but how do you fancy having to have a front plate as well? Yes, after an absence of 17 years, front number plates for bikes could be back, if you see what I mean…

This isn’t an anti-bike thing, more a bringing-into-line-with-all-other-vehicles type thing. Why? Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), that’s why.

You see, in this increasingly monitored world in which we live, it’s now possible to automatically read and record number plates and instantly check if the vehicle is taxed, who it belongs to and of course, if it’s stolen. This is to be done by unmanned video cameras capable of all weather day/night operation linked to a national computer system.

The computer software analyses the picture, usually of the front of the vehicle, searches for the number plate, then checks the registration mark against the database.

Also under development are Electronic Vehicle Identification Systems (EVIS).. These don’t use a camera but use a transponder on the vehicle which transmits your vehicles VIN number, registration mark and details of owner, via road side receivers back to a database. Seems that when George Orwell wrote 1984 he only guessed the half of what Big Brother would get up to, and I don’t mean the ITV parody!

The justification for ANPR it seems, is intelligence gathering at ports (smuggling, illegal immigrants etc) with the automatic tracking of suspect vehicles, local detection of speeding, road tax evasion, MOT evasion, congestion charging and vehicle theft.

EVIS on the other hand is more likely to be used for congestion charging than ANPR, and would be capable of reporting vehicle position in case of breakdown or criminal incident.

Think it’ll never happen? Wrong! Today my local paper reported how successful ANPR had been in catching drive-aways at petrol stations and we now know every UK police force will be equipped with at least two ANPR systems and backup facilities by the end of this year. Funded by the Home Office in response to the New York September 11th attack, they will be used for all forms of intelligence gathering involving vehicle use.

Now you’ll have noticed this refers to all vehicles, so we bikers are not being singled out, but it doesn’t even stop there. Another system under development is Laser, designed to help with the collection of uncollected speeding fines and also detect; no MOT, no VED, unregistered vehicles, altered number plates, no insurance and no driving licence offenders.

By connecting all these various systems up, (along with local CCTV and digital speed cameras), to a central ANPR system, it’ll be possible to ‘follow’ any particular vehicle on any journey within the UK… The mind boggles!

So, any good news? Well, it could reduce vehicle and vehicle related crime…

The ANPR/EVIS system could also assist us in gaining exemption from congestion charging, but the downside could include the expansion of fixed penalty offences and the real possibility of UK wide speed enforcement via average speed between two points.

The BMF have already complained about the massive cut-back in traffic policing and the resultant drop in prosecutions for inconsiderate or dangerous driving, but in short we think we’ll now see a huge increase in ‘black and white’ fixed penalty offences while enforcement of other offences is moved to a backwater.

So where to now? Well the BMF’s policy is clear enough:
‘The BMF will work to ensure that motorcyclists have the liberty to conduct themselves in a reasonable and lawful manner.
We will oppose the imposition of any compulsion, which restricts uniquely the liberty of motorcyclists. There are cases where liberty-infringing compulsion may have to be accepted, but only after full and fair consultation with motorcyclists and with account taken of their views.
Obedience to the rule of law does not imply that the principle of objection to restrictive legislation has been abandoned on that, or any other, issue’.

The problem with this whole monitoring business though is that it’s much bigger than a front number plate issue. We seem to be in an ‘implementation without consultation phase’. No debate has taken place in either House regarding the implementation or use of ANPR systems. It’s also notable that only one other EU country, Holland, is considering introduction.

Sure we will hear of safeguards to be put in place to protect the ‘innocent’ but the temptation to expand it’s use will be extreme. The innocent will have nothing to fear? I’m not so sure about that. Ask your MP.

curryhead · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 19 Jun 2002 Karma :

we have to destroy them and the evil anti-biking nazis
____________________
take it easy, watch out for blind car drivers!

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

There are many laws being introduced that are against road users. I would suggest you join the ABD (https://www.abd.org.uk).

For example they are talking about making you legally liable for the expenses if you run over a pedestrian, irrespective of who was at fault (and a recent government survey found that 84% of pedestrians killed on the road were in accidents that were the pedestrians fault). A pedestrians actions are quite capable of killing a rider, yet the rider is the one that will have to foot the bill (or their insurance company at least). There are around 30 people killed each year in accidents between motorcyclists and pedestrians

All theb est

Keith

Keen · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Apr 2002 Karma :

they should make 'jay walking' an offense over here like in america. That could help.

WildGoose · White Van Man Joined: 20 Mar 2002 Karma :

it should be an offence to make such long posts

/me locks bendy up

Ryan · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 09 Mar 2002 Karma :

Me thinks they won't be using the camaras on the B roads i love to tear up on tho, eh?

P.S. i fitted a blue neon hot wirz kit to my bike that i got from www.performancemotorcycleparts.co.uk it's alright but not as good as the picture shows Mad

. i was hoping for a blue light to just emitt from my bike making it look really cool, the reality is that they ain't that bright and i wasn't able to hide them behind the fairings and insted had to fix them on the lip of them (as best i could), it also expects u to superglue the kit permently to ur bike Confused

which i didn't, and the cable was only long enough to outline the undertray and under the bike Rolling Eyes

Altho it still look really cool when cruising throu town tho Cool

McJamweasel · BCF Junkie Joined: 22 Mar 2002 Karma :

Get some pics up then!!!
____________________
BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

curryhead · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 19 Jun 2002 Karma :

what makes you think that they wont attack B roads. You know what they are like they can already smell the money. and they are supposed to have 220million earmarked for crime sitting in their coffers which they arent spending they could just blow it all on gatsos
____________________
take it easy, watch out for blind car drivers!

Demonic69 · The Pink Rhino Joined: 31 May 2002 Karma :

That EVIS sounds ok but I know we'll all be spied on by sattelites and done for speeding 20 times a week:)
____________________
Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

Ryan · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 09 Mar 2002 Karma :

suppose it will be like enemy of the state, that film with gene hackman and will smith, i'll get some pics today

curryhead · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 19 Jun 2002 Karma :

there is a simple soloution to it all really. move to a nice country like spain or france where petrol is cheap the roads are nicely surfaced the car drivers use their mirros and they wont tut at you for popping a wheelie they will wave! plus the burds are all tanned and gorgeous
____________________
take it easy, watch out for blind car drivers!

Demonic69 · The Pink Rhino Joined: 31 May 2002 Karma :

/me calls easy jet Smile

____________________
Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.