Motorcyclists and Uk roads ?

[new001]

With the accident rate high for motorcyclists in the Uk whats the chance that the Uk government will ban the use altogether of a motorcycle on Uk roads altogether in order to get rid of that nasty statistic ?


I mean If you watch a episode of "traffic cops" or some show that follows a "air ambulance" from call to call for example its pretty much guaranteed to feature some poor bugger smashed up to pieces on a motorcycle in every episode.It seems you can not get away from it.

[Shaane]

Will never happen. Ever. If by any small chance it did, I'd leave the country.
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EMRA Roadstock #92 - Paperwork Permitted.
Previous: 1992 DT125R
Current: ~ 2005 ZX6R C1H

[J.M.]

[yaigi]

Nope, will never happen. Mr Cameron would not want an angry mob of bikers knocking at his door. I agree with the above, if this country got in such a state that they could ban motorbikes for screwing up their statistics, I'd be on the ferry over to Holland in a flash.
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Currently own - Fazer 600, 2000, Red. (But no riding as baby on board atm)

[Shaane]

[sidewinder]

Not a chance.they might limit cc's power etc but a compleat ban nope
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"Nitrous is like a cheap hooker, you want to hit it but are scared of the consequences

[.Chris.]

As above, I doubt it'd ever just be banned outright. Rather it'd be banned by proxy, with solo riding on a CBT being withdrawn, the process of getting a full licence being made (even more) hugely expensive and difficult, mandated protective/high-vis clothing, bikes strangled and made much more costly due to emissions and safety regs, etc.

Whether this will happen, or how quickly, who knows.
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[Dave-the-rave]

If the Government was really interested in preventing 'nasty statistics' they would be banning cars, alcohol, junk food etc.

Of course what all these things have in common is money money money so it's all here to stay.

I don't believe there's any great conspiracy against bikes or bikers. There may be the odd person in charge of some office or administration somewhere who from time to time could be prejudice when agreeing to or responsible for new legislation, but in the main it's probably all geared toward making more money.

Funny thing about power is folks who have it just need to use it. Just because they can. They want to leave their mark so they change things. This is the age of global economies and global enterprise though so those folks have less power now. Ban the bike industry? That would be like inventing peace. Never happen.

However...if there comes a time when oil is becoming scarce enough and alternative fuels have become viable, affordable and profitable, I could envisage the first combustion engines to be outlawed could be in...motorcycles.

[Tungtvann]

If they did, then I wouldn't have to bother paying tax, insurance and MOTs!

[Benno]

I can actually envisage this happening. Similar reasons will be given for helmet/seatbelt laws, and you have to admit the logic behind them is sound. But since when did logic dictate human life?

That logic being - you do/do not do this because to do so/not to do so bears risk we deem unacceptable which will lead to taxpayers having to foot your medical bill. If you ride a motorcycle, there are high chances of you crashing and injuring yourself, and although we have universal healthcare, it is unfair of you to use that healthcare, because we all pay for it you selfish manchild!

The reason alcohol won't go is because of the huge sales tax involved. Motorcycles are a small industry as they go, hence why I believe the risk of banning them definitely exists, though small. Plenty of mums "call" for their banning on the internet, either on mumsnet (the governments "how2govern" website these days) or daily mail comments sections.

Oh, people of Britain, of course you are free! But we are absolutely unwilling to subsidise any amount of freedom!



In the end, in my opinion, it comes down to this. As a country that supposedly supports and triumphs individual freedom, we have to make a decision - how much are we willing to subsidise freedom? How much will we pay in order to be free? Because of course, if you allow people the freedom to not wear a helmet, there will be higher rates of head trauma that our taxpayer funded health system will have to pay for. But this is freedom - are we willing to pay for it?

From a different angle, I contribute to the NHS too you naggy little hockey mum, why am I not entitled to my healthcare just because I do something that you don't like although it doesn't affect you in the slightest?

Democracy sucks donkey balls sometimes.

[J.M.]

[LockyUK]

[Tungtvann]

[thepuma]

What makes me smile is that they force drivers and all passengers in cars to wear seatbelts and make it law (for our own safety of course)....yet motorbikes are allowed with riders on two wheels and totally unstrapped in...so the slightest knock and we are flying through the air hitting anything in our paths.

Strange really.
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YBR125 (SOLD) - CBR250R(SOLD) - CBR650F(SOLD) Current - Street Triple
765 RS

[LockyUK]

I was thinking more about mechanics and shop owners

[Tungtvann]

[Fizzer Thou]

A good biking friend was in a very serious accident recently.Both legs,left arm,pelvis and several ribs broken.Severe lacerations everywhere as well as burnt skin from the vehicle fire.Two fire engines,HEMS helicopter to the Royal London.Traffic delays while plod sorted things out.Two weeks in a top notch hospital and got out two days before Xmas Day.

But he was in a car.If he had been on his bike it may well not have happened.All of those injuries despite seat belts and air bags to his side and in the steering wheel.

So.Ban cars as well because they are a cause of serious injury?

And the statistics say that there are fewer serious/fatal bike accidents in this country than any other in the EU (I read it in MCN as I was waiting for my bike MoT-so it must be true )
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Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'

[map]

IMO not a chance of outright ban.
Too many rely on commuting and it'd be a kick in the teeth to the wheels2work type organisations that support rural people getting to work.

However, as said restrictions on engine capacity/power output linked with age and difficulty getting licence to ride in the first place could be even more stringent than now.

Motorcycle accidents have been with us since the birth of the bike. I think T.E. Lawrence is the most famous early casualty I can recall (aka Lawrence of Arabia, not to be confused with author D.H. Lawrence) and his love of the Brough Superior. No doubt someone will come up with an earlier or more famous example.
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
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[Andy_Pagin]

Not the British way of doing things, they'll just keep making it increasingly difficult to get a licence, to the point where biking is still legal but a licence is impossible to obtain unless you work for the police/army/government, bit like what they did with handgun licensing.
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the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
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[Teflon-Mike]

Strange you should mention that..... I was writing a little Christmas Story the other day...

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=3442736#3442736
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[chris-red]

[Rogerborg]

The UK government won't do it, but they won't have to - Brussels will do it for them eventually.

The Eurocrats hate and despise bikes that aren't sensible and efficient ways to transport worker units to toil pods. It's really just a question of how long BMW et al can keep bribing MEPs, before the joyless Green and Gray lobbies team up to reduce us to 3kW electrovelocipedes.

https://www.velomobile.de/interlj31b.jpg
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[LordShaftesbu...]

[Kradmelder]

I feel sorry for you lot. Your roads are narrow, congested, twisty, and with limited visibility. Then you have the weather further limiting traction and visibility.

It is not an ideal place to be a biker, and just the sheer number of cages increases your risk of bike-cage collision. Your options to go a bit faster and outrun the cages are limited by yet even more cages ahead and poor traction and visibility. And your roads are not really designed for speed anyway.

All you can do is be as aware and flighty as a deer in hunting season and hope to get from A to B. I have seen vids of people who made survival on SA roads on a bike, but survival on british roads must be totally different
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2011 KTM 990 Dakar
2009 BMW 1200 GS

[keggyhander]