EU Regulating Biking – EU Didn’t Listen

Consultation Framework Directive – Anti – Tampering – Europe

3rd May 2010

The European Motorcycle Industry (ACEM) reports it is holding its breath waiting for the European Commission to issue its proposal regarding new type-approval requirements for Powered Two-Wheelers.

Delayed for years, then announced for April, it seems that the publication of this piece of legislation will not see the light before the summer.

Maybe they have gone back to the drawing board – will they have listened – or will they make the proposal even worst!

Right To Ride has been in consultation with the EU Commission regarding proposals for a new framework regulation for motorcycles which seeks to regulate emissions and the safety of motorcycles.

Below you can read in brief our position as we believe that the Framework Directive will affect motorcycling in Northern Ireland regarding motorcyclists and the legal modification of their motorcycles.

We have produced two in – depth documents to date, which aim to provide an analysis and recommendations for the benefit of Northern Ireland motorcyclists, based on the discussions and proposals which have been put forward regarding anti-tampering measures.

Our position is that any anti tampering measures (which are already required on mopeds) should not be extended to all categories of motorcycles, especially because there is no evidence that tampering (in the illegal sense) is a widespread problem.

Furthermore, anti-tampering measures should NOT be extended to any specific category of motorcycle as proposed by the motorcycle industry in Europe – ACEM, which argues that some riders may break their licence requirements.

If this proposal is accepted, it would have the effect to disadvantage higher qualified riders who may, for personal, economic, suitability or disability reasons wish to make a conscience decision to ride a smaller powered or engine capacity motorcycle and who may require to modify their motorcycle.

Right To Ride waits for the European Union (EU) Commission to publish its draft legislation for a new Framework Directive which will possibly see motorcyclists restricted from modifying their bikes and restrictions to 100 bhp as well as imposing mandatory ABS brakes on EU manufacturers.

While we wait to see exactly what new rules and regulations the EU Commission want to impose on motorcycling, unsafe, unregulated and pollutant motorcycle imports from China continue to flood the EU markets that have passed Type Approval and are flouting present regulations.

Perhaps it would be better for our EU civil servants to recognise that the modification of motorcycles using type approved parts is an important and profitable European industry, which does not need restricting through proposed anti-tampering legislation and that over prescriptive regulations should be avoided.

Our position aims to protect the spirit and historic tradition of motorcyclists modifying their motorcycles.

FEMA Comes Out EU Safety

26th July 2010

The Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA) has put out a press release opposing the European Unions (EU) well-intentioned but wrong safety proposals regarding its new Road Safety Action Programme (RSAP) for the upcoming 10 years .

Reiterating what we already stated at Right To Ride (European Commission – Carrot and Stick) on the 22nd July 2010, FEMA has lambasted the European Commission (EC), on certain aspects of its “new focus on motorcyclists”, for relying on unproven and expensive measures for increasing road safety to improve the conditions for powered two-wheelers (PTWs) such as: Mandatory Advanced Braking Systems, Updated Anti-Tampering measures and Extended road worthiness testing (RWT).

Read more

MAG UK Comes Out EU Safety

27th July 2010

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) has put out a press release opposing the European Unions (EU) “well-intentioned but wrong” safety proposals regarding its new Road Safety Action Programme (RSAP) for the upcoming 10 years.

MAG UK has picked up a relevant point regarding the current Road Worthiness Tests, the MoT.

MAG UK says, “Current Road Worthiness Tests (such as the MoT) may be replaced by a new Europe-wide test requiring checks to see that riders only use maintenance and repair parts, luggage, accessories, etc. that are approved by the manufacturer of the original bike or the EU itself.”

Further pointing out that “Such a system would restrict choice and add further costs for the user, even though vehicle defects contribute directly to a very small proportion of crashes.”

Read more

European Commission – Carrot and Stick

22nd July 2010

The European Commission (EC) has announced it is adopting challenging plans to reduce the number of road deaths on Europe’s roads by half in the next 10 years.

The European Commission has given the first public hints on what they are proposing to initiate through “a new focus on motorcyclists”, this focus is linked to the new proposed framework regulation for motorcycles, which seeks to regulate emissions and the safety of motorcycles.

Right To Ride’s, Trevor Baird, says, “We have been in direct contact with the EC (DG Enterprise) regarding the framework regulations and were told that these would be presented in the Autumn. However it appears that the EC (DG MOVE responsible for Road Safety) have slipped in their proposals before any official announcement on the framework regulations, while the EU Parliament is in recess with the rest of Europe on holidays”.

Read more

Regulation Adoption

13th September 2010

Update – The 29th September 2010 is the planned adoption date for –  The proposal and the impact assessment regarding new type-approval requirements for Powered Two-Wheelers – a new framework regulation for motorcycles which seeks to regulate emissions and the safety of motorcycles.

The regulation seems to have sprouted a title – Regulation on approval and market surveillance of L-category vehicles.

After the adoption the proposal and impact assessment will be published on the European Commission – Enterprise and Industry website.

Read more