On the Road Again!

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) attended a motorcycle safety roundtable meeting hosted by Transport for London (TFL) today (13th January 2022). Motorcycle fatalities in London have shown a dramatic and welcome drop in 2021.  The reasons for this drop are still unclear, but MAG will be working with TfL to ensure the good news continues. Provisional figures for motorcycle fatalities in 2021 show a dramatic drop by as much as 60%.  The exact figures are still not finalised, but it is clear that 2021 has been the best year on record for motorcycle fatalities.  This record is despite - or perhaps due to continued increases in motorcycling in London. The full explanation for the reduced figures will be hard to find as many factors could be partially responsible for the figures.  MAG is keen to continue with ongoing work to maintain and improve safety for riders in the capital. The Roundtable event was hosted by TfL and attended by Greater London MAG reps, MAG’s political...

I had a look on the TfL site to check should I wish to ride inside the new to be expanded ring around London. Not being very trusting of the current Mayor and his hangers-on at Tfl,  I wanted to see that Vera wasn't going to get any charges. She's not. I have the original on my phone but this is the slightly redacted version.

Transport for London (TfL) and Greater London MAG met again to formulate  a joint initiative to deliver TfL’s road safety objectives in regard to  motorcyclists. The theme was rider safety and the impact of traffic  management schemes on bikers. In a further sign of the development of an evolving partnership, Cathy  Phillpotts, from Greater London MAG, led a delegation including Lembit  Öpik and Colin Brown at a roundtable meeting with TfL experts to explore  how rider’s safety can be improved in the Capital. This event forms part  of a regular, quarterly arrangement that seeks to secure joint effort on  the comparatively high accident rates in the capital, which both sides  believe can be reduced by intelligent and collective attention to the  factors influencing the accident statistics. Bikers experience high injury rates as a user group in the city.  Locations of particular concern include Hyde Park Corner; the junction  bet...

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has received a belated response from  Transport for London following two formal letters to Mayor Sadiq Khan. Following a review of the response, MAG continues to press for greater clarity and common sense to be applied. MAG wrote formally to Sadiq Khan in March, ahead of the 8th April launch of the Mayor’s ULEZ.  The initial letter requested a delay to Implementation of charges for Powered Two Wheelers (PTWs).  There was no formal response.  MAG  wrote again on 25th April calling for a suspension of charges.  A response was finally received from Alex Williams, Director of City Planning at TfL dated 22nd May 2019.  The six page letter concludes by stating “We cannot therefore meet your request that motorcycles be exempt from ULEZ charges.” Going on to say “I trust this answers all of your queries and I look forward to working with you to prepare motorcyclists for the expansion of the ULEZ in Octobe...

It would seem that the offer from MAG to work with cyclists to head off unnecessary legislation and interference in their "sport" has been met with a rebuff. As two wheelers we have the same sort of problems on the road, not being seen by other road users, road surface conditions etc. But this is their mouthpieces repost: http://www.ctc.org.uk/sites/default/files/file_public/motorbikesbrf.pdf I don't see any evidence or research quoted to substantiate their claim that motorcycles are more of a danger to them than cars. Simply, unsubstantiated bowlocks! As a result I have lodged a Freedom of Infomation with Transport for London to see what stats they hold. Below is my email but first their initial response. ___________________________________ Our Ref:         FOI-0209-1415 Thank you for your e-mail received on 8 May 2014 asking for information about collisions involving cycl...