Bob
30th March 2005, 23:21
Transport for London (TfL) has issued a statement on behalf of Mayor Ken Livingstone refuting claims that bikes and scooters will be subject to congestion charging in the capital.
The statement reads "Both motorcycles and scooters are exempt from the congestion charge as they do not cause congestion. The Mayor wishes to make it crystal clear that he has absolutely no intention whatsoever of making scooters and motorcycles pay congestion charge. Motorbikes and scooters will not be charged. Despite the increase in numbers of motorbikes and scooters in the zone, there continues to be a decline in the number of accidents involving powered two-wheelers since the introduction of the scheme."
The statement is in response to an article in the Evening Standard, claiming the £5 a day fee was being considered as a way of reducing the number of bike accidents.
The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) is not sitting back and accepting Livingstone’s words however, with threats of giant demonstrations along the lines of the 1988 Hyde Park protest against leg protectors.
MAG Director of Public Affairs Trevor Baird said, “The reasoning behind the (TfL) threat smacks of desperation. Confounded by the reality that bike accidents are falling, our critics are now complaining that they’re not falling fast enough; there’s just no pleasing some people.”
MAG is also concerned about other elements of the package of measures suggested by TfL to further reduce motorcycle accidents.
In TfL’s document “London Road Safety Plan”, it advises ‘A scoping study of Intelligent Speed
Adaptation and its potential in London is being undertaken by the University of Leeds ITS group.’ The stated aim is to ‘Investigate the potential benefits of speed adaptation devices and work towards a pilot
trial in London. Explore the scope for fitting speed recording/control devices with MPS, Police, Bus operators, etc.’ – the results of this study are supposed to be made available in April 2005.
The threat here is clear; all vehicles travelling into and out of London could be forced to have ISA control devices fitted, with serious consequences for the motorcyclist. How do you fancy overtaking, only to find another vehicle moving into the line you’re taking… and when you go to accelerate out of trouble, the ISA kicks in and leaves you sitting there helplessly as the other vehicle thunders towards you:? Or you are leaning over in a corner… and ISA kicks in, dropping your revs. With the reduction in revs, you run wide… across the lane… and into the path of another vehicle, thundering towards you…
MAG President Ian Mutch said:- “MAG has worked feverishly in the cause of safety but we will not accept safety at any price. Life is about choices and balancing pleasures and responsibilities but ISA is definitely a step too far.”
For the full list of proposals on the London Road Safety Plan, look at:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/streets/downloads/pdf/london-road-safety-plan-work-in-progress.pdf
The statement reads "Both motorcycles and scooters are exempt from the congestion charge as they do not cause congestion. The Mayor wishes to make it crystal clear that he has absolutely no intention whatsoever of making scooters and motorcycles pay congestion charge. Motorbikes and scooters will not be charged. Despite the increase in numbers of motorbikes and scooters in the zone, there continues to be a decline in the number of accidents involving powered two-wheelers since the introduction of the scheme."
The statement is in response to an article in the Evening Standard, claiming the £5 a day fee was being considered as a way of reducing the number of bike accidents.
The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) is not sitting back and accepting Livingstone’s words however, with threats of giant demonstrations along the lines of the 1988 Hyde Park protest against leg protectors.
MAG Director of Public Affairs Trevor Baird said, “The reasoning behind the (TfL) threat smacks of desperation. Confounded by the reality that bike accidents are falling, our critics are now complaining that they’re not falling fast enough; there’s just no pleasing some people.”
MAG is also concerned about other elements of the package of measures suggested by TfL to further reduce motorcycle accidents.
In TfL’s document “London Road Safety Plan”, it advises ‘A scoping study of Intelligent Speed
Adaptation and its potential in London is being undertaken by the University of Leeds ITS group.’ The stated aim is to ‘Investigate the potential benefits of speed adaptation devices and work towards a pilot
trial in London. Explore the scope for fitting speed recording/control devices with MPS, Police, Bus operators, etc.’ – the results of this study are supposed to be made available in April 2005.
The threat here is clear; all vehicles travelling into and out of London could be forced to have ISA control devices fitted, with serious consequences for the motorcyclist. How do you fancy overtaking, only to find another vehicle moving into the line you’re taking… and when you go to accelerate out of trouble, the ISA kicks in and leaves you sitting there helplessly as the other vehicle thunders towards you:? Or you are leaning over in a corner… and ISA kicks in, dropping your revs. With the reduction in revs, you run wide… across the lane… and into the path of another vehicle, thundering towards you…
MAG President Ian Mutch said:- “MAG has worked feverishly in the cause of safety but we will not accept safety at any price. Life is about choices and balancing pleasures and responsibilities but ISA is definitely a step too far.”
For the full list of proposals on the London Road Safety Plan, look at:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/streets/downloads/pdf/london-road-safety-plan-work-in-progress.pdf