Hundreds of riders from the UK converged on the heart of Brussels on
Saturday 1st October to demonstrate against the effects that proposals
contained in the Third EC Driving Licence would have on limiting access to
motorcycles to young and new riders.
The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK), British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF)
and Motor Cycle News led demonstration was supplemented by riders from MAG
Netherlands and supported by MAG Ireland.
The demonstration focussed on calling for the draconian and premature
legislation contained in the motorcycle part of the Licence Directive to be
removed and to be discussed fully in open forum with the Motorcycle
Community in Europe.
The proposals if agreed come before even the Second EC Driving Licence
Directive has been completed and has ignored European motorcycle in-depth
accident studies which found that experience gained through riding was a key
factor and not the age of access.
MAG and the BMF have lobbied UK MEPs over the past months on the issue and
have received varied responses from complete support to indifference from
riders' political representatives in Europe.
MAG President, Ian Mutch, says, "In gauging public concern on an issue
politicians interpret every letter as reflecting the views of at least a
hundred voters. For every voter who gets on a motorcycle and rides several
100 miles at great expense to make a point, the factor applied is nearer
1000. Every one who made the run to Brussels should give themselves a king
size pat on the back for voting in the most empathic way for the defence of
motorcycling."
While we continue with direct action and putting pressure on the UK
Government, the Motorcycle Community in Europe consisting of the Federation
of European Motorcyclists Federations (FEMA) ACEM, the motorcycle industry
in Europe and FIM, the sport federation continues its concerted efforts
within the European Institutions to belay the Licence Directives
counterproductive and contradictory proposals on training, testing and age
access.
