Government statistics show that mopeds and scooters are at much higher risk of theft than large capacity motorcycles. Acumen, the UK's only independent manufacturer of electronic security for 2-wheelers, is asking scooter riders to help develop new anti-theft devices by taking a couple of minutes to answer some quick questions. You won't need to give any contact details so you won't receive any junk mail as a result of participating, but you might just help to reduce scooter theft!
Click Here to take survey
Thursday 12 March 2009
Wednesday 4 March 2009
Get thee behind me
Amidst all of the fuss in the media over the motorcyclist who was jailed for riding at 122mph with his 14-year old son riding pillion there has been much talk with scant regard for the facts. On BBC Radio 2’s flagship Jeremy Vine programme on Monday 2nd March listeners were invited to discuss whether children should be allowed to ride on the back of motorcycles. The fact that the 14-year old in question had emerged unscathed seemed to have eluded many contributors.
So just how dangerous is it for children to ride pillion? FACT. Children under 16 accounted for less than one percent of motorcycle KSI [killed or seriously injured] casualties in 2007. The overall road traffic picture is similar; 1.5% of all children killed or seriously injured on our roads in the same year were riding motorcycles (DfT). To put that in context, child pedestrians were 67% of the total child KSI victims on UK roads.
According the mortality statistics, which make depressing reading, especially where children are concerned, pedestrians constituted 46% of road fatalities, followed by car occupants (30%) and cyclists (11%). Fewer children died riding motorcycles in 2005 than on watercraft and riding on agricultural machinery (DH4 No.30).
Government encourages us to walk and cycle and school children are rewarded for using healthy transport. However, parents should be far more concerned about the dangers their children face crossing the road or riding their bicycles than about the occasional trip on the back of a motorcycle.
So just how dangerous is it for children to ride pillion? FACT. Children under 16 accounted for less than one percent of motorcycle KSI [killed or seriously injured] casualties in 2007. The overall road traffic picture is similar; 1.5% of all children killed or seriously injured on our roads in the same year were riding motorcycles (DfT). To put that in context, child pedestrians were 67% of the total child KSI victims on UK roads.
According the mortality statistics, which make depressing reading, especially where children are concerned, pedestrians constituted 46% of road fatalities, followed by car occupants (30%) and cyclists (11%). Fewer children died riding motorcycles in 2005 than on watercraft and riding on agricultural machinery (DH4 No.30).
Government encourages us to walk and cycle and school children are rewarded for using healthy transport. However, parents should be far more concerned about the dangers their children face crossing the road or riding their bicycles than about the occasional trip on the back of a motorcycle.
Sunday 1 March 2009
Right van man launches but motorcycle industry fails to get on its bike
The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCI) states on its website that one of it three aims is "developing a position of strength derived from consumer and government demands for reduced emissions, congestion and costs". However, search their website and you'll find precious little information about the environment. This is a serious omission because (a) the industry claims environmental benefits for bikes and (b) anti-motorcycle groups (like the London Cycling Campaign and some local councils) attack motorcycling as damaging to the environment. Which is precisely why TWB published "How green s my machine" in December 2008.
The automotive industry has graped the significance of green credentials. On 26 February the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) launched a new guide - Right Van Man - which aims to give individual van buyers and drivers top tips on van choice and use to help cut running costs and CO2 emissions from light commercial vehicles. This is claimed to be the first stage in increasing public awareness on the issues that affect van CO2 emissions. Produced jointly with the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) and the Department for Transport, Environment this campaign is effectively endorsed by the Government. That's a result.
The motorcycle industry (as represented by the MCI) needs to act quickly to demonstrate its green credentials otherwise the only green motorcycles will be the lime green Kawasaki racing machines!
The automotive industry has graped the significance of green credentials. On 26 February the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) launched a new guide - Right Van Man - which aims to give individual van buyers and drivers top tips on van choice and use to help cut running costs and CO2 emissions from light commercial vehicles. This is claimed to be the first stage in increasing public awareness on the issues that affect van CO2 emissions. Produced jointly with the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) and the Department for Transport, Environment this campaign is effectively endorsed by the Government. That's a result.
The motorcycle industry (as represented by the MCI) needs to act quickly to demonstrate its green credentials otherwise the only green motorcycles will be the lime green Kawasaki racing machines!
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