London – Since we published the details contained in the results of the – Who Rides London? – survey we haven’t published many updates on the plans from Transport for London (Tfl) to introduce a ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) in the city where certain motorcycles (Powered Two Wheelers – PTWs) are to be charged £12.50 per day, the same as all other vehicles that do not meet the emissions target set by TfL.
The survey was a study to identify specific issues relating to PTWs which fall within the Euro 3 emission standards (PTWs manufactured from 2007 onwards) or pre-Euro 3 emission standards (PTWs manufactured prior to 2007) which would thus incur this planned £12.50 charge.
The ultimate figurehead person in “charge” of the ULEZ is London Mayor Sadiq Khan and the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) in the UK have been focussing most of their attention on the Mayor to try to change his mind.
A face to face meeting with the Mayor was achieved on 27th November 2018. MAG say that the result of the exchange gives room for optimism amongst the motorcycling community.
MAG in some more detail commented that, “The meeting was the result of months of lobbying, and the hugely helpful intervention of Greater London Authority Assembly Member Keith Prince AM, who secured and attended the meeting. Lembit Öpik and Colin Brown from MAG’s Political Unit were also present.”
Run-up To The Meeting
In April of this year Tim Fawthrop, MAG’s London Regional Representative, said, “For the last two years we have been trying to get the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to uphold his pre-election promises and meet with us but he will not engage in meaningful dialogue”. after this meeting with the Mayor, MAG’s Regional Rep, Tim Fawthrop stated, “It’s been a long time coming, but it was worth the wait.“
Along with lobbying, MAG also held at least one demonstration in April 2018 entitling the demo – “Campaigners Vow To Shut Down Central London In Fight Against Pollution And Road Deaths.” as they saw a lack of action in respect of rising motorcyclist deaths and against what they considered, the unfair Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) tax which according to MAG, looks set to make pollution worse
Briefing before the demo MAG stated that, “Thousands of motorcyclists will descend on Westminster and then rally near the Mayor’s Office, where they will be addressed by supporters, including Peter Ramsbottom (Labour) and Keith Prince Greater London Authority Assembly Member AM (Conservative). Liberal Democrats declined the invitation to send a speaker. Mayor Sadiq Khan also turned down the invitation.”
Mr Prince added, “It could also expose the Mayor and TfL to the possibility of legal action on the basis of discrimination, as he’s disadvantaging the least wealthy in London’s workforce on the basis of an illogical and punitive charge on small motorcycles”.
After the demo on the 24th April, MAG stated that it, “Drew support from all elements of the riding community including dispatch riders, delivery riders, commuters and leisure bikers.”
Colin Brown, MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, said of the event, “This was a peaceful, good natured demonstration but there is real anger amongst bikers who don’t understand how the Mayor can think it’s fair to charge riders of old mopeds £12.50 a day to enter the city, while someone with a six-litre sports car gets in for free, as far as the pollution tax is concerned, if it’s a new vehicle. We believe we have a strong legal case based on discrimination. We hope it doesn’t come to that but if the Mayor is willing to damage his own reputation to defend a tax on the poor, then MAG will take him on, all the way to court if necessary.”
MAG’s President, Ian Mutch, summed up the campaigning commitment of MAG, “The Mayor really does need to think about motorcycling because he made many promises to us before being elected. Now we invite him to talk directly with MAG. Currently, his policies on motorcycling are counterproductive: they ignore the benefits that motorcycles of all kinds bring to the commuting mix.”
In June 2018 MAG thanked Greater London Authority Assembly Member Keith Prince AM for securing a landmark meeting with London Mayor Sadiq Khan, to discuss motorcycle safety, environmental charging and crime issues after his contributions at Mayor’s Question Time.
Riders from MAG on the day of this meeting had held up signs outside London’s City Hall on Thursday 21st June with words echoing the film‘Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri.’ The billboards said, ‘70+ DeadBikers’ ‘And Still No Investment?’ ‘How Come, Mayor Khan?’ although the text is a cut and chop from the campaign text used by Grenfell Towers activists demanding justice following the Grenfell Tower fire.
After this June meeting Keith Prince said, “I’ve now spoken with the Mayor and his staff and this meeting will go ahead. We just need to approach it with logic and evidence and seek to ensure the Mayor can see the benefits of a positive approach towards riding. I think he’ll do that if we ourselves show a cooperative attitude.”
Good News Meeting 27th November, 2018
At this latest meeting on 27th November, 2018, Tim Fawthrop, MAG’s London Regional Representative said, “We covered two items. One was bus lanes and the other was the threat to charge bikers in the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ Charge) if their motorbikes are beyond a certain age. MAG argues that this is unfair because bikes reduce congestion and pollution and make no measurable contribution to London’s emissions. I suggested that we should find a way to exempt those bikes that can be shown to have very low emissions, and the Mayor agreed to allow us to explore this further with his staff, which is a good outcome.”
MAG says that the discussion on bus lanes was even more encouraging, stating that Keith Prince, who organised the meeting, said, “Mr Khan agreed that motorcycles should be allowed into bus lanes. He assured us that all the so-called Red Routes in London, which are directly under TfL’s control, would remain open to bikes. He also said he’ll work with MAG to encourage the London Boroughs to open their routes up too. I’m glad to see the Mayor honour the promise he made on this matter.”
Lembit Opik, MAG’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, said, “It’s a credit to the Mayor that the meeting was not just a box-ticking exercise, but a real chance to talk about our ideas and suggestions. It leaves me optimistic about Mr Khan’s attitude towards biking now, and I’m happy to say so.”
Next stage was for MAG to meet the relevant officers to explore the best way to progress both matters which regarding the ULEZ we assume to find a way to exempt those bikes that can be shown to have very low emissions.
Finding Lower Emissions
Both the London campaign group – We Ride London – and the motorcycle blog – Biker & Bike – have published ways to find out if your motorcycle is exempt even though it may have been made before the cut of pre-Euro3 emission standards.
Biker & Bike says that it is a loophole in the ULEZ requirements, which came to light after the Motorcycle Action Group met with London Mayor Sadiq Khan and pushed for the concession.
They state that, “Motorcycles that emit lower emissions than the Euro 3 standard can avoid the charges if their owners provide Transport for London (TfL) with proof of the bike’s emissions.
The critical measure is the vehicle’s Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) value, which must be equal to, or less than, 0.15 grams per kilometre. If your vehicle’s emissions are lower than this limit, TfL will exempt your vehicle from paying the charge.”
Biker & Bike state that they approached TfL for confirmation and received a letter of confirmation.
On the We Ride London Facebook page say that the process they have an example of how one of their members went through the process on an older bike to see if it was Euro-3 compliant.
“ULEZ has accepted the documentation and my bike is now ULEZ exempt! The NOx figure is what TFL care about and the 1200GS has a figure of 0.038whereas the maximum allowed is 0.15 (EURO3 standard) so it is way under.
Process for 1200GS
You will need the homologation paper for your bike, it is based on the VIN number I am afraid. I got mine from BMW homologation department (emaileccoc@bmw.co.uk) after sending through a copy of my V5, filling in a form and paying £120.00. If you email them will send you the form you need to complete.
Once you have the homologation certificate you send that along with a copy of the V5 to TFL (there is a link on their website for applying for exemption) and you should receive notification in a few days.
If you have a friendly BMW dealer try ask them for the homologation papers, it may save you £120.00!
Other < 2006 bikes
What I did is contact eccoc@bmw.co.uk for the emission figures for thebike in question.
You should get a table with the emission figures, the important one is the NOx. If the NOx is under 0.15 then you need to decide if you want to pay the £120.00 for the homologation papers.
TFL require the homologation papers to grant you exemption.” This may also work with other manufacturers.”
Biker & Bike go through the process step by step:
If your V5C states the NOx value and it is lower than 0.15 (g/km):
You may already be exempt. First check your registration number with the ULEZ vehicle checker: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/vrm-checker-ulez
It may show as not being exempt,but this is because TfL’s database might not have been updated yet. If it is exempt you do not need to do anything else – you won’t be charged.
If the database shows you are not exempt but your V5C (vehicle registration document) states the NOx value is lower than 0.15 (G/km), complete an online enquiry form and upload your proof at https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone
If the NOx value on your V5C is higher than 0.15 (g/km) you are exceeding the limit required by ULEZ, so you won’t qualify for an exemption.
If your V5C does not state the NOx value:
You will need to contact your bike’s manufacturer and request a Vehicle Conformity Certificate. They may be able to tell you the NOx value over the phone or via email but they may not beset up for a flood of enquiries so give them time to respond. Once you have the certificate and it definitely confirms your NOx value is lower than 0.15 (g/km) you need to complete an online enquiry form and upload your proof at https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone
If your NOx value is higher than0.15 (g/km) you are exceeding the limit required by ULEZ, so you won’t qualify for an exemption.
Although some manufacturers would charge for a Certificate of Conformity others may not. As Biker& Bike say, “We don’t know how many bikes this will apply to and it may not be many at all, but it’s worth a try if you can’t afford to either change your bike or pay £12.50 every day.”
Concession
While this all good movement on getting this concession and using a compromise to get pre Euro-3 if they meet the low emissions figures for no charge in the ULEZ, the “poorer” rider those on low wages or as MAG says those that ride older bikes which, by TfL’s own figures, produce almost no pollution at all, and are essential transport for the least wealthy who depend on them to get to low-paid jobs, maybe including at City Hall to clean the Mayor’s bins.
A lot has been made of the poorer rider with Keith Prince as a conservative who appears to the main “politician” behind MAGs push against the Labour Lord Mayor who said earlier in the year, “I am disappointed that the Mayor of London has chosen to punish the most vulnerable with his ULEZ tax by again not keeping his promise to work with the motorcycling community. Ironically as a socialist, he is taxing the least well off; the low-paid essential workers and night workers who need their small-capacity bikes to get to work and cannot afford to replace them.”
As MAG highlighted separately in its activists newsletter – Network – “He (Sadiq Khan) agreed to allow us to explore the possibility of a tailored solution which will exclude a large proportion of motorcycles currently facing the charge. The outcome isn‘t perfect from a biking perspective, as some older bikes may still fall foul of the charging regime.”
We can only hope that the compromise solution for these riders riding much older bikers e.g. Euro2 – Euro 1 – pre emission standard motorcycles and mopeds – is workable. A better route, if not already been pushed would be for smaller capacity machines– up to 125 cc – if indeed that is the bike or moped that is being mainly ridden would be exempt from Euro 1 emission standards (1999) or at least exempt between certain hours.
There is already a precedent in that a bike/vehicle over 40 years old qualify for emission exemption automatically if the rider has applied for the Historic Vehicle Taxation Class. TfL state, “Assuming the rules stay the same, when the ULEZ launches in April 2019, vehicles built before 1979 will be eligible to apply for historic vehicle tax class. This date moves forward on a 40-year rolling system”
Maybe there is something more to come as MAG holds future meetings.
Original Sources – Motorcycle Action Group – MAG meets Mayor Khan: and it’s good news – Biker& Bike – Loophole means older motorbikes may still qualify for ULEZ exemption – We Ride London – Euro 3 Compliance Info – Facebook – Motorcycle Action Group – Campaigners Vow To Shut Down Central London In Fight Against Pollution And Road Deaths – Motorcycle Action Group – Riders call for common sense regarding crime and congestion – Motorcycle Action Group – ‘Billboards Outside City Hall’ secure a meeting with the Mayor
Motorcycle Minds –Who Rides London? – Articles on Emissions and London
RevelatorAlf – London Motorcycle Congestion Charge ULEZ 2019 (Things you need to know)
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