United Kingdom - The Land Access and Recreation Association, the National Motorcyclists Council and global adventure traveller Charley Boorman have joined forces to call on motorcycle riders and drivers to oppose moves to ban motorised vehicles from unsealed and minor tarmac roads as they warn of a - Clear and Present Danger to Motoring and Motorcycling on Rural Roads Here in Portugal, where we are based, there is a freedom with little restriction to ride on unsealed and minor tarmac roads, most of these being gravel tracks of differing difficulties. In fact these … [Read more...]
Issues Of Concern To Motorcyclists
United States - Washington, D.C. - House Introduces Motorcycle Advisory Council Reauthorization Act - Following on from our latest story from the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) regarding “Highly Automated Vehicles” and their reaction, the MRF have reported on a success that ensures national motorcycle organisation have regained seats on the Motorcycle Advisory Council (MAC). Originally the re-established MAC only included one seat for a representative of a national motorcycle organization. The MRF say that, “Along with our partners ABATE of Wisconsin, ABATE of … [Read more...]
Thank You MEHRSi
Germany – For us at Motorcycle Minds one of the pieces or systems of road infrastructure that we have reported on and have been involved from a rider’s perspective are Vehicle Restraint Systems – Crash Barriers – in all their forms and in solutions to protect riders with the installation of Motorcycle Protection Systems (MPS) to original barrier systems. Over the years we have seen road infrastructure authorities struggle to accept the “danger” that road side and central reservation barriers present to riders including their placement and types of barrier systems. This … [Read more...]
Conference – Safer Crash Barriers
Italy - It has been some time since we have attended any motorcycle conference or been “out” in the world of motorcycle events about research and riders’ issues. It is a world that is populated by those through their specialised fields and riders’ representation that are steering the issues riders face as well as those along for the ride who fund and plan what issues are important to make for safer motorcycling. Elaine from Motorcycle Minds is currently very active, researching the Dynamics of Motorcycle Crashes as part of a team conducting a rider’s survey/study … [Read more...]
NABD On The Highways
England - Last year Rick Hulse the Chairman of National Association for Bikers (NABD) wrote an article published in the bike magazine Back Street Heroes regarding his participation in the Highways England Motorcycle Safety Working Group. As Rick explains, “Just occasionally I have been involved in consultative committees or working groups that have actually made a positive difference for motorcyclists with disabilities and in some cases for motorcyclists in general but these have been few and far between.” Ricks initial thought was, “I’ll go along to the first meeting … [Read more...]
Infrastructure – Beat Of The Same Drum
Europe - A safe infrastructure for motorcyclists’ campaign has been launched in the European Parliament by the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA) and the European Union Road Federation (ERF). The campaign ‘Road Infrastructure Safety – The Motorcyclists’ Vision” was launched on Wednesday 26th September during an event in the European Parliament, hosted by motorcycling MEP Wim van de Camp. Based around a previously published joint position paper from FEMA and ERF - ‘Improving infrastructure safety for powered two-wheelers’ both the ERF and FEMA … [Read more...]
Motorcycle Diaries
Motorcycle Diaries: it’s all about discovery – With motorcycling there are always places to go and people to see whether that is a planned trip or just a journey to follow your nose. However sometimes we might just need a little help. Step forward Motorcycle Diaries where riders can discover the best European motorcycling roads and share and discover the riding gems and POI’s (Points Of Interest) of fellow riders. The Motorcycle Diaries idea goes back to 2008 and is based on two fundamentals - as they explain: “Firstly, our job: photo and video productions for … [Read more...]
