United Kingdom – What could be simpler than when your motorcycle requires fuel to pull onto a garage forecourt and fill your bike with petrol and go and pay for your fuel and then be on your way? Well one would think that would be a simple act however as far back as we can remember – at least ten years – this simple act has and continues to cause a rash of social media opinion, consternation and unfortunately a whiff of bigotry, the call of “biker” discrimination hits social media like an itch that needs scratched on a regular basis. From garage rules on the ground to … [Read more...]
Australian – Sikh Helmet Exemption
Australia – A group of motorcyclists in the Australian state of New South Wales are seeking an exemption from the mandatory wearing of motorcycle crash helmets. The group who are Sikh motorcyclists are asking for the exemption in the helmet wearing law that states: The rider of a motorcycle must wear an approved motorcycle helmet securely fitted and fastened on the rider's head. The rider of a motorcycle must not ride with a passenger unless the passenger is wearing an approved motorcycle helmet. From various reports – ABC News – Daily Mail – Motorbike … [Read more...]
The Dutch Reach
United Kingdom - Cycling UK, a charity originally founded in 1878 as the Bicycle Touring Club and subsequently re-named the Cyclists' Touring Club, who represent cyclists issues and the promotion of cycling, wants people to be trained to open their doors with their far hands to avoid “car-dooring” riders. Cycling UK says that it has written to the transport minister Jesse Norman calling for all car occupants – not just drivers – to be reminded of the importance of looking before opening their door and to be taught “the Dutch Reach” method. They believe that this … [Read more...]
Sharpen Up With Bikesafe 2017
United Kingdom - We have always been a supporter of the police run BikeSafe initiative since its current inception in 1997 in Yorkshire, in our various guises of involvement in motorcycling "issues". Why would we be any different at Motorcycle Minds? Although BikeSafe is prevalent across the UK in different Police forces, BikeSafe has over the last few years, gathered those police forces and served up one massive festival of biking, which attracted 5000 people at the Rockingham race circuit in Corby. The heart of this year's event is to showcase the freedom and … [Read more...]
Buddhism and Safety II
Thailand – Our thanks to Carol at Thai Safe Rider for letting us post this article that looks at road safety and motorcycle training in Asia, specifically in Thailand, from a differing point of view. The approach looks at philosophy in order to work with Asian cultural beliefs to be applied to improve the road safety situation, other than current suggested approaches, to achieve far greater results. Buddhism and Safety II - Road safety across much of Asia is based on compliance approaches that do little to understand the core beliefs and cultural challenges found on … [Read more...]
2017 FIM Awards
Global - 2017 FIM Awards - Help the FIM find the winners - The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme is pleased to call for nominations for its annual FIM Awards to recognise and show its appreciation for those who have significantly contributed in different fields of motorcycling. Of greater interest to us at Motorcycle Minds is the FIM award for Road Safety which we followed closely last year. Our favourite nomination then, although not the 2016 winner was SKIDBIKE a technological and practical motorcycling training aid – described as a “Disruptive Training … [Read more...]
FEMA – European Commission – Safety
Europe - The Federation Of European Motorcyclists' Associations (FEMA) reports that it has had talks with the European Commission about motorcyclists’ safety. The organisation states that Wim Taal and Dolf Willigers visited Fotini Ioannidou, the newly appointed Head of Unit Road Safety of DG MOVE. FEMA explains that, "DG MOVE is the Directorate General of the European Commission responsible for EU policy on mobility and transport." The rest of the report comments, "FEMA wanted to talk to Ms. Ioannidou and her colleague Attila Eordogh about safe roads for … [Read more...]
