The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) has published a Powered Light Vehicle Manifesto. It aims to give the next government a chance to turbocharge this £7 billion industry.
The motorcycle industry employs over 55,000 people in the UK and with a focus on sustainable, low emission and more efficient ways to travel, now really is the time to accelerate its growth.
MCIA CEO, Tony Campbell said “The Powered Light Vehicle Manifesto presents an unparalleled opportunity for the next government to drive modal shift away from vans and cars, accelerate to net zero, improve road safety, create high-paid manufacturing jobs, and shape the transport network of the future.
As representatives of over 95% of the industry, we remain poised to work with the next government to drive innovation, economic growth, and job creation on top of the 55,000 this sector already sustains. With full & proper implementation, our Manifesto promises to bolster our £7 billion sector for the benefit of all.”
Alternative fuels
Of particular interest to many ScooterLab readers will be point number 1. “Embracing a range of technologies and fuels available to the industry.” It’s good to see a shift away from electric being the answer to everything.
The key points from the manifesto can be seen above
How you can help
The MCIA has published its Manifesto here and there’s a very simple form that you can fill in as either a business or end user of powered two-wheelers. You can send that directly to your local MP directly from the link – don’t worry, you don’t have to manually search for their email address or read loads of boring jargon.
SLUK says
We applaud any incentive designed to promote and increase the use of powered two-wheelers, no matter what type – as long as the playing field is level. Currently, manufacturers and dealers are fighting a losing battle thanks to the unregulated e-scooter market. How can they compete with a cheap mode of transport that requires no safety equipment, no licence requirement, no tax, MOT or insurance? These scooters can be bought on the internet, or from many high street stores, places like Halfords and Currys, for as little as £299 by a person of any age.
They may be illegal to ride but nothing is being done to stop their use.
Many locals were happy when the trial of Wind e-scooters was cut short in Nottingham. The company behind them went bust in December 2023. Parked alongside one is a road legal Silence S-01.
Time bomb
The explosion of illegal/unlicensed electric scooters on Britain’s roads may well fit in with the net zero rhetoric amongst the powers that be but that whole sector needs looking at quickly. It’s illegal to ride them on roads or pavements (except for the regulated and licenced hire scooters found in many cities) but thousands and thousands are still being ridden – often with young, inexperienced people holding the handlebars.
Aside from the cities trailing rental e-scooters, they may well be illegal to ride but the police haven’t got time or inclination to deal with offenders on an individual basis and as a result, very few riders are stopped, or e-scooters seized. That needs to change.
People are dying on a regular basis and as their use becomes the norm the death rate will keep on rising. The Parliamentary Advisory Council For Transport Safety (PACTS) has shown 39 e-scooter deaths since the first one was recorded in 2019. Those figures include three in 2020 (remember it was lockdown though), 13 in 2021, 14 in 2022, six in 2023 and two so far in 2024 (that figure is slightly behind though). In my local city, Nottingham, there have been two deaths since April. The latest one isn’t included in the figures yet. It happened just last week when a 40-year-old man died. Helmetless Mohit Singraur suffered a fatal head injury after falling from his privately owned e-scooter – no other vehicles were involved. Mohit was on the way to collect his 10-year-old son from school at the time of the accident
Helmet use?
The government website advises “You should wear a cycle helmet when using an e-scooter. Helmets are recommended but are not a legal requirement.”
There is currently no legislation to make helmet use compulsory on these machines.
We think legislation should be made to bring things into line with the European moped market. Let’s allow 14-year-olds on to mopeds or e-scooters with the correct training, safety equipment and insurance. It’ll benefit the bike industry and help to improve road safety.
There should be a massive clampdown on the use of unlicensed scooters. The law can currently give penalty points for riding one illegally and ban intoxicated riders – let’s use it.
