The Motorcycle Action Group United Kingdom (MAG UK), member of FEMA, has raised major concerns about a new ‘tax on biking’ in London.

An ‘Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ)’ will impose the same daily tax of £12.50 on riders of non-compliant Powered Two Wheelers as car drivers.

Dr Leon Mannings, MAG’s Policy and Campaigns Adviser (see picture), has been in extensive talks with the ULEZ team leaders in Transport for London (TfL). However, and despite explaining that all types of PTW are a vital element in solving London’s congestion and pollution problems, the current plan is to impose new taxes on motorcycles as if journeys by PTWs cause as much pollution as cars or vans that are often stationary in jammed traffic.

‘What the authorities fail to recognise,’ explains Leon, ‘is that taxing motorcycles is counterproductive and in MAG’s view is totally unjustified. As TfL’s own study of PTW emissions in 2011 clearly showed, trips by all types of motorcycle produce far less CO2 and NOx compared to cars when emissions from the same real-time journeys are compared. PTWs do not cause congestion whereas cars and vans do – no matter how energy-efficient they are claimed to be.’

For more information: contact MAG UK at central-office@mag-uk.org

Top picture: Fleetnews