Can the French stop mandatory motorcycle inspections?

French motorcyclist’ associations met with the minister of transport to discuss the threat of mandatory technical inspections that was recently blocked by president Macron. The lobby continues. At the invitation of the minister of transport, Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, a meeting was held last Friday 3 September with Sébastien Poirier, president of the

FEM’s first General Secretary Frank Pearson passed away at 71

On behalf of his family, it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Frank Pearson (aka Fat Frank). A passionate advocate for riders rights in the 80s and 90s, he was an active MAG member in Cumbria (UK), an honorary Sydenham MAG member and the first General Secretary

Finland is not introducing periodic motorcycle inspections

Finnish motorcyclists will not be confronted  with a periodic motorcycle inspection, thanks to a national government that understands that mandatory inspections will not necessarily improve motorcyclists' safety. Most European countries have a mandatory periodical technical inspection (PTI) for motorcycles, some are going to introduce it in 2022. PTI for all motor

France’s president Macron: ‘no technical motorcycle inspections now’

French president Macron postponed the implementation of the European Union’s requirements for periodic motorcycle inspections. France’s transport ministry hit the brakes on an order for the nation’s army of motorbikers to get their machines tested every two years, after President Emmanuel Macron got wind of the plan. “Now is not the

Filtering in France is allowed again, thanks to bikers’ protests

In France, as part of an experiment in 21 departments, filtering - or lane splitting - for motorized two and three-wheelers is allowed again from 2 August 2021, on highways and expressways. A earlier five-year experiment in 11 French departments, allowing motorcyclists to filter between lanes of slow moving or stopped

Fit for 55: what do the European climate plans mean for motorcycling?

The European Commission proposes policies fit for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. FEMA’s Dolf Willigers explains what the European Commission’s ‘Fit for 55' plans could mean for us motorcyclists. On 14 July 2021, the European Commission presented its ambitious package ‘Fit

Britain will ban petrol-powered motorcycles

The British government plans to ban the sale of new petrol-powered motorcycles. From 2035 all new motorcycles must be zero emission. Craig Carey-Clinch from the UK National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) tells the full story: The British government published its Transport Decarbonisation Plan. Although plans to end production of new internal combustion engined

Denmark: roadside inspections instead of periodic motorcycle tests

The Danish minister for transport suggests that roadside inspections of motorcycles must replace the European Union’s requirements for periodic motorcycle inspections. This is stated in a draft bill that the Danish ministry of transport has recently sent out for consultation. Back in September 2020, MCTC asked the minister of transport, Benny

‘Norway tells statistical lies to prove motorcycling is dangerous’

Norwegian authorities claim that it is becoming increasingly dangerous to ride motorcycles and they have the statistics to prove it. Odd Terje Døvik, president of the Norwegian motorcyclists’ organization NMCU, claims it has never been safer to ride a bike in Norway. According to the saying, there are three types of

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