UK roads minister wants to help raise the profile of motorcycling

In an open and positive meeting, the British Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) put the case for motorcycling to Baroness Vere of Norbiton, Parliamentary Undersecretary for State. The Minister offered to help MAG raise the profile of motorcycling.

In a statement following the meeting Baroness Vere said: “I thank the representatives of the Motorcycle Action Group for the meeting, and the case they made for motorcycling. I feel there are a number of areas where MAG and the government can work more closely together in order to raise the profile of motorcycling and improve outcomes for riders. I have asked MAG to provide me with a list of their top five priorities and look forward to reviewing these.”

MAG Chair, Selina Lavender, was keen that the list should be truly representative of the opinions of riders. Therefore, a survey of MAG members was conducted resulting in the following list of priorities:

Access to all bus lanes
Better road surfaces
Safer crash barriers
More and better parking provision
Simplified licencing and training

Unsurprisingly, the survey results coincide with themes that MAG regularly campaigns on at local level. MAG has submitted the list along with a number of suggested ideas for how the Department for Transport can deliver these outcomes. Above all, MAG wants to work with department officials to explore all possible solutions.

‘I see this as the start of long, but happy, adventure’

Selina Lavender, MAG’s chair: “I am delighted by the spirit of the Minister’s desire to make positive change for riders. We cannot claim to have achieved everything our hearts desire, as our expectations must remain reasonable, but we have been given a great opportunity to get real results for motorcyclists.”

MAG’s director of campaigns & political engagement, Colin Brown, commented: “Given the warmth of our meeting I am sure that the Minister will give the priority list fair consideration. I hope that she will instruct Department officials to work with MAG to ensure that all possible levers to support the local delivery of these priorities are used. The stock response by central Government on questions such as bus lanes has always been that they are a matter for local government. However, the Department does have considerable influence on the local decisions. I am sure that now the Minister has demonstrated the will, the way can be found. In short, I see this as the start of long, but happy, adventure.”

Source: MAG UK

Top photograph courtesy of london.gov.uk