View Full Version : Will biking be legislated out of existence in the next 30 years?
tomjones2
04-10-07, 10:58 PM
Seriously, I’m not talking the usual MCN rubbish about biking being banned tomorrow but do you think biking maybe legislated out of existence in the next 20-30 years. I’m thinking difficult tests, speed limiters, high taxes that will just cause people to lose interest and then manufacturers will go bust.
ivantate
05-10-07, 06:43 AM
High power 200mph bikes may have a short lifespan but looking at the way the future is going the CG125 will be the top seller in years to come.
Speed freaks may lose interest but enthusiasts will still find a way to fettle the small bikes, race them, meet up and talk about them etc... . It may even go a full circle for people in town and bikes will be the only affordable personal transport.
Huge Economy, congestion beating, disposible personal transport.
As everyone on this site knows 70bhp is more than enough to amuse yourself and it will be a long time before a humble chugger like the SV will be outlawed.
Could be some very interesting solutions to all these problems over the next few years.
I will of course be making sure I max a fireblade before they get banned though.
IT will never happen, there would be uproar.
Even the most un-economical bikes are just as economical as supposedly good economical cars.
There is no arguement for doing it other than to make choices for others and take away someones freedom. If they were to do most of the stuff they propose it would likely be a case for the EU courts of human rights.
Thats why the trash they propose never goes any further than the trash that is the news stories in MCN. (Some of MCN is good though)
kwak zzr
05-10-07, 07:17 AM
no one ever complains when a double decker bus is running with only one passenger on?
i wouldn't take too much notice of MCN, bikes dont cause traffic jams either.
Jackie_Black
05-10-07, 07:44 AM
Bikes make excellent sense as personal transport. In the future they will hopefully have electric ones we can use to get to work on that require virtually no servicing and go like rockets. or maybe not.
I can only see motorbikes increasing in the future in the UK.
We are having ever increasing congestion problems which more people on bike's can solve. Look at seriously over populated countries (Take Tiawan for instance). The moped and bike rule the road. They get their own lanes and many other benefits.
We have the ever serious problem of Global warming... apparently. Again motorbike's although they are maybe not a solution they definately slow things down.
We live in a ever increasingly expensive country. Tax's are increasing, road pricing being introduced and all the other ways the government can stiff us. Bike's will never be as highly taxed as cars as the government can't currently justify it.... yet. Look at the congestion charge in London, and the M6 toll road. I went past the entrance to the M6 toll road yesterday in a cage. If I had been on a bike I would have used it as its so cheap.
The bike is going up not down.
I can only see motorbikes increasing in the future in the UK.
That was one of the theories behind increasing the difficulties of getting a biking licence.
They can also see bikes are getting more desirable hence A) increasing the cost of doing it to line their pockets B) increasing the standard to pass.
Ceri JC
05-10-07, 08:28 AM
"Outlaw bikes and only outlaws will have bikes."
Ban them and you leave people little choice but to run anonymous, unplated black 200mph missiles that can outrun police choppers. A very bad idea IMO.
the_runt69
05-10-07, 08:39 AM
"Outlaw bikes and only outlaws will have bikes."
Ban them and you leave people little choice but to run anonymous, unplated black 200mph missiles that can outrun police choppers. A very bad idea IMO.
+1
+1
+1, but does sound like fun :lol:
DanAbnormal
05-10-07, 08:55 AM
"Outlaw bikes and only outlaws will have bikes."
Ban them and you leave people little choice but to run anonymous, unplated black 200mph missiles that can outrun police choppers. A very bad idea IMO.
I dunno, the Mad Max part of me likes that idea! :D
I hope not. I'll only just be getting the hang of it.
I think the new test laws could put a lot of people off and Im certain that we'll see less numbers come next october, particularly of born agains.
John 675
05-10-07, 02:23 PM
"Outlaw bikes and only outlaws will have bikes."
Ban them and you leave people little choice but to run anonymous, unplated black 200mph missiles that can outrun police choppers. A very bad idea IMO.
Im very scared to say it but i would probably be one of them...
no one is taking biking away from me, law or no law!
so those pen pushers who think that biking is dangerous or that all bikers are crazy can kiss my ***
i chose wether to go fast or slow, i choose to race around tracks... and i'll choose to break a law which breaches my human rights :D
other than that i am very law abiding lol, :D
Ceri JC
05-10-07, 03:38 PM
Sadly, I envisage a future in a world after fossil fuel where most people run small (smart car size) electrical cars that are powered by nuclear power. I'm not saying it's a good idea, but I think it's most likely. On the plus sidel, we know most predictions about the future are wildly wrong and that's when they come from a genius, never mind a clueless dolt like me. :)
I said no because in the time frame mentioned we'll be past the point where fossil fuels will be available to the man in the street. I think we'll all be walking by then. If the resource wars haven't killed most of us that is.
Biker Biggles
05-10-07, 04:02 PM
And if Razor is wrong about our supplies running out I see a highly regulated and automated road system where you will need a special vehicle just to be allowed to travel at all.Surveillance and speed limiting will rule and no one will want to do anything as individual as ride a motorbike.It will be ever so safe though,so that will be all right then.:(
John 675
05-10-07, 04:08 PM
And if Razor is wrong about our supplies running out I see a highly regulated and automated road system where you will need a special vehicle just to be allowed to travel at all.Surveillance and speed limiting will rule and no one will want to do anything as individual as ride a motorbike.It will be ever so safe though,so that will be all right then.:(
sounds like, a mix between Minority report, Demolition man, and Equibreium
Ceri JC
05-10-07, 04:12 PM
It will be ever so safe though,so that will be all right then.:(
I'm also the death rate will plummit and a wonderful new age where everyone lives for ever will dawn. At least, until the people who can no longer use their bikes as a release valve for the stresses of living in the nanny state GO POSTAL AS A RESULT!
---------------------------:smt071
No :riding: = :smt070
--------------------------:smt068
---------------------------:smt067
Ceri JC
05-10-07, 04:13 PM
sounds like, a mix between Minority report, Demolition man, and Equibreium
That'd be awesome. :D
No, the future will be a cross between Soylent Green and Children Of Men.
Flamin_Squirrel
05-10-07, 05:29 PM
Owning a firearm, freedom of speech, smoking, freedom to physically discipline your child, hunting, freedom to protest in front of parliament.
All banned fairly recently with absolutely no consideration of any negative economic or social consequences they might have.
Why, when the government will remove the freedom of millions of people without a second thought, does anyone think for a minute that an unpopular and dangerous activity undertaken by a small group of (mostly) hairy arsed bikers isn't up for the proverbial chop? I'm I being paranoid, or am I right to find it extremely worrying that a group of well educated people could be so naive?
Time for a quote: "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."
markmoto
05-10-07, 05:54 PM
the future is mad max thunderdome bring on barter town lol
cornishrider
05-10-07, 07:13 PM
IF biking was banned it would be banned in this country, maybe in the EU. This means if they ban it the government would loose yet another souce of income tax (from the decent members of society moving away). Eventually society will crumble and they will be begging us all to come back and ride!
toonyank
05-10-07, 07:49 PM
They're doing their best to tax everyone out of using fossil fuels anyway so I'd say that's possible with todays bureaucrats
SVeeedy Gonzales
05-10-07, 08:02 PM
They won't legislate it out directly but they'll make it so hard in the end that it'll dwindle to a very small number and then it'll be easier to wipe it out completely. Until then we really ought to be riding the things as much as possible. It may be that they change their views on road and traffic policy in that time, but at the current rate I can't see it going any other way.
I think I'll be past caring by then unless they do one based on a Zimmer frame :D
If they start to slowly increase the number of restrictions in power and maximum speed, I won't care cos in 30 years I'll probably only be able to get me leg over a Harley Davidson anyway.;)
Ceri JC
06-10-07, 08:30 AM
Out of interest, would you move abroad if biking were banned in the UK?
Yes, if I didn't adopt my earlier suggestion first. ;)
Where would you go?
Probably Spain.
If the ban was across the whole of the EU where would you go?
America. They seem to have a slightly better concept of personal freedom than us.
John 675
06-10-07, 09:33 AM
if they banned biking, id still ride and they would have to catch me, if they restricted everyones bike.. id still ride unrestricted and they would have to catch me.. if they banned biking all together.. same as above except id be expecting a refund from the dvla for my tests, a refund for my roadtax ( back dated ) ;)
jamessunhill
06-10-07, 04:39 PM
Out of interest, would you move abroad if biking were banned in the UK?
Quite possibly as I'm already thinking of doing it. ;)
Where would you go?
Down Under (probably New Zeeland)
If the ban was across the whole of the EU where would you go?
Still Down Under
:twisted:
tomjones2
07-10-07, 09:04 PM
if they banned biking, id still ride and they would have to catch me, if they restricted everyones bike.. id still ride unrestricted and they would have to catch me.. if they banned biking all together.. same as above except id be expecting a refund from the dvla for my tests, a refund for my roadtax ( back dated ) ;)
Your signiture says it all chap. Great book film isn't it, have you read the book?
One advantage of mandatory speed limiting for all vechiles is it would remove the cost effectivness of catching people speeding.
If Labour werent in power, would we still have this "Nanny State" where everything appears to be getting banned?
Flamin_Squirrel
10-10-07, 12:31 PM
If Labour werent in power, would we still have this "Nanny State" where everything appears to be getting banned?
Yes, because people asked for the nanny state.
Biker Biggles
10-10-07, 03:08 PM
Agreed.The nanny state is a cultural thing.It wouldnt be tolerated if enough people were opposed to it irrespective of which party was in power.
What difference is there between the parties anyway?They both listen to the same focus groups,opinion polls and movers and shakers,and both adjust their policies accordingly.
Ceri JC
10-10-07, 04:00 PM
What difference is there between the parties anyway?They both listen to the same focus groups,opinion polls and movers and shakers,and both adjust their policies accordingly.
What he said. No one seems to go into politics with a set of beliefs and stand for them these days. People just seem to want to be in power and will align their "opinions" to match whatever is the current flavour of the month. Sadly for most people, this currently means a rather drab little existence, sit in a dull little office, then sat at home in front of the TV all evening. Harmless enough, until they start imposing this on other people...
Interestingly, I read a theory in one of the columns in bike (I think it was that skinhead ex-racer Moto GP pundit) that suggested the nanny state (along with political correctness) was a natural result of allowing women into politics and a "womanisation" of society's values in general. I'm not saying he was 100% right, but it's certainly food for thought.
Biker Biggles
10-10-07, 04:12 PM
OOooohh contraversial that Ceri.
I have heard the same theory before,more to do with the "feminisation" of the workplace,and the demise of union power and the rise of "partnership working".That lot and the rise of policies and guidlines rather than rules at work.Its a fascinating subject but very very contraversial----:confused::p
Interestingly, I read a theory in one of the columns in bike (I think it was that skinhead ex-racer Moto GP pundit) that suggested the nanny state (along with political correctness) was a natural result of allowing women into politics and a "womanisation" of society's values in general. I'm not saying he was 100% right, but it's certainly food for thought.
OOooohh contraversial that Ceri.
I have heard the same theory before,more to do with the "feminisation" of the workplace,and the demise of union power and the rise of "partnership working".That lot and the rise of policies and guidlines rather than rules at work.Its a fascinating subject but very very contraversial----:confused::p
Hmmm, interesting idea. I blame the Americans though :p
Ceri JC
11-10-07, 06:51 AM
Its a fascinating subject but very very contraversial----:confused::p
Yes, conversely, "female" skills of communication are necessary for a lot of big projects. I suppose in an increasingly complex world, the days of a single great engineer/architect planning the whole thing are over and you have to have loads of different people working on something, with no one person who fully understands it. Consequently, documenting everything and constantly communicating about problems and progress become necessary.
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