EU setting about bikers again!

Hi all, Sorry if this has been posted else where

EU Anti tampering regulations, DEMO AGAINST THE FORTHCOMING ****STORM!! THIS AFFECTS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THIS AFFECTS ALL OF US, PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO ITEMS 6 AND 7
Further to the meeting I've just had with the chairman of the committee of EU Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) I now have a better idea of what we are looking at as the Anti Tampering Regulation moves through the EU legislative process.

Amendments are on the table now and being discussed, like giving an opt out for special 'one-off' builders, (but only the British and the Finns want that) and also making ABS compulsory on mopeds too (Germans want that- or rather the German ABS industry wants that). When IMCO finally vote on this (4/5 or 6th Oct) it then goes to Parliament.

As this is a 'Framework Regulation' once passed it does not have to be transposed into Law in Individual Member States, as it will happen automatically.

So, as far as the 25th September Motorway Mayhem day goes, the 10 very real European issues that we still need to draw attention to are:

1- The Anti tampering Regulation: Specifically Article 18 which wants to stop all modifications to complete power train, from airbox to controlling the rear tyre profile.

2- Compulsory ABS. If we can't stop this, we must get a switch so that we have an option in difficult conditions where ABS doesn't function well.

3- Automatic headlights on- passing the blame for poor observation on to us.

4- OBD. On Board Diagnostics so that easy roadside checks can be made of our emissions and so that constant readouts of engine performance can be obtained. Expensive, complicated and with the threat, rather like a tacho, of identifying past riding style...

5- RMI. Repair and Maintenance Information. Rather than keeping it hidden and available for huge expense, there is a chance that manufacturers will be forced to provide ECU codes etc for a fee. What that fee is remains to be seen.

6- The very worrying article 52: "If systems, components or seperate technical units on a list in a delegated act to this regulation, have a dual use, for vehicles intended exclusively for racing on roads and for vehicles intended for use on public roads, they may not be sold or offered for sale to consumers"

So if your K&N filter can fit a CBR race bike and a CBR road bike, the best way to police that, is to make it illegal to sell the filter in Europe.

The Delegated Acts are the most scarey thing, as they are the lists and details drawn up by the unelected and we won't get to see what they are including until after the Regulation has been passed!

7- In solidarity with the French we will be drawing attention to their recent gov proposal to ban all bikes over 7 years old from an urban area and to make the wearing of day-glo/ reflective clothing compulsory.

8- Full sleeve day-glo clothing for riders and passengers has been proposed in the Irish Parliament too.

9- All these issues lead to the same thing, that we must take the blame for the incompetence of other road users. And while the emergency stop has been removed as a compulsory element of the car driving test, we are jumping through hoops with ill judged UK interpretation of EU licencing directives.

10- Another EU licencing Directive is on its way (3DLD) to step the bike licencing system still further and the DfT and DSA still haven't sorted even the consultation process, even though it is meant to be in law by now and enacted January 2013.


Plans for the day (25th Sept) are that all over the country riders meet at midday in M-way services (or suitable similar if there's no motorway to hand) and at exactly 13.00 groups of riders set off to ride perfectly legally at a sedate Sunday 45/50mph on the country's motorway network. Perhaps over bridges, near the confluence of other motorways etc.

The MAG and other websites will carry details of all the meeting places.

It's the simultaneous element that carries the weight, as even 50 bikes together will cause disruption, but happening everywhere across the country will be powerful and will have the traffic alerts discussing it. They'll be primed.

Riders will disperse as rapidly as they appeared, but after riding for a few junctions at below the speed the trucks use, our impact should be felt.

No need for marshalls, no one can go the wrong way.
No hot engines, no speeches, ride as far as you wish
One media contact number
The threat that we can do it again on a different day of the week will be established.

Our MEPs will be preparing to rubber stamp another regulation put before them. This time they may stop to read it.

Now I appreciate that this may be way too many words for your available space, but anything will be appreciated. If you could let the odd '25th September' appear subliminally throughout the magazine...
--
Kind regards

Paddy Tyson
Campaigns Co-ordinator
MAG (UK) - Motorcycle Action Group

Ps thats not me

Whats the point in all them? Just sounds like some grumpy old git made up some new rules to further hassle bikers just because they can.

"...ban all bikes over 7 years old from an urban area..." err. Why? What does this accomplish?

I'd have great pleasure in telling them to f*ck off

These are all ridiculous items of suggestion. As all ready mentioned, what is the point behind trying to ban all bikes over 7 years old?! Bikes are some of best maintained and serviced vehicles on the road. They have to be to keep us safe, so i cant see it being an emissions thing. We dont cause traffic congestion so its not that. What else is there? And as for the mandatory his vis jackets, im all for extra safety and visibility but i also like having the choice of wearing it or not. They only want to make us more visible to other road users but why do we have to " take the blame for the incompetence of other road users". Its other road users observation skills need to be improved, not trying to force us to wear hi vis jackets so they can continue to remain ignorant to us bikers.

I think the 7 year point is when the current version of emissions regulations became mandatory for bikes, so before that point it was uncontrolled and afterwards it was.

It is interesting that the most recent editions of the monthly bike magazines seem to have finally taken notice of what we've been saying for months now, but that may be because their knee down photos would be pretty hard to take if the rider had to wear hi-vis if they were taken on the road.

I'm loosely aware of meetups relating to this taking place in Yorkshire and North Derbyshire, by the way - haven't got anything planned personally yet, but we'll see what we can do.

[dizzyblonde]

Where in Yorkieshire ol?

Where do you want to go... there are 9 active groups, so your nearest would probably be Leeds, Huddersfield or Wakefield. I'll know for certain what is being planned in the afternoon of the 14th, but I believe there is one heading from Saddleworth on the M62.

[dizzyblonde]

Saddleworth you say.........