Originally Posted by the_lone_wolf (Post 1424128)

you mean except for things like "manual for streets" - which completely re-wrote the guidance issued to planning officers regarding residential design situations, leaving much more common sense and losing the strict one sized fits all approach previously used?;) Of use to me how exactly ?

what the met do is their own problem no it's the problem of the bikers of London, I can see why you wouldn't be concerned though., if bikers are using ASLs and bus lanes they hardly need cooperation from the motorcycling community to see that it's happening and act upon it, just because it's normal, safer or even sensible does not make it legal, and the police are there to enforce the laws, not decide what they are Hmmm, whilst no doubt that maybe the "company line" in the real world the best of coppers know a COMMON SENSE approach is far more effect use of their time, however if a target for a certain "highlighted" thing is given them they have to follow that to show results (as in numbers) reguardless of anything else, if you don't like getting pulled don't break the law Oh please :smt021, if that's all you've got, the laws are at best a mess in this country and at worse a complete joke, given enough time looking threw all the current one I'd lay a bet even my Nan is breaking something and she's been dead 3 years , it's that simple really, if you want to take a risk then feel free, i do...

as for long term benefits, the amount of provision you have to make for new developments now to encourage walking and cycling is staggering, and with a little effort motorcycling could also be added as a solution to congestion, the government policy clearly states that it should be you're obviously confusing looking like we care, with costing anything., but motorcyclists are either too lazy or cynical to act upon it whislt engaged in action to sucessfully get free crossing of the Dartford crossing a few years ago the other riders there looked neither lazy or cynical, if a tangible benefit can be achived then the effort is worthwhile.and make the changes happen, it's a shame to see people turn down an offer from such a large and influential organisation as the IHIE:smt102

Originally Posted by the_lone_wolf (Post 1424279)

jesus ****ing christ, i'd have thought the people that bitch the most about the state of the roads might be the least bit interested, i'm sorry for trying to give people a chance to read the views on motorcycling of the largest collection of highways engineers in the UK

next time they might as well say **** the lot of you

Originally Posted by SoulKiss (Post 1424289)

Their view are pointless unless its a proposal to change the law.

Originally Posted by the_lone_wolf (Post 1424330)

you don't have to make a change in the law in order to produce well designed schemes that take into account the needs of motorcyclists, the idea and requirement that the needs of motorcycles should be included in all proposals is already there, but because 99.9% of planners and designers have no idea what motorcyclists need it rarely ever gets implemented, so you end up with situations that motorcyclists moan about, and nobody wins.

anyone working in highways design will know that the IHIE are far more involved within the highways industry than the public in general, having well researched guidance from motorcyclists for the people who actually work on the highways, especially in the design side, will make a difference in the real world, if non-motorcycling engineers know about the dangers which only affect motorcycles they can, and will, work around them, but they need the information from us first...

but whatever, it was a nice idea:smt102

Originally Posted by SoulKiss (Post 1424337)

Everything in the docs would be welcomed, but they people writing them, being knowlegeable about these things are not the policy makers.

We leave policy making to a bunch of muppets who couldnt find there mna-mna's with both hands tied behind their back and a map

Originally Posted by Xan173 (Post 1424373)

Not quite true my friend. IHIE, together with the BMF, MAG & FEMA have been working together to campaign for positive changes. The most recent example being the non slip manhole covers. I quote from the MAG site...

"The next stage will be to address this matter at a European level to gain support and agreement from the other countries. Achieving this should lead to a change in the EN124 standard and a safer European-wide road network for bikers.

David Short, MAG Campaigns Manager said, "The Government is always talking about joined up thinking in support of road safety and the work undertaken by these different organisations just show what can be achieved when everyone works together. It is the simple measures that can make so much difference and save lives. The European and UK Government now need to show some leadership, effect a change in the skid resistance standard and make our roads safer for vulnerable road users.

Welcoming the agreement, Chris Hodder, the BMF's Government Relations Executive said: "I would like to thank Devon County Council's Material's Laboratory and the IHIE for their work on this. As motorcyclists we know we need a level of skid resistance equal to that of the main carriageway, but what we needed was a technical specification and that's what we have now been able to agree on."


So, it's clear that the IHIE can have an influence on policy. As can we, either by joining and supporting MAG or the BMF, or if that's not your cup of tea - simply by taking the time to tell the "muppets" what is important to you and cross reference to the campaigns of these groups. You can find your local Muppet here.

Originally Posted by rictus01 (Post 1424381)

But that can't be right as both BMF & MAG are motorcyclist, and to quote our original poster "motorcyclists are either too lazy or cynical" . :smt021


:smt044:smt044:smt044:smt044:smt044:smt044:smt044

Cheers Mark.

Originally Posted by Xan173 (Post 1424427)

I don't think that what lone wolf said earlier has any bearing on the validity of what I just posted.

What is sad is that people would rather spend time on forums like this discussing issues rather than trying to influence the people who make the policies or by supporting groups that do.