Don't Kill Motorcycling
MAG asks the next Government to reverse all current proposals to phase out or mandate an end to the sales of new internal combustion engine-powered vehicles (ICEVs).
MAG has consistently opposed all proposals for forced electrification of private vehicles, and particularly motorcycles. This is not born of an objection to electric vehicles, but of the belief that government should not interfere with the natural progression of motorised transport technologies. Politicians have a poor track record of picking winners, as proven by previous Governments’ drive towards diesel. Government intervention and mandates for transport technology will lead to disaster.
From the perspective of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, current focus on emissions merely from the tailpipe is illogical. Beyond tailpipe emissions, embedded carbon from the manufacture and decommissioning of motorcycles is far smaller than for cars. A petrol-powered motorcycle creates lower full-lifecycle CO2 emissions than an electric car. There are also social and economic issues from the material supply chain that must be factored into decisions.
Studies show that modal shift from cars to motorcycles can reduce overall operational emissions from the entire transport system by significantly reducing congestion. The so-called ‘Leuven report’ clearly demonstrates the benefits of modal shift from single occupancy cars to motorcycles. https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/1/15/TM_Leuven_Report.pdf
MAG’s own analysis of emissions modelling also demonstrates the emissions reductions gained by a modest modal shift towards motorcycles. https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/3/39/Motorcycle_Carbon_Emissions_v1.pdf
Any potential for a renaissance in motorcycling looks doomed by proposals to end sales of new internal combustion engine motorcycles, reflected in a tiny, and diminishing, electric motorcycle market share. Motorcycle manufacturers consistently state that battery electric is unlikely to be the one solution for future technologies and seek freedom to develop other technological approaches to decarbonisation.
Sales of electric motorcycles are declining rather than increasing despite continued Government subsidies. The technology is demonstrably not ready for widescale adoption today and is unlikely to be the best answer for all use cases.
Electric motorcycles may have some role to play but are not the whole future for motorised two-wheeled transport. To avoid the rapid decline and death of motorcycling, we need a government that will Move on Motorcycling.
Electric motorcycles may have some role to play but are not the whole future for motorised two-wheeled transport. To avoid the rapid decline and death of motorcycling, we need a government that will Move on Motorcycling.
MAG is asking riders in the UK to get creative in their approach to placing motorcycling in the general election discourse. The ‘Act Now’ page recently added to the MAG website offers a template letter for riders to use when asking candidates for their views on motorcycling issues. Please visit the ACT NOW page now to see how you can get involved.
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If you have never been a MAG member, have let your membership lapse, or are thinking you need to save some money by not renewing this year, we would love you to join, re-join or stay with us. If, like us, you are passionate about motorcycling, want to see motorcycling continue in the future, and want to preserve all that you love about it, we hope it will be an easy choice to make. MAG’s strength is in numbers. The riding community can demonstrate strength when it unites. If you want to say you played your part to defend motorcycling, please… join MAG today