Last month, I was invited to speak to an Advanced Rider Group about what we at the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) do—our campaigns, our advocacy, our fight for riders’ rights. As I introduced our Welcoming Roads vision, our philosophy for road safety, I asked, “How many of you know about Vision Zero?” I expected a few hands, maybe a knowing nod. Instead, blank stares. If a room full of skilled riders hadn’t heard of Vision Zero, how many know about Welcoming Roads? That moment drove it home: we need to spread the word. This article is about raising awareness of Vision Zero, showing why Welcoming Roads is different, and making the case for why it’s the better path for riders who live for two wheels. Picture two roads ahead. Which one keeps motorcycling alive and makes us safer?
Vision Zero: Safety That Feels Like Shackles
Vision Zero sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? No traffic deaths, no serious injuries. The idea is that humans mess up, so the system—roads, speed limits, enforcement—has to stop those mistakes from turning deadly. Hard to argue with saving lives. But let’s be real: for riders, Vision Zero can feel like a cage, locking us into a system that doesn’t get what motorcycling is about.
What Vision Zero Pushes For
Vision Zero’s got speed in its crosshairs, treating it like the root of all evil. It wants lower speed limits everywhere, even on those open roads where a skilled rider can safely open the throttle a bit. It leans hard into enforcement, swapping the discretion roads police used to show for speed cameras and zero-tolerance rules that paint every rider as a potential hazard. And don’t get me started on the roads themselves—Vision Zero pushes for bland, uniform designs that strip away the curves and challenges we live for, all in the name of slowing everyone down.
The Impact on Advanced Training
Now, think about advanced motorcycle training, the kind that hones your instincts and boosts your confidence. A 2019 study by IAM RoadSmart, the UK’s biggest independent road safety charity, sheds some light. They compared riders who’d taken advanced training with regular riders. The trained riders showed sharper awareness of collision risks, meaning they’re more alert and proactive. They crashed less per mile, even though they rode more. But here’s the rub: they also chose slightly higher speeds than their peers.
That’s where Vision Zero digs in its heels. Those higher speeds, even from safer, skilled riders, are a no-go in VZ’s book. It doesn’t care that advanced riders crash less—it wants compliance, not competence. So what happens to training in this world? It risks losing its spark. Riders sign up to get better, not to be preached at about speed limits. If training feels like a slap on the wrist, fewer will bother. Worse, it could crush the freedom we cherish, turning training into a lecture on following orders instead of making smart choices. Over time, the focus might shift to just sticking to limits, side-lining the real skills—like reading hazards or nailing precise control—that keep us safe. In a Vision Zero world, advanced training could end up a joyless checklist, forcing riders into a one-size-fits-all safety box. That’s not progress for motorcyclists—it’s a step back.
Welcoming Roads: Safety with Riders in Mind
Now, picture a different road, one we’re fighting for with our Welcoming Roads vision. This isn’t just about safety—it’s about seeing roads as a shared space, where commuters, delivery drivers, and riders chasing the joy of a Sunday spin all have a place. It’s about making roads safe while respecting riders as equals who deserve to enjoy the ride.
What Welcoming Roads Stands For
Welcoming Roads flips the script. Instead of fines and fear, we push for education—training and campaigns that build skills and awareness. We want roads that are safe but still inspire, designed with enough challenge to respect experienced riders, not dumbed down to slow everyone to a crawl. And rather than scaring riders into submission, we celebrate responsibility, using positive campaigns that highlight the thrill of riding smart. Let’s be clear: Welcoming Roads isn’t dismissive of the dangers of inappropriate speed—it’s not a free pass for recklessness. The difference is trust and training. We believe in equipping riders with the skills to read the risks in any moment—road conditions, traffic, weather—and adjust their speed accordingly. That’s a far cry from Vision Zero’s context-free, arbitrary speed limits, which, like a stopped clock, might only be right twice a day. Welcoming Roads gets that motorcycling is about passion, not just getting from A to B. It sees skilled riders as part of the safety solution, not a problem to be controlled.
Which Road Calls to You?
Close your eyes and picture yourself gearing up for a ride. You’ve put in the hours, taken advanced training, learned to read the road like a pro. Do you want roads that feel like a trap—or, dare I say, a government revenue generator—or ones that welcome you as a rider? Do you want a system that punishes you for using your skills, or one that trusts you to ride smart?
Vision Zero’s rigid, control-obsessed approach risks turning advanced training into a bureaucratic hurdle. It alienates riders, dulls our skills, and threatens the freedom that fuels our passion. Welcoming Roads, our vision, is different. It champions training that empowers, roads that engage, and a culture that respects responsible riding. It’s not about chasing an impossible zero—it’s about realistic safety that keeps motorcycling’s heart beating.
The choice is stark. Vision Zero might promise safety, but it risks strangling the skills and spirit that make us riders. Welcoming Roads offers a better path: a future where advanced training thrives, riders grow, and safety comes from empowerment, not restriction. We’re riders, and we have a voice. Let’s use it to demand roads that welcome us—a future where our skills and our passion ride free.