I’ve always cherished the freedom, community, and thrill of riding. But I’m increasingly frustrated by how motorcycling is portrayed in the media, especially by the BBC. It seems like every news story focuses on crashes or fatalities, while the positive aspects of our culture—charity rides, rallies, or advocacy for safer roads—are ignored. Two recent BBC articles pushed me to dig deeper into this issue, leading me to question whether the media is biased against motorcycling or if my perception is skewed. My findings, coupled with the BBC’s coverage of a personal protective equipment (PPE) petition over MAG’s massive bus lanes campaign, reveal a troubling pattern that affects not just public perception but also policy decisions. Here’s my journey, what I uncovered, and how we can fight back.
The Spark of Frustration
My investigation began with two BBC articles that hit a nerve. The first, “Call for motorcyclist clothing law after Suffolk motorbike smash” (April 29, 2025), reported a campaign for mandatory protective clothing, sparked by a crash where the author’s brother was seriously injured. It cited 315 motorcyclist deaths in 2023 and pushed for new laws, but it didn’t include a single rider’s perspective. As a rider who’d face the impact of such legislation, I was livid. Why didn’t the BBC ask us what we think? It felt like our voices were dismissed, framing motorcycling as a problem to be solved by external advocates.
The second article, “Boy dies after crash with motorbike carrying three” (May 6, 2025), was even more infuriating. It detailed a fatal crash involving a 15-year-old boy on a motorbike, with three people on the bike—a clear sign of illegality. The report noted arrests for causing death by dangerous driving and aggravated vehicle theft, suggesting a stolen bike and likely gang activity. Yet, the focus was on the tragedy of a “schoolboy” losing his life, not the criminality of an underage rider breaking multiple laws. This felt like the BBC was softening a story that should’ve highlighted illegal behaviour, not motorcycling itself. These articles made me suspect a bias in how motorcycling is presented, prompting me to look broader.
Broadening the Lens
Determined to understand if this was a pattern, I expanded my scope to examine BBC reporting on motorcycling versus cycling, focusing on tone, frequency, and content. I used Department for Transport (DfT) data for context and analysed BBC articles from 2023–2025. I also looked at academic studies on media coverage and, crucially, compared the BBC’s coverage of a PPE petition to the complete lack of coverage for MAG’s motorcycles in bus lanes petition—a rider-led safety campaign with over 20,000 signatures.
The DfT’s 2024 provisional estimates show motorcyclists account for 20% of road fatalities in Great Britain (315 deaths in 2023), compared to 45% for car occupants (725 deaths) and 5% for cyclists (87 deaths). If reporting matched these stats, motorcycling fatalities should appear less often than car-related ones but more than cycling ones. But what about the tone and focus? And why does a small PPE petition get BBC attention while MAG’s massive safety campaign is ignored?
The PPE Petition vs. MAG’s Bus Lanes Campaign
One of the most glaring examples of skewed coverage is the BBC’s reporting on the PPE petition while completely overlooking MAG’s motorcycles in bus lanes petition. The PPE petition, featured in the Suffolk article, calls for mandatory protective clothing for motorcyclists. It’s a personal campaign, driven by a single crash, and while it cites 315 deaths in 2023, there’s no mention of its signature count—likely because it’s paltry compared to MAG’s efforts. Yet, the BBC gave it a platform, complete with statistics and quotes from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, but no rider input. This focus on external advocacy over rider voices feels like motorcycling is being problematized without our say.
Contrast this with MAG’s petition, launched on March 3, 2025, calling for the government to reverse its November 2024 decision against allowing motorcycles in bus lanes by default. This campaign has already garnered over 20,000 signatures, reflecting massive rider support. The DfT’s consultation (March–July 2024) received 14,327 responses, with 96% (13,885 individuals) agreeing that motorcycles should access bus lanes if safe. Despite this, the Labour government rejected the policy, claiming insufficient safety evidence, even though 55 local authorities already allow motorcycles in half the UK’s bus lanes with no significant safety issues. MAG’s petition is a rider-led push for safer, fairer road access, yet the BBC hasn’t covered it at all. Not a single article, radio segment, or TV report. This silence is deafening, especially when compared to the PPE petition’s coverage, which amplifies a smaller, less representative campaign.
What the Research Says
My analysis of BBC reporting revealed no definitive evidence that motorcycling stories are consistently more negative than cycling ones in tone. Both are treated seriously and empathetically. Motorcycle fatality reports, like “Police road safety appeal after four die in motorbike crashes” (July 29, 2024), and cycling ones, like “Cyclist killed in central London lorry crash,” focus on tragedy, condolences, and safety. However, cycling stories often include proactive calls for infrastructure improvements, like better bike lanes, which feel constructive. Motorcycle stories, like the Suffolk PPE piece, sometimes lean on external advocacy or personal tragedy without rider input, which can seem less balanced.
On frequency, there’s no data showing the BBC overreports motorcycle fatalities compared to their 20% share. A 2015 study on London newspapers (1992–2012) found cyclist fatality coverage surged from 6% to 75% as cycling grew, while motorcyclist coverage stayed low (4–5%), suggesting cycling gets more attention, often with a safety-focused narrative. Another study (Fevyer & Aldred, 2022) noted cyclists are linked to patterns of danger, while drivers (and possibly motorcyclists) have their agency minimized, which could make motorcycling stories feel negative by omission. The Redditch article’s focus on a “schoolboy” over criminality fits this, potentially softening the narrative to avoid stigmatizing a minor, but it frustrates riders when illegality isn’t highlighted.
The BBC’s coverage of the PPE petition over MAG’s bus lanes campaign is a stark example of selective reporting. The PPE petition, with its limited scope and signatures, got a full article, while MAG’s petition—backed by over 20,000 riders and addressing a proven safety measure—has been ignored. This suggests editorial choices prioritize personal tragedy or external advocacy over rider-led initiatives, reinforcing a negative view of motorcycling.
The Policy Impact
This skewed narrative has serious consequences. Policymakers, influenced by media, often see motorcycling as a high-risk activity rather than a legitimate transport mode. The PPE petition’s coverage, pushing mandatory clothing without rider input, risks fuelling policies that burden us without addressing root causes like poor road design or driver awareness. Meanwhile, the government’s rejection of default bus lane access, despite overwhelming support, shows how motorcycling is sidelined. I’ve had to accept that motorcycling isn’t warmly embraced by policymakers. Unlike cycling, which gets eco-friendly cred and infrastructure investment, motorcycling is stereotyped as reckless or niche. The BBC’s silence on MAG’s petition—while amplifying a smaller PPE campaign—makes it harder for us to advocate for fair policies, like bus lane access, better training, or road safety measures that benefit all.
Perception or Reality?
Is the negative focus on motorcycling real or just my perception? It’s both. The BBC likely reports fatalities proportionally—20% of deaths are motorcyclists, so they’ll be in the news. But dramatic crashes, like those involving young riders or stolen bikes, stick in our minds, especially when framed without rider context. Editorial choices, like excluding rider voices in the PPE story or softening criminality in Redditch, amplify this negativity. The BBC’s failure to cover MAG’s bus lanes petition, while spotlighting a minor PPE campaign, suggests a preference for tragedy-driven stories over rider-led solutions. Cycling, by contrast, often gets a constructive spin, tied to urban planning or health benefits. My initial frustration was valid, but broadening my view showed it’s less about deliberate bias and more about newsroom priorities and cultural stereotypes.
Changing the Narrative
We can’t rewrite the BBC’s coverage, but we can flood the media with our stories. The lack of positive motorcycling coverage is a gap we must fill. Here’s my call to action:
- Share Your Stories: Post about your rides, your club’s charity work, or why you love motorcycling. Use #MAGUK and tag us to amplify our voice.
- Pitch to the Press: Write to the BBC, local papers, or online outlets with story ideas. Invite journalists to MAG rallies, ride-outs, or events like our bus lanes campaign. Show them motorcycling’s heart.
- Support MAG’s Advocacy: Join or donate to MAG to strengthen our fight for fairer policies. Sign our bus lanes petition (over 20,000 strong!) at parliament.uk/petitions/712763 and push for 100,000 signatures to trigger a parliamentary debate.
Final Thoughts
My journey began with two BBC articles that made me see red, but it led to a broader truth: motorcycling’s image suffers from a lack of positive stories and selective reporting. The BBC’s coverage of a small PPE petition over MAG’s 20,000-signature bus lanes campaign is a glaring example, showing how rider-led safety initiatives are side-lined. This negative narrative fuels policies that marginalize us. I have to accept that motorcycling isn’t policymakers’ favourite. But we can change that. Let’s drown out the crash headlines with our passion, our community, and our solutions. Sign MAG’s petition, share your story, and let’s make the next headline about the joy of two wheels.