Graham Stringer is a twat

(Sorry if this has already been posted, didn’t have time to search this evening…)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml;jsessionid=RBY32KEK5T3MRQFIQMGSFF4AVCBQWIV0?xml=/motoring/2007/03/17/nosplit/mfbike17.xml

Short and simple version: MP annoyed by minimotos decides they should have number plates. So, he drafts a bill that effectively says ALL motorcycles should comply with the Road Traffic Act. No exemptions - so this includes race bikes, show bikes, classic bikes.

On March 2 the Bill was passed by a large majority at second reading.

(was going to post this in the race section, but the act seems to have more general consequences)

Join MAG and have an effective voice against this sort of nonsense.

(I just happen to be the MAG Rep for West london, so forgive the blatant plea.)

http://www.mag-uk.org/index2.html

p.s. Thank Deity for Dr Ladyman:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmtran/uc264-ii/uc26402.htm


Witnesses: Dr Stephen Ladyman, a Member of the House, Minister of State for Transport and Mr Andrew Colski, Head of Vulnerable Road Users Branch, Department for Transport, gave evidence.

Q203 Chairman: Good afternoon, Minister, I am delighted to see you; would you be kind enough to identify yourself and your colleague?

Dr Ladyman: I am Stephen Ladyman, Minister of State for Transport and my colleague is Andrew Colski, who deals with these matters on behalf of the Department.

Q204 Chairman: You are both most warmly welcomed this afternoon. Did you have something you wanted to say to us first?

Dr Ladyman: No, we can just answer your questions on this occasion.

Q205 Chairman: That would be an improvement; we are going to break habits of a lifetime. Our previous witness, Mr Plowden, described the Motorcycling Strategy as something that might have been produced by “a dodgy PR firm, not by a Department of State”. Is that fair?

Dr Ladyman: No, that is cobblers - if that is sufficient of an answer for you.


I’m confused. Does this just apply to bikes that use the road? or bikes that you keep on private property as well?

I haven’t seen anything but that article I linked to, so I can’t claim any special knowledge, but it seems to suggest that the bill is so badly written it will be possible to include ANYTHING defined as a motorcycle. So even if you declare the vehicle SORN, it must still comply with the RTA because of this act. As the article says, even museum exhibits and track bikes will be encompassed by the act. At a stroke, if the act is passed into law, it will kill motorcycle racing in Britain.

If this ridiculous bill goes thro Im gonna campaign to have all 4 wheelers registered too . . . That’d go down well in the Formula One camp

OK… Found a copy of the bill:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmbills/021/07021.i-i.html

Its stupidly brief and all-encompassing; it applies to “off-road bikes”. These are defined as “motorcycles and motorquadbikes for which there is no duty to take out a vehicle licence under section 1 of this Act by reason of their being exclusively used and kept off public roads.”

So that’s why Ilmor pulled out of MotoGP - couldn’t get the new bike through SVA!