A month on from its launch, the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) has taken the first steps on its mission to “help assure a positive and sustainable future for motorcycling”.
The NMC brings together a broad spectrum of motorcycle organisations. These range from riders campaign groups, to motorcycle sport representatives, off road and green roads interests and road safety experts.
Among its aims is for the creation of a new motorcycling strategy – covering transport policy, safety, accessibility for motorcyclists, motorcycle sport and the future of motorcycling for both transport and recreation.
Since forming in March 2021, the NMC has been invited to become a member of the DfT’s Road Safety Delivery Group (RSDG).
The RSDG works to reduce road casualties and draws its membership from a range of governmental and non-governmental organisations.
The NMC says its membership “significantly increases” representation from the motorcycle industry – and is a “key step” towards the creation of a motorcycling strategy
Neil Greig, policy and research director at IAM RoadSmart, member of the NMC, said: “The NMC being invited to join the RSDG is very welcome news and marks an acceleration of progress by the NMC.
“Indeed, the motorcycling lobby now forms almost the biggest single nongovernmental bloc on the RSDG. This is particularly important given that the proportion of motorcycle casualties remains a real concern.
“We look forward to working with the DfT and other departments as the NMC’s programme for policy change continues to develop.”
The NMC has also published a list of priority areas for change. These relate to different sectors of the motorcycling community and are designed to support the ongoing work of individual member organisations.
They include changes to licencing testing and training – to make the system easier to understand and access – as well as fiscal incentives to encourage motorcycle use, such as universal free parking and inclusion in schemes to encourage less car use.
13 April 2021
