Euro law will ruin biking

A statement from the European Commission says:

“In view of the statistics showing an increase in the number of motorcyclists involved in accidents, a more sophisticated progressive access model is introduced, that will take into account age, experience, training and testing. The new Directive tries to strike a balance between these different factors:

When progressing from one to category to another, meaning from a less powerful motorcycle to a more powerful one, only once a theory test is imposed; furthermore, only one practical test is mandatory; however, Member States are free to check the experience gathered either through a test or through training: this should alleviate the burden for those changing category;

· The vehicle definition of the medium-powered category A2 has been widened and thus a wider range of bikes are available for these riders; the category thus becomes a real main category in opposition of category A limited today;

· Direct access to the most powerful bikes has been fixed at the age of 24 (instead of 21 today)

· Member States are free to allow direct access, but can also make progressive access obligatory

To see the differences in full between current and future legislation CLICK HERE (external site)

On the plus side, supporters say the new Euro-wide licence will make it easier to travel across the continent and licences will be accepted in all member states.

Motorcycling has been hit for six by a new European agreement to make it tougher than ever to ride the bike you want.

A raft of changes, nodded through by the European Commission on Monday, March 27, will include:

Minimum age for riding bikes larger than 125cc rises from 17 to 19

Direct Access to larger bikes not allowed until 24 (currently 21)

New categories of motorcycle riding licences creating several two-year ‘steps’ between bikes of different engine size

Riders required to complete extra riding tests between ‘steps’.

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Read MCN – out on Wednesday, March 29 – for the full story – complete with an exclusive interview with roads minister Stephen Ladyman and reaction from a very angry motorcycle industry.

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The changes – subject to final approval – are due to be phased in from 2012.

It’s a second slap in the face for motorcycling within a week. It follows hard on the heels of the UK Budget, in which road tax for bikes rose above the rate of inflation while taxes on some categories of cars were cut.

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The Euro licence changes are all part of the ‘Third Directive on Driving Licences’ which offers standardised credit-card style licences across Europe – possibly with embedded microchips.

The European Commission’s Monday statement (see page two of this article) also refers to a new ‘AM category’ for mopeds for which a theory test will have to be passed and on which Member States may impose a practical test if they choose.
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It blames “an increase in the number of motorcyclists involved in accidents” for a new and “more sophisticated progressive access model.”

The European Commission says this will take into account “age, experience, training and testing.”

For more on this from the Commission on page two of this article