Post by derek on Jul 31, 2012 9:10:52 GMT
Supporting Brussels Protest
30th July 2012
On July 13th, 2012 the European Commission announced a proposal for a Regulation Of The European Parliament and Of The Council on periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers.
As a response to this proposal, riders from three European countries that do not have road worthiness testing (RWT) are up in arms and ready to ride to Brussels to show their discontent about this proposal.
MAG Netherlands, MAG Belgium and NMCU (Norway) intend to protest on September 22nd in Brussels.
At Right To Ride, we fully support this protest because we recognise that each European country has its own issues and own way of doing things.
For example countries such as Norway only ride around 6 months of the year and do far lower mileage, consequently there would be less wear = less defects. So not wanting RWT is understandable.
In the Netherlands, we are told that the motorcycle parc (bikes in circulation) is older than in the UK, and generally motorcycles are kept in good condition, so we can understand the logic of not wanting RWT there either. We assume that the situation is similar in Belgium.
Our View
Our view is simply that these are different countries with different situations and require a different solution.
We certainly believe that the EU should not interfere and that this is a national issue which the individual national organisations should lead on.
In Northern Ireland where we are based, the testing stations are run by the government (as a not for profit scheme) and failures for defects are on average 7% per year – the cost of the RWT – which is called the MoT, is £22. (29 euros). The test is carried out annually on motorcycles over three years of age and is considered a useful, valid means of checking for defects.
It would in our opinion, be political suicide for us to support the abolition of the MoT. For that reason, we could not participate in a demo to Brussels, but that does not mean we don’t understand the reasons why our brothers and sisters in other countries are against this proposal.
We have raised our concerns and made our views very clear that the arguments used by the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations (FEMA) were flawed and did no favours to these National Organisations to support their cause.
Our comments and further information regarding the PTI Proposal – Includes What Countries Are Affected can be viewed at - www.righttoride.eu/?p=9931
View this article in full with links to protest ride on Right To Ride EU - www.righttoride.eu/?p=10068
Issued by
Trevor Baird
30th July 2012
On July 13th, 2012 the European Commission announced a proposal for a Regulation Of The European Parliament and Of The Council on periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers.
As a response to this proposal, riders from three European countries that do not have road worthiness testing (RWT) are up in arms and ready to ride to Brussels to show their discontent about this proposal.
MAG Netherlands, MAG Belgium and NMCU (Norway) intend to protest on September 22nd in Brussels.
At Right To Ride, we fully support this protest because we recognise that each European country has its own issues and own way of doing things.
For example countries such as Norway only ride around 6 months of the year and do far lower mileage, consequently there would be less wear = less defects. So not wanting RWT is understandable.
In the Netherlands, we are told that the motorcycle parc (bikes in circulation) is older than in the UK, and generally motorcycles are kept in good condition, so we can understand the logic of not wanting RWT there either. We assume that the situation is similar in Belgium.
Our View
Our view is simply that these are different countries with different situations and require a different solution.
We certainly believe that the EU should not interfere and that this is a national issue which the individual national organisations should lead on.
In Northern Ireland where we are based, the testing stations are run by the government (as a not for profit scheme) and failures for defects are on average 7% per year – the cost of the RWT – which is called the MoT, is £22. (29 euros). The test is carried out annually on motorcycles over three years of age and is considered a useful, valid means of checking for defects.
It would in our opinion, be political suicide for us to support the abolition of the MoT. For that reason, we could not participate in a demo to Brussels, but that does not mean we don’t understand the reasons why our brothers and sisters in other countries are against this proposal.
We have raised our concerns and made our views very clear that the arguments used by the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations (FEMA) were flawed and did no favours to these National Organisations to support their cause.
Our comments and further information regarding the PTI Proposal – Includes What Countries Are Affected can be viewed at - www.righttoride.eu/?p=9931
View this article in full with links to protest ride on Right To Ride EU - www.righttoride.eu/?p=10068
Issued by
Trevor Baird