The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) strongly urges Transport for London
(TfL) to drop its victimisation of the poorest in society to no public
or environmental benefit, and has called on TfL to demonstrate ‘a degree
of moderation and common sense.’
MAG submitted a further response to TfL on the long-running threatened
user charges for riders of older motorbikes. Machines built before
around 2007 face a massive £12.50 per day charge in the capital. MAG’s
Director of Communications & Public Affairs, Lembit Öpik, has appealed
to TfL ‘to show a degree of common sense here. The category of riders
using older machines is small, and they largely do so because they can’t
afford newer bikes. It’s hugely socially unjust to hike up the cost of
their commute by over 1,000% while drivers in cars like a new Rolls
Royce pay nothing – even though these obviously generate more emissions
than a 20-year-old 50cc four-stroke moped. We’ve made our points
repeatedly – and with painstaking reference to science and social
realities and the problem of getting to work at unsociable hours to do
low-paid jobs. TfL can still do the right thing and recognise that
they’re simply punishing those least able to pay more for public
transport or for a newer motorbike.
‘Remember, there’s no benefit to the environment. These bikes produce
almost no pollution and reduce congestion, thereby reducing ‘secondary’
pollution. Forcing them off the road increases pressure on over-loaded
public transport, or drives these citizens out of work altogether. MAG
has presented TfL with a moderate and well reasoned case but we have
received no indication that they are listening.
The MAG response is available here:
https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/8/8f/CAZ_2017_02_26.pdf
The consultation ends on 28th February 2018, but please continue to make
your concerns known directly to the Mayor at:
https://www.london.gov.uk/contact-us-formBeing shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles,
Hunter S Thompson
