Any Future for Bikes in Europe?

[bigdog3]

I keep coming back to bikes because they offer freedom that you don't experience in a car. But no escaping that bikes are dangerous with 62 times the death risk compared to cars

Even after Brexit, UK will stay aligned with EU road transport legislation. EU has the policy of Vision Zero to eliminate all road deaths by 2050:
http://www.ropl.com/special-publications/special-r...

Also in just 3 year's time, all new cars must be fitted with compulsory speed limiters. Bikes are exempt for the time being

Where do our "dangerous" bikes fit with all this? How long will the authorities tolerate them? Do bikes have a future in Europe?

[Bob_Defly]

Speed limiters?!?

Wow, I'd be out of there sharpish!

[A500leroy]

of course they will, we all know that 0 road deaths would be wonderful but its never going to happen no matter what they do, If we went back to horse and cart there would still be deaths on the road

[Dr Jekyll]

A500leroy said:

of course they will, we all know that 0 road deaths would be wonderful but its never going to happen no matter what they do, If we went back to horse and cart there would still be deaths on the road

Probably a lot more, but the issue wouldn't be regarded as serious, jut part of life's rich tapestry.

[DJP]

Well, if they do away with bikes in major urban centres there probably will be zero road deaths since the roads will be permanently grid locked.

If every biker was in a car, no one would be going anywhere.

[bogie]

Yeah it could be like that old Stallone sci-fi movie "demolition man" with its super safe view of the future where no-one dies or swears

but then, more than 6000 people die at home in accidents in the UK alone, thats twice as many as die in cars and 20x as many as on bikes.

How will the EU legislate to stop people having silly accidents at home ? ..banning the use of ladders and power tools would save more lives than banning motorbikes

[bigdog3]

DJP said:

Well, if they do away with bikes in major urban centres there probably will be zero road deaths since the roads will be permanently grid locked.

If every biker was in a car, no one would be going anywhere.

Sadiq Kahn is not convinced

https://www.bikerandbike.co.uk/khan-wants-private-...

[bigdog3]

bogie said:

How will the EU legislate to stop people having silly accidents at home ?

They can't but they can legislate against bikes

[WarnieV6GT]

Cant hear over all the whistling..

[bigdog3]

WarnieV6GT said:

Cant hear over all the whistling..

[vtchequers]

Khan- So how do we tackle these motorcycle thefts in London?
Someone who hates motorbikes- Ban them from entering London, but tell them it's for environmental reasons.
Khan- Do it.

[lazybike]

I don't get why they all want us to live...make it more dangerous, thin out the herd a bit, save money on pensions and health care, win win. I'd ban seat belts and airbags, any car under 250bhp would be taxed off the road, I'd have a minimum speed limit, and no speed limits between 10pm and 6am, I'd ban leathers and crash helmets, slicks would be allowed... weather permitting ...think Mad Max but without the funny haircuts

[bigdog3]

lazybike said:

I don't get why they all want us to live...make it more dangerous, thin out the herd a bit, save money on pensions and health care, win win. I'd ban seat belts and airbags, any car under 250bhp would be taxed off the road, I'd have a minimum speed limit, and no speed limits between 10pm and 6am, I'd ban leathers and crash helmets, slicks would be allowed... weather permitting ...think Mad Max but without the funny haircuts

Great suggestions - reduce population in these overcrowded isles through survival of the fittest

[Biker 1]

Bikes won't be banned any time soon. Speed limiters?? I don't think the technology is good enough yet. If you're very paranoid, buy a bunch of current bikes & store them in a container for future use.

[BobSaunders]

Biker 1 said:

Bikes won't be banned any time soon. Speed limiters?? I don't think the technology is good enough yet. If you're very paranoid, buy a bunch of current bikes & store them in a container for future use.

The technology exists and is more than capable. It is just the matter of making it law. They won't retrofit, they will make it on compulsory on new bikes because that is easy. Eventually the older bikes will disappear and/or will be removed from the roads due to people being unable to control their speeds.

[Hungrymc]

I’m sure I’ve read that the speed limiters are going to be default ‘on’ from the factory but you’ll be able to switch them off (default back to on at next start up). Removes any possibility of accidentally speeding, it will be clearly a deliberate act and so we may see the penalties increase?

[Baldchap]

Biker 1 said:

Speed limiters?? I don't think the technology is good enough yet.

Why not? Look at a modern car and it knows the precise speed limit at any time and place. The technology exists to manufacture vehicles limited to the precise speed limit, if it was so desired.

[bigdog3]

Baldchap said:

Biker 1 said:

Speed limiters?? I don't think the technology is good enough yet.

Why not? Look at a modern car and it knows the precise speed limit at any time and place. The technology exists to manufacture vehicles limited to the precise speed limit, if it was so desired.

Called Intelligent Speed Adaption:
https://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/special...
https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/safety/intell...

[lazybike]

The technology is good enough, I guess it depends how you view driving/riding, for the majority of my journeys I'd be happy to have a speed limiter, and then there's occasions when I fancy a blast, I guess there's always track days.

[YoK]

I'd rather see tech developed that would only allow vehicles to be used by licensed and insured drivers rather than speed limiters.