I found a message posted on a UK riders forum, regarding an event called, "Ride for Rights", taking place on October 20, 2007...

http://rider-connect.co.uk/index.php?q=node/1204

It's basically an organized protest against the UK government's attempt to establish a national system of toll roads. More specifically, these riders are trying to lobby the government into making motorcycles exempt from the tolls.

So I did some brief research into "road pricing", which is the term that the UK is using. It doesn't appear they have much specifics into how many toll booths they'll have, which roads will have them, and where. Here's the UK government's webpage on Road Pricing...

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/roadpricing/debate/

The government only knows that the roads are now heavily congested, and that congestion is going to get worse. Somehow, they believe that making people pay to use the roads will reduce congestion. I'm not in agreement with that.

The worst congestion happens because of jobs and careers. People are going to, and coming from, work. They're also driving on the job. How is a national system of toll booths going to reduce that?

I suppose it might collect money to pay for new roads, or more subway systems, bus systems, etc. But since we're talking about congestion in the metropolitan areas, not out in the country, I have doubts that more buses and subways is going to relieve congestion. The problem is too many people, period.

In Southern California, we have toll roads, and while they are used very heavily, they still haven't reduced congestion overall. One of the most congested freeways here, is SR-91, connecting Orange County to Riverside County. It's not a toll road, but it does have a set of toll lanes.

There was an interesting article I read several years ago, that as the toll lanes become congested, they raise the toll prices. This causes more people to take the free lanes (which move along at 5mph). As commuters become more frustrated with the free lanes, they switch back to the toll lanes. The cycle continues, raising the tolls even higher. So far, commuters are still bearing the high tolls.

Currently, it costs $9.50 to drive in one direction on this toll lane, on a Friday, at the peak hour, and as low as $6.85 on a Monday at the same hour. (link to toll schedule) The toll lanes run only for 10 miles.

The fact is that these high prices hasn't done anything to relieve congestion. The monies raised from the tolls hasn't built any new freeways, nor provided SR-91 commuters with alternative transport.

What I'm saying is that this national system of "road pricing" in the UK is not going to relieve congestion. As long as there are more people than ever before in a metropolitan area, there will always be more congestion.

Labels: Toll Roads, Traffic Congestion, UK Motorcycle News

Motorcycle News published an eye-opening article about the British Government wanting to implant microchips into peoples' motorcycles to determine if any unregistered bikes are riding the roadways...

DVLA crime reduction officer Allan Lindenburn said the aim was to see whether the chips, called Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips, could provide a solution to high rates of road tax evasion for motorcycles.

Labels: Law Technology, UK Motorcycle News, Vehicle Registration

Reuters reports that the British government is considering a law that requires all motorcycles to be fitted with a speed limiter preventing them from being ridden "too fast"...

Electronic speed limiters, already fitted on some scooters and high-performance bikes, could be required by law if the government adopts the committee's ideas.

Giving evidence to the committee, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said it saw no need for motorbikes that can comfortably exceed the 70 mph limit twice over.

The charity suggested that engine size be limited to 125cc.

Labels: Legislation, Speed Limits, UK Motorcycle News

Local government officials in Devon County, England are consulting with bikers regarding the design of new parking spaces within the town center of Barnstaple. County planners want to hear comments from motorcyclists on issues ranging from clearly marked parking spaces, safety, theft prevention, lighting, and parking space sizes.

With the number of motorcyclists on the rise, especially throughout Europe and Asia, it makes sense to design streets and parking structures with bikers in mind. It seems some of the most popular destinations for bikers are places that can't adequately provide parking for motorcycles.

Labels: Parking, UK Motorcycle News

The Motorcycle Action Group published a warning on its website to all motorcycle owners in Great Britain that the government plans to go after you even if you're not operating your motorcycle.

The law will allow police to get access to insurance company records so that they can compare them to motorcycles parked in driveways and in garages to see if any of them are uninsured.

This is a total invasion of privacy. Instead of keeping the peace, the police are being used to shake money out of good people. It's kinda like the modern day version of the King's (or the Queens's) tax collectors knocking on your door and raiding what valuables you've got. I'm just glad I don't live there!

Labels: Motorcycle Insurance, UK Motorcycle News