Top 11 Laws that should be changed for motorcyclists

It’s one of those things we take for granted because that’s the way it is. But why do bikes have to be subject to the same traffic regulations as cars? There are plenty of examples of existing regulations discriminating between different types of road vehicle: HGV speed limits on motorways and dual carriageways, for example (which, although you could say are a restriction, could just as easily be seen as cars having a higher speed limit).

So why are bikes, with vastly different vehicle and performance dynamics, lumped into the same category as cars? Seeing as most car drivers think we ride as if we’re a law unto ourselves, we might as well be.

Here are our top 11 fantasy bike-specific road traffic act amendments to get you started; add your own below. 

1. Solid white lines: motorcycles are permitted to cross solid white lines when appropriate.

Bikes are somewhat slimmer, more agile and quicker than your average family saloon, so there’s no reason we shouldn’t be allowed to break the dreaded nose-to-tail formation along the A65 and scoot past. There are plenty of corners that don’t have solid white lines but which we wouldn’t overtake on because it’s clearly unsafe. If we can be trusted to work that out, surely we can work out when it is? 

2. Undertaking: motorcycles are permitted to use any lane on a motorway or dual carriageway to pass other vehicles.

The ‘grey area’ of the speed at which filtering becomes undertaking is instantly resolved. Bikers have a much clearer understanding of peripheral space on the road, and are in no greater danger undertaking than overtaking. 

3. National speed limit: when the national speed limit sign is shown, the maximum speed for motorcycles is 80mph.

We all do it anyway. When a law is routinely ignored (go on, be honest), and obeyed only from fear of punishment rather than on moral, ethical or humane grounds, it’s a strong hint there’s something wrong with the law rather than the hundreds of thousands of criminals it creates. 

4. Bike-specific speed awareness courses: as an alternative to accepting three points, motorcyclists can choose to attend a bike-specific speed awareness course.

I’ve been on a standard speed awareness course. It cost £120, was a complete waste of time and failed entirely to reintegrate me back into society. The only truth it revealed was what an industrial money-making scam the entire charade actually is – thousands of hotel rooms booked out across the country, seven days a week, four shifts per day, 30 or so people each time – you do the maths. I’d love to know exactly how much cash companies like the AA, who run some of the courses, make from them. It’s immoral.

For the same kind of sum, I’d much rather be on a riding course – on road or track – learning how to be a better rider.

Doesn’t that make more sense?*

*Actually, speaking of industrial money-making, that’s not a bad idea. Leave it with me. 

5. Repeal the helmet law (full licence holders only): remove the requirement for full motorcycle licence holders to wear a helmet.

Most people think the helmet law is a no-brainer (lol). I’d certainly not ride – much – without one. Maybe to the shops. Maybe not. Anyway, point is there’s no rationale for interfering with my personal choice of headwear any more than there is how much fast food I eat, how many fags I smoke, how much booze I put away or how high up a tree I choose to climb. Or even what I wear on a bike. Head included. My choice.

6. Experience-graded full motorcycle licences with equivalently graded motorway and dual carriageway speed limits: replace the standard driving licence with three experience-based grades of full bike licence: novice (green), intermediate (blue) and expert (red).

On passing their full motorcycle test, a rider is granted a green novice licence, meaning the rider is subject to national speed limits. After ten years the licence is automatically upgraded to a blue, intermediate licence permitting the rider to travel at 90mph on motorways and dual carriageways. After another five years it’s upgraded to a red, expert licence which raises the motorway and dual carriageway speed limit to 100mph.

Licence status would be recorded on the DVLA’s vehicle owner information database and therefore available to the PNC (police national computer), allowing police to quickly determine the probable licence status of the rider. 

7. Nationwide access to bus lanes: all powered two-wheelers will have unrestricted access to bus lanes.

8. Repeal learner laws: replace the existing system with a simplified age/capacity/experience-based system allowing 16 year-olds on 50s, 17-year olds on 125s and giving access to a full bike licence from the age of 20 (subject to a two-year, 600cc ‘probation’).

Revitalise biking and save the nation’s youth from Xbox slavery in one move.

9. Nationwide ban on charging for bike parking

Plus mandatory bike parking spaces in every car park, including underground and barrier-controlled car parks.

10. Criminalise refusing to serve motorcyclists with helmets on

Of course, this wouldn’t be so much of a problem if we could also have 5). 

11. Act of Parliament to enable local councils to restrict pedestrian access in TTROs (temporary traffic regulation orders)

One of the objections to holding road race events on the mainland in the UK is a legal requirement to maintain pedestrian access when a road is closed to traffic say, for maintenance. While a council can close any road to traffic at any time, it has a legal obligation to maintain pedestrian access and to deny it requires an Act of Parliament (unless a suitable alternative is provided). Get rid of that, and there’s one less reason why we can’t hold an Isle Of Anglesey TT road race every year.