Free Road Tax ?

[milleplod]

Call me a cynic, but it'll go something like this -

1. Required number of signatures on petition is achieved. All signees thrilled.
2. Time set aside for the subject to be debated.
3. Subject debated.
4. Proposal turned down.



Pete

[dave the german]

You're a cynical

Probably right thought

I guess I must be a cynical too?

[SP250]

Hey, if you don't ask you definately won't get.
On the other hand they may say just say yes.

John

[Blackal]

I think the whole petition-thing is to give the punters the false sense that they can change policy and shape government thinking.

Al

[Dog Tyred]

I think the whole petition-thing is to give the punters the false sense that they can change policy and shape government thinking.

Al

Where is the "Like" button when you need one?

Never happen in a month of Sundays. Tax intake falling, welfare demands rising, GDP falling. Osborne needs every penny he can get while still trying to look ecological. An motorbikes are not ecological.

DT

[Corvus]

An motorbikes are not ecological.

DT

Why not? I'd have thought they were. Intrinsically.

[milleplod]

If anyone reads Motorcycle Sport and Leisure, their regular contributor, Dr. Leon Mannings, regularly gives detailed insights into just how motorbikes are perceived by 'those in authority'. Getting them accepted, even simply getting them acknowledged as a form of transport that should be applauded, is, to put it mildly, an uphill struggle!

Pete

[Blackal]

An motorbikes are not ecological.

DT

Why not? I'd have thought they were. Intrinsically.

45mpg to transport one (typically) person..........

You can get 5 people in a car with similar consumption.

So in relative terms - they are not very sound as far as resources go.

(would be my guess)

Al

[milleplod]

I think we should stop bringing attention down on bikes, full stop. If politicians had any real idea of what they're capable of, they'd most probably ban them!

Pete

[Corvus]

I think we should stop bringing attention down on bikes, full stop. If politicians had any real idea of what they're capable of, they'd most probably ban them!

Pete

Ha ha. Mum's the word. (Touches nose with forefinger.)

But if we tell them the "other stuff" they're capable of.

Single track. This means very narrow. This means low traffic congestion. It also means low parking congestion (street/work/etc. It means small frontal area, which means low drag. They are light, so have excellent power/weight potential.

The low drag and good power/weight means they are very economical compared with a car of comparative technological input and performance, especially if that performance is max,d at just over the speed limit.

[Corvus]

An motorbikes are not ecological.

DT

Why not? I'd have thought they were. Intrinsically.

45mpg to transport one (typically) person..........

You can get 5 people in a car with similar consumption.

So in relative terms - they are not very sound as far as resources go.

(would be my guess)

Al

My cb200 regularly returned over 80 mpg, in the days before I discovered "scratching". For that it would still get me about in spritely order. I can't remember what my cg125 would return but I'm guessing 100 mpg. It'd reach the speed limit as easily as a 50hp car. This was 1977.

Cars have had the benefit of decades of technology aimed at economy. What technology bikes have had seems to have been aimed very squarely at performance. And boy are they great machines as a result.

there is no argument regarding carrying passengers for the given frontal area. The car wins on this score.

[slparry]

An motorbikes are not ecological.

DT

Why not? I'd have thought they were. Intrinsically.

45mpg to transport one (typically) person..........

You can get 5 people in a car with similar consumption.

So in relative terms - they are not very sound as far as resources go.

(would be my guess)

Al

In reality tho Al all the cars in the commuting queues are usually with just one person in them.

I seem to recall reading that if only 10% of commuting traffic moved to bikes there would not be any congestion

[Dog Tyred]

An motorbikes are not ecological.

DT

Why not? I'd have thought they were. Intrinsically.

45mpg to transport one (typically) person..........

You can get 5 people in a car with similar consumption.

So in relative terms - they are not very sound as far as resources go.

(would be my guess).



Al

Spot on Al .... plus remember a huge amount of motor cycle journeys are taken just for the pleasure of riding, nothing to do with getting from A to B. Wanton waste of fossil fuel for no gain (other than a smile on the face).

Plus how many 1100cc cars return as little as 45mpg with one passenger.

Plus can't remember the last time my bike returned 45mpg after a good days ride?

Yes a CB 125 may return 100mpg but who the fuck wants to ride a CB125


DT

[Corvus]

Why not? I'd have thought they were. Intrinsically.

45mpg to transport one (typically) person..........

You can get 5 people in a car with similar consumption.

So in relative terms - they are not very sound as far as resources go.

(would be my guess).



Al

Spot on Al .... plus remember a huge amount of motor cycle journeys are taken just for the pleasure of riding, nothing to do with getting from A to B. Wanton waste of fossil fuel for no gain (other than a smile on the face).

Plus how many 1100cc cars return as little as 45mpg with one passenger.

Plus can't remember the last time my bike returned 45mpg after a good days ride?

Yes a CB 125 may return 100mpg but who the fuck wants to ride a CB125


DT

Your first line describes me. Certainly the me of "today". But it's missing my point. You're comparing Apple's and bananas, in my eyes.

I've put forward what I see as the intrinsic qualities of what a motorcycle is. Intrinsic qualities that render it intrinsically ecological. I've thought of other reasons to add to the list.

Regarding who tf wants to ride a 125 is also casually sidestepping the point. You want an ecological vehicle? Surely a single track vehicle is a good solution?

[slparry]

Why not? I'd have thought they were. Intrinsically.

45mpg to transport one (typically) person..........

You can get 5 people in a car with similar consumption.

So in relative terms - they are not very sound as far as resources go.

(would be my guess).



Al

Spot on Al .... plus remember a huge amount of motor cycle journeys are taken just for the pleasure of riding, nothing to do with getting from A to B. Wanton waste of fossil fuel for no gain (other than a smile on the face).

Plus how many 1100cc cars return as little as 45mpg with one passenger.

Plus can't remember the last time my bike returned 45mpg after a good days ride?

Yes a CB 125 may return 100mpg but who the fuck wants to ride a CB125


DT

And many motorcycles are still used for commuting, use is irrelevant regarding road taxation. A little old lady that only uses her car on Sundays trip two miles up the road to church still pays the same RFL on a similar car as a road warrior sales guy trolling up and down the motorway system.

My F800GS easily returns 55 to 65 mpg during spirited use and has CO2 levels the same as a Fiat 500 which pays zero road tax. As more and more bikes are having to comply with Euro xx levels it seems only fair that the powers that be recognise the efficiencies and give a level playing field to two wheeled users

And while we're at it on injustice. ... HMRC rules with their 50p a mile allowance for cars but for motorcycles of any CC it's only 24p .... yet they also allow 20p per mile for using a pushbike.... .so they reckon it's only 4p per mile more to run a superbike for business use than a pushbike!!! again plainly discriminatory, yet how hard to MAG and the BMF fight for that one. Easy answer they don't :/