Protests continue as Westminster Council tries to hang on to bike parking tax
 
Thousands of bikers are expected to descend on Piccadilly Circus, Haymarket and Regent Street on the evening of Tuesday 9th June in continued protests against the controversial motorcycle parking tax introduced under the stewardship of Cllr. Danny Chalkley, despite attempts by the council to push through a permanent charge by altering the scheme.
 
This month WCC announced that it would drop the £150/year, or £1.50/day, charge to £1, or £100/year, and make spaces in it’s car parks free. This has drawn criticism from protestors, and other Westminster Councillors, who have called the alterations ‘back to front’, ‘plainly ridiculous’, ‘arrogant’, ‘desperate’, and ‘an empty and meaningless gesture’, as the scheme would still net millions for ‘improvements’ that have already been covered by existing takings.
 
Spaces in car parks have historically had a lower uptake, and many of the car spaces being converted were of minimal use due to the congestion charge. Campaigners have often stressed that indoor parking would be one of the areas where charging could have been justified, and accused Cllr. Chalkley of playing politics rather than addressing the concerns of protestors.
 
Paul Dimoldenberg, Leader of the Labour Group in WCC, said last month:
 
"The Council's position is looking sillier with every day that passes. How can it be fair or make financial sense to offer free motorbike parking in expensively-run car parks and yet charge motorbike owners to park in the street?"
 
Warren Djanogly, chairman of the campaign against the tax, said:
 
“I’d love to visit planet Chalkley, but I doubt I’d be able to afford the parking. His actions are those of a man who,  in his desperation to save face, would rather risk the reputation of one of the finest  Councils in the world rather than admit when he is wrong, in what can only be seen as petulant stubbornness." 

Warren also highlighted the problems with the controversial pay-by-phone system, and the risks to riders:

“Chalkley claims that cash-less parking charging has one of its roots in Eastern European Mafia attacks on the cash-machines, and yet he's content in exposing the most vulnerable of road-users, of which over 40% are women, to publicly display their mobile phones and credit cards whilst announcing the details to the world.”
 
Press Spokesman for the Campaign, Charlie Lort-Phillips, said today:
 
“WCC have tried to brush the concerns of these protestors under the carpet, without seeing that the very principal they are setting is the cause of the anger. If this charge is taken up by boroughs across the capital, motorbike use will plummet. That would be ultimately detrimental to the capital as a whole, and bring yet more pressure to bear on public transport. WCC’s utter inability to foresee the consequences of their greed has fuelled the anger of those joining us on the street this week.”
 
Over 3000 protestors brought Central London to a standstill on the 11th May, in addition to over 4000 who rallied outside City Hall on 31st March.
 
“This council have made millions out of those who are doing their bit to alleviate congestion,” said Warren “If they want to charge us like cars, we can congest like cars. We are not going away, we will prevail, and this tax will be stopped.”

A map of the route can be found here:

 

The British Motorcyclists Federation will be showing its support for the world's first zero carbon, clean emission grand prix, the TTXGP -The eGrandPrix, next week, by awarding a BMF trophy to the highest place British Rider.

The TTXGP eGrandPrix will be held on Friday 12^th June as part of the Isle of Man TT fortnight and will be run over the world famous 39.73 mile Mountain Course.

Since the TTXGP’s inception some twelve month’s ago, the BMF have supported the race concept and the development of the road legal Marvizen TTX01 electric motorcycle and now see the awarding of a BMF trophy for this historic race as a natural progression.

The BMF’s Chris Hodder said: “We all know that racing improves the breed and the TTxGP eGrandPrix will stimulate and provide an exciting test-bed for clean-technologies that could soon enter the mainstream market. We want motorcycling to continue without the associated environmental concerns and without dependency on limited fuel supplies, the TTXGP eGrandPrix gives clean technologies the chance to prove that they are more than pipe dreams.”

TTXGP eGrandPrix founder and organiser, London businessman, entrepreneur and keen motorcyclist Azhar Hussain said: “This is a race designed to stretch the cutting edge of technology, married to the excitement and speed of open competition, with the ultimate goal of providing alternative, greener transport.”

Eighteen teams from six different countries; the USA, India, Germany, Austria, UK and the Isle of Man, have entered the race to produce a unique and international grid line up.

There are two classes within the TTXGP eGrandPrix race, the Open Class and the Pro Class 3A with the Open Class only eligible to machines that can be sold following the race for £20,000.

The winner of the Open Class will receive the ‘TTXGP Snaefell Open Trophy 2009’  the Pro Class category champion will be awarded the ‘TTXGP Snaefell Pro Trophy 2009’ while the highest placed British rider will receive the BMF Trophy and a cheque for £250.

Teams:

Team name                                                    Class              Rider

Mission Motors                                                PRO 3A           Thomas Montano

Kingston University     (UK)                            OPEN              George Spence

EVOdesign      (UK)                                         PRO 3A           Paul Owen

MotoCzysz                                                      PRO 3A           Mark Miller

KillaCycle Racing /Lightning Motorcycles       PRO 3A           Alan Connor

eROCKIT                                                        PRO 3A           David Madsen-Mygdal

Barefoot Motors Racing                                  PRO 3A           Chris Petty

Imperial TTxGP           (UK)                             OPEN              Chris Palmer

Brammo/BIKE                                                 PRO 3A           Roy Richardson

Team Agni                                                       PRO 3A           Robert Barber

HTBLAUVA - TGM                                           PRO 3A           Paul Dobbs

ManTTx Racing                                               OPEN              Dan Kneen

TORK                                                              OPEN              John Crellin

XXL                                                                  PRO 3A           Thomas Schoenfelder

EVOdesign                  (UK)                             PRO 3A           Olie Linsdell

Electric Motorsport                                          OPEN              Chris Heath

Electric Motorsport                                          PRO 3A           Roger Maher

Peace e-rider                                                  OPEN              Antonio Maseo

Brunel X-team             (UK)                             PRO 3A           Steve Harper

Brammo/BIKE                                                 PRO 3A           Mark Buckley

TTXGP website: www.ttxgp.com

TTXGP blog: www.egrandprix.com

TTXGP Twitter: www.twitter.com/ttxgp

TTXGP flights

To see the world’s first zero carbon eGrandPrix, the TTXGP is offering an exclusive one-day return flight to watch the race for an all inclusive flight package costs £399. See www.ttxgp.com/flightsfor full details.

This year’s opening up some of London’s bus lanes to motorcycles has been a welcome development says the British Motorcyclists Federation, but experience over the first four months has shown many riders have incurred penalty notices through inadvertently using ‘closed’ bus lanes.

The BMF, instrumental in persuading Mayor Boris Johnson that opening up London’s bus lanes to motorcyclists would improve safety, say that because the only bus lanes opened up are on those ‘red routes’ governed by Transport for London (TfL), this has caused confusion amongst motorcycle users, especially newcomers to the system.

With the other bus lane routes under the control of London’s 33 local councils not being open to motorcyclists, bus lanes can change designation, sometimes on the same stretch of road, without riders always being aware, say the BMF.

The Old Street roundabout for example, has the bus lane on one side open to motorcycles, while on the other side it is not. Also the A5 changes several times along its length, as does the Euston Road.

The BMF have unsuccessfully tried to determine from the councils involved the level of infringement recorded, but from reports received from members, it is a significant problem.

The BMF is now proposing that:

TfL should take control of all of London’s bus lanes
Recognise a bus lane’s strategic importance and make them all red routes
The BMF say that this is a logical extension of TfL’s management of, and responsibility for, London’s bus service as a whole and it is therefore nonsense to split bus lane designations in this way.

Note 1:In March 2007 the Government issued a new Traffic Advisory Leaflet (TAL02/07) to Local Authorities that specifically encouraged a more objective assessment to be made of bus lane use by motorcycles.

Note 2: Existing Bus lane access sites: Bristol has operated a permanent bus lane access since 1996 and Reading since 1999. Other sites are in: Northern Ireland, Birmingham, Colchester, Derby, Bath, Hull, Swindon, Richmond on Thames, Newcastle on Tyne, Sunderland, Plymouth and the M4 bus lane. Still being trialled in London are the Finchley Road (A41) at St John's Wood to Hampstead, the A23 to the South and A13 to the East.

Spring is sprung and it is six months since we unveiled the all-new fuel-injected Bullet Classic to the British public at the NEC Bike Show. Since then we have taken delivery of the first batch of these machines and launched them to the British press. Road tests have recently appeared in Motor Cycle News, Motorcycle Sport & Leisure and The Classic Motorcycle, to name a few, and all agree that the new Classic combines authentic period styling with an exciting new engine.

“Ten percent extra power might not sound like much but it’s certainly made a difference to the Bullet” writes Peter Henshaw in Motorcycle Sport & Leisure. “It feels more sprightly from take off, more responsive and revvy … it’s now fast enough to keep up with modern traffic, able to cruise at 60mph and even hold an indicated 70 without feeling as if it’s flat out.”

James Robinson of The Classic Motorcycle has a similar impression; “And, for the first time perhaps, the firm now has a machine that while still looking old actually performs how a ‘modern’ motorcycle is expected to and does.”

Our initial batch of black Classics sold out immediately – green and red machines have followed and are now finding their way into the dealer network, so contact your local dealer to see one up close and don’t forget that the new Bullet Classic doesn’t just look good, it sounds good too.

“It’s the sort of noise someone needs to put on YouTube for everyone to appreciate” commented Peter Henshaw. So we did. 

Fourth annual Royal Enfield Open Weekend 20th and 21st June 2009

Four years ago we decided to host an official Royal Enfield event at our factory in the Cotswolds. We felt that it would be nice to offer existing and potential customers an opportunity to see the complete model range and to take one out for a test ride, but nothing could have prepared us for the crowds that descended on Blockley that first year. Since then the Open Weekend has gone from strength to strength, with many of our dealers and bike clubs organising ride outs to visit.
Held at the historic Watsonian-Squire sidecar factory close to Stratford-on-Avon, there is plenty to see and do at this relaxed event, with the added attraction of free entry and parking. Awards will be given for the best bike ridden to the Open weekend (one for each day - judged by Real Classic magazine) and all makes and models are welcome to enter. Jim Reynolds will be master of ceremonies over the weekend, providing a running commentary along with technical talks and celebrity interviews. Plus there will be IAM-escorted rides available on the new fuel-injected unit construction Classic and Electra models.

Other attractions include a sidecar factory walkabout, the famous food tent (serving excellent value freshly cooked food), live insurance quotes, spare parts counter and a chance to see the new collection of Royal Enfield branded casual clothing.

Really important information about test rides

If you want to take a machine out for a test ride then you will need to bring both parts of your driving licence, a road legal crash helmet and adequate riding gear. Rides will be accompanied by IAM instructors and are allocated on a first come first served basis. Watsonian Squire Ltd reserve the right to refuse test rides to anyone without giving a reason, (which sounds tough but we have to say it).

Dirty Beast gets an Injection

We will be launching the new Trials bike in May. Powered by the same unit construction fuel injected engine as the Electra, the Trials EFI is designed to capture the sprit of the ‘unstoppable Bullet’ in a package that will be comfortable to ride on today’s roads. In addition to the new engine the Trials gets vintage pattern block tread tyres for 2009, as well as a mini luggage rack to which a pillion pad seat may be attached. Watch out for press tests in May/June and see it up close at the Open Weekend.