Down Shift – More of Europe Banned to Motorcycles
More of Europe has now barred motorcycles from traveling along public roads. To limit “noise pollution” motorcycles are barred from parts of Pyrenees National Park. There were no restrictions on cars applied.
The year-round ban impacts not just motorcycles but also quads, buggies and mountain bikes. According to what I read this ban on “particularly noisy” vehicles occurred without taking into account actual sound levels of the vehicles in question.
From the documentation:
- Limit the passage of noisy vehicles to certain areas of the ZEPQA, taking into account the regulation of motorized traffic inside the park, restricting access to certain tracks either throughout the year or at certain periods.
- Restrict motorized access to the entire network of forest trails and paved paths of the ZEPQA of Alt Àneu and Farrera, except the access roads to urban centres, by vehicles considered excessively noisy consisting of all types of vehicles such as motorcycles, quads, ATVs and buggies that are not electric, except those of registered residents, beneficiaries of livestock forest exploitation, public services and those duly authorized by the Alt Pirineo Natural Park and/or the respective local entities.
- Promote the use of electric vehicles.
- In addition, there is a specific point dedicated to ‘Carrying out awareness actions specifically aimed at drivers of vehicles that emit more noise: motorcycles, mountain bikes, quads and buggies.’
My Take: This is not the first area in Europe to ban motorcycles. I have written several articles on this issue referencing the following:
Dozens of roads closed to motorcycles in Germany.
Some of the best motorcycling roads in Europe now ban motorcycles.
The Swiss are planning banning motorcycles from certain roads.
IMHO this is a continuation of a Vision Zero mind state. If there are no places to ride motorcycles, then there will be no motorcycle accidents. Call me cynical but the bureaucracy of the EU will beat down motorcycling over time
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Up Shift – Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) 2022 Legislators of the Year.
Representative Susie Lee of Nevada and Representative Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin were recently honored as the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) 2022 Legislators of the Year.
Representative Lee was instrumental in seeking answers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the profiling of bikers. Representative Gallagher was the lead sponsor of the Motorcyclist Advisory Council (MAC) bill which was included in a larger transportation bill that officially reestablished the MAC.
Other pro-motorcycle Senators and Congress members
- Senator Ron Johnson (Wisconsin)
- Senator John Thune (South Dakota)
- Senator Joni Ernst (Iowa)
- Senator Gary Peters (Michigan)
- Congressman Tim Walberg (Michigan)
- Congressman Michael Burgess (Texas)
- Congressman Troy Balderson (Ohio)
- Congressman Darin LaHood (Illinois)
My Take – I am just so glad that we have some pro-motorcycle folks in our national legislation branch of government! If any of these people are representing you, you now have an avenue to approach them for more motorcycle actions! Sadly, none of these are representing my state.
