All off-road motorcycles and quadricycles are to be registered and carry number plates, if a new bill is passed.
The bill, proposed by back-bench MP Graham Stringer has been put forward against a background of strong public concern about the illegal use of motorcycles in public places by mainly young anti social elements of society. The problem has been fuelled in recent years by the rise in the number of cheap Chinese imports of mini motos and ‘pit bikes’.
However, the number of imports of very cheap Chinese bikes fell by around 59 percent in 2006 against a backdrop of effective police and community action against illegal motorcycling by the Home Office, the Police and the industry. Where enforcement campaigns have taken place, public complaints have fallen by as much as 80%.
A coalition, including the National Farmers Union and the Agricultural Engineers Association, are opposing the moves. They say they are particularly concerned that Stringer’s Bill has unintended consequences that would have wide effects on off road motorcycle sport and motorcycles, quadricycles and all terrain vehicles (ATVs) used for agricultural purposes.
The impact on off-road motor sports would also have a knock-on effect on farmers and landowners who provide land for these events under farm diversification. The new rules could affect the viability of these activities and thus reduce or remove valuable income streams from farm businesses. The coalition also argues that the requirement to display number plates on agricultural ATVs would also be impractical and an unnecessary further imposition on farm businesses.
The coalition of groups is calling for the Bill to either be rejected at Third Reading, or for MPs to amend it so that legitimate off road motorcycle and quadricycle users do not need to face cumbersome, expensive and ineffective regulation.
