Hours left to save bikes from road pricing

Today is your last chance to sign MCN’s petition against road pricing before it is given to Tony Blair.

As this was written, the list of names had reached 4,411 and was still growing by the minute, with just hours to go before it’s due to be submitted to the Prime Minister.
The online petition, on Number 10’s website, states: ‘We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to exempt motorcycles from proposed road pricing. Motorcycles are a non-congesting mode of transport. As such, subjecting riders of motorcycles to charges intended to reduce congestion is counterproductive.’

Number 10 will be expected to respond in writing to our demands after the petition is submitted tonight. Add your name now at: petitions.pm.gov.uk/MCNroadpricing
Ten local authorities have won bids to the Department for Transport to plan pilot local road pricing schemes before a national system is devised. A national scheme which charges motorcyclists could require bikes to be fitted with satellite tracking devices which monitor road use.

We launched the petition in February after Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander promised to listen to people who had signed a similar petition against pay-as-you-drive charges. Roads minister Stephen Ladyman admitted later in an MCN interview that road pricing would be a new congestion charge but still refused to rule out charging bikes.