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Motorbike riders were put under the spotlight by police officers in York as part of a campaign against rogue motoring, according to a local news source. In a report, York Press stated that officials in the area working under the Operation Footpath programme handed out three £30 fines to adults caught riding on public footpaths.
According to the news source, police had also clamped down on rogue drivers and additional reports suggest that fixed penalty notices were handed out to motorists found driving without a seatbelt while behind the wheel.
Police say that such behaviour can result in more expensive car or bike insurance policies should cover firms view them to be a risk on the roads. PC Jo Brooke said: “We hope what we have done this weekend will make people think twice before breaking the law in future and set out a clear signal to them.”
Earlier, a report by Swindon Advertiser stated that police had mounted a crackdown operation to catch out drivers travelling over the legal speed limit. At the same time, figures released by the Department for Transport show that some 3,150 people were killed on roads in the UK during 2006. It is believed that figures could be reduced by measures that include clampdowns.
news source : http://www.onlyfinance.com/
CHICAGO (CBS) ― Some drivers are so down and out about the price at the pump, scooter sales are up. CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman reports they're the hot new commodity on the roads. Americans have long had a love affair with their cars, but with spiking gas prices Glen Richardson says his attraction to four wheels is wearing off. He has a new crush on something that can get more than 80 miles to the gallon.
"I bought it and fell in love with it," Richardson said of his scooter. "I took it to church and it was the talk of the church. People came out and asked how does it work, and is it like a motorcycle? I said no it's totally different bike." Johnny Scheff, owner of Motoworks of Chicago, explains the difference between the two to customers looking to buy. "On a cycle you have a clutch, 5 or 6 gears, significantly heavier, significantly more powerful. Scooters are light weight, very easy to ride," Scheff said.
He sold almost as many scooters in the month of May as he did all of last year. He also says at least a couple of brands nationally have doubled their sales numbers. At ACE Motorcycle and Scooter Co. in the West Loop, interest has been so high, they'll be turning some of their repair room into a showroom. They think the bike will sell because "The initial price, bike insurance and the operating costs are all low," owner Chad McDade said. Entry level models are around $2,000, and some go as fast as 95 miles an hour. Others aren't made for anything over 40. "It's mostly for in the city," McDade said. "It's mostly for the errands. People don't want to take their Hummers to get something small.
That's one reason Richardson is smitten. But he's actually upgrading to a heavier model, though he said he doesn't use his scooter in the winter months. Protective gear is recommended for anyone on a scooter. Many dealers offer test drives, and for some models you don't even need a different class of license.
news source : http://cbs2chicago.com
You've seen Pimp My Ride, now it's time to pimp your bike – and without a forty-something man who talks like a rapper in sight. Bike insurance and breakdown bods, ETA, have taken a standard, single-speed Charge Plug two-wheeler and pimped it beyond all recognition. After stripping the frame, polishing it and plating it in copper, it's been finished in 24ct gold. Not the ideal substance for something you could end up using to haul yourself up steep hills and through rush hour traffic but it sure looks the business – if you spend your spare time chillaxing with P Diddy.
Of course the mods don't stop with the frame. The wheels have been rebuilt using white velocity deep-v rims and the chain, seat and handlebars have had a lick of white too. To finish, the front wheel has been radially spoked. As with anything of this ilk, price is on application, but if you fancy owning one (and lord knows someone must or it'll have been a huge waste of time) then you can win one on the ETA website.
news source : http://stuff.tv/
The UK's 1.2m motorbike, moped and scooter owners will be able to shop around for the cheapest motor insurance with the launch of a new online comparison site. The site, from swift cover.com, enables riders to compare quotes from a panel of more than 19 specialist brokers and insurance firms, including Devitt, MCE and MotorCycle Direct.
The average cost of running a 125cc bike is now £1,540, with insurance the second biggest expenditure after fuel. This service claims it will save riders more than 37% on their premiums — or an average of £143 a year. If you find a cheaper quote elsewhere, the site promises to beat it. However, this applies only to riders aged 21 years old and over.
news source : http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/
Motorists could save money during the credit crisis by swapping four wheels for two, the AA has suggested. Using a motorcycle to get around could prove to be a cheaper option than a car as bike insurance is usually less costly than car cover and motorcyclists also avoid having to fork out for congestion charges. It is also far easier to park a motorbike which is another advantage it has over its four wheeled brother.
AA public relations manager, Ian Crowder, has predicted that the economically friendly motorcycle will become more popular on Britain’s roads as motorists look to save money. “I don’t think we are going to see huge increased numbers of bikes used but I think a lot of people have a bike as a second vehicle rather than a sole vehicle,” said Mr Crowder. Around one-in-seven woman would consider abandoning their car in favour of a motorcycle for financial reasons, a recent Post office survey has found.
news source : http://www.onlyfinance.com/
It was tough Monday afternoon watching yet another young motorcyclist being buried while his mom, dad and the love of his life looked on, still in shock. Already, some hard questions are being asked: How can a kid who just got his licence legally ride a 1,000cc machine? Why are bikes legally sold to rookie riders that can easily do twice the speed limit, and more? These are the wrong questions, focusing on the wrong thing: the bike. A motorcycle by itself never hurt anyone. A bike is as safe, or unsafe, as its user. Luc Bourdon was a very good kid by all accounts, who made one wrong decision at a very bad moment in time. Let he who has never done the same cast the first stone.
Too often though, on a motorcycle, that one lapse of judgment might turn out to be your last, especially on super-powerful machines that are growing increasingly popular, as are motorcycles in general, even if sales in New Brunswick dipped slightly last year. The Motorcycle and Moped Industrial Council says almost half the bikes sold in Canada last year were 951cc or bigger. Those are some powerful machines. Every year, another 2,200 new motorcycles on average are sold in New Brunswick. Some suspect that with the skyrocketing price of fuel these days that number can only grow, though soaring motorcycleinsurance premiums will eat up a lot of those savings. Hardcore motorcyclists say there are two kinds of bikers: those who have crashed, and those who will crash.
I know many bikers, none of whom ride irresponsibly, all of whom have taken rider-safety courses and yet all but two of whom have found themselves being collected by paramedics at one point or another. The other two who have yet to take advantage of New Brunswick's free ambulance service have indeed dumped their bikes before, but walked away with little more than scratches and a good story to tell around the campfire. If some good is to come from the loss of Luc Bourdon, perhaps it will be that each rider reviews his or her riding habits, and maybe it's time to have a second look at our requirements for licensing new riders as well.
That being said, it's worth noting that the training of motorcyclists has never been better and the stats reflect that, with the majority of motorcyclists taking training above and beyond what is required by law. Deaths have been almost halved from their peak in the 1970s and injuries are down 48 per cent. There is also the argument that having the power of 1,000ccs under your butt when you need it can save your bacon in some situations as well. Experienced riders say it can be a valid argument. But can we do more than what we are already doing to make sure riders come home safe? Luc also took a highly regarded motorcycle course, after all. The bottom line is that one can't lose sight of the fact that blaming big-bore bikes by themselves as the cause of tragedies such as the one we saw this past week would be as silly as blaming forks for obesity.
news source : http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/
Motorbike riders were put under the spotlight by police officers in York as part of a campaign against rogue motoring, according to a local news source. In a report, York Press stated that officials in the area working under the Operation Footpath programme handed out three £30 fines to adults caught riding on public footpaths.
