With inflation concerns and the rising cost of living, The Federation of European Motorcycle Associations launched a passionate plea for motorcycles in November 2022. In particular, FEMA Secretary General Dolf Willigers explained FEMA's position on maintaining reasonable taxes on motorcycles, as well as taking other measures to encourage the use of motorcycles as a means of viable daily transportation.
Reducing our carbon emissions is an important and vital goal, and one that FEMA argues motorcycles should absolutely be a part of. Although combustion engines produce a certain level of emissions, the majority of motorcycles produce fewer emissions than combustion engine cars. Battery electric vehicles are part of the solution, but they are also relatively expensive in 2022, and the raw material and human costs of integral elements like lithium cannot be ignored.
In urban centers with public transportation infrastructure, this can also be part of the solution. However, just as the global COVID pandemic has hit most industries hard, it has also had a negative impact on public transportation. As ridership has declined, transportation systems have not scheduled as many trips on routes with low human concentrations. In many cases, they have also increased prices. These factors meant that riders with access to other transportation options were more likely to choose these other transportation options.
According to FEMA, this is exactly where two-wheelers can come into play. In European markets, where a wide variety of commuter electric two-wheelers are available for purchase, they are also affordable in the same way as combustion engine motorcycles. High-end electric motorcycles are more expensive, but then again, so are high-end thermally powered motorcycles. The fact is, riders have a variety of choices that can help them get where they need to go in an affordable, carbon-reducing way.
Above all, underlines Dolf Willigers, FEMA believes that motorcycles can be a powerful tool in the fight against poverty in public transport networks. This is why FEMA encourages government and legislative bodies to promote two-wheelers. For example, taxes on motorcycles should be lower than on cars because they are smaller and lighter, and they cause less wear and tear on public roads.
Similarly, FEMA positions itself against restrictions on motorcycles in urban downtowns when they are ideal vehicles for getting around congested city streets, and can help reduce traffic if more people are encouraged to choose two-wheelers rather than cars.
Bicycles and e-bikes are great and have their place, but so do motorcycles. Motorcycle riding is a way of life for all kinds of people in many countries and is highly valued for its practicality. FEMA wants to see more legislative encouragement for motorcycle travel as a way to combat multiple transportation problems across Europe.
