[EDITORIAL]
 Dear Reader,
I recently had a very positive meeting with Vice-President of the European Commission Jacques Barrot, in charge of transport. This was the opportunity to discuss his initiative on the Green Paper on Urban Mobility and provide him with the ACEM position paper in response to the consultation by DG TREN.
[read more]
ACEM's position on the Green Paper on Urban Transport
 The European Commission adopted in September 2007 a Green Paper on urban transport (COM(2007) 551). As a stakeholder, ACEM has contributed to the process leading to this document, which was followed by an intense consultation phase. ACEM participated providing the views of the Motorcycle Industry in the current public consultation phase, as well as raising further important points.
[read more]
Open letter to the European Parliament’s Transport Committee
On February 22 European organisations representing a broad range of road users, road safety organisations, public authorities, infrastructure operators and industries have signed a joint Open Letter to the European Parliament’s Transport Committee to support a positive vote in its February 25-26 meeting.
[read more]
[NEWS]
MAIDS database used in TRACE project
The MAIDS database revealed once more a to be a reference tool in motorcycle accidentology. Expert members from the ‘Crash Research Department’ of CIDAUT (Centre for Automotive Research and Development, Spain) queried and analyzed its valuable data at ACEM´s office in Brussels. Their findings will integrate the conclusions of EU-wide TRACE study on traffic accidents causes.
[read more]
 European Commission greenlights eSUM project
The European Commission has approved eSUM, a project focusing on PTW safety in cities. The project is lead by the city of Barcelona involving ACEM, PTW manufacturers and three major European capitals.
eSUM, European Safer Urban Motorcycling, is a collaborative initiative between industry and local authorities of Europe’s principal motorcycle cities to identify, develop and adopt measures designed to deliver safer motorcycling in the city environment.
[read more]
[MARKET]
The European PTW market in 2007
2,5 million vehicles registered in the EU last year
The European PTW market is still flourishing. After breaking the 2 million units threshold in 2005, it touched the 2,5 million landmark at the end of 2007. Last year the PTW market grew by a remarkable 10.1%.
[read more]
[REPORT]
 1000th member joins European Road Safety Charter
Commissioner Barrot declared that significant achievements had been made by the European Road Safety Charter since its creation in 2004.
"The number of signatories has increased greatly," he stated. "We now have one thousand members! This indicates strong social commitment. We wanted to trigger awareness as to the importance of the issue of road safety, and this objective has been achieved."
[read more]
The 86th European Motorshow
Brussels’ European Motorshow, formerly known as the Salon de l’Auto et de la Moto, has grown to become a major event for manufacturers, resellers and the public. For the 86th edition of the Motorshow FEBIAC has launched several initiatives aiming at bringing the debate beyond the cars and motorcycles on display.
[read more]
[MOTORCYCLING & SOCIETY]
"The Forms of Speed"
Motorcycles in art on exhibition in Rome
An art exhibition on "The forms of Speed" has been inaugurated in Rome. The event, supported by FIM and FMI, follows the strong relationship between art and machines in Italy from the years of the Futurism to Casey Stoner's Ducati winning the 2007 MotoGP. [read more] |
[IN BRIEF]
DG TREN announces next European Road Safety Day. This second European-wide event will be held on 13 October 2008 and it will focus on road safety in cities. The main event will take place in Paris. Member States will organise events at national level and Vice-President of the European Commission Jacques Barrot, Commissioner in charge of Transport, will make the key-note speech. [read more]
The European Commission adopted a proposal for a Directive on the cross border enforcement of traffic laws. The Directive aims at facilitating the cross-border prosecution of traffic offences which imperil road safety. Technical measures and legal instruments are to be put in place which will enable EU drivers to be identified and thus prosecuted for offences committed in a Member State other than the one where his or her vehicle is registered. This will make an appreciable difference to road safety in Europe by bringing about a positive change of behaviour in both non-resident and resident drivers. It will also end the unequal treatment which often exists between these two groups of road users.
JAMA, Japan's Automobile Manufacturers Association, released the figures concerning the Asian PTW market for January. Motorcycle output fell 20,2% to 114.214 units in January, dropping for the fifth straight month.
Domestic shipments of motorcycles fell 7,9% to 31.696, while exports fell 6,3% to 106.746 units.
Tax cut-backs for PTWs in India. The Indian Finance Minister reduced excise duty on two-wheelers to 16% from 24%.
The Finance minister also announced that excise on hybrid vehicles would be slashed from 24% to 14%. The industry welcomed the cut-backs as share prices rose.
Open days for French race tracks. The French Motorcycle Federation (FFM) has presented a programme of "Open Days for FFM Circuits" during which race tracks will welcome motorcycle riders. The French Ministries of Health and of the Environment are supporting the initiative as part of an action plan to increase roadsafety. The programme spans over 27 days involving 16 circuits offering a valuable opportunity both for motorcycle neophytes and experts eager to improve theirs skills and to determine the behaviour of their motorcycles. Thanks to the advice of certified instructors the motorcyclists will ride in a controlled environment maximising their learning experience. Access to the tracks is open to vehicles with insurance. Full-face helmet, gloves, boots and leather equipment are compulsory. Read more on www.ffmoto.org. |
[AGENDA]
2008
8-11 May, Gran Semana de la Moto, Barcelona, SPAIN
28 May, Presentation of the Initial Rider Trading Project, Brussels
28-30 May, International Transport Forum, Leipzig GERMANY
8-12 October, Intermot, Köln, GERMANY
6-7 October, 7th International Motorcycle Conference Köln, GERMANY
13 October, 2nd European Road Safety Day
4-9 November, EICMA, 66th International Cycle and Motorcycle Exhibition, Milan ITALY
1 December, 5th ACEM Annual Conference, Brussels, BELGIUM |
