On September 10th 2015 the European Parliament adopted Wim van de Camp’s "Report on the implementation of the 2011 White Paper on Transport: taking stock and the way forward towards sustainable mobility".
In the report motorcycles are seen as a way to "solve the problems in urban transport by tackling congestion and parking problems" as well as providing a solution for "small logistics". The report also states that the specific design and arising benefits of these vehicles should be "adequately taken into account and reflected in EU transport legislation and guidelines".
In Mr Van de Camp’s report the implementation of the White Paper on Transport (launched by the European Commission in 2011) is evaluated with recommendations given for the next years.
Although this report has no legislative characteristics itself, it will be a reference on which "many regulations in the wide area of transport" will be based on a moving forward basis. In it motorcycles are clearly identified as having a valuable transport policy contribution to make.
This means that using motorcycles should be "stimulated and facilitated". Also that motorcycles and other powered two-wheelers should be considered when new roads are designed and existing ones maintained or redesigned.
The European Parliament also calls for actions to reduce accidents among vulnerable road users, in particular users of two-wheeled vehicles, pedestrians in urban environments and older drivers. It also calls for better design and better maintenance of all roads in the whole of Europe.
FEMA’s General Secretary Dolf Willigers said: "This is the first time that the European Parliament [officially and formally] recognizes the importance of motorcycles for transport. We have been saying for a long time that motorcycles are part of the solution for urban congestion, environment and parking problems.
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| FEMA Secretary General Dolf Willigers says: "We are very pleased with Wim van de Camp's report and its adoption by the European Parliament. Now we hope that the European Commission will do something with it and take adequate action" |
"The use of motorcycles should be stimulated and facilitated. In cities like Rome and Paris there would be enormous problems if anybody who now uses a motorcycle or scooter would go by public transport or, even worse, by car. Therefore we are very glad with the report from Wim van de Camp and its adoption by the European Parliament.
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| Wim Van de Camp's report on the implementation of the EU Commission's 2011 White Paper on Transport officially and formally places policies that "stimulate and facilitate the use of PTWs" on the European transport policy and regulatory agenda |
"We hope that the European Commission will do something with it and take adequate action".
The full text of the "Report on the implementation of the 2011 White Paper on Transport: taking stock and the way forward towards sustainable mobility" can be found here.
www.fema-online.eu
