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Thread: Time for government to change driving license regs for moped and motorcycles

  1. #1
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    Default Time for government to change driving license regs for moped and motorcycles

    To ease the transport situation that has come with corona virus and to keep social distancing. Maybe it's time to rethink the driving license rules . To allow those with a full car license to drive mopeds,scooters and small motorcycle ( as they did in the 60s and 70s ) the government are happy for folk to drive a trike of any size but not a bike. Surely this could help ease congestion / parking and help take the pressure off public transport. It's just idea that with the help of motorcycle dealers who were allow to give buyers a short basic handling test to keep things safe . We should have never allowed to government way back when to see the motorcycle as the enemy . It's can be cheap, useful transport of use properly . With the weather getting drier and warmer it might just help.

  2. #2
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    I find that the lack of caravans and motorhomes on the roads have done wonders for congestion in the roads, even in Orkney. Might be more effective to just ban them.

    And Kirkwall with no cruise liner passengers is a complete bliss. It's reminded us how nice Kirkwall can be when it's not infested with liner passengers.

  3. #3
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    Many would agree with that thinking, I would say that we all don't need to use a car and back in the day many young folk could not afford a car and did their traffic awareness learning on the bike . There must be a place with the Covid thing going to last for a long while that mopeds and scooters would help, as many journeys are done by solo drivers . If the government would wind back the license and road tax rules to make it easy to buy, insurance and road tax a two wheeler it would help the congestion and Enviroment . It must be wrong if it costs £100 to road tax a bike buy many cars to road tax free , it can't be right that if cheaper to travel with 4 wheels than 2 . .

  4. #4
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    You could also make it compulsory to do your bike test before getting a car provisional. After all, you can't apply for a provisional for lorry or bus, unless you have a car license. Make it a progression. Bike for 5 years before car, car for 5 years before lorry or bus. Will make car drivers a lot more aware of other road users.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by orkneycadian View Post
    You could also make it compulsory to do your bike test before getting a car provisional. After all, you can't apply for a provisional for lorry or bus, unless you have a car license. Make it a progression. Bike for 5 years before car, car for 5 years before lorry or bus. Will make car drivers a lot more aware of other road users.

    So in order to be permitted to use a safe mode of transport you first have to do your time on an inherently unsafe mode of transport.
    5 years of mayhem riding about in snow, ice, gales and waterlogged roads.
    Great idea
    W.A.T.P.

  6. #6
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    Yes, it is isn't it! Thank you.

    Will certainly help our congestion and emissions problems. Rather than a car driving licence being a God given right on a 17th birthday, a significant number of teenagers will revert to public transport. Those that do need to go mobile, will be doing so on less congesting, more fuel efficient scooters or motorbikes. 2 wheelers are easier to recycle than 4 wheelers, so win win all round.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by orkneycadian View Post
    Yes, it is isn't it! Thank you.

    Will certainly help our congestion and emissions problems. Rather than a car driving licence being a God given right on a 17th birthday, a significant number of teenagers will revert to public transport. Those that do need to go mobile, will be doing so on less congesting, more fuel efficient scooters or motorbikes. 2 wheelers are easier to recycle than 4 wheelers, so win win all round.
    cant say I have noticed much congestion issues in Caithness of late
    W.A.T.P.

  8. #8
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    Last time I pased through Bridge Street in Wick, it was still partially blocked by 4 wheelers parked up. Road would have been much clearer, and 2 way traffic permitted if those were bikes and not cars.

  9. #9

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    The law currently allows all those who passed their car driving test before 1 Feb 2001 to ride a moped up to 50cc without taking any further test and without using L plates. Lots of people, aged from 37 upwards, could buy and ride a moped tomorrow if they so wished.

    If you passed your test after the above date and/or wish to ride a larger motorcycle then you have to pass a Compulsory Basic Training course. If you wish to ride a motorcycle over 125cc a full bike test pass is required.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by orkneycadian View Post
    Last time I pased through Bridge Street in Wick, it was still partially blocked by 4 wheelers parked up. Road would have been much clearer, and 2 way traffic permitted if those were bikes and not cars.
    If my aunt had testicles, she would be my uncle
    W.A.T.P.

  11. #11
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    It looks like the Government might legalise the use of e-scooters on roads in the near future:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48106617

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