Following the latest guideline changes from the government, we are seeing more and more businesses and shops opening and starting to trade again, with even more expected over the forth coming weeks.

One rather large problem remains though for thousands of commuters. With commuting via public transport being advised against, how are people going to travel to and from work, while abiding by the social distancing guidelines?

The government have discussed options such as cycling and walking but this still leaves many workers and students without a realistic solution to their new commuting conundrum.

The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) have also noticed the motorcycle shaped gap in the messaging and are urging bikers to help by emailing their local MP. To make the process as easy as possible the MCIA have even drafted a letter you can simply copy and paste to send to your MP, please see this below.

---   template letter from the MCIA  ---

Dear Mr/Ms [INSERT YOUR MP’s SURNAME HERE]

I am writing to you as one of your constituents who is a user of a Powered Two Wheeler (PTW) who would like to know why Government is not endorsing their use as an alternative to public transport.

PTWs, in the form of low and zero-emission scooters and light motorcycles, are a clean and efficient transport mode that require little road space for travel or parking and which can meet the needs of a variety of commuters, while at the same time fulfilling their social distancing and environmental obligations.

In the current climate they are the perfect alternative for those who would usually use public transport, but for whom walking and cycling are not viable options.  Access to small PTWs is straightforward, with most requiring just the completion of a one-day training course, called CBT.

With so much going for them, it could be assumed that they would be heavily promoted by Government, as the country works towards easing lockdown, but unfortunately, that is not the case.

In his briefing on Saturday, 9th May, the Secretary for State for Transport, the Rt. Hon. Grant Shapps MP, when promoting alternatives for public transport, extolled the road congesting private car and fast-tracked the consultation on un-regulated e-scooters, but ignored PTWs, even though they are already the choice of more than a million road users, like me, who are legal and regulated.

Consequently, I would very much appreciate your assistance in encouraging Government and others to promote PTWs as a valid alternative to public transport and beyond.

Yours faithfully

[INSERT YOUR NAME]

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Need to find your local MP and their contact details? Head on over to https://members.parliament.uk/ when there type in your postcode to contact your local MP.