MOTORCYCLE DRIVING BAN – EMISSION LAWS

NOW THE ONLY HELP IS TO STICK TOGETHER!

Basically, it's not just about the desired weekend driving bans for motorcyclists. It feels like a sick discussion, but it really exists! The demand for motorcycle driving bans did not arise somewhere in a Green Chair circle, as one might think. No! Leading politicians from the CDU and FDP in North Rhine-Westphalia, such as Armin Laschet, are the main initiators who would like to enforce these bans throughout the EU.

They have already made it to the Federal Council, but that is not surprising, because the Greens are in the government as coalition partners in eleven federal states (as of March 2020) and each federal state is represented in the Federal Council by members of its state government. It is already well known that the Greens to ban

Will the end of combustion engines come in 2030?

That would almost certainly be the end for motorcycles with combustion engines and if we look at the surveys, a black - green coalition in the federal government in 2021 is currently more than possible. Rhineland-Palatinate also supports the proposal in the Bundesrat, but it is governed there by the SPD/FDP and the Greens in a traffic light coalition. Where should this development lead now?

And suddenly we are back with our Federal Minister of Transport Andreas Scheuer, recently we criticized him for the new STVO AMENDMENT 2020 and now he could at least partially be our salvation. Because of the protests against the stricter penalties for driving too fast, he would like to bring the driving ban regulations back to their original status, but he needs the consent of the federal states to do so.

Is Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU) our last resort?

The Federal Minister of Transport does not believe in the proposed driving bans and discussions about license plates for motorcyclists on their helmets. Although he is not a motorcyclist himself, he is well aware that well over 4.5 million motorcyclists will now be watching him closely. The statistics of the 4.5 million motorcycle registrations in Germany do not include seasonal license plate drivers. His statement in the “Passauer Neue Presse”: “This is a decision of the Federal Council. I have a different professional perspective. I don’t want any further bans or restrictions for motorcyclists.”

Our inquiry to the Federal Ministry of Transport

Harleysite received the following factual information upon request from the BMVI (June 11, 2020):

• The responsible road traffic authorities can best assess the specific situation on site and, for noise protection reasons, order appropriate measures in individual cases. For example, you already have the option to restrict the use of certain roads or stretches of road or to redirect traffic (Section 45 StVO). This on-site regulation has proven itself in practice.
• Effective fines already apply to tuning motorcycles: If a vehicle has an unapproved or illegally modified loud silencer system, the vehicle's operating license will expire. This administrative offense is punishable with 180 euros (driver) or 270 euros (motor vehicle owner).

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The driving bans are a state matter

In any case, the Federal Ministry of Transport is opposed to this; the respective states are already in a position to introduce far-reaching regulations. Seen in this way, you should then demonstrate where those responsible are and you think you want to ban motorcyclists from riding.

Baden-Württemberg is at the forefront!

However, we can break it down even further: in Baden-Württemberg there are now over 100 districts, municipalities and cities that are taking part in the initiative to reduce motorcycle noise. Basically, it shows very well that in the future, before an election, you will have to really think about who still really supports your own concerns and who doesn't. Of course, this applies to both directions. The Silent Rider organization is not popular, but it is supported by the state. The next question is, why is there one-sided support here? Why doesn't the state provide the same resources to opponents of motorcycle driving bans?

Even inner cities and beach access routes are closed

According to what has been said so far, the Federal Ministry of Transport will not go along with placing motorcyclists under general suspicion, which is quite good so far, but what use is it if the federal states close more and more routes, and it's not just individual routes, but also inner cities, Beach access and scenic roads.

The driving ban on the Baltic Sea beach in Behrensdorf (SH) only applies to motorcyclists between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., but the curious thing about it is that less than 5 kilometers from this sign there is a target practice area occupied by up to 600 soldiers The Bundeswehr anti-aircraft missile group is firing on all cylinders at times.

The MAP from the Federal Association of Motorcyclists eV

Maybe you already know the map from the Federal Association of Motorcyclists eV , with the existing and registered driving bans for motorcyclists. Unfortunately, it is not complete, even in my area of ​​just 20 kilometers, there are at least three motorcycle night driving bans that are not included in the list. help on the club's website , that would certainly be helpful so that we have a precise overview of how far we have actually been restricted. The following information is required: location, zip code, type of ban, time and period, if available.

Understanding for those affected

There are certainly regions where it is extreme and one can understand that the quality of life for the residents suffers as a result and it can sometimes not be a nuisance. However, that is the development of today, anyone who lives in a hotspot will have to share it with others in the future, especially through social media. Most motorcycles are registered for road use and are not tampered with. Just because the state is failing, they simply want to ban all motorcyclists from riding on certain routes.

If so, then the same rules apply to everyone!

MOTORCYCLISTS HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN FOR YEARS

What about the real problems?

Bitumen patches

It's not the case that motorcyclists are only affected by route closures! No! There are still dangerous bitumen patches on our roads, this liquid tar may be handy for filling, but when wet the stripes on our roads pose a significant danger to motorcyclists. I almost went off on a Road Glide Ultra shortly after Hamburg on the motorway heading south because the rear wheel was looking for grip on the slippery strip at 80 km/h and the road was wet with rain. You don't see the stripes when it rains, which is another problem. The route has now been renovated, and even short-term use for repairs can be life-threatening for motorcyclists.

Riding a motorcycle in the emergency lane

It would be nice if motorcyclists were allowed to take the emergency lane at least to the next exit at a reasonable speed. This is not allowed here and can be really expensive according to the new StVO amendment. It would be permissible to drive past the parked vehicles on the far left, but the vehicles are parked there to form a necessary emergency exit. An emergency exit is of course necessary, that's not the point, but there are situations where you're not particularly well cared for as a standing motorcyclist on a motorway. It's advisable to stay with the vehicle, anything else would be life-threatening.

Guardrails are no blessing for motorcyclists

Guardrails, or in modern German also known as guardrails, can represent a great danger for motorcyclists. On the MEHRSi you can see case studies and thanks where the non-profit company provided the important underrun protection.

If you think about what you need an ABE for, whether it's a mirror or an E-mark for a turn signal, then guardrails are put up on our roads that can be life-threatening for a not insignificant group of people in traffic, just sliding into them A slip in a curve can cause serious injuries. With the new RDRS driver assistance system, Harley-Davidson has now installed some safety features in the large tourers that can, for example, counteract slipping when braking in a curve, but this is not available in many others.

The impact on trade

After the car industry was driven across the country with diesel and gasoline engines in 2019, it is now the turn of the motorcycle manufacturers. They have been investing in new technologies and generations of engines for years in order to meet the ever-changing technical requirements of EU standards. If we just apply this to Harley-Davidson, which is already suffering from the EU punitive tariffs and had to relocate its production from the USA especially for Europe, that means a high level of capital tie-up.

The Milwaukee-Eight engine, for example, is a development that was developed because of the new exhaust and emissions regulations. It's not always just about loud exhaust systems, but even the engine itself has to produce less noise emissions according to specifications. In the regulation you will then find sentences like: “Type III: emissions from the crankcase” . If you read what this regulation says, you will know why motorcycles cost what they do today.

NEW DEVELOPMENT – HARLEY-DAVIDSON REVOLUTION MAX ENGINE

The new HARLEY-DAVIDSON REVOLUTION MAX engine is also a completely new development and is actually scheduled to come onto the market in 2020, if the delays in production caused by the coronavirus can be compensated for.

New Sportster series

The EU emissions standards for 2021 require up to 30% less exhaust emissions, and the standard also applies to noise emissions from the engine. Yes, that's right, the engine must be quieter and radiate less heat. For this reason, Harley-Davidson has to change the Sportster series with the EVOLUTION engine; it was actually supposed to be in 2020, but as already mentioned, the coronavirus has postponed everything.

But it clearly shows how intensively work is being done on environmentally friendly engines; the current situation casts a completely wrong light on the manufacturers. Harley-Davidson in particular is exemplary, because the traditional company even has an electric motorcycle like the LiveWire in its range this year, even if the price still gives customers stomach ache and the technology is not really accepted, Harley-Davidson is Davidson is very ahead in this area. However, one cannot necessarily say that electric cars are on the rise in Germany; only through considerable cost pressure in the form of vehicle tax increases, CO² taxes and driving bans does one get the impression that electric vehicles can even be brought to citizens.

The federal government’s new hydrogen strategy

And now hydrogen propulsion is suddenly being promoted and people want to play a leading role. That will certainly be the future, but why are we still pushing forward with electric drives today if they are already dead?

Motorcyclists are an economic factor

Motorcyclists are a good average of our middle class, they invest in their hobby and are also very fond of traveling. A motorcyclist invests in many areas, in addition to the motorcycle comes motorcycle clothing, especially with Harley-Davidson this is a very extensive area, plus the maintenance costs, workshop, insurance, gas stations, tire manufacturers, ice cream parlors, coffee shops, meeting points, hotels, campsites and so on Even the electronics industry is selling more action cams, apps and other accessories to its clientele.

It's about jobs in various areas.

Motorcyclists not only ride winding roads, they also travel a lot. For example, at Lake Faak in Austria , the Harley riders alone bring millions of euros into the coffers and round off the off-season in Carinthia. And in the Austrian Tyrol, of all places, pilot projects are being installed on some routes where only motorcyclists with a registered stationary noise of less than > 95 dB (A) are allowed to ride.

June 10th to October 31st, 2020, driving bans for particularly loud motorcycles with stationary noise (near field level) > 95 dB (A):

Driving ban for motorcycles in Tyrol

– B 198 Lechtalstrasse from Steeg (Vorarlberg state border) to Weißenbach am Lech
– B 199 Tannheimerstrasse from Weißenbach am Lech to Schattwald (German state border)
– L 21 Berwang-Namloser Strasse from Bichlbach to Stanzach
– L 72 Hahntennjochstrasse 2nd part from Pfafflar to Imst (Pass height)
– L 246 Hahntennjochstraße 1st part from Imst (pass height) to Imst Vogelhawkerweg intersection
– L 266 Bschlaber Straße from Elmen to Pfafflar

Source: State of Tyrol

It also affects European suppliers

What is unfortunately often underestimated is that when fewer motorcycles are sold, it also affects suppliers and sales; Harley-Davidson, for example, gets electronic components from Bosch and brakes from Brembo. Brembo is headquartered in Italy, and the country is expected to receive aid from the EU's development fund program worth 81.8 billion euros. Source: Handelsblatt

You could say the cat is biting its own tail, because both companies also deliver to the maligned auto industry, with Bosch being hit twice, the company announced in October 2019, especially at the diesel locations in Baden-Württemberg and at the plant in Bremen and Schwäbisch Gmünd want to cut massive jobs and in October 2019 no one was talking about Corona. (Source: Zeit online ) We already mentioned Baden-Württemberg

The Harley-Davidson authorized dealers in Europe

Harley-Davidson has 423 authorized dealers in Europe (as of June 2020), only in the USA does the company have more locations with 698 authorized dealers. Unfortunately, one increasingly has the feeling that our politicians' political advisors are becoming less and less aware of the global connections. It is therefore not excluded that the political leadership from North Rhine-Westphalia could possibly be responsible for the next unemployed in the entire industry. Because it is undisputed that route closures and motorcycle driving bans on Sundays and public holidays will have a significantly damaging effect on business for the motorcycle industry.

Harley-Davidson 's competitors , if we take a look at BMW , the company produces the successful R 1200 GS model in Berlin-Spandau and has already produced over 500,000 of them for the world market. By the way, we also find the two suppliers Brembo and Bosch here, which will probably only surprise non-motorcyclists!

The Euro 5 emissions standard is already very extensive

There are already new requirements, the UNECE-R 41.04 regulation requires 77 dB(A) ex works in the Euro 4 emissions standard and the UNECE 92.01 regulation comes into force in emission level 5 and therefore accessory exhaust systems have also been at 77 dB since 2020 (A) limited..

You ask yourself, what's the point of all this! It is more than unfair how the motorcyclists are being attacked politically here and where is the equality.

CONCLUSION

Of course we have a few black sheep in the ranks, but they are not the problem, wherever there is traffic there is always a background noise, whether it is the engines, the tires and of course the exhaust systems. Most of the time it is the case that traffic has increased over time. The problem has often not been recognized by politicians or has been recognized too late. There cannot and should not be a driving ban, for anyone! Many citizens in our country are exposed to completely different hardships, let's take a look at the B73 Hamburg - Stade, those who live on the street really have problems. In comparison, a 100% driving ban should be introduced there!

What do those who live opposite a fire station in a big city do, where the Marinshorn fire engines operate around the clock? Where do you want to start and end, we need more personal responsibility, it's gotten to the point where people move in in the country next to a farm and complain about the cock crow in the morning and they're even right.

In my village, in addition to motorcyclists and vintage cars, countless tractors drive past on the weekends when the farmers harvest their harvest, and no one has any understanding for them these days. In the village the cars are parked on the thoroughfare in such a way that the farmers with their large trailers are hindered, that's all sick. Or where people live on the railway lines, there are areas where the train has to run slower because of the residents. Who moves to a railway line and complains afterwards?

The fact is that after the motorcyclists, the next ones will be in line; unfortunately, part of society has completely lost its personal responsibility.

We have to stick together now, go to the DEMOS and find out in your areas where what is taking place.

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Posted by Harleysite at the Sunday, May 24, 2020

Text & Research: Harleysite

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