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THE MAJORITY OF PUBLIC AGREE YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE DEDICATED AREAS FOR OFF-ROAD BIKING
The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) has carried out research which shows that the majority of the public, both riders and non-riders, agree that young people should have special places where they can participate in off-road motor sport activities.
Young people enjoy many benefits from participating in such activities.
It provides an excellent hobby, can help in getting and staying fit and actively involved in sport, develop co-ordination and balance, encourage concentration and instils transport awareness that will help them as they get older.
Annually, 7,000 new bikes are sold which are designed for children and young-people to use away from the road in appropriate supervised places. These are high quality machines sold with proper advice and back-up from reputable suppliers.
The MCI is aware that there has been a significant increase in the import of poor-quality copies of these very small 2-wheelers – from around 10,000 in 2002 to 70,000 in 2003.
Such machines are often sold at very low prices via mail-order or internet outlets with no local presence or specialist training, or by local outlets that are not motorcycle specialists with inadequate advice about safe and responsible use or maintenance.
The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI), and the relevant retail and sport organisations, have no control over irresponsible importers and traders, or the abuse of public roads and spaces that seems to follows.
However, the industry remains committed to ensuring that the many people who are participating in constructive, legitimate and legal motorcycle activity are not penalised because of a minority of irresponsible or selfish people.
Many of these machines do not meet European standards for safety, reliability, noise or pollution.
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