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NORWEGIAN AND NETHERLANDS MOTORCYCLISTS CELEBRATE BAN ON CABLE BARRIERS
On Friday 4th August the Norwegian Minister of Transport, Mrs. Liv Signe Navarsete, announced a ban on the use of cable barriers.
She did so after years of lobbying by FEMA´s member organisation, the Norwegian Motorcycle Union (NMCU). “Finally, we see an end to the egg slicers”, said NMCU chairman Jan-Fredrik Moller.
Since the early nineties, the NMCU has spearheaded the struggle against cable barriers, or wire rope fences, a design not at all developed with motorcyclists’ safety in mind. In a press conference outside the Department for Transportation in Oslo, Norway, the Minister of Transport, Mrs. Liv Signe Navarsete, made the following announcement:
“I have, in agreement with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, reviewed the objections from the NMCU, and examined the case more closely. Today I have this message to the NMCU and the Norwegian motorcyclists: The Public Roads Administration shall hereafter use crash barrier types that offer a high level of safety for all groups of road users. This implies that there will be no more road stretches fitted with cable barriers, beyond those already installed”.
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration has argued that cable barriers cost a lot less than other barrier designs.
While it is true that cable barriers are cheaper to purchase, maintenance costs have proven to be astronomical, and thus the total cost ends up comparable to other designs. “We are very pleased that the Minister of Transport has heard our objections, and we’re grateful for the wise decision she has made.
This is a victory for road safety, for the NMCU, and for all motorcyclists in Norway”, said Jan-Fredrik Moller, facing massive applause from the motorcyclists present.
In December 2005, after successful lobbying by MAG NL, the Dutch parliament voted in favour of a ban on cable barriers in the Netherlands.
This success came after a change in the approach by MAG NL.
Years of talks with civil servants of (amongst others) the ministry for transport never gave clear results, but as soon as MAG NL started to get elected politicians involved, both on a national and a regional level, the ball started rolling.
At the same time the Dutch launched a pr campaign, in an attempt to get the 'popular opinion' on their side.
On Saturday 10th September 2005 MAG NL organized a protest run to underline motorcyclists' objections to the use of cable barriers (or wire rope fences).
To visualize the dangers of cable barriers the riders took it upon themselves to make the barrier 'motorcyclist friendly' by covering it with straw bales.
The protest was supported by the Dutch foundation 'Mobility for the Handicapped' and they joined the ride on their (often specially modified) bikes and trikes.
The foundation defends the rights of handicapped riders, including a number of riders that have lost a limb to road side furniture.
In January 2006 the regional 'parliament' of the Dutch province of Overijssel, in the east of the Netherlands, rejected plans to install cable barriers (or wire rope fences) along the N340.
The plans were to re-design this road and change it from a two-lane road into a two -plus-one road (where the extra lane would be used for overtaking, alternating between both directions of traffic).
The plans included the placement of cable barriers on both sides of the road and between the lanes of opposing traffic.
MAG NL has been fighting these plans since 2004, but following the vote in favour of a ban on cable barriers in the Netherlands by the National Parliament in December 2005, the politicians in Overijssel changed their views and they now support MAG's view (helped by a 24-hour information-bombardment and intense lobbying by MAG NL before the debate).
The protest run in September 2005 against the cable barriers along the N860 in the province in Groningen was followed by a series of talks and discussions with the authorities.
This has had the result: that the last Dutch cable barrier was dismantled in July 2006!
NMCU, MAG Netherlands and MAG UK supports FEMA´s (Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations) fight on European level.
During a meeting in the European parliament on Wednesday 19 April 2006, FEMA informed MEPs about the dangers connected with the use of crash barriers.
With standard crash barriers motorcyclists will often slide under the barrier, instead of being guided.
A collision with one of the supporting poles often leads to fatal injuries.
The safety of motorcyclists can be improved by adapting crash barriers with elements that prevent riders from hitting the poles.
DETAILS ON THE MAG UK CAMPAIGN IN THE ACTION BRIEFING SECTION
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