Bike test talks welcomed (From Herald Series)

Bike test talks welcomed

6:24am Saturday 6th September 2008

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A motorcycle instructor who has been training Oxfordshire riders for decades has welcomed talks over controversial plans to change the motorcycle test.

Under the current plans, both of Oxfordshire's motorcycle test centres, in Oxford and Banbury, will be forced to close at the end of September, leaving no centres in the county.

Representatives from the Motorcycle Industry Association, the Motorcycle Rider Training Association and Riders' Edge have been talking with transport minister Jim Fitzpatrick to try to persuade him to put off the change to the test for six months - by which time more centres would be ready.

Kidlington-based John Wheeler said: "These talks are what we have been pressing for for months.

"I cannot get a test anywhere within a reasonable distance of Oxfordshire for any of my pupils and the worry is people will start riding illegally.

"These talks are definitely a positive thing and it is not too late for them to put off the change, which would mean the local facilities could stay open."

He said that the French and Italian governments had suspended the start of their new-style tests, which involve more off-road riding.

He said: "We are hoping our Government will see sense and do the same because they have not got the new test centres they wanted up and running."

Only 39 of the 66 planned new test centres will be ready by the end of the month, and none of those will be in the Thames Valley, Mr Wheeler said.

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