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		‘On your bike’ says MEP Tuesday, 11th September 2007 Strasbourg – Local MEP Roger Helmer has this week donned his leather jacket and taken part in a thrilling motorcycle ride around the streets of Strasbourg as past of the 11th annual Anniversary MEP Ride at the European Parliament. The concept of the event, which was organised by FEMA (The Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations), was to bring together motorcycling enthusiasts from all over Europe with their elected representatives for an enjoyable event that offered them the opportunity to experience the pleasure of motorcycling, while at the same time being briefed on important motorcycling issues. The focus of this year’s meeting was motorcycle safety and urban transport, with Mr Helmer and his colleagues being briefed on the views of European motorcyclists on potential motorcycle safety problems. They were also presented with FEMA’s ‘European Agenda for Motorcycle Safety which underlines the differences that motorcyclists have from other vehicles and provides a summary of why accidents happen from a rider’s perspective and how to improve some areas of concern. Speaking today, Mr Helmer said: “Motorcycling offers an inexpensive, environmentally friendly and effective means of transport. Hence, the number of motorcycles on European roads has more than doubled over the last two decades. However, while motorcycling presents a solution to many of today’s mobility challenges, motorcycle safety is becoming an issue of concern for an ever-increasing number of stakeholders, who overlook the positive aspects motorcycling can bring to the transport mix. I welcomed the opportunity to meet with FEMA’s representatives and thoroughly enjoyed riding with them through the streets of Strasbourg in my leather jacket last week.” There were 145 participants in this year’s event including 30 MEPs, who covered over 50km during the evening.