Restricting motorcycles from Ludlow town centre (UK)

During many weekends and holidays, large groups of motorcyclists ride repeatedly around Ludlow centre's one-way traffic system.

The noise is extremely excessive, and intrusive. Their noise drowns out conversation, the television, or radio.

These bikers come to Ludlow strictly for the purpose of being seen - to show off their bikes and ride around in circles, often going in excess of the speed limits, using speed bumps as a 'slalom', and often with their engines tuned to make them 'roar' in a deliberately loud manner.

This creates excessive air and noise pollution.

The riders then park on the pavement and congregate in Castle Square (not in designated car-parks). They do not bring a significant income to the town and, in fact, they have been known to cause tourists inconvenience that spoils their stay.

This is a severe anti-social noise nuisance issue that Shropshire Council has bylaws against, and yet they are seemingly never enforced.

We also note that Ludlow and Shropshire Councils have declared a climate change emergency.

We realise this is a wider and more complex issue due to the lack of sustainable public transport systems in Shropshire. However, there need to be immediate policies implemented to deter vehicles - especially the most polluting - from Ludlow town centre. Motorcycles are many times more polluting than cars, and therefore it makes sense for councils to address this issue first as a priority.

"In the UK, the government’s extensive research shows deterring polluting vehicles from city and town centres is by far the quickest, most cost-effective way to cut levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution, which are at illegal levels in most urban areas."(World Health Organisation's global recommendations)

Jonathan Grigg (Professor of paediatric respiratory and environmental medicine, Queen Mary University of London; Doctors Against Diesel) wrote in the Times last year (March 19th, 2019) that "vehicles that emit the highest concentration of toxic gases and particles must be removed from all UK roads as soon as possible. Regulations covering real-life particulate emissions from motorcycles and scooters should be introduced as a matter of urgency"

Since the global pandemic concerning the COVID-19 virus outbreak, research showed that air pollution levels (primarily from traffic) significantly worsened the Covid-19 outbreak and has led to more deaths than would have happened if we had much lower air pollution. In fact, scientists have also suggested that air pollution particles may be acting as vehicles for viral transmission, exacerbating the pandemic in traffic-heavy towns and cities.

During the pandemic response and UK lockdown, motorcyclists were still regularly coming to Ludlow, parking and congregating in Castle Square, and failing to maintain social distancing guidelines.

As we as a society discuss preventative and sustainable lifestyle and business practice changes following the pandemic, we must recognise that the current situation with traffic in the UK, and worldwide, is damaging. New attitudes and new approaches will keep us safer and ameliorate the consequences of this and any further pandemics.

Now is the perfect time for progressive thinking and pushing forward with positive change in our communities.

Therefore, as residents and visitors, paying our council tax and contributing significantly to the local tourist economy of Ludlow, we are asking our elected representatives to take action on our behalf.

REFERENCES:

https://www.ludlowadvertiser.co.uk/news/17804513.letter-traffic-almost-spoilt-ludlow-visit/

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200427-how-air-pollution-exacerbates-covid-19

https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/file/2912/download

https://www.latimes.com/news/la-hy-throttle11-2008jun11-story.html

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/deliveroo-pollution-rise-of-delivery-motorbikes-hits-efforts-for-cleaner-air-0gwfbsmlc

https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/09/mythbusters-motorcycle-emissions.html

Photograph reference accompanying this petition:
A motorcycle emits smoke in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati (2018).