A British multi-city authority introduces plan to ban private ownership of automobiles by 2041.

A local government group in the West Midlands, England, earlier this year released its “net zero” plan to deal with global warming over the next two decades. Listed among the plan’s final steps is the elimination of private ownership of automobiles — even those that are fully electric-powered. The plans were revealed as part of a public consultation that ended Thursday.

“Car journeys are on the wrong trajectory in this region,” the document explains. “It is not practical to transfer this use over to electric vehicles… If this carries through, by the time we reach 2041, a majority of people will not own cars… All other journeys are completed by walking, cycling, scoots, and use of buses, Metro and trains.”

The plan was produced by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), which represents all twelve local government entities in the county of nearly three million residents. None of the authority’s members is directly elected, though the body has power over transportation and economic development issues.

Opponents of the plan highlighted the way local governments have been pursuing an incremental strategy of introducing lowered speed limits, traffic calming, higher taxes and similar anti-motorist policies to build gradually toward the ultimate goal of banning private ownership. Groups like Friends of the Earth have admitted their goal in lowering speed limits is to promote a “modal shift” by taking the glamor out of driving. The WMCA document is more explicit about the final objective.

“At last the truth is out,” Alliance of British Drivers spokesman Nigel Humphries said. “This has been the plan behind closed doors since the 1990s, but it’s never been clearly and publicly stated before. This is for the simple reason that when it is, up to 97 percent of people reject it.”

Under the plan, a complete ban on gasoline-powered cars would kick in by the year 2036. Before that happens, local governments would impose a “clean air zone” creating car exclusion zones in areas surrounding schools. A “scrappage scheme” would then encourage residents to destroy automobiles in return for a travel pass with £3000 (US $3850) in mobility credits for use of transit or bicycles.

From The Newspaper.com

Sound familiar? Watch out and register to vote, quick!–Bandit

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Accident Scene Management founder, Vicki “Spitfire” Sanfelipo, will be inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame August 12, 2020.

There is a strict vetting process that takes place each year, and the board of directors at the Sturgis Museum considers candidates carefully before selecting each year’s inductees.  Vicki received six separate nominations for consideration this year.

Given the nickname “Spitfire” from her long-time friend, Diva Amy Skaling, Vicki certainly lives up to that moniker. Ever since starting to ride motorcycles in the late 1980s, she’s been a bundle of energy. Playing guitar and singing at bars on weekends to earn the money needed to put herself through nursing school, the single parent raising three young daughters became a Registered Nurse and worked at a variety of jobs at the hospital in Wausau, Wisconsin, finally settling in the surgery department. In 1987 she bought her first motorcycle and then in 1995, she joined the Governor’s Motorcycle tours, established by then Wisconsin governor Tommy G.Thompson, as the only female Road Captain and ride nurse. Shortly after, she attended a workshop presented by “Slider Gilmore” entitled Two Wheel Trauma. Gilmore, an EMT in Iowa, who lectured on how to treat injured motorcyclists before professional help arrived.

Energized by Gilmore’s presentation, and with his blessing, Vicki authored a program she named Accident Scene Management (ASM), and along with three fellow nurses from Wausau Hospital, began teaching a “hands-on” class to riders in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation learned of her efforts and supported her in presenting more classes for anyone interested. It was the beginning of an adventure that led to her being honored in Sturgis this year.

Her devotion to education and saving lives led Vicki to leave her nursing career at the hospital and devote her time as a volunteer director, educator and instructor trainer for ASM. Today, with instructors in states across the U.S. and in other countries, thousands of students have been trained in roadside assistance at motorcycle crashes.  Testimonials have come in from around the world explaining how the ASM training has saved lives and improved the outcomes of injured riders.  She has continued this dedication to saving lives for 25 years, and today, besides teaching ASM, she also teaches CPR classes for the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association.

To further support the motorcycle community, Vicki founded Road Guardians, a continuing education and safety organization dedicated to life-long learning. Road Guardians is a membership organization that helps support and promote ASM as well as provides an education tool for riders of all types.

As a patriotic biker, Vicki has always admired and appreciated our military and first responder services. To that end, she founded another organization, Diamond Posse, and along with several other dedicated female riders, traveled across the country on benefit rides. These rides visited Veteran’s Administration hospitals in various states, to bring encouragement to veterans and show appreciation for their sacrifices. Diamond Posse raised thousands of dollars for the Center for the Intrepid and to purchase a companion dog for a deserving veteran.  She also brought ASM training to military installations in North Dakota and Florida. She was a keynote speaker at a safety forum at Eglin Air Force Base in Valparaiso, Florida, and was presented the “Spirit of the Bayonet” from the 65^th Engineer Battalion, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, in appreciation for her teaching Army personnel.

ASM professional series classes have been presented to first responders across the country, including firefighters, EMT’s and police academy cadets. She also taught a special class for South Dakota law enforcement prior to a Sturgis Rally, sponsored by the South Dakota DOT.

Her achievements and dedication have not gone unnoticed, and this year Vicki will join the class of 2020 at the Deadwood Lodge in Deadwood, South Dakota as she is honored for her life-long passion for teaching and promoting motorcycling as a way of life.  Her recognition also brings honor to ASM and all the instructors and students who believe in what ASM is all about.

If you are able to travel to Sturgis, South Dakota this year in August, please consider attending the Hall of Fame Breakfast at Deadwood Lodge on Wednesday morning, August 12. Help celebrate Vicki’s induction into this prestigious body of individuals who have done so much for others in the motorcycle community. If you cannot attend, consider sending her well-wishes and congratulations on her work and vision for a safer world.

-Written by Tony “Pan” Sanfelipo

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