NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Use 30 January 2009b CLEAN BIKES HEADING FOR TAYSIDE? Mid-Scotland and Fife Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser has issued a call to public bodies and private businesses across Perthshire to consider going green in their transport needs. Murdo met with Vectrix Electrics this week to try out their electric motorcycle and to give his support to green transport. Electric motorcycles are already being used by Strathclyde and Lothian & Borders Police Forces in Scotland. Electric motorcycles have zero carbon emission at the point of operation and have minimal running costs. The motorcycles used by Strathclyde and Lothian & Borders Police can cruise at 60 miles an hour, reaching that speed in less than nine seconds. Commenting, Murdo said: “I believe that here in Perth & Kinross, our public sector and private businesses want to be as green as possible. Perthshire is a clean and beautiful part of Scotland and has a good air quality. I want us to keep Perthshire clean and we need to stop being so dependent on fossil-fuels. That is why I want businesses and the public sector to consider green and greener technologies as an alternative. Steps such as having an electric motorcycle instead of a petrol bike, transporting freight by rail instead of road and recycling waste will all help our environment and Perthshire. “We must reduce the amount of energy that is wasted in order to reduce the amount of pollution we create. I believe that here in Perth & Kinross we are experiencing the impact of climate change, with unpredictable weather and increased flooding. Summer 2008 was one of the wettest across Scotland and Perthshire and Angus have witnessed flooding first hand in recent years. That is why I want to see public bodies and private business to turn to green transport wherever possible.” ENDS   back to top of page