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BIKERS ARE VOTERS HISTORY http://bikersarevoters.mag-uk.org
 Operation Twistgrip, the campaign run by MAG in 1991-92, changed the way that politicians addressed the concerns of motorcyclists at the 1992 General Election.
In 1996-1997 MAG followed this successful campaign with the launch of "Bikers Are Voters" and campaigned for policy change at Government level by targeting individual election candidates and seeking their views on biking issues. The political parties were made to realise that bikers had opinions which deserved to be listened to, had grievances which needed to be addressed and had votes which they were prepared to use.
With the general election on the horizon there was no guarantee that motorcyclists would get the fair deal that they deserved under the new legislature, in fact many policy statements made no mention of motorcycling's role in transport policy. In order to redress
the balance there was the need to ensure that before the election, every candidate knew about MAG, knew about motorcycling, realised that we had real voting power and expected the new Parliament to positively include motorcycling in future transport policy.
We had the ideal opportunity to influence the motorcycling views to our future Parliamentarians.
Bikers Are Voters was the campaign that reinforced the biking message during this election campaign.
We asked every UK motorcyclist to put questions to candidates and that we wanted answers.
The questionnaire was sent to MPs and prospective parliamentary candidates as they became known, in a 'campaign pack'.
It was in the interests of the individual candidates that they gave firm specific commitments to those of us whose support they sought.
MAG was then able to analyse the answers to lobby the newly elected MPs on motorcycling issues.
The result was that the three main UK parties published mainly pro-motorcycling policies and the new Government took motorcyclists' views into account when it published its subsequent Integrated Transport White Paper on the Future of Transport, ''A New Deal for Transport: Better For Everyone'', recognising that mopeds and motorcycles could provide an alternative means of transport for many trips and that they offered an affordable alternative to the car.
However, the government concluded that these advantages were dependent on a number of factors and that the role of motorcycling in an integrated transport policy raised some important and complex issues, including safety and environmental impact.
Recognising that it required advice, the government listen to riders and in 1999 established the Advisory Group on Motorcycling (AGM). The final report to Government was published in August 2004 and the recommendations assisted the Government to publish a National Motorcycle Strategy in February 2005.
The strategy will now form the keystone for initiating present and future motorcycle policies by setting out a programme of action. Including better training to take skills to a higher level , improving rider and driver attitudes and behaviour, improved motorbike design, better designed and maintained road infrastructure and smarter traffic management process.
Today motorcycling has never had a more positive light in Government policy and motorcyclists' views considered at the very highest levels of Government.
It's the moment of truth for motorcycling as we work with Government and the motorcycle community to implement the strategy to local government and government agencies.
This has not been megaphone diplomacy but steady work in partnership to set out a clear programme of action for the future of motorcycle policies in the UK.
But we need to be ever vigilant as motorcycling continually faces a "vison zero" tolerance to accidents and the promotion of road safety through constrictive legislation.
MAG exists primarily to protect the rights of motorcyclists to enjoy riding without undue interference in the form of excessive legal requirements, particularly where those requirements interfere with the fun and exhilaration of riding motorcycles.
The demo runs and protests that have shaped MAG over thirty years have been useful tools leading MAG to the engagement we now have with authorities and politicians.
So as the 2005 general election looms we must not forget the roots of the megaphone diplomacy that has shaped MAG since 1973
Uninteresting Fact
What happens to MPs when a general election is called?
Members cease to be Members once Parliament is dissolved. During the period of the dissolution ex-Members, even if standing for re-election, are not allowed to enter the Palace of Westminster or use any of its facilities. Members continue to be paid up until polling day as do Members' staff.
What happens to the Government when a general election is called?
The Government continues in office until the results of the election are known. The new Prime Minister will announce his cabinet soon after polling day.
Source: Royal Encyclopedia. Ronald Allison & Sarah Riddell (Eds). Macmillan. 1991
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