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Front Page
Editors Ramblings
Focus On
A Word From The President
Behind The Lines
Foreword
Vat On Helmets
Hard Evidence
MAG Wizardry
MAG Info Lists
MAG Youth?
Competition and Bits!
Affiliated Clubs
Gold Wing Owners
Odds and Sods
New MAG Group Reps Contact Racing Rep
Stolen Bikes
Be Alert
National Motorcycle Museum
Websites of the Month
Useful Links
Stolen Bikes
MAG Events
Previous Issues
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A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT: Reasons to join MAG
As a founder member of MAG back in 1973 I have watched or helped the organisation grow into a highly successful lobbying organisation that, despite the criticism of our
detractors, now enjoys the ear of government who recognise us as a legitimate and articulate user group.
In my view one of the greatest problems facing us today stems from the phenomenon fostered by the mainstream motorcycle press, of transferring the racing culture from the
track to the road. Through its bi-monthly tabloid newspaper, Streetbiker, MAG seeks to balance the dangerous influence of the lunatic titles, and in pursuit of that goal we are
specifically trying to identify and recruit those groups of committed lifetime riders who share our concerns which the climbing fatality figures reflect. I hope that you find the following
information helpful in your efforts to recruit new members.
RAISON D’ETRE
The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) is an organisation that exists to protect motorcycling
from unsympathetic legislation that threatens the pleasure of motorcycling. Beyond that we have taken responsibility for promoting a better motorcycling environment through local
lobbying on convenience issues such as bus lane use, congestion charging and parking facilities.
SAFETY
Safety is a major headache for MAG as the measures proposed by ill-informed campaigners frequently conflict with the unfettered enjoyment of motorcycling whilst failing to provide real
solutions. MAG has taken on board safety issues, principally through providing intellectual and financial support to the founders of Bikesafe 2000 and via road safety advice published in
our bi-monthly newspaper Streetbiker.
MOTORCYCLE THEFT
Theft is a major problem for all bikers and MAG has addressed this problem with a reward
scheme for ‘shopping’ thieves, the promotion of secure parking and campaigning for tougher penalties for convicted thieves.
BENEFITS
More recently MAG has become a major service provider to the motorcycling community through negotiating a host of membership benefits ranging from magazine subscription
discounts to life insurance, ferry discounts, and a blinding European breakdown deal. All of these deals have been arranged to provide financial spin off for MAG so that not only can we
arrange tailor-made packages for bikers but those deals fuel MAG’s political agenda at no cost to its members.
SOCIAL
MAG operates the most comprehensive programme of motorcycle based social events in the UK, the numerous local groups nation-wide hold frequent meetings with a strong social
element, in addition to which some of the country’s finest rallies and festivals are run by MAG. These help to fund the political action through financing our office and paid staff.
STRUCTURE
MAG operates democratically via a National Committee (NC) comprising 20 regional reps and a number of appointed officers plus a board of five to ensure a rapid response capability.
The regional reps are elected by the members in their region on whose behalf they exercise the only votes at NC meetings. Each region comprises any number of local groups, each
run by a local rep. The regional rep provides the channel of communication between the local groups and the NC whose meetings are held bi-monthly and are open to observers from
among the membership given adequate warning and the availability of space.
Established in 1973 specifically to campaign for the repeal of the mandatory helmet law,
MAG has dramatically broadened the scope of its activity and has now established itself as the legitimate voice of the road-riding biker in the UK. MAG now enjoys access to the ear of
government via a network of committees and connections. Our aim is to steer legislation rather than oppose it outright and by doing this it is frequently possible to ‘draw the teeth’ of
proposals whilst leaving the title of the measure unchanged and thus the dignity of its architects intact. MAG is out to make friends and influence people, not to make enemies.
In some areas we have to be emphatic in denouncing crude challenges to our pleasure by unreservedly opposing radical threats like telematic control of our engines.
MAG promotes road safety but not at the expense of our right to ride, enjoy fundamental freedoms, primarily the control of our machines.
MAGıs sustained opposition to the helmet law is fundamental to our commitment to presenting a consistent philosophic position. MAG has tailored its tactics and style to suit
the evolving motorcycle and political scene but will not trade ethics for short-term popularity, though the fact is that issues other than the helmet debate consume 99% of our effort.
These days MAG endeavours to stay ahead of the politicians by vetting forthcoming legislation and intervening to nip things in the bud by feeding facts and arguments to friendly
politicians in convenient spheres. MAG is part of the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations, which provides us with representation in Brussels where much of the
legislation affecting us now originates.
At home we enjoy a seat on the Government Motorcycle Advisory Group, which was
established at MAGıs behest in response to our ‘Bikers Are Voters’ campaign. This means that at last we are in at the discussion stage on all proposals.
MAG was a founder member of the Federation of European Motorcyclists whose crucial Brussels office we help finance.
To sustain our presence at all the necessary committees at home and in Brussels costs a considerable sum of money. The vast majority of riders in this country have chosen to make
no contribution to that cost though they profit from our successes. We only ask £20 per annum. My question to you is – are you prepared to make that commitment?
Memberships by phone Tel 0870 444 8448 or on the web www.mag-uk.org
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