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Campaigns Manager’s Report to MAG NC
December 10th 2008
In relation to activity I have been involved with since the NC meeting of Saturday 12th October 2007 I report as follows.
14th October East Linc’s AGM in Horncastle. A very positive meeting with encouraging feedback on MAG progress. Delighted to see Councillor Alan Caine putting himself up for Political Officer.
17th October, Highways Department North Yorkshire, where I liaised with the project team who were putting additional double white lines along the infamous B1257, known as the Bilsdale TT. The double white line system they were putting in was to double white line the whole of the route in an effort to combat the number of accidents. I had given a number of interviews on the local radio and took part in a live TV news item on the matter. As a result of calls to the County Councillor with portfolio responsibility for traffic management in North Yorkshire I was invited to the above meeting to help inform where the white lines would be.
As a result of a very positive meeting they reassessed what they were doing and the resulting white lining is not as draconian as first anticipated. The project manager is a biker himself, (Suzuki 1400), and between us we sorted it. Having ridden the wonderful road since the white lining has been installed I would defy anyone to take issue with the additional white lining which has been applied using a technique which minimises the raise above the road surface thus making it less likely to upset bikes handling. Whether the additional signing will have any effect on the ‘have a go heroes’ who frequent this road will remain to be seen. The main thing it won’t detract from the enjoyment of riding this road in a sensible and responsible manner.
19th October I was the guest after dinner speaker at the Scarborough Conservative’s member’s dinner. It went down well, using the opportunity to extol the virtues of motorcycling in an integrated transport system and the role of MAG in helping inform politicians of the benefits of motorcycling. In the vote of thanks from Robert Goodwill MP, the shadow transport minister with portfolio responsibility for motorcycling he underlined his party’s commitment to motorcycling. Not a bad night’s work with dinner thrown in!
26th October, North Yorkshire County Council again, this time for a meeting with the ‘95 Alive’ team. The 95 Alive project is about road safety, the 95 representing the number of lives they have to prevent being lost on the roads in order for the County to meet its government’s targets for road casualty reduction by 2010. As usual the unhealthy focus is on biker deaths. However, by being around the negotiating table MAG is able to ensure bikers are not discriminated against. The white lining of the B1257 was one such example where MAG influence has ameliorated discrimination against bikers.
30th October, Meeting in London between myself, MAG, BMF, MCIA to discuss an action from the Governments Motorcycling Strategy relating to illegal exhaust systems and excessive noise from bikes. The action was allocated to the rider groups to address. We have and a media, advertising campaign will be launched in the March of 2008. This highlights of course that you can’t have rights without responsibilities and there are something’s that we have to be seen to be doing something to put our own house in order. More to follow in the February edition of ‘The Road’.
Later that same day I had a very positive one to one meeting with Jim Fitzpatrick MP, under secretary of state for transport. A really nice guy with whom we can do business. He was very interested to listen about MAG. He had done his homework and he certainly knew about me and the history of MAG. Immediate benefits are that he has taken on the issue of the Isle of Wight losing its motorcycle testing centre, (campaign on web site), the issue of a lack of commitment from the DfT on the transport planning and policy sub group of the National Motorcycle Council and the DVLA debacle of lost motorcycle entitlements. Within days of our meeting I was having conversations with the Driving Standards Agency and the DVLA on the Isle of Wight testing centre and the lost entitlements issue respectively. It was noticeable that at the next NMC TP sub group there were no less than four representatives from the DfT. Nice one!
5th November London again and the NMC TP group meeting at which there were no less than four DfT representatives. This is the sub group which developed the response to the consultation on non slip man hole covers, a MAG campaign. The result of this consultation will inform the next stage of the campaign in the UK.
Later the same day I met Tim Barnes from De Havilland public affairs that provide MAG with the day to day, up to the minute information from a whole range of sources to ensure we are up to date with issues. A fascinating insight into a really busy public affairs office where no less than forty members of staff are beavering away, teasing out information. Tim was able to give me a one to one tuition on compiling campaigns pages on the MAG web site which uses the De Havilland templates. This complimented the training I have had from Trevor and I can now do them all by myself, (well almost, its good that Trevor is on the end of a phone and it will be a long time before I can match his expertise).
An overnight stay at Mutch Towers was much appreciated which included a visit to Brick Lane for an excellent curry followed by a relaxing hour in the Hookah bar. Many thanks Mr President!
6th November, Ian and I set off by public transport in the rush hour to Peterborough for a meeting with Bike Sure to dot the I’s and cross the t’s of the link between MAG and Bikesure. The journey, on overloaded, cramped public transport in London in rush hour made me glad of my rustic roots and highlighted just why public transport is so inadequate and why motorcycling is such a good option. Trevor turned up on his GS 1200. We had a very positive meeting which I am sure will reap significant benefits for MAG members and be a conduit to recruit new members.
7th November visit to Creo to keep tabs on progress re advertising campaign
13th November I attended a meeting of the Parliamentary Advisory Group on Transport Safety which met to discuss the IPCC report on collisions involving police vehicles resulting in deaths. Announcing myself as MAG Campaigns Manager, former Ch.Supt who was a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) into such accidents and member of the project team which introduced the National ACPO Road Deaths Investigation Manual went down a treat. Peter Bottomley MP, a member of PACTS remembered it was I who accosted him earlier in the year as he tried to make his getaway from a conference on his push bike! An impact has been made and the chair Robert Gifford announced that I would be giving a presentation on motorcycling at the next international PACTS conference in March of 2008. One to look forward to.
The rest of the meeting was discussing the recent report ‘Beyond 2010’ which looks at what the next casualty reduction targets should be. As PACTS members MAG is in a position to influence in a proactive way rather than be on the back foot and being reactive whilst things are being ‘done’ to us.
14th November I went to a meeting in Huddersfield with Jane, Trevor and Clare Quartemaine of QT creative who is handling the web site development. An excellent meeting and I think the results speak for themselves. Big well done to Claire and Trevor!
22nd November NEC Motorcycle Show where I was chairing a meeting of the Motorcycle Crime Reduction Group. A very upbeat meeting where we heard from Detective Inspector Nick Linfoot and his team who had put together a motorcycle crime reduction initiative, supported by MAG in the Metropolitan police area. As a result 20 bike villains were apprehended and significant reductions in bike theft were achieved. Once a full debrief and report has taken place I will be able to let you know more. A worrying trend was that despite secure parking bays being available 52% of owners of bikes parked in these bays had not bothered to use the security facility at all. Clearly an education issue.
Following the meeting I went into the show and was busy networking, meeting greeting etc. The most productive being able to meet senior executives of the Driving Standards Agency and to establish a positive working relationship in order to open negotiations to help secure a training centre on the Isle of Wight. Brian Tarbox, the editor of MCM was on hand and a highly impactive article will appear in the Dec 7th edition of MCM. I am very grateful to Jez Doddington, Southern regional rep and Allan Thornton IOW MAG rep for the support they are giving to this campaign. Whilst the campaign is focussed on the IOW it highlights the UK wide problem, especially those more remote parts like Scotland and Wales.
23rd November. After an overnight stay nearby a further day networking at the NEC. Well done to everyone who helped out on the stand. It looks really professional and I have had lots of very positive feedback.
In addition to the above I have been dealing with a variety of issues on a day to day basis, writing letters to organisations, liaising with regional reps, Jane, Mutchy, Trevor and others on MAG business.
Onwards and Upwards David – Campaigns Manager
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