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CAMPAIGNS MANAGER’S REPORT TO NC, 10th FEBRUARY 2008
12th January, East Anglia AGM.
My first appointment of the New Year was a visit to the East Anglia regions AGM. The AGM was a thoroughly enjoyable event. I gave a presentation on work that I had been involved with during 2007 and an outline of the issues that would be addressed in 2008. My sincere thanks to Selina, her team and the East Anglia MAG members who made me feel most welcome.
17th January, Dartford Tunnel.
I went to the Dartford Tunnel to meet up with Stu Chivers, South Eastern regional rep, Mr Mutch, members of the Dartford Tunnel management and the Highways Agency.
The meeting had been prompted by a meeting which Stu attended in relation to problems encountered by bikers using the Dartford tunnel payment barriers. Bike go free through the Dartford Tunnel but there are certain procedures to follow to ensure that bikers do not end up with barriers coming down on their heads or the bonnets of following cars.
Some of the close CCTV footage had to be seen to be believed! Stu felt that this was something that MAG could take forward and he contacted me. As a result the meeting took place where we viewed for ourselves the problems, then worked through the solutions.
The result is the production of an A5 leaflet with simple do’s and don’ts produced by the Highways Agency which also acknowledges MAG’s involvement in its production. Well done Stu, an excellent example of local problem solving through effective partnership working.
A major spin off has been the establishment of collaborative working between MAG and the Highways Agency. Let’s see if we can now influence their use of wire rope barriers!
Amusement was provided by Mr Mutch who picked up a puncture on his pushbike whilst on his way to meet me at London Bridge train station which resulted in us missing the train to Dartford! Fortunately there was another train a couple of minutes later. The drama didn’t end there though, in the rush Mr President omitted to buy a train ticket resulting in slight embarrassment at the ticket check by the train conductor. Further consternation resulted on the return journey as Mr President had gone and lost the ticket he had bought. Not the cheapest rail journey!
22nd January, Motorcyclists as Vulnerable Road Users Conference.
The above conference was hosted by the Department of Transport and consisted of a number of presentations by academics on the causes of motorcycle collisions. In a way it was reassuring that these in depth studies confirmed what we already know in that most crashes are caused by inattentive, careless, dangerous driving by other road users, two thirds of bike crashes occur in the urban environment and two thirds of biker fatalities occur in rural areas. Nevertheless it was a useful source of information which will help prepare for the forthcoming Parliamentary Transport Select Committee which will examine what more can be done between now and 2010 to achieve the Governments casualty reduction targets and to consider what the new target should be post 2010.
23rd January, North Yorkshire Motorcycle Safety Audit.
MAG is on the list of consultees for their road safety programme leading up to the 2010 targets for casualty reduction. As usual bikes come in for a sharp focus given the casualty rates. However, through partnership working, MAG has been able to ensure that policies focus on the causes of crashes and not the effects. As a result the campaign has majored on education and improved road engineering rather than simplistic enforcement policies.
27th January, Western AGM.
I was very grateful to the kind hospitality provide for me by MAG member and Vice President of the Institute of Highways Incorporated Engineers Tony Sharp and his wife Jan. Tony and Jan put me up over night on the long way down to Chippenham for the Western Region AGM.
The day dawned bright and sunny and there was a good turn out of about 30+ members. Unfortunately Mr President, who was acting as NC observer, was delayed and was not responding to his phone. Fearful that the meeting could not go ahead without an NC observer I gave my presentation before the meeting instead of at its scheduled slot within the main body of the meeting.
With impeccable timing Mr President phoned me just as I was at the punch line of a ‘rib tickler’ from my early days as a bike cop! Despite this untimely intervention I recovered the tale and it had people laughing which always helps break the ice.
As with the East Anglia AGM I outlined what has been achieved and what the year ahead holds in terms of campaigning. The presentation went down well and the feedback encouraging. The most beneficial time for me was at coffee breaks where I was able to meet members on a one to one where members feel more at ease to speak outside the formality of the meeting. The feedback was very encouraging.
The AGM was a good meeting and thank-you to all who were involved in the organisation and running of the event.
31st Jan & 1st Feb. London Motorcycle Show.
I went and helped out at the MAG stand and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. There was a lot of interest being shown and at times people were queuing up to join.
Many people were coming up to congratulate MAG on what it was doing and a number of bikers who were less than complimentary to another riders rights organisation were switching their allegiance to MAG.
A number of people commented on the fact that we were the only rider’s rights organisation at the show.
Irrespective of the number of new members who joined it is important to have the MAG ‘shop window’ on display at the show.
The evening of the 31st was topped off with a visit to a curry house in Brick Lane. Myself, Bruiser, Pete Walker and a friend of Mutchy’s were crammed into Bruisers van whilst we were escorted by Mr President who was cosseted in the luxury leather upholstered, surround sound and air conditioned brand new XK Jaguar two seater super sports car, chauffeured by its owner, Dr Caroline. An eventful journey bearing in mind us Yorkshire lads hadn’t a clue as to where we were going!
Suffice to say that as a surveillance trained ex cop from my days on the Regional Crime Squad both the driver and passenger of the Jaguar escort vehicle would have failed miserably in their ability to keep a convoy together! However, as always, an excellent meal of Bangladesh cuisine.
6th Feb, Motorcycle Crime Reduction Meeting
Although writing this before the meeting takes place I will be chairing the above meeting which takes place at the Police Vehicle Intelligence Department at Ryton on Dunsmore.
Specific Campaigns
- Isle of Wight Motorcycling Testing Centre, the campaign is being well publicised in Motorcycle Monthly. The latest news is that the DSA have agreed to look at the possibility of developing a test centre at the Smallbrooke Speedway site at Ryde. Planning permission has been refused for a potential site in Poole which will have major ramifications for delivering a test centre in that part of the country which was also intended to provide tests for bikers from the Isle of Wight.
- Bikers are Voters, based on the good practise of the past and building on the campaign circulated in last months Network, to ensure that MAG is actively engaged in every transport and road safety forums around the country including engaging MP's at their surgeries. I will tweak the campaign to link it to the bikers are voters which seems to better capture the imagination of the membership.
- Transport Select Committee on Road Safety, March. To ensure motorcycling is not subjected to prejudiced and biased punitive legislation.
- RIDE conference, 27th Feb. Offer to give a presentation on MAG and its view of the RIDE scheme. Audience will be senior police, Home office and DfT.
- PACTS International Conference, March 14th. The conference will focus on the 'Beyond 2010' study re casualty reduction and will provide a high profile platform to 'debunk' the usual myths which will pedalled by the anti bike brigade.
- Road charging and 'Local Transport Bill'. As official consultees MAG will be represented at the highest levels in the ongoing negotiations with those unitary/local authorities considering road charging and other provisions of the 'Local Transport Bill'. Meetings are being held in Cambridge on 12th Feb and in London on the 19th February.
- National Motorcycle Council (NMC), Continuing ongoing MAG representation on NMC subgroups covering such issues as bikes in bus lanes, non slip manhole covers and delivery of the Governments Motorcycling Strategy etc.
In addition to the above I have been involved with Trevor and Mutch in preparing press releases on such diverse subjects as bikes in bus lanes, dubious claims on motorcycle VED evasion and other matters.
David Short
Campaigns Manager
campaigns-manager@mag-uk.org
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