| ACTION REQUIRED NOW! |
|
| Time is running out - the deadline is rapidly approaching when our local |
| authorities must present their final transport plans - so this is our |
| last chance to ensure motorcycling is considered in local transport |
| plans (LTP's). If you have not done so already please contact your local |
| authority. They will be delighted to hear from you. |
|
| Unless motorcyclists actively consult with the local authorities we |
| stand to lose the positive policies toward motorcycling that we |
| currently enjoy. It is essential that we do not lose the gains we have |
| made by ensuring motorcycles are included in our local transport plans. |
|
| Here's what to do: |
| - Contact your local authority if you are not already in contact with |
| them. |
| - Find out whom the relevant person is dealing with their local |
| transport plan. |
| - Send them a copy of MAG's booklet 'The Powered Two Wheel Option', |
| available from Central. |
| - Follow up with a phone call to ensure they have received your |
| comments. |
| - Ask for comments. |
| - Suggest a meeting. |
| - Let MAG Central know you have done this. |
|
| Points you should make to your local authority: |
|
| - MAG represents the views of the UK's million motorcyclists. |
| - MAG works with International, National, Regional and Local Government. |
| - The motorcycle market has increased fourfold during the last five |
| years. |
| - Motorcycle sales will continue to increase. |
|
|
|
| - PTWs have already exceeded the majority of their year 2000 safety |
| targets. |
| - Local motorcycle strategies should be adopted. |
| - Local forums & consultation groups should be convened. |
| - Motorcycle secure parking should be provided. |
| - Infrastructure improvements are needed. |
| - Exemption should be granted from parking or use charges. |
| - Access to priority measures should be afforded, including bus lanes, |
| HOV lanes and advanced stop lines. |
| - Lockers & changing facilities for riders. |
| - Interest free loans should be offered to encourage people to purchase |
| motorcycles instead of cars. |
|
|
| DETR, Draft Guidance on Local Transport Plans. 1998-1999 offered the |
| following advice: |
|
| 'Chapter 3, Integrated Transport. The Role Of Motorcycling. |
|
| Mopeds and motorcycles can provide an alternative means of transport for |
| many trips. Where public transport is limited and walking unrealistic, |
| for example in rural areas, motorcycling can provide an affordable |
| alternative to the car, bring benefits to the individual and widen their |
| employment opportunities. |
|
| Whether there are benefits for the environment and for congestion from |
| motorcycling depends on the purpose of the journey, the size of |
| motorcycle used and the type of transport that the rider has switched |
| from. Mopeds and small motorcycles may produce benefits if they |
| substitute for car use but not if people switch from walking, cycling or |
| public transport. |
|
| The role of motorcycling in an integrated transport policy raises some |
| important and complex issues. We are therefore setting up an advisory |
| group to bring together motorcycle interests and other interested |
| parties. This will allow discussion of issues of concern to those who |
| ride motorcycles and of the ways we can work together on policies, |
| including encouraging further improvements in the safety and |
| environmental impact of motorcycling. |
|
| In drawing up their local transport plans, local authorities should take |
| account of the contribution that motorcycling can make and consider |
| specific measures to assist motorcyclists, such as secure parking at |
| public transport interchange sites. We would welcome proposals from |
| local authorities interested in conducting properly monitored pilot |
| studies of the use of bus lanes by motorcycles, to help inform decisions |
| on whether there is a case for motorcyclists to be allowed to use bus |
| lanes.' |
|
| Local Transport Plans were a key element of the Integrated Transport |
| White Paper. They will cover all forms of transport, and encourage local |
| authorities to seek integrated solutions to problems, involving closely |
| local people, businesses, transport operators and users. |
|
| Provisional one-year LTPs were submitted last summer. Full plans |
| submitted in July this year will run for five years once approved. |
| Despite around a third of all local authorities working with their |
| motorcycling communities many others have failed miserably to |
| accommodate us in their plans. |
|
|
| Local authorities were recently given new guidelines for drawing up |
| comprehensive strategies for delivering better transport services, safer |
| roads and greater travel choice and produced the document 'Full Guidance |
| on Local Transport Plans' which states: |
|
| POWERED TWO WHEELERS |
| Mopeds and motorcycles can provide an affordable alternative |
| means of transport for trips where public transport is limited and |
| walking and cycling unrealistic, increasing mobility and widening |
| employment opportunities. Local authorities should take account of the |
| contribution powered two wheelers (PTW's) can make in delivering |
| integrated transport policies, for example where they are being used in |
| congested traffic conditions. Mopeds and small motorcycles |
| may produce benefits if they substitute for car use, but the intention |
| should not be to encourage people to switch from sustainable transport |
| options - walking cycling or public transport. |
|
| Local authorities should ensure that the relevant aspects of their LTP |
| (including road safety, planning and social policies) take account of |
| the needs of motorcyclists. They should consider specific measures to |
| assist motorcyclists in making integrated journey such as secure parking |
| at public transport interchanges. |
|
| Some authorities are allowing motorcycles into bus lanes. We need |
| properly monitored pilot studies to reach conclusions about this |
| practice. We have been encouraging proposals from authorities interested |
| in conducting such pilots. A thorough examination of the traffic, safety |
| and environmental implications for motorcyclists and other road users |
| would help to inform decisions on the case for allowing motorcycles to |
| use bus lanes. |
| Some authorities have already expressed an initial interest. We will be |
| approaching those who are keen to proceed to discuss the monitoring |
| arrangements. |
|
|
| The DETR are also inviting authorities to bid to become Centres of |
| Excellence in transport planning. By expanding this initiative they can |
| give even more good ideas and good practice the recognition they merit, |
| in the hope that authorities will be able to help each other to deliver |
| the high-quality integrated transport system that we all want to see. |
|
| Please do this, to ensure motorcycling is not forgotten! |
| Don't delay; act today! |
|
|
|
| Nottingham |
| Just to bring you up to date on the LTP in Nottingham. The County |
| Council have allocated £10,000 for secure parking for the year 2000 / |
| 2001. This will provide five parking spaces in five separate areas |
| around Nottingham City two will be in park and ride sites and three |
| others will be on street sites. Newcastle Street in Nottingham (known |
| locally as bike ally) is to be closed and an extension to the Victoria |
| shopping centre built on it the council have insisted that the |
| developers provide secure PTW parking around the corner on Kent Street. |
|
| The councils five year plan for PTW parking is to allocate a further |
| £10,000 a year making £50,000 in total over the five year plan. There is |
| a possibility that extra money may be found to provide airport style |
| lockers at the park and ride sites. We are waiting for the County |
| Council to set up a meeting with our self's to discuss the issues of the |
| PTW. |
|
| Ride free and keep the rubber side down |
| Peter Green 84008 |
| DAD |
| Nottingham MAG Rep. |
|
|
|
| Glasgow - New Bus Lane Trial |
| The definitive bikes in bus lanes trial scheme will be starting later |
| this year in Glasgow. |
|
| Glasgow council are working with the TRL on the setting up of this |
| three-year trial. Currently the TRL see the results from the Reading and |
| Bristol schemes as inconclusive and so will be setting up the monitoring |
| of the Glasgow scheme in order to produce a meaningful report at the end |
| of it. |
|
| This is a great step forward and could be the first step to getting BIBL |
| made a permanent feature nationwide. It does however put a great deal of |
| pressure on the motorcycling population of Glasgow not to have any |
| accidents in the next three years as high accident figures could kill |
| BIBL dead. |
|
| If anyone out there is involved in setting up BIBL trials at present can |
| I suggest that they get the TRL involved as well? This would mean that |
| we wouldn't have all our eggs in one basket. |
|
| Stewart |
| WoS RR |
|
|
|
| Government to Fine Go Slow Road Diggers |
| Moves to fine companies who take too long digging up the roads, causing |
| added disruption to the public have been announced. |
|
| The crackdown on street works follows a consultation in England on what |
| to do to reduce disruption caused by utility companies, such as gas, |
| water, electricity and telecommunications. |
|
| Regulations under the New Roads and Street Works Act mean that companies |
| will have to agree a time with the local authority to carry out work on |
| the roads. If they outstay their welcome, they will be penalised and |
| have to pay a daily fine. The powers will come in as soon as the |
| regulations can be passed. |
|
| Keith Hill said: |
|
| "The Government is acting today to crack down on companies that take too |
| long over these works. |
|
| "We asked how best we could help curb the public nuisance of companies |
| forever digging up the roads. Most answers favoured fining those that |
| took longer than the time they had agreed with the local highway |
| authority. |
|
| Today's move proves we mean business and should put utilities on notice |
| that the days of leaving holes in the road must end." |
|
| Section 74 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 allows highway |
| authorities to charge utility companies for overstaying an agreed time. |
|
| The 1998 Transport White Paper 'A New Deal, Better for Everyone', |
| committed the Government to "consult on options for an incentive system, |
| with penalties, to minimise disruption to all road users and to |
| encourage improved co-ordination of street works." The consultation |
| covered England only as street works is a devolved matter. |
|
|
|
| MAG'S Email Army |
| The Motorcycle Action Group continues to expand our political lobbying |
| effort using email technology. MAG currently has an 'email army' of over |
| 300 individuals who have volunteered to write to politicians, civil |
| servants, newspaper editors etc when requested to do so by MAG. There is |
| no compulsion to respond to every request. If a particular issue that |
| MAG mails the volunteers about is of interest to them then they are |
| encouraged to contact the authority in question. MAG will supply |
| addresses and outline the arguments. |
|
| To join this virtual army send an Email with the word 'subscribe' in the |
| title to: |
|
| mag-uk-info-request@meng.ucl.ac.uk |
|
|
|
| Four Star Petrol |
| Leaded Four Star is banned. Or is it? Independent oil distributor and |
| petrol retailer, Bayford Thrust, has obtained a permit from the DETR for |
| the sale and distribution of LEADED FOUR STAR during 2000. This Four |
| Star is the only product for 'older vehicles' that has a British |
| Standard. |
|
| The permit was awarded on Christmas Eve and Bayford Thrust is in the |
| process of arranging for deliveries to be made to filling stations |
| across the country. They have been joined by Thrust Franchise |
| Distributor BWOC who is distributing Leaded Four Star to sites in South |
| Wales and the South West of England. It is hoped that there will be at |
| least 3 or 4 sites in each county with as many in the larger cities. |
|
| If your bike needs leaded fuel please visit your local garage and ask |
| them to contact Bayford Thrust if they wish to retail Leaded Four Star. |
| Ideal filling stations are ones which are independent and "free of tie" |
| - in other words - they haven't got names up of the big multi-national |
| oil companies on their forecourts and are not contracted to them for |
| supply. If you know of filling stations like this, please go in and tell |
| the owner you would like to buy Leaded Four Star from them - to obtain |
| the fuel they will need to contact Bayford Thrust (Tel No: 01937 541111) |
| and also become members of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle |
| Clubs (FBHVC) which Bayford Thrust will help them with. |
|
| Whilst banning the sale of leaded fuel the Government (after heavy |
| lobbying by the FBHVC) agreed to make 100 million litres available to |
| 'special interest groups'. Bayford Thrust is the only petroleum company |
| to have a permit to distribute nationwide and have 82% of the total |
| allocation. The fuel will be manufactured by Futura Petroleum and |
| distributed by Bayford through the Thrust retail network, Thrust |
| Franchise Distributors and independent forecourts. Futura Petroleum is |
| an operating subsidiary of Fortum Oil and Gas OY, Finland's premier |
| energy group. |
|
| Working together on this joint enterprise Bayford Thrust and Futura |
| speak the same language. "As independent oil companies and petrol |
| retailers we have to be innovative and take the initiative. That's what |
| we are and that's what we've done" explained Jonathan Turner from |
| Bayford Thrust. |
|
| This website site has a list of all the garages that stock four-star |
| petrol. |
|
| http://www.bayfordthrust.co.uk/ |
|
|
|
| MAG Calls for Better Road Funding |
|
| UNDER-FUNDED ROADS THREATEN SAFETY SAYS MAJORITY OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES |
|
| Under-funding of road maintenance is threatening road users' safety, |
| according to three quarters of Britain's local authorities. |
|
| Responding to the Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) |
| Survey, conducted by the Refined Bitumen Association, 74 per cent of |
| those responsible for local authority roads in Britain stated that |
| under-funding of highway maintenance programmes creates a threat to road |
| users' safety. One in six believes it poses a "major threat". |
|
| Local authority highways' departments, which are responsible for 95 per |
| cent of Britain's roads, state that they require nearly three times |
| their current budgets to maintain roads adequately. They report a |
| shortfall in road structural maintenance budgets of £1 billion, with |
| each local authority highways' department being short-changed by almost |
| £6 million this year. |
|
| Almost £50 million was paid out by local authorities last year |
| to road users for accidents or damage to vehicles caused by the |
| structural condition of roads, a 50 per cent increase on the previous |
| year. Each local authority spent on average 38 days a month working on |
| such claims. |
|
| "The majority of those looking after our roads on a day-to-day basis |
| believes that lack of maintenance is posing a threat to public |
| safety. And, local authorities are spending substantial sums on |
| compensation for accidents due to the poor condition of roads," says |
| Ian Mutch of the Motorcycle Action Group. |
|
| "Whilst the Motorcycle Action Group welcomes the Government's 10-year |
| road safety initiative launched last month, it is apparent that a |
| straightforward and cost-effective way of improving safety would be to |
| provide secure funds for local authority highways' departments so that |
| they can maintain roads properly." |
|
| This year's ALARM Survey finds that, under current budgets, local |
| authorities can afford to resurface their roads once only every 78 years |
| as opposed to the recommended 10 to 20 years. The need for structural |
| maintenance has increased by 75 per cent over the past ten years and, |
| due to low budgets, over a third of the money actually received by |
| highway departments is being spent on costly reactive maintenance rather |
| than planned preventative work. |
|
| "Local authority highways' staff are experienced and |
| professional people who are being hampered in their work by severe |
| under-funding," says Mutch. "In this year's survey highways' engineers |
| say they see no sign of any reversal in the downward trend in road |
| maintenance. They are being placed in the impossible position of trying |
| to maintain roads in a safe condition with only a third of the budget |
| they require." |
|
| Amongst the comments from individual local authorities |
| responding to this year's ALARM Survey are: "the current year's budget |
| is the lowest in real terms since at least 1974"; "in 1993/94 we spent |
| £1,060 per km on resurfacing...the figure for this year is £618"; |
| "current allocations for road maintenance are woefully inadequate"; |
| "next year's budget is likely to be cut by one third". |
|
| "It is clear from the findings of this year's survey that to |
| maintain our excellent road safety record, local authorities highways' |
| departments require adequate and ring fenced budgets for road |
| maintenance. Without funding, Government commitments to safety and |
| maintenance are meaningless," |
|
| The Refined Bitumen Association's ALARM survey is based on findings of a |
| questionnaire on 1999/00 budgets completed by the highways departments |
| of local authorities during December 1999 / January 2000 |
|
|
|
| Calls for reduced limits - again. |
|
| From the Telegraph: |
|
| CHILDREN are needlessly dying on Britain's roads because speed |
| restrictions are too high, a researcher claims today. |
|
| Paul Pilkington calls for a 20mph speed limit in built-up areas to cut |
| the annual death toll caused by speeding of 1,200 people, of which 140 |
| are child pedestrians. According to figures from the Department of the |
| Environment, Transport and the Regions about 70 per cent of motorists |
| exceed the 30mph limit in urban areas. |
|
| Mr Pilkington's paper, published in the British Medical Journal |
| says two-thirds of all road accidents happen in built-up areas. He |
| claims the risk of a pedestrian being killed by a car travelling at |
| 20mph is five per cent, compared to a 45 per cent risk at 30mph. |
|
| Mr Pilkington, a public health specialist who works in south-west |
| England says: "People are being killed needlessly." He says the lack of |
| restrictions causes more child pedestrian deaths than in France and the |
| Netherlands. He claims that Graz, in Austria, managed to cut serious |
| road casualties by a quarter after imposing 18mph restrictions. |
|
| Andrew Howard, head of road safety for the Automobile Association, |
| welcomed restrictions on the "right roads" but said road humps were also |
| needed to ensure they were enforced. |
|
| So once again, the mythical "speed kills 1200 people a year" comes out |
| of the press to support a theory. What Mr Pilkington has failed to touch |
| on, is the lack of street-sense (what happened to the green cross code?) |
| instilled in our children now, and that over 80% of pedestrian accidents |
| are caused by the pedestrians. |
|
|
|
| 2000 MEP RIDE |
| EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, STRASBOURG |
| Thursday 15 June 2000 |
|
| The 2000 MEP ride is taking place in Strasbourg on Thursday 15th June. |
| It intends to gather Members of the European Parliament and |
| representatives of rider's organisation in a short (50km) ride. The |
| event is the ideal opportunity to approach elected representatives as |
| well as give them a taste of the great feeling of riding. |
|
| Last year there were 12 MEPs on the ride (a few others came to 'wave us |
| off'), plus roughly 20 assistants/EP staff members. Most of them have |
| been riding bikes provided by local dealers or riding pillion. Some |
| joined in the historic vehicles brought by enthusiasts from the IHVO. |
|
| This year is the fourth MEP motorcycle ride. Our destination |
| will be Dalhenheim, charming village 30km west of Strasbourg. |
|
| The ride is only open to official representatives from riders' rights |
| organisations (not the general public). This is so that you will have a |
| chance to get to know your MEPs in an informal and relaxed atmosphere, |
| and to make the whole event easier to manage. The representatives from |
| MAG UK should have knowledge about current directives and issues. |
|
| For the Thursday evening after the ride, we have booked some beds in the |
| local youth hostel. (cheap stay, nice place - rooms of 3-6 beds subject |
| to the limit of pre-bookings made register early to join - please check |
| attached form, 11 euros a night). |
|
| FFMC Strasbourg are available to give advice to anyone wishing to stay |
| for the weekend in the beautiful Alsacian region, and enjoy the gorgeous |
| Vosges winding roads. |
|
| Further briefing will be sent to all the participants chosen to attend |
| the ride (Maps, Hotel and Youth hostel details, Parliament Access map, |
| etc). |
|
| To register for participation in the MEP ride (politically aware riders |
| only please) please inform MAG Central before the 15th May. |
|
|
| All the best, |
|
|
| Phil. |
|
|
|
| Industry's proposal to promote ABS |
|
| Industry suggests that ABS is an effective way to improve the safety of |
| motorcyclists and every manufacturer is planning to have at least one |
| model fitted with ABS. |
|
| The argument in favour is that keeping control of your bike in emergency |
| situation is a major part of safety. As we all know it, lock your front |
| wheel, and you're likely to be lying on the tarmac in the next two |
| seconds. |
|
| Safety papers tend to support this hypothesis, but Industry is selling |
| the product mainly in terms of riding comfort. They promote a general |
| Advanced Braking System, as opposed to |
| Anti Blocking System. Dual CBS is an example of this. |
|
| Where it could collide with FEMA's position, is that an ABS does take |
| the control away from the rider. However heavy the braking is, the |
| machine releases the pressure on the brake pad to prevent the wheel to |
| block. |
|
| However, I don't think we should oppose it. |
|
| But I believe we can raise a concern that users should be properly made |
| aware of the risk compensation phenomenon. This has been observed by |
| some insurance companies where ABS fitted models had in fact more |
| accidents involving front impact. |
| This is due to a certain misunderstanding from drivers or riders. |
|
| ABS does not reduce braking distance; it prevents the wheel from |
| blocking. |
|
| This message is just for your information, but comments would be |
| welcomed. |
|
| Eric Thiollier |
|
| Euro Parliament Lobby Week |
| LIST OF UK MEPs MET: |
| Stephen Parry, Chris Heaton Harris, John Bowis, Brian Simpson, Neil |
| MacCormick, Timothy Kirkhope, David Sumberg, Philip Bradbourn, Martin |
| Callanan, Sir Robert Atkins. This meeting was with his assistant. |
| Robert Goodwill, Giles Chichester, Peter Skinner, Malcolm Harbour, Roger |
| Helmer |
|
| Other MEPs were spoken to on the phone but did not have the spare time |
| to meet with us. On one occasion there was a double booking. This was |
| sorted out when Eric Thiollier went to meet with Eryl McNally. |
|
| All in all the exercise was worthwhile and should be repeated again. |
|
|
|
| New emission limits for powered two wheelers |
| The European Commission has issued a new proposal stating the limit- |
| values for polluting emissions admissible from powered two wheelers. |
| Motorcycles will therefore take their share in the overall reduction of |
| atmospheric pollution. This will be applicable from 2003 on new |
| motorcycles. |
|
| This proposal is a follow up of the famous ''multi directive'' from 1997 |
| that introduced the European type-approval for motorcycles. (This |
| European type-approval allows manufacturers to sell a motorcycle that |
| has been homologated in one EU country throughout the European Union, |
| without having to go through 15 separate type-approval procedures. ) |
|
| The proposed measures have taken into account cost-benefit |
| considerations aiming to offer the best technology available for the |
| lowest price. It is recognised (notably by ''Auto Oil I & '' programs) |
| that, although a wide range of measures can be considered to reduce |
| pollution, only the most cost effective ones should be implemented. |
|
| Riders organisations, as well as motorcycle manufacturers, have been |
| consulted before the proposal was issued. |
|
| Establishing a specific testing process for motorcycles has been |
| considered, and will be part of the next proposal establishing emission |
| limit-values for motorcycles from 2007. This proposal is expected by the |
| end of 2002. |
|
| The limit values are the following |
|
| CO : 5,5 g/km |
| HC : 1,2 g/km |
| NO : 0,3 g/km |
|
| The proposal will now go through the normal European legislative |
| process. |
|
| FEMA believes this proposal strikes a fair compromise between |
| environmental concerns and technical feasibility. Most current machines |
| already meet these limits. |
|
|
|
| Motorcyclists win in Norwegian Supreme Court |
| In 1994 a Norwegian motorcyclist died in an accident caused by slippery |
| asphalt. His insurance company claimed the Road Authorities were |
| responsible for the dangerous road conditions and took legal actions |
| against the State. The Norwegian Rider's Rights Organisation, NMCU, |
| which had fought for the inclusion of two-wheelers in road maintenance |
| programs for many years, were strongly involved in the process from day |
| one. |
|
| The insurance company lost in two lower courts but the case had so many |
| principal juridical implications that it was accepted before the Supreme |
| Court. In February 2000, after nearly five years of proceedings, the |
| Supreme Court decided in favour of the insurance company and the State |
| must pay a compensation of 190.000 Euro. The decision was based on the |
| fact that the slippery asphalt was the direct cause of the accident and |
| that the Road Agency should have warned the motorcyclist of the |
| dangerous conditions by putting up warning signs. |
|
| Morten Hansen of the NMCU says: - This is a great victory for Norwegian |
| motorcyclists. Up till now, Road Authorities, with reference to the |
| Highway Code, have placed sole responsibility on the riders for all road |
| accidents. The recent Supreme Court decision, however, has established |
| the fact that Road Authorities have an objective responsibility for |
| predictable and safe driving conditions, not only for car drivers but |
| for motorcyclists |
| as well. |
|
| The decision will force the Road Agencies to use other types of asphalt |
| with more friction or at least put up warning signs if road conditions |
| are dangerous for those riding two-wheelers. |
|
|
|
| BEIJING, China: This country manufactured 11.269 million motorcycles in |
| 1999, 28.15% more than in the previous year, and sold 11.172 million, |
| 26.23% more, according to statistics from the Chinese State Bureau of |
| Machine Building Industry. The total inventory grew 2.49% to reach |
| 799,000 units by the end |
| of 1999. The sale-production ratio in 1999 was 99.13%. |
|
|
|
| TOKYO, Japan: Toyota Motor Corp now has an alliance with Yamaha Motor |
| Co., the world's second largest motorcycle maker. Japanese media |
| reported they would buy a five percent stake in Yamaha Motor from its |
| parent company. |
|
|
|
| DAYTONA BEACH, Florida: The freewheeling atmosphere of 500,000 |
| motorcyclists rumbling around this tourist Mecca every March for |
| drinking, coleslaw wrestling and wet T-shirt contests has been marred by |
| the deadliest Bike Week ever. There were 13 riders who lost their lives |
| in accidents in this 10-day party. Truckloads of beer were consumed. |
| The festival has expanded from a long weekend to a 10-day event. |
|
|
|
| MAPLE GROVE, Minnesota: Ehlert Publishing has launched of a new magazine |
| focusing on the motorcycle lifestyle from a WOMAN'S point of view. The |
| premiere issue of Woman Rider will make its debut in early July. Woman |
| Rider will launch as an annual in 2000 with plans for a conversion to |
| paid subscriptions and a four-time frequency in 2001. It's about time! |
|
|
|
| ITALY: On March 30, Italy began enforcing a new traffic law making it |
| illegal to ride a scooter through the streets with the wind in your hair |
| like Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck did in the classic film ''Roman |
| Holiday.'' But if you ask an Italian rider what they think of their new |
| helmet law, you'll get a mouthful. |
| ''They're ugly, uncomfortable and cumbersome. Plus, they ruin your |
| hairdo, block your vision, prevent you from talking on your cellphone |
| and make you look like Robocop,'' were some of the responses reported by |
| the ASSOCIATED PRESS (AP). |
| Although Italy already has a helmet law for motorcycle riders, scooters |
| and mopeds were previously exempt from the lid law. Two-wheel |
| transportation is prevalent in this country of 57 million people, where |
| 9 million ride scooters and motorcycles. |
|
|
|
| Incest is best? |
| 'MAG and BMF should join forces on the bigger issues so that government |
| cannot ignore us,' says reader Dave Ormandy (Biker Magazine May). |
| |
| I would go further and argue that ideally, the riders should be |
| represented by just one group. Speaking for MAG I think we enjoy the |
| higher profile in Westminster and have the more effective lobbying team. |
| Well I would say that wouldn't I - and I'd expect the BMF to say the |
| same. In support of my own claim, it's significant that the industry |
| recruited two |
| of our staff to raise their PR profile and organise political projects, |
| and fortunately both still work for MAG in a voluntary capacity. I think |
| most people would recognise that MAG's strength 'on the ground' in the |
| form of our nation-wide reps network is superior and we can more easily |
| conjure up members to stage public demonstrations when we think it is |
| appropriate. |
|
| The BMF on the other hand have a blinding money-spinner in their annual |
| show which makes an absolute mint and of which I am very jealous. |
|
| Financially, the savings resulting from union would be enormous: one |
| office, one secretarial staff to handle administration and membership |
| processing and one members' newsletter. At a rough guess the saving |
| would be at least a quarter of a million a year. |
|
| Increased membership would give us increased buying power with service |
| providers when negotiating deals for our members, while a single voice |
| in political circles would reduce the chances of campaign fatigue. |
| Politicians |
| don't want to deal with a number of bodies representing the same |
| interest group, it just confuses things and fills up their diaries |
| needlessly. |
|
| The big problem of course is, where would the pruning knife fall and who |
| would have to sacrifice what for the sake of a union? |
|
| The old chestnut of the helmet issue is a big one. In terms of |
| money and time expended on the helmet issue, it is so negligible as to |
| be unquantifiable and only those who are completely clueless still argue |
| that MAG is wasting resources in that area which could be better spent |
| on other |
| things. Nonetheless the principle that the helmet law represents is |
| crucial to the entire motorcycling ethos. Biking is dangerous compared |
| to car driving, with the best estimates putting the fatality rate per |
| mile travelled at some 17 times that of motorists. To abandon the helmet |
| issue |
| is to surrender to the 'safety' lobby and their 'if it saves one life' |
| philosophy - such a surrender would represent a blueprint for total |
| capitulation and the eventual prohibition of motorcycling. Banning |
| motorcycles, though more draconian, would certainly be more rational |
| than keeping the helmet law, since lives would definitely be saved, |
| whereas the |
| helmet law made no clear difference to fatality statistics whatsoever. I |
| suspect that a majority of MAG members are not greatly bothered by the |
| helmet law but recognise the crucial significance of the philosophic |
| consistency that our sustained opposition represents, and, more |
| significantly, the defeatist signal it would send to our opponents were |
| it abandoned. We are going to be facing the nightmare of telematics |
| control sooner or later and the message to government must be clear and |
| consistent |
|
| - we do not accept safety at ANY price, reasonable freedom and pleasure |
| are important too. The big question is - what kind of society do we want |
| to live in? MAG is very clear on this and if ever a union where proposed |
| we would not concede one iota of our principles to achieve it. |
| |
| Helmets aside, what would the new group be called, and who would lead |
| it? Both groups have their strengths and a full union would enable each |
| to develop those strengths through the efficiency gains which would |
| result from cutting duplication of effort. Presently MAG spends around |
| 50% of its resources on lobbying, the scale of which could be increased |
| if fund raising from events were more assured. |
| |
| As for image, the two groups are much closer now than ever. Long gone |
| are the mythical days when 'all MAG members rode chops and all BMF |
| members rode BMWs.' The lines are further blurred by the fact that some |
| of our reps are also BMF reps, whilst our Chief Executive used to be the |
| BMF's Chairman; it's all quite incestuous really but the question is, |
| could such a union produce a healthy child whose strength would outweigh |
| the collective muscle of its parents? |
| |
| I don't pretend to have the magic formulae, and flag this up as a |
| subject of public debate because I want to see the power of the |
| motorcycle lobby dramatically increased out of all recognition. MAG is |
| totally democratic and will make no moves without the consent of our |
| membership. |
|
| What do readers think? |
|
| Ian Mutch |
|
|
|
| Raffle |
| The MAG raffle ticket returns for the Kawasaki ZR7 are still |
| disappointingly slow, despite a few star performers amongst us! |
|
| Every local MAG group and affiliated club has 100 tickets to sell and |
| return by 24th May before the draw the following weekend at the Welsh |
| Show. If we all sell our allocation MAG will benefit to the tune of over |
| £20, 000. |
| |
| At this is at no risk, unlike many other fundraisers, and at very little |
| effort - but only if we all pull together and get out there and sell |
| them! |
|
| If you have not already returned your tickets and cash, please could you |
| do so ASAP. Otherwise, if you still have tickets to sell, please, please |
| go out there and sell them! This is our last chance before the show. |
|
| See you there, |
|
| Phil |
|
|
|
| Are You Ready To Ride To Work? |
| It's becoming increasingly clear that THE viable alternative to the car |
| for grid-locked commuters is the motorcycle in its various forms. Let's |
| face it, if you use a bike for work, you're going to get there quicker, |
| chuck out less pollution and neither contribute to congestion, or get |
| too caught up in it. |
|
| MAG feels that it's time to get this message out to a wider audience, |
| which is why we've decided to become more involved with the motorcycle |
| industry's (MCI) and EMAP's joint Ride To Work Day campaign on Thursday |
| June 15th. Ride To Work is essentially about getting more people who |
| already own bikes to use them more and to take the 'bikes are right' |
| message out to a wider audience. You may have already seen the full-page |
| ads in 'Ride' and 'Bike' magazines. |
|
| So how are we to do this? Well, in addition to supporting various high |
| profile activities in London on the day, we're asking for your support |
| in taking the campaign to motorcycle riders and others in your local |
| area. |
|
| How you go about planning activities for the day is entirely up to you, |
| but the main emphasis must be on an event which can draw people's |
| attention to motorcycling as a fun and convenient commuter vehicle. To |
| give you a few ideas, we've outlined some possible activities below: |
|
| Bikers Breakfasts |
| Do you know a dealer or other venue that would be interested in putting |
| on a bikers breakfast early enough for motorcycle commuters to want to |
| come along and meet some folk? |
|
| Involving Business |
| Do you work somewhere where a fair few people (or even just two or three |
| of you) regularly ride to work? Why not try asking your company to |
| support Ride To Work Day by putting on an early morning event? The cycle |
| lobby do this for their own Ride To Work Day. They've been successful in |
| getting the support of employers for cycling as part of business Green |
| Transport Plans, so why don't we do the same for motorcycles - we are, |
| after all, a greener alternative to the car. Some big businesses like |
| Hewlett Packard are already supporting motorcyclists in this way. |
|
| Journey Times Challenge |
| We often see journey time challenges between cycles, cars and public |
| transport. The local press love covering stuff like this, so why not |
| organise one where motorcycles are the focus? |
|
| Ride To Work Stunts |
| MAG is the number one organisation for organising press stunts, why not |
| organise something that gets the message across that it's smarter to |
| 'Ride To Work'? |
|
| There'll be plenty of support for any activities that you want to |
| organise. Not only will your efforts be backed by the EMAP national |
| motorcycle press, but MCI is willing to give your event individual |
| coverage in the local & national press. MAG will also be combining |
| forces with MCI on some events in London which are aimed at gaining the |
| attention of the national press, so this coupled with your local |
| activities could result in some serious coverage for MAG at all levels. |
| In addition, just think about all those recruitment opportunities ...... |
|
| If you want to know more about Ride To Work Day, or want to start |
| letting us know what events you wish to plan, please phone either Phil |
| Neale at Central Office (0870 444 8 448), or Craig Carey-Clinch at MCI |
| on 08700 7062442 and we'll start setting up some coverage for you. |
|
| Don't forget JUNE 15th 2000, RIDE TO WORK DAY! |
|
|
|
| Biker Power 2000 |
| On top of Ride to Work Day, MAG is organising a huge demonstration in |
| Trafalgar Square this summer on the afternoon of Saturday July 22nd. |
|
| We will have speakers raising the issues: |
| - Rip-Off Britain |
| - Bike theft and lack of parking provision |
| - Telematic 'remote' control of bikes |
| - Parking and congestion charges |
| - Access to bus lanes |
| - Diesel spillage |
|
| Many regions will be organising ride-ins to the demo. Please ensure you |
| are part of this show of 'Biker Power' by being there and reminding our |
| politicians to support our rights. |
|
| Further details next month: |
|
|
|
| Biker magazine |
| I appreciate that not everyone reads the bike press but I should tell |
| you that Mutch has a column in Biker every month (unpaid) on MAG |
| matters. A few letters assuring the editor that Mutch is a jolly clever |
| fellow and encouraging people to join MAG wouldn't do any harm. |
|
| Incidentally I just noticed that the best letter of the week gets a |
| hundred and fifty pound Hein Gericke voucher, not bad eh? |
|
| Request |
| I have a big favour to ask of all Regional Reps. |
|
| To help me with the planning I am trying to do will you please send me |
| an estimate of any monies your regions are likely to be able to raise |
| for Central funds between now and December 31st. I need to know the |
| estimated amount, the estimated payment date and the likely source, e.g. |
| Cleckhuddersfax MAG |
| The Bog Trotter Party |
| May 2000 |
| #600 |
|
| I am only asking for an estimate and will not hold you to any figures. |
| Planning is impossible though without some idea of what is coming in. We |
| have a lot of balls in the air right now and I need to make sure that |
| they all land in the right places! |
|
| Will you please all respond to this, even if the answer is zero - I need |
| to know. |
|
| Thanking you in anticipation, |
| Neil F Liversidge |
|
|
|
|
| THE GIRL'S PRAYER |
|
| Our Cash |
| Which art on plastic |
| Hallowed be thy name |
| Thy Cartier watch |
| Thy Prada bag |
| In Harrods |
| As it is in Bloomingdales |
| Give us each day our Platinum Visa |
| And forgive us our overdraft |
| As we forgive those who stop our Mastercard |
| And lead us not into Next |
| And deliver us from Benneton |
| For thine is the Cartier, the Dior and the Armani |
| For Chanel No.5 and Eternity |
| Amex. |
|
| THE BOY'S PRAYER |
|
| Our beer |
| Which art in bottles |
| Hallowed be thy sport |
| Thy will be drunk |
| I will be drunk |
| At home as it is in the pub |
| Give us each day our daily beverage |
| And forgive us our spillage |
| As we forgive those who spillest against us |
| And lead us not into poofy wine tasting |
| And deliver us from Tequila |
| For mine is the bitter |
| The chicks and the rugger |
| Forever and ever |
| Barmen |
