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Category: Organisations
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As British Summer Time starts, with the clock change at the weekend, so does the unofficial beginning of the riding season, as we all benefit from the longer, lighter days and warmer weather.
There are about 1.3 million licensed motorcycles in Great Britain, which according to the latest Government statistics were ridden over 5 billion kilometres at the last count.
As riders prepare for the warmer weather it is important that bikes and scooters that have been locked up over the Winter are also fully prepared for the roads.
Preparing for a season of riding requires riders to undertake a thorough inspection of their bike, and we would recommend that inspection be carried out by one of the country's network of dealers.
Kit should be checked as the spring opens up many more opportunities whether riding for purely pleasure or practical purposes.
Bike Preparation - This will depend on what you did prior to putting your bike in storage. However, over the winter months bad weather can cause some problems so it is important that you give your bike a number of checks, such as looking for corrosion, checking the oil and brake fluid and brake pads.
Get in touch with your nearest dealer as mentioned, get them to check out your bike as the season begins. Be ready to enjoy safe riding, always remembering that regular maintenance is essential and will also help to prolong the life of your motorcycle
Washing and applying a fresh coat of wax to your bike not only keeps it looking good, it can also prevent rust and corrosion.
Kit - In addition to your bike, you should give your motorbike gear and any specialist clothing some careful attention. If you've just pulled out a helmet you wore years ago or have been wearing the same one for a few years check that it's still safe enough and have a chat with your local supplier. If it has been stored in sunlight, the lining is compressed, the strap is stretched or frayed or the visor is scratched it's probably time to buy yourself a new one.
There are plenty of alternatives to leathers too. You can now get jeans reinforced with Kevlar and similar materials. Whether you go for leathers or textiles, look out for armour at vulnerable points like knees, hips, elbows and shoulders. It should be CE approved. Again try the Get On website at www.geton.co.uk/kit.
Get On - Anyone who is interested in enjoying all of the cost-saving benefits of a bike or scooter can dip their toe into the world of bikes with a free one-hour taster session with a local trainer
Steve Kenward CEO of the MCI said "Getting on a bike as the warmer weather approaches brings many benefits to the individual and other road users. It is a fun leisure activity that brings together people from all walks of life as well as providing a cost-effective commuting alternative.
Anyone who hasn't got a licence, but is interested in life on two wheels can now have the chance to have a FREE one-hour experience as part of the industry's Get On campaign"
For more information about life on two wheels and choosing your motorcycle kit go to the website www.geton.co.uk
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Motorcycling road safety initiative RideSafe BackSafe is seriously concerned about the number of learner riders who are riding illegally, having failed to renew their CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) certificate.
A CBT certificate is valid for just two years at which point a moped or motorcycle rider is required to retake their CBT course; unless they have passed both parts of the test to acquire their full motorcycling licence, or moved on to driving a car instead.
Road Safety Adviser and RideSafe BackSafe team member, Rob Winn, explains; “If you do nothing, your CBT expires after two years and by continuing to ride on public highways you are committing a road traffic offence. This would also mean that your moped or motorcycle insurance is no longer valid, which is another offence that can result in your bike being seized by the Police and possibly crushed. What makes this all the more alarming is the fact that your CBT is a basic, ‘entry level’ introduction to riding on the roads and really should be seen as a short-term stepping stone to other training and safer travel“.
Recent figures issued by Transport Statistics show that the number of people riding mopeds and motorcycles has increased dramatically and the motorcycle population as a whole now travels in excess of five billion kilometres per year.
Although moped and motorcycle riders only make up about one percent of all road traffic, they still account for about 20% of all collision casualties and 16 to 24 year old riders are at greatest risk.
Rob Winn continues, “With the cost of fuel and insurance going up dramatically, many people are living on a tighter budget and this may cause some learner riders to simply not bother renewing or ‘moving on’ from a CBT certificate, some may even just forget. RideSafe BackSafe is keen to highlight the fact that no reminder is issued when the two year time limit has expired. Casualty statistics also tell us that riders who do take additional training are less likely to be involved in road traffic collisions, so we are encouraging inexperienced riders in particular to develop their riding skills, as well as remaining road legal“.
More information can be found at www.ridesafebacksafe.co.uk. – and learner riders can join the bikers forum through the website to ask for advice and guidance from motorcycling experts and enthusiasts.
The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) also provides an informative leaflet on the subject entitled ‘Routes to motorcycling'.
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The British Motorcyclists Federation have today given a mixed reaction to the publication of the Northern Ireland Road Safety Strategy to 2020.
While the BMF welcomes the setting up of a user forum and especially the dropping of earlier proposals for lower speed limits for motorcycles, it maintains its objection to a proposed ban on unaccompanied riding by learner motorcyclists. This is a premature proposal say the BMF given that Compulsory Basic Training has not yet been implemented in Northern Ireland.
The new strategy* follows a wide ranging consultation process in which while motorcycling was recognised as a key part, it was seen more as a victim of circumstances and not as is often the case, the sole cause of casualties.
In submitting its views the BMF supported the setting up of a user forum and is pleased to see that this has been included in the strategy. It has also welcomed the fact that a proposal it objected to, the introduction of differential speed limits for motorcycles, has been dropped.
Amongst many other measures the BMF supported and are now included in the strategy, is the consideration of motorcycling in the design of new roads, installing motorcycle ‘friendly’ barriers, the development of a motorcycling safety strategy for Northern Ireland and an approved motorcycle instructor register.
Commenting Chris Hodder, the BMF’s Government Relations Executive said: “We are pleased that many of our comments have been accepted, but the ban on unaccompanied learning is unnecessary and will be disastrous for the small bike market. It shouldn’t even be considered until the CBT system has had a chance to play out.”
The BMF will now play a full part in the new forum and be pressing home its views, particularly on the learner rider aspects.
*The strategy document can be found here:
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A series of measures that threaten riders’ freedom to make informed choices, potentially putting riders in harms way and threatening the right to free-movement, have been proposed by the European Commission (the body of appointed civil servants that shapes motorcycle policy).
A committee of elected Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) is currently considering these proposals and has already started to consider recommendations in advance of a critical vote on 4th May 2011.
You can help make a difference to the outcome of that vote by asking your elected MEPs not to support the most controversial recommendations and biggest threats to rider choice, including:
Compulsory Advanced Braking Systems (ABS) ABS does not work well on loose surfaces.The costs of fitting, maintenance and repair have not been properly assessed. ‘Anti-Tampering’ measures (restricting riders’ choice of air filters, engine management systems, internal parts, exhausts, sprockets, tyres, etc.) The riders’ ability to make modifications to suit their own situation is to be regulated.NB: enforcement through a new Europe-wide super-MoT is being proposed separately.
Compulsory Automatic Headlights-On (AHO) Headlights can camouflage and confuse as well as draw attention. All new cars are to be fitted with permanent lighting which will cause more confusion. Road-side Spot-checks targeting riders Riders are to be detained for random checks of emissions and modifications.It is unacceptable to deny freedom of movement in this way.
You must act quickly.
Below are details of how you can make a difference by getting your elected MEP to support MAG’s campaign against further restriction of riders’ choices…
The committee of MEPs that is responsible for negotiating the proposals is known as the Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee ‘IMCO’.
The MEP who represents the IMCO committee in negotiations over the Commission’s proposals (known as the ‘Rapporteur’) is Wim VAN DER CAMP, a biking MEP from the Netherlands who is generally considered bike-friendly.
MAG(UK) is opposed to some of Mr Van Der Camp’s key recommendations to the IMCO committee:
1. Mandatory ABS
The Commission’s internal Impact Assessment admits that the data on the effectiveness and costs of compulsory ABS is weak.
MAG opposes the removal of choice in principle.
Where riders choose bikes with ABS the rider must be able to turn the system off when riding on loose surfaces such as gravel.
2. Mandatory Automatic Headlight-On
The Commission’s internal Impact Assessment admits that the data on the effectiveness of AHO is also weak.
MAG is opposed in principle to removing control over vehicle lighting from the rider who is best placed to judge whether using a headlamp in daylight conditions might put them at risk through blending in to a bright background or confusing other road users. Environmental and road safety objectives are not well served by permanent lighting.
3. Tough-line on ‘Anti-Tampering’
The Commission’s internal Impact Assessment admits that the data on the effectiveness of Anti-Tampering is also weak. The perceived problem is said to be that young riders should be prevented from tuning low-power bikes beyond the performance limits allowed by their driving licence. This is an issue about enforcement of licencing, the ability of qualified riders to de-restrict or otherwise tune their vehicle should not removed.
MAG does not accept that individual riders’ modifications to the drive train will lead to significantly worse emissions, fuel consumption and safety across the total population of motorcycles. Riders must retain the ability to make modifications to suit their own situation as well as maintain and repair their vehicles.
4. Regular random spot-checks at road side
MAG believes that targeting motorcycle riders for random detention at the road-side is an unacceptable restriction on their rights of free-movement.
MAG(UK) asks for a more rider-friendly stance in some of the other recommendations to the IMCO committee:
5. Mandatory On-Board Diagnostic equipment
OBD equipment to monitor emissions performance should not be designed to interfere with the stability or capability of two-wheeled vehicles or to monitor the movements of individuals. MAG proposes that the operation of OBD equipment should preclude limp - home/disable modes triggered by emissions and that there should be safeguards on the extent of data-logging permitted.
6. Small-series and Individual Vehicle Approvals
The ability of new entrants to the motorcycle market should not be restricted by the reduction of the present upper limit of 200 vehicles for small-scale production exemption from the proposed regulations. The ability of individuals to import or build individual vehicles should not be further restricted. The proposals in Article 42 and elsewhere are far more draconian than the present system for member states to approval individual vehicles.
MAG(UK) supports Mr Van Der Camp’s other recommendations to the IMCO committee, including the proposals for:
* Future Emissions limits
* Durability of new vehicles
* Eco-labelling to demonstrate real-world fuel-consumption and CO2 emission benefits
* Access to Repair and Maintenance Information by independent repairers and individuals
How to contact and persuade your elected Members of the European Parliament.
The European Parliament is the elected body representing your interests in the European Union. You have a right to seek their support on issues that matter to you. The background information about issues such as
compulsory ABS, and ‘Anti-Tampering’ given above should help you to start a reasoned discussion with any MEP. The UK is divided into twelve electoral regions made up of the nations and regions of the UK. Each region has between three and ten MEPs and each MEP in a region represents each person living there. The number of MEPs per region is :Eastern - 7, East Midlands - 5, London - 8, North East - 3, North West - 8, South East - 10, South West - 6, West Midlands - 6, Yorkshire and Humber - 6, Wales - 4, Scotland - 6, Northern Ireland - 3.
Riders are urged to contact ALL of the MEPs who represent their constituency as soon as possible and ask them to support MAG’s objectives.
In particular, if you are a supporter of the political party an MEP belongs to, it may help to make this clear and to discuss how you believe the values and objectives the party stands for would be well-served by support for our positions on mandatory ABS, restrictions on modifications, etc.
To find out who your MEPs are, go to www.ridersarevoters.org
Riders living in GREATER LONDON, the EAST MIDLANDS, SOUTH WEST, WEST MIDLANDS or SCOTLAND have a particular opportunity to help raise support among some of their MEPs who sit on ‘IMCO’, the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee that is handling the Type Approval proposals within the European Parliament.
Three MEPs representing UK constituencies are listed as ‘members’ of the IMCO, including the Chairman. Another five MEPs representing UK constituencies are listed as ‘substitutes’ who stand in for members of the IMCO if they can’t attend the committee from time to time.
Riders living in the WEST MIDLANDS constituency (Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire) are urged to contact:
Malcolm HARBOUR (Conservative Party) - Email:
[email protected]
Malcolm Harbour is the CHAIRMAN of the IMCO committee. He has a professional background as a consultant in the automotive industry and holds a degree in mechanical engineering. He will have a good a grasp of the technical issues (NB: these Commission proposals for future regulation of motorcycle design and construction are similar to the way that Type-Approval has worked in the automotive for some years).
Riders living in the SOUTH WEST constituency (Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire and the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar) are urged to contact:
Trevor Colman (United Kingdom Independence Party) - a member of the IMCO committee.
Email: [email protected]
Ashley Fox (Conservative Party) - a substitute member of the IMCO committee.
Email: [email protected]
Riders living in SCOTLAND are urged to contact:
Catherine STIHLER (Labour Party) - a MEMBER of the IMCO committee.
Email: [email protected]
Ian HUDGHTON (Scottish National Party) - a SUBSTITUTE member of the IMCO committee.
Email: [email protected]
George LYON (Liberal Democrats Party) - a SUBSTITUTE member of the IMCO committee.
Email: [email protected]
Riders living in the EAST MIDLANDS constituency (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire) are urged to contact:
Emma McCLARKIN (Conservative Party) - a SUBSTITUTE member of the IMCO.
Email: [email protected]
Riders living in LONDON are urged to contact:
Claude MORAES (Labour Party) - a SUBSTITUTE member of the IMCO.
Email: [email protected]
www.mag-uk.org
www.ridersarevoters.org
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Chris Hodder, the BMF’s Government Relations Executive, has been elected as Director of Communications for the Brussels’ based Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations, FEMA.
Chris, 31, has been with the BMF since 2007 and has been the BMF’s representative at FEMA since then. He takes over the role from Morten Hansen, General Secretary of NMCU Norway, who has stood down.
This is Chris’s second year on the FEMA board, a task he undertakes in addition to his BMF role. In his previous role as FEMA’s Director of Public Policy, Chris directed FEMA's lobbying work and helped devise campaign strategies on issues such as the latest Type Approval regulations.
The new role involves working with the other three directors and the FEMA president in helping to improve FEMA's communication both internally and externally. Chris will primarily provide oversight, but will often be directly involved with developing communication.
Speaking after his election Chris said: "I am very happy to have been re-elected to the board by my European peers and hope that this year will result in many campaign victories for FEMA and consequently for BMF members."
This is a role funded and supported by the BMF as a show of its commitment on campaigning for UK riders’ rights at the EU level.
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