Category: Organisations

1. Brussels says: “You will have anti-Lock Brakes and like them.”

   Posted on 12:00am Tuesday 26th Oct 2010

   Riders will have anti-lock braking systems (ABS) with no option to disable them whether they like them or not if the European Commission gets its way. The Commission plans to enforce the fitment of ABS to all new bikes above 125cc.
    
   A compromise that might have enabled riders to switch their ABS off has been rejected by the Commission on the grounds that ABS will offer safety benefits far more often than it will pose safety problems. The Commission is concerned that what they describe as false anxiety about ABS, may lead riders to disable their systems in normal on-road use and thus lose the benefits these systems offer.
    
   The Commission acknowledges that ABS may pose disadvantages in off-road situations but considers the number of citizens living in areas with a high percentage of unpaved roads as negligible compared to the broader riding population.
    
   MAG President Ian Mutch said, “This is typical Commission bullishness of the ‘one size fits all philosophy.’ Very few road accidents have anything to do with the machines themselves.  Unless we can steer the Commission away from this obsession with technical solutions then we are just going to face a lot of expense with no certainty that it will reduce accidents at all.”
    
   The Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations (FEMA) argues that in addition to the limitation of consumer choice, the fitment of ABS will significantly increase the purchase cost and maintenance cost of motorcycles.
    
   On a positive note, following FEMA’s suggestion, the Commission proposes to prohibit member states from applying national power limits like the 100hp limit currently in place in France.
    
   NB MAGUK is a founder member of FEMA . One Euro from each £25 MAGUK membership subscription goes to help fund the cost of running FEMA.

   www.maguk.org

2. UK ROADS CONTINUE TO GET SAFER

   Posted on 12:00am Friday 22nd Oct 2010

   British roads continue to get safer year on year for all road users. The Motor Cycle Industry's analysis of the Governments most recent statistics found that although traffic rose by 15% in the last year the casualty rate for motorcyclists fell by 6%.
   
   The motorcycle casualty rate has continued to fall since 1994 and the number of motorcycle fatalities has also dropped by 4% since 2008.
   
   The statistics reveal that rider/ driver errors are the main contributory factor to accidents (42% overall).
   
   The three main causes of motorcycle accidents are; a loss of control - 16%, a failure to properly observe - 15% and a failure to judge the other person's path or speed - 12%. Slippery roads (7%) and inexperienced riders (9%) were also notable.
   
   Steve Kenward, NMCI's CEO commented, " It is important that we continue to make progress and sustain the reduction in accidents and the casualty rate. Riders themselves can also take greater personal responsibility for their actions on the road and can get involved in different activities to improve their skills and experience."
   
   Taking part in a BIkeSafe assessment is an excellent and affordable way to discover strengths and weaknesses on the road. These sessions include an on-road riding assessment with a qualified police bike instructor who will evaluate things such as cornering and breaking as well as your overall riding technique.
   
   To find out more and book a session go to www.bikesafe.co.uk
   
   Follow this up with some post-test training to help improve your skills and techniques. The better prepared you are the easier it will be to deal with hazardous situations that might arise.
   
   For more information about how to find a suitable trainer and the different types of training that is available go to the website www.mcita.co.uk
   
   END
   Editor's Notes
   
   Get On is the Motor Cycle Industry's three-year campaign to get the nation biking and is funded by a levy on every motorcycle and scooter sold in the UK by participating Get On manufacturers and dealers?
   
   Notes:

    

   www.geton.co.uk gives details of the companies who are supporting this campaign
   
   Riding taster sessions are FREE and details of where they can be taken are on the website
   
   You do not need a car licence in order to 'Get On' but must be aged 16 years or older
   
   Each taster session lasts for approximately one hour
   
   All riding is conducted in a safe environment and does not take place on main roads

3. Lobby Your MP On Motorcycling Matters

   Posted on 12:00am Thursday 14th Oct 2010

   The bmf is calling on its 80,000 members to join a mass lobby of Parliament on Monday the 8th of November as part of the Riders Are Voters campaign.

   The main objective is to raise the profile of motorcycling issues with MPs by showing that their motorcycling constituents have something to say. There are 650 MPs and roughly a third of them are new to the job so many will  have never discussed motorcycle issues before and neither will many established MPs.

   The bmf says that this is a golden opportunity for all motorcyclists, bmf members or not, to have their say on any motorcycling issue that is concerning them, from road conditions or bus lane use to the cost and complexity of getting a licence.  

   More details are provided in the briefing document below but it’s important to register now to secure your place. Rider registration is being co-ordinated by MAG on behalf of the RAV campaign organisations*. You can register by emailing [email protected]  or by phoning the Riders Are Voters office on 0800 9883193.

   *Riders Are Voters (www.ridersarevoters.org ) is a joint venture by the four main motorcycle organisations, the British Motorcyclists Federation, the Motorcycle Action Group, the Motor Cycle Industry Association and the Auto Cycle Union and they have a day where ordinary motorcyclists can meet their MP in the place where MPs works. 

4. Bmf AGM - Yes We Can!

   Posted on 12:00am Tuesday 12th Oct 2010

   Now in its 50^th year, delegates to the bmf’s AGM on Saturday heard that while the bmf finds itself operating in difficult times, the structure is sound and measures are now in place for a bright future.

   Held at the Burton Caribbean Association, Burton-On-Trent, chairman Anna Zee said of all her five years in the job, this year had been the most difficult, but she added, the bmf had an important role to play in fighting for rider’s rights and this must continue. She said that her job, and that of the team, had been primarily to ensure that the bmf was fit for that purpose.

   While not standing for re-election, Anna nevertheless said she would stay on to help the bmf implement the action plan that was announced earlier in the year; streamlining operations, outsourcing some administration and using the best technology in order to concentrate on the bmf’s primary purpose of representing the road-riding motorcyclist.

   On this theme, Chris Hodder, the bmf’s Government Relations Executive and Director of Lobbying for FEMA, (the Federation on European Motorcyclists), outlined a busy year of activities from work on the Riders are Voters campaign, through representations on the driving licence test fiasco to the latest European Framework Directive.

   On membership, Member Services Director Peter Laidlaw said membership was holding steady at nearly 80,000 members and plans were in place to increase it still further, but the bmf, like many similar organisations, cannot operate on membership income alone and that is why the bmf’s portfolio of events is so important to its operations.

   When it came to the events report, Martin Chick, MD of the Mulberry Group, the bmf’s event organisers, admitted that 2010 had been a very steep learning curve. He had come in at a time when it was acknowledged that bmf events had lost a lot of their originality and sparkle and stabilising the situation, let alone developing the events, had been difficult.

   This had not been helped by bad weather at the Kelso and Tailend shows he said, but despite these downsides, the revitalised shows had been generally well received by the public and traders alike. Martin added that he had also been encouraged by the support that he had had from bmf marshals and the trade. “People want to us to succeed, the bmf’s brand is sound, we’ve learnt a lot and we are now looking forward to 2011” he said. 

   Outgoing director of Public Relations and Communications Dorian Burrows said that modern methods of communication were key to the bmf’s future and outlined the steps taken for a new website, a new magazine and a new platform for email communications with members.

   Reporting on Finances, Director of Finance Howard Anderson echoed Chairman Ann Zee’s feelings on 2010. It had been a tough year he said, but the bmf had weathered the storm and he firmly believed that with the measures feeding through from the new action plan, coupled to an upcoming year of rejuvenated events, the bmf was in a good place to build on its role as the UK’s leading rider’s rights organisation.

    

   www.bmf.co.uk

5. Mass Lobby of Parliament - Riders Are Voters campaign

   Posted on 12:00am Tuesday 12th Oct 2010

   The Riders Are Voters campaign organisations have called for Mass Lobby of Parliament on Monday 8th November 2010.
    
   The Mass Lobby is not a street demo, it is a rare opportunity for riders from across the UK to gather at Parliament and tell the politicians how best they can serve the riding public.
    
   There is plenty for the riders to say to their elected representatives and the governing parties:
    
   • The cost and bureaucratic complexity of getting a licence is spiraling out of control, while DSA has slashed the number of driving test centres.
   
   • Road conditions are worsening - road design and repair must become bike-friendly if cuts in public spending are not to result in avoidable danger to riders.
   
   • The UK Parliament must resist European proposals to restrict rider choice - current proposals for a new 'Multi-Directive' threaten to restrict riders carrying out basic maintenance task or modifying their own bike to suit their needs.  Mandating the use of expensive anti-lock brakes and electronics will add further cost and complexity to biking.  Mandating permanently lit headlamps on all new bikes may do more harm than good.
   
   • Riders are paying too much for too little in return - many bikes pay higher amounts of road tax than do less fuel-efficient cars.
   
   • The Bike industry has been left to sink or swim as Government bail-outs for the Car industry and public money to develop more environmentally-friendly vehicles are not available for two-wheelers.
   
   • Many Bus Lanes are still closed to bikes despite the advantages of opening them.
   
   • Motorcycle Sport is under pressure from agricultural policies that deter landowners and planning rules that threaten to close circuits.
    
    Taking part in the Mass Lobby is very easy and free of charge, but you must register your details with Riders Are Voters if you want to attend.
    
   You can register by emailing MAG at [email protected] or Phoning the Riders Are Voters office on 0800 9883193 (rider registration is being co-ordinated by MAG on behalf of the RAV campaign organisations).
    
   You will need to tell us:
   
   • Your name and home address including the postcode (we will need to check details for your constituency and MP).
   
   • Your e-mail address and telephone contact details (we will need to confirm your registration and may need to tell you about final arrangements for the day).
   
   • Which motorcycle organisations you are a member of, if any (RAV is a coalition of groups working for a better deal for riders).
    
   RAV will send you further information about arrangements for the day, including travel information.
    
   Riders who are not able to take part in the Mass Lobby at Parliament can still support the campaign by making an appointment to see their MP at one of their local constituency ‘surgeries’ - ideally before the 8th of November. 
    
   www.ridersarevoters.org

    

   or phone 0800 9883193 for further information.
   
   This is your opportunity – meet your MP where they work for you.
   
   Hear what lies ahead for biking in the UK - Say what should be done.
   
   Be a part of it, let your voice be heard.

   
   

   www.maguk.org