Category: Organisations

1. Stricter MOTs

   Posted on 12:00am Sunday 12th Sep 2010

   The European Commission has launched an internet consultation to gauge reaction to the idea of a standardised EU MOT which might be far more demanding than the British one.  
    
   They are also considering increasing the frequency of inspections and a requirement to have vehicles re-inspected if they have been modified since being tested or if the vehicle is sold.  
    
   Road-side spot-checks specifically for motorcycles are also under consideration.
    
   Harmonisation to the harshest test conditions currently found in any member state is an option being considered. Currently the most severe test regime is endured by Germany where riders face a far more stringent regime of testing and restriction than the UK enforces.
    
   Nich Brown, General Secretary of MAG(UK), said “The scope of this consultation confirms that the EU is contemplating a draconian and expensive burden on riders. All riders need to act now to challenge the potential excesses of yet another pan-European system that fails to meet the needs of individual nations.”
    
   The questions in the on-line consultation form are pitched in a suspicious manner which suggests that its architects have assumed the merit of such an initiative. It is also worrying that the consultation is published only in English whereas most of the countries who currently have no MOT equivalent test and so will be most affected, are not English speaking. Worse still, only three weeks have been allowed for stakeholders to respond.
    
   The worst scenario option which the questionnaire encourages participants to support, contradicts the claim by the EU that they wish to reduce the burdens on citizens.
    
   Nich Brown added
   “Since vehicle defects are implicated in less than1% of motorcycle crashes in Great Britain and many of that 1% are simply down to under-inflated tyres this whole plan has the look of an expensive red herring.”
    
   MAG is encouraging riders to complete the survey and opt for the ‘no change’ to present system option.
    
   The consultation runs until 24th September 2010 http://ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/ipm/forms/dispatch?form=roadworthiness

2. MAG Back In NI

   Posted on 12:00am Thursday 2nd Sep 2010

   The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) has reported that on a bracing Bank Holiday Monday evening there was the first gathering for some time, of MAG members in Northern Ireland.

   The venue chosen by local riders was the Dirty Duck pub in Holywood and the evening saw an interesting array of bikes and an enthusiasm from those attending to get things going again in the Province.

   The first gathering was organised by Molly and the MAG UK Campaigns Co-ordinator Paddy Tyson popped over from MAG “Central”, Paddy is originally from County Fermanagh.

   Right To Ride’s, Trevor Baird said, “Although a MAG UK member, the report of the meeting came as a surprise, especially as we are in discussions with MAG UK about some form of collaboration to get MAG started again here. In the past, first as the Regional Rep for Northern Ireland and then General Secretary of MAG UK, I know that when the motorcycle community works together for the benefit of riders, we all win”.

   Our hand at Right To Right (and we are sure our supporters will agree), is extended in friendship to MAG on the various raft of issues we face as riders in Northern Ireland that come either internally or externally from the rest of the UK to Europe.

   Let’s hope together both the “new” MAG in Northern Ireland and Right To Ride can work in collaboration with the same co-operation that was extended to us by the local BMF (British Motorcyclists Federation) representative, who we worked together with recently on the introduction of Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) here in Northern Ireland.

   At Right To Ride we look forward to arranging an initial meeting and offer MAG in NI our support and good will and hope that they will reciprocate.

   Ride Free but Ride Together!

   www.righttoride.co.uk

3. Right To Ride - Digesting - Throttle Control

   Posted on 12:00am Tuesday 31st Aug 2010

   Right To Ride’s campaign “No To Throttle Control” has reached across the Irish Sea and has been acknowledged by the UK motorcycle magazine “The Riders Digest”.

   The Riders Digest in-house reporter, Amelie Summers’ column “Inside Line” has featured the issues on Throttle Control in an article entitled, “Automatic speed limiters – coming to your bike soon?”

   The article also mentions that inspite of preliminary advice given to the SAFERIDER project by training experts, they were ignored. Partners in the project include the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations (FEMA) of which the BMF (British Motorcyclists Federation) and MAG (Motorcycle Action Group UK) are both members.

   Riders Organisations

   Right To Ride’s Trevor Baird says, “We have been writing to these organisations over the last three months regarding this fundamental issue of rider control and have not received any positive feedback on what they intend to do to stop the development of this system”.

   FEMA’s answer to threats of throttle, braking or steering interference is to use its best weapon of “plain common sense”.  We ask - when will its best weapon of plain common sense be deployed?

   Urgency is required, because the SAFERIDER project ends in November when the final review will be presented to the EU Commission and the deliverables (results) of the project, including the force feedback throttle will be seeking the EU Commission’s approval and support.

   Saferider

   Meanwhile at Right To Ride we have written directly and presented a paper to the EU Commission Project Officer and Directors of the SAFERIDER project, setting out the reasons why we consider the Force Feedback Throttle dangerous.

   Our argument in this paper is that any interference with the throttle will de-stabilize the motorcycle and place the rider in a precarious situation. We set out our reasons in detail why the development of this device – the force feedback throttle – must be stopped immediately and withdrawn from the SAFERIDER project.

   We say – “No To Throttle Control”

   Read The Full Story

4. A 50th Birthday And A New Beginning For The bmf

   Posted on 12:00am Tuesday 3rd Aug 2010

   The 17th July not only marked the 50th birthday of the British Motorcyclists Federation, but has also signalled the biggest change in the 50 year history of the UK’s leading riders’ rights organisation, a change that will see a complete overhaul of the way the bmf operates.

   As with any organisation, 50 years can often mark a turning point in its development and the bmf’s Management Team had already recognised that the organisation had moved away from its original focus of promoting, protecting and pursuing the interests of motorcyclists, the aims established by the bmf’s founding fathers back in 1960.

   After a thorough review, three areas became apparent, the bmf was too far removed from its core target market – motorcyclists; the organisation had become too inward looking and thirdly its reliance on its outside events to fund the bmf’s activities had impacted on the organisation’s ability to Promote, Protect and Pursue the rights of motorcyclists.

   Under the review, the bmf team asked itself three pivotal questions – Where are we going? How are we going to get there? And, What do we need to do to get there? A major step forward therefore has been the formulation of the 2010 – 2012 action plan designed to regenerate the energy and focus that saw the organisation successfully challenge threats like 100 bhp limits, compulsory leg protectors, bans on green lane use and the tax on merely possessing a motorcycle.  

   To achieve this change of emphasis, the bmf’s Management Team have established three objectives:

   • To direct the organisation’s energies on re-asserting the prominence of lobbying across all areas

   • To re-energise the volunteer structure, reconnecting with the bmf’s regions on local and national issues

   • To promote the value of membership of the bmf, supporting lobbying and the enjoyment of all aspects of motorcycling

   To meet these objectives and allow the organisation to concentrate on its core activities, the bmf is to be completely restructured, establishing the foundation of a new, refreshed and stronger bmf.

   Phase 1 of the restructure will involve the re-organisation of administration, membership servicing, publishing and event management that is currently carried out at the bmf’s headquarters. These functions will now be outsourced or moved online with the result that two of the existing staff will be made redundant. This will enable the bmf to concentrate on its lobbying activities both nationally and at European level, a role that will continue to be carried out by the bmf’s Government Relations Executive, Chris Hodder, ensuring that the views of British motorcyclists continue to be heard across Government and the EU.

   The bmf’s Leicester headquarters will be vacated once all functions are outsourced. Phase 1 will be completed by the end of October 2010.

   Phase 2 will see the bmf developing the strength of regionally based lobbying work over the coming months through the establishment of new posts working with volunteers and members within the bmf’s regional network.

   Bmf outside events will continue to be run by the recently appointed Mulberry group who, working with the bmf, plan over the next two years to re-establish bmf events as the UK’s premier motorcycling events.

   The bmf Foundation safety charity will continue to be managed by the trustees and will not be affected by these changes.

   Anna Zee the bmf’s chairman commented “These changes are designed to ensure that the bmf has a long future well into in the 21st century. It is very easy for an organisation that's been around for as long as we have to rest on past laurels and we will not forget our history, but the bmf is nothing if it cannot work well for its current and future membership. We regret having to make staff redundant but must control our costs and be flexible and responsive. Making the most of the opportunities offered by today’s technology and means of communication will go a long way towards achieving those ends.”

    

   www.bmf.co.uk

5. Court Ruling Signals the End of Free Motorcycle Parking Warns bmf

   Posted on 12:00am Saturday 17th Jul 2010

   With a ruling in the High Court today that Westminster City Council’s controversial scheme for motorcycle parking charges is legal, the 80,000 strong British Motorcyclists Federation warns that this could signal the end of the customary free parking enjoyed by motorcyclists across the UK

   The judgment in effect said that Westminster Council did not need to make any special justification for bringing in charges for motorcycle parking as motorcycles  could be treated in the same way as cars. 

   In his judgement, Lord Justice Pitchfordsaid charges had been justified and that “The Council has been assiduous in the performance of its responsibility to consult specifically upon the motorcycle parking and charging scheme. Far from ignoring the responses received, appropriate concessions have been made and the scheme amended.” He then went on to say, “The judgment which objections have failed to undermine, is that the volume of traffic using the roads in the City of Westminster requires management by the selective introduction of charging for on-street parking contemporaneously with the provision of free off-street parking.”

   A strong supporter of the ‘No To Bike Parking Tax’ (NTBPT) campaign from its inception, the bmf’s Government Relations Executive Chris Hodder, said: “Obviously we are disappointed but while this ruling means that Westminster have the technical authority to charge motorcyclists, they could find that this is a pyrrhic victory as protesters have vowed to fight on until Westminster are forced to back down by public demand. It should also be borne in mind that it’s actually costing Westminster Council £430,000 a year all-in to run the scheme, so other local authorities thinking this is a green light for similar schemes should be extremely cautious.”