MAG do all this for you for 0.07 pence a day. A bargain I think you'll agree. So head over to the MAG website and join up. https://www.mag-uk.org/motorcycle-action-group-membership/ Do you care ?? News from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) The 2035 Ban – MAG’s Fighting Response. The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has submitted its response to UK motorcycling’s most important consultation today. The response runs to 29 pages of widely referenced arguments against the proposed end to sales of new petrol-powered motorcycles. It authentically represents the view of the majority of UK bikers and fulfils MAG’s pledge to fight the proposed ban to the last ditch. The consultation, entitled ‘L-category vehicles: ending sales of new non-zero emission models’, launched in July is due to close at 23:45 on Wednesday 21st September. MAG has been resolute in defending the views of UK motorcyclists, the vast majority of whom oppose the policy proposals. MAG Chair, Neil Liversidge, said: “The government is making a huge mistake in trying to pick winners. Free markets pick winners, not bureaucrats. I can see that and so can MAG members. Governments do not have the ability to predict the future and should not seek to limit innovation and creativity in solving the problems that we all face. We have openly stated a willingness to work with the Government on reducing the environmental impacts of transport. The proposed enforced end of fossil-fuelled internal combustion engine vehicles on this, or any other, timescale is not the way to get to the best outcomes. The justification for the focus on zero tailpipe emissions is highly questionable, and the ridiculously short schedule is unnecessary. The outcomes will be economically and socially catastrophic. The benefits will be too small to measure. We shall not stand by and allow this policy to go unchallenged. We are faithfully representing the views of the vast majority of riders, and I trust that other organisations will put a similar level of passion and clarity into their responses. Simply trying to delay this policy is the wrong approach. It must be rejected in its entirety. Our exhaustive research has gone far beyond the world of motorcycling, and nothing we have found dissuades us from the belief that this policy is wrong.” MAG’s full consultation response is available here: https://bit.ly/2035Banresponse MAG continues to seek a meeting with DfT ministers. MAG formally requested a meeting with Trudy Harrison in July. That was delayed due to the Tory leadership contest and, more recently, the sad death of Queen Elizabeth II. There is now a new Secretary of State for Transport, Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP. MAG is continuing to press for a meeting with Trevelyan as soon as possible
This is a huge issue in the US. I clearly recall reading about the motorcyclists killed by the Teslas. A couple of days ago there was an article in the Tucson newspaper about a company that will be testing their autopilot cars in Tucson soon. There's already a company that runs autopilot 18-wheeler tests here, too. Up in Phoenix there was a pedestrian who was hit by an autopiloted vehicle while she was in a crosswalk! For quite some time now my concern, fear really, is that the detection systems on these autopilot equipped vehicles won't accurately and consistently detect motorcycles and bicycles or other vehicles that are outside the "norm". Or pedestrians it would appear. Our roads are already filled with distracted drivers . I'm quite sure we can't expect drivers to be alert enough to override their autopilot system if they're not even watching the road when driving regular vehicles.
MAG do all this for you for 0.07 pence a day. A bargain I think you'll agree. So head over to the MAG website and join up. https://www.mag-uk.org/motorcycle-action-group-membership/ Do you care ?? MAG’s CEBR report on the Economic Impact of the 2030-2040 ICEV-Ban The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has co-funded a report from The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) on the government’s proposal to ban the sale of internal combustion engined vehicles (ICEVs) from 2030 to 2040. The report shows the economic impact of the ban will be five times higher than any economic benefits. Using the Government’s own methodology for calculating costs this policy will cost the average household £14,700. The CEBR study, “Economic impacts of the 2030 – 2040 bans on the sale of fossil fuel vehicles”, shows that the additional costs of the policy dwarf any environmental benefit, specifically – I. New vehicle purchase costs of £188 billion. II. Time wasted by drivers waiting for EVs to recharge £47 billion. III. Charging and distribution infrastructure £99 billion. Any benefits BEVs offer will also be vastly lower due to the emissions involved in vehicle production, mining for battery minerals, shorter vehicle lifetimes (8.1 years for a BEV compared with 13.9 years for an ICEV.) The study also forecasts a significant loss of tax revenue which can only result in higher rates of Tax or VAT, or cuts to essential public services. MAG Chair, Neil Liversidge said: “This report shows the Government’s proposal to ban internal combustion engined vehicles is utterly misguided, even if you accept the assumptions which they themselves have made, and without even getting into the environmental arguments. Millions of motorcyclists stand to lose their freedom to buy and ride a practical petrol-powered machine. The costs of this ban are orders of magnitude greater than any possible benefits. This is economic madness, a blight on civil liberties, and a threat to the UK’s prosperity, our quality of life and national security. We call on Ministers to drop this disastrous policy immediately before it does any more damage." The full CEBR report is available here: https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/f/fc/Cebr_Analysis_of_2030_Ban.pdf
MAG do all this for you for 0.07 pence a day. A bargain I think you'll agree. So head over to the MAG website and join up. https://www.mag-uk.org/motorcycle-action-group-membership/ Do you care ?? Motorcyclists need influential role in AV safety debate. The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has explained why motorcyclists need an influential role in the autonomous vehicle (AV) safety debate. Responding to a consultation on a self-driving vehicle safety standard, MAG rejects subjectivity in favour of rigorous real-world measurement. The Government announced plans in August to roll out self-driving vehicles on UK roads by 2025, with trials on motorways starting in 2023. A consultation asking for views on a proposed safety standard for self-driving vehicles closes on Friday 14th October. Recognising that self-driving technology cannot be 100% safe, the bar suggested is that self-driving vehicles should be as safe as a ‘competent and careful’ human driver. MAG’s consultation response rejects the proposed standard, saying that it is far too subjective. It calls for a far more complex and rigorous measurement backed with removal of licences and models that fail to achieve a statistical target. Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said: “Given the level of technological and scientific rigor needed to develop self-driving vehicles it is incongruous to then set a subjective safety target. You wouldn't send a rocket to land on the moon while saying 'hopefully it will end up somewhere in the vicinity of the moon'. Motorcyclists face being the first vulnerable road user group that will interact with self-driving vehicles. It is clear that there are many concerns which are entirely valid. Motorcyclists will play a role in the debate, and it must be influential. Self-driving technology should be developed to benefit humanity; we see no sense in forcing humanity to adapt to fit in with any of its shortcomings. If these vehicles cannot safely interact with us as human riders, then they have no place being rolled out.” MAG welcomes any prospect of improved safety of riders. The consultation points out that the average driver in the UK does not meet the standard of competent and careful. However, improved safety must not be achieved at the expense of the freedom to enjoy riding motorcycles. Critically, MAG's response asks policymakers to note that not all road use is purely for utility purposes. Use of the road as a form of leisure is a legitimate use of the nation’s road infrastructure. Therefore, riding a motorcycle for pleasure needs to be protected throughout the process of technological developments. The full consultation response can be seen here: https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/9/98/Safety_Standard_consultation_response_FINAL.pdf
MAG do all this for you for 0.07 pence a day. A bargain I think you'll agree. So head over to the MAG website and join up. https://www.mag-uk.org/motorcycle-action-group-membership/ Do you care ?? GCP Sustainable Travel Zone consultation: ’Making Connections’ with prejudice. The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) claims that the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) proposals to charge motorcycles to enter a Sustainable Travel Zone are based on misinformation and prejudice. GCP launched its Making Connections consultation on 17th October. Included in the consultations are plans to charge all motorised vehicles, including motorcycles, a flat rate of £5 per day to enter what is being billed as a Sustainable Travel Zone. MAG activists in Cambridge caught wind of the plans to consult on a sustainable travel zone weeks before the consultation launch. They quickly found that the proposal was to charge motorcycles the same £5 charge as cars. Approaches were made to open dialogue with GCP, which they ignored. A Freedom of Information (FOI) request showed that a formal presentation delivered to Cambridgeshire County Council listed reasons to charge motorcycles, including that the charge would be a “strong deterrent to proliferation”. Arguments against a full exemption for motorcycles are listed as “Lack of £ disincentive may encourage uptake as people switch from car” and “Inherently less safe mode; incompatible with pedal cycles”. Arguments against a reduced charge for motorcycles included the statement that “rear-plate images are harder to accurately capture”. A technical note discussing exemptions assesses motorcycles as having “no significant impact on congestion reduction, sustainable travel or air quality and safety benefits”. Commenting on the findings, MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said: “Once again, we are dealing with what can only be described as anti-motorcycling prejudice. Claims that motorcycles are inherently less safe and incompatible with pedal cycles are unfounded. I have checked the figures for Cambridgeshire: in 2021 there were 58 motorcycle casualties on urban roads in the county compared with 172 cycle casualties. Claiming that motorcycles are incompatible with pedal cycles naturally implies that pedal cycles are incompatible with motorcycles, yet that argument is not made. I would like to see any evidence base for these incompatibility claims. And saying that you cannot apply a lower charge due to difficulties with ANPR cameras reading rear plates is sheer stupidity: how do they intend capturing rear plates for the full charge?! Had the council been willing to engage with us we could have provided plenty of evidence for motorcycles reducing congestion and improving air quality. It seems that Cambridgeshire would rather engage with bias and misinformation than take the time to speak to those who actually ride motorcycles.” MAG is calling for all riders in the region to make their views known by responding to the consultation and writing to councillors. MAG will continue to press for dialogue with the council in an attempt to bring a balanced view of motorcycling to the decision-making process. Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or [email protected] The PowerPoint slide covering motorcycles presented to the council can be found here: https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/5/52...uly_2022_-_slide_on_motorbikes_and_mopeds.pdf The technical note on exemptions can be found here: https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/d/d4...levels_Technical_Note_Accessible_redacted.pdf The Making Connections consultation can be accessed here: https://consultcambs.uk.engagementhq.com/making-connections-2022 Central Office The Motorcycle Action Group Limited Tel: 01926 844064 Fax: 01926 844065
MAG do all this for you for 0.07 pence a day. A bargain I think you'll agree. So head over to the MAG website and join up. https://www.mag-uk.org/motorcycle-action-group-membership/ Do you care ?? MAG asks NI election candidates: “Will your party take motorcyclists’ safety seriously?” Ahead of the potential Northern Ireland Assembly election in December 2022. MAG is asking all candidates if their party will take motorcyclists’ safety seriously. MAG NI Rep, Martyn Boyd, is angry that the draft NI Road Safety Strategy contains proposals to improve safety for virtually every road user group except motorcyclists. The Motorcycle Action Group, the largest riders’ representative body in the UK, was the key consulting stakeholder for motorcyclists during the consultation process. Martyn Boyd said: “Our perspective is very often ignored, despite us being one of the most vulnerable road user groups. We comprise 2.5% of vehicles on NI roads: virtually the same number as HGVs, who don’t get ignored. But we have been almost completely disregarded.” The draft NI Road Safety Strategy was published on 24th October. It admits that one of the challenges is to tackle “Concerns surrounding the risk to vulnerable road users (identified as pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders) and the need to enhance the safety of these road users”. Part of its mission is “to enhance the safety of the road system for all road users and reduce the likelihood and/or severity of a collision”. The new strategy is built upon the five pillars of the Safe System Approach and says “The Safe System encourages safer road use in various ways, including through road safety education, training and awareness “. There are specific proposals for improving cycling, equestrian and tractor-driving safety. The DfI has announced grant funding for a New Driver NI initiative to help young drivers be safe. But nothing for motorcyclists. For example, MAG’s proposal for wider use of Motorcycle Protection System installations at key points on roads is absent. MAG submitted detailed proposals from the motorcyclist's perspective, and all were ignored. Martyn commented: “It’s like we don’t exist and don’t matter. In our headline proposal, aimed at proactively improving rider safety, we urged that the Enhanced Rider Scheme (ERS) that exists in the rest of the UK be introduced to Northern Ireland. This scheme, which provides low-cost post-test training for motorcyclists, has proven effective in enhancing rider skills and safety and has contributed to significant reductions in collisions involving motorcyclists. But, in a letter to MAG, Minister O’Dowd refused to fund or even consider it. All he offers are passive awareness campaigns. These have limited effectiveness. Decades after the Think Bike! campaign began, half of all collisions involving motorcyclists are still caused principally by car drivers. Minister O’Dowd claims motorcyclists in NI suffer a rate of serious and fatal collisions that is over twice that of Great Britain but, in self-evident contradiction, he refuses to do anything substantive about it.” MAG believes this is an astonishing dereliction of responsibility and amounts to discrimination against motorcyclists and a devaluation of riders’ lives. MAG demands parity of respect for motorcyclists. Martyn concludes: “Our lives are important, and we will not be disregarded. There are over 83,000 licensed motorcyclists in Northern Ireland and they are all voters.” In advance of any forthcoming Assembly election, MAG wants to know all party’s positions on this issue. How important are riders’ lives and safety to the candidates? MAG members will be asking all candidates the following two questions: • Will your party proactively engage with rider safety? • Will your party meet with MAG to discuss the issues? MAG will be sharing the answers given with the many thousands of regular riders in advance of the election. The answers could be a factor in determining how they vote. Given the nature of this large community of road users, it could make a difference in the outcome.
MAG do all this for you for 0.07 pence a day. A bargain I think you'll agree. So head over to the MAG website and join up. https://www.mag-uk.org/motorcycle-action-group-membership/ Do you care ?? Successful engagement on Edinburgh motorcycle theft at Holyrood Roundtable Representatives of the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) attended a Holyrood Roundtable meeting on motorcycle theft. The roundtable meeting, arranged by MSP Daniel Johnson, was attended by MAG, Police Scotland, the City of Edinburgh Council, local business owners, and cross-party MSPs. Following the extended epidemic of motorcycle theft and related criminality in Edinburgh, MAG members engaged with Daniel Johnson MSP and others calling for greater action on the issue. Police Scotland responded with Operation Soteria. Enforcement activities between June and September resulted in 36 arrests, 185 charges for a variety of offences, and the recovery of 131 motorcycles, with a total value in excess of £600,000. Daniel Johnson MSP, commented: “Motorcycle theft and motorcycle-enabled crime is a growing problem in our capital city. It’s crucial that we treat this issue seriously and put a coordinated system in place that helps tackle it. I hope that today’s roundtable discussion, with representatives from the Motorcycle Action Group, Police Scotland, Edinburgh Council and local businesses, was the first step to ensuring motorcyclists who live in Edinburgh, but also travel to and through Edinburgh, feel confident that their motorcycles are secure in our city. I look forward to working with different groups on this issue and helping to facilitate a targeted solution that works in the long-term.” The discussion covered a broad range of topics. Following the meeting Cllr Scott Arthur, Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee at The City of Edinburgh Council, Tweeted: “Many thanks to @djohnsonmsp for hosting a meeting on motorcycle thefts in Edinburgh. I was quite shocked to hear details of some quite brazen thefts of motorcycles in Edinburgh. This has had a huge impact on Edinburgh’s biker community. Given the seriousness of the situation, I was happy to give The @MAGUKCentral an assurance that I would request a review of secure motorcycle parking in Edinburgh.” Local MAG member, Olly Bassi, was instrumental in the engagement that led to the roundtable meeting. He commented: "We as a biking community are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to help reduce the numbers of riders experiencing the heartache and financial pain of being a victim of theft. The increasing reports of violent robberies and bike jackings in the city have been of particular concern, and we want to prevent further riders being injured or worse. There is a feeling that changes to police pursuit policy and new guidelines from the Scottish Sentencing Council have contributed to this situation, so we hope for changes in these areas." MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said: "I was pleased to take part in this important meeting. There was much ground covered and some tangible action points coming from the meeting. We know the issue will not be solved easily, but I am glad to report that the need is recognised and the will to get results is there." MAG will be engaging further with the various stakeholders, seeking solutions and ensuring that action points are seen through to completion. Bikerman says " What a pity we don't have the same response from the Major of London, Genghis Khan".
MAG do all this for you for 0.07 pence a day. A bargain I think you'll agree. So head over to the MAG website and join up. https://www.mag-uk.org/motorcycle-action-group-membership/ Do you care ?? New MAG report recommends full review of motorcycle licencing regime. The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has published a new report recommending a full review of the motorcycle licencing regime. MAG claims that the licencing regime is delaying the age at which new riders pass a full test, resulting in higher young rider casualty rates. The analysis also raises significant questions about the lack of data on CBT riders. MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, collaborated with Dr. Jessica Andersson-Hudson of Lund University on the analysis. The study revealed that the peak age for attaining a full motorcycle licence in Great Britain is 24. This compares unfavourably with the equivalent peak age of 17 for car driving licences. Full licence status confers no advantage other than the privilege of removing L plates for young riders below the age of 19. Young riders wanting to ride larger capacity bikes will often delay getting a full licence until the age of 24. For riders whose ambition is to commute on a 125cc motorcycle there is no justification for the cost of obtaining a full licence. The analysis provides evidence to confirm the fears. The study reveals that for every five CBT certificates issued, just one full licence is achieved. MAG believes that many new riders simply abandon riding in favour of less environmentally friendly cars. Colin Brown comments: “There is little evidence to fall back on with respect to CBT riders. We have no way of knowing how many riders are currently riding on L plates, nor how often they choose to renew their CBT. We are recommending more research is done into this area, but it is beyond the resources of MAG to fund it. I would like to see Government funding being offered to allow this work to be done.” As well as the suppression of the numbers riding motorcycles, the safety impacts of the current regime are also revealed by the report. The analysis shows that young riders account for 28% of all motorcycle casualties. The figure is 18% for young drivers. The comparison normalises for the relative safety of the two modes, but clearly shows that young riders are more likely to suffer than young drivers. The connection to the proportion of unqualified young riders seems hard to refute. Colin concluded: “I don’t claim to have all the answers on how to improve the current regime. But I do think this study reveals that there is a genuine and pressing need for change. We want better safety outcomes from the system. Also, we need to remove entry barriers to motorcycling. As a transport mode it offers a real solution for reducing transport congestion and emissions. It’s time to accentuate the benefits, not suppress them.”
MAG do all this for you for 0.07 pence a day. A bargain I think you'll agree. So head over to the MAG website and join up. https://www.mag-uk.org/motorcycle-action-group-membership/ Do you care ?? MAG secures reassurances from GCP on Cambridge Sustainable Travel Zone. The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has secured reassurances on motorcycle charging decisions from the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP). In a meeting held on 30th November the GCP assured MAG that the final decision on charges for motorcycles in the proposed Sustainable Travel Zone will be made on the basis of evidence submitted. MAG met the Greater Cambridge Partnership’s Transport Director, Peter Blake, and Director of City Access, Lynne Miles. In a robust exchange MAG Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, asked for the evidence base that justified the proposed charges for motorcycles. Peter Blake explained that GCP welcomed any evidence-based response to the proposals. When pressed for data on motorcycle safety, Lynne Miles revealed that Department for Transport (DfT) headline statistics were the basis. But she accepted that a more nuanced review of data for urban specific casualties may be more relevant than the headline national statistics. Colin pointed to evidence from the introduction of the London Congestion Charge, where motorcycles became more prevalent whilst motorcycle casualties reduced. Issues such as the effect of reduced congestion on increased road speeds were discussed, as well as the evidence for reduced congestion and emissions from modal shift from cars to motorcycles. Peter Blake made it clear that the proposed charges for motorcycles are not set in stone. All evidence submitted by MAG and individual riders in response to the consultation will be evaluated and presented faithfully to the Council members who will make the final decision. Following the meeting, Colin Brown commented: “I am content that the meeting will have helped put the final decision on motorcycle charges under much closer scrutiny. The fact that Peter Blake confirmed that the charge for motorcycles is likely to be given much thought is reassuring. I am convinced that if the full evidence that we are putting together in our formal written response is viewed in an unbiased manner there can really only be one outcome. Any charge for motorcycles would be illogical.” MAG also asked to be involved at a much earlier stage in future decision-making. The fact that motorcycling as a transport mode is not well understood by many policymakers makes engagement with experts more pressing than for other modes. MAG is calling on riders to make sure that they put forward any evidence that they feel would help the case. Colin said: “A consultation is not a referendum, so evidence is key. However, the decision-makers are still politicians. Weight of opinion is relevant here. I would encourage Cambridgeshire riders to also lobby their local Councillors directly in addition to responding to the consultation.” The consultation remains open until midday on 23 December 2022. Visit https://consultcambs.uk.engagementhq.com/making-connections-2022 for details on how to respond.
News from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) Motorcycle licencing review may be an outcome of new DVSA strategy group. Roads Minister, Richard Holden MP, has confirmed to the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) that a motorcycle licencing review may come soon. A review could be an outcome from a newly forming DVSA Motorcycle Strategy Group. Confirmation came following MAG’s latest report on motorcycle licencing published in November. Richard Holden has responded to recommendations put forward in a report, published by MAG, that asks for further research into CBT rider numbers. Furthermore, MAG recommends a review of the licencing system to get more CBT riders converting to fully qualified riders, and believes that a simplified system should increase the number of riders on the road whilst also improving safety. The Minister wrote: “… the issues you have raised are important to this Department and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) [……] this Department is currently establishing a new motorcycle strategy group which will consider developments affecting road safety, and the training and testing for riders in the motorcycle sector.” He went on to say: “Establishing the number of riders who rely on just compulsory basic training (CBT) to ride should be useful to help inform future discussions and analysis [……] As far as a full review of the motorcycle licencing regime is concerned this may become one of the outcomes of the newly forming strategy group. Please rest assured MAG, along with other important key stakeholders, will be involved in any future work.” MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said: “I am pleased that the Minister recognises the importance of taking an evidence-based approach. We have long been saying the current regime is overly complicated. This acts as a disincentive to riders entering motorcycling. It also results in many riders cutting their riding career short. It is important that there are clear criteria for any changes to the system. We see no value in change for change’s sake. But, more safe trips by motorcycle will help to reduce congestion and emissions. More fully qualified delivery riders will make the roads safer for all. We want to see more riders safely enjoying motorcycling. The training and testing regime is clearly the most influential factor in achieving those goals.”
MAG ends 2022 feeling positive The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), the UK’s leading voice for riders’ rights, is looking forward to another year of positive outcomes for motorcyclists. As 2022 draws to a close, MAG will not be resting on its laurels. Following a number of significant successes throughout the year, the organisation will soon be gearing up for another year of defending riders’ rights and contributing to the decision-making processes of national and local Government. Reflecting on the past year, MAG’s Chair, Neil Liversidge, said: “This year has seen a return to vigorous campaigning wherever we identify a need. All of our members contribute to this, whether by simply continuing to support MAG with their membership, being politically active or arranging fundraising events, and I offer my grateful thanks to them all. MAG has chalked up a number of successes, including the commissioning of an independent review of the scientific argument behind the Government’s plan to ban all new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. MAG continues to argue strenuously in favour of a macro-electrical solution (i.e., applied to public transport) rather than a micro solution, which will cause inconvenience and financial hardship to many. Motorcycles are part of the solution being sought and they are part of it right now! In addition, our premier fundraising events are back on track this year, and I was delighted to welcome delegates to MAG’s first full AGM since 2019 where we formally launched ‘Operation Earthquake’. It’s very much ‘business as usual’.” MAG’s Central Office will close at noon on Friday 23rd December 2022 and reopen on Tuesday 3rd January 2023. MAG invites riders, dealers, mechanics and manufacturers to join MAG and help create a united voice for the common good of the riding community. Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or [email protected]
News from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) MAG starts 2023 feeling positive The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), the UK’s leading voice for riders’ rights, is gearing up for another busy year of defending motorcycling. MAG will be building on the successes of last year, defending riders’ rights and contributing to the decision-making processes of national and local Government. Looking forward to the year ahead, MAG’s Chair, Neil Liversidge, said: “Last year MAG chalked up a number of significant successes, including an independent review of the scientific argument behind the Government’s plan to ban all new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. We engaged with Government, the Department for Transport and Transport for London, among many others, and will continue to robustly promote motorcycling. We cannot emphasise enough that motorcycles are part of the solution being sought in respect to climate change and they are part of it right now! In addition to our vigorous campaigning schedule - which will include further work on ‘Operation Earthquake’ - we look forward to our fundraising events and also to celebrating our 50th Anniversary.” MAG invites riders, dealers, mechanics and manufacturers to join MAG and help create a united voice for the common good of the riding community. Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or [email protected]
MAG do all this for you for 0.07 pence a day. A bargain I think you'll agree. So head over to the MAG website and join up. https://www.mag-uk.org/motorcycle-action-group-membership/ Do you care ?? We have been in contact with a company making a programme for ITV to be aired on 2nd Feb The subject is parking One of our members made contact with the production company asking that they should cover issues faced by motorcyclists as well as car drivers. Colin Brown spoke to the producers to explain the issues around motorcycle parking, and the company have decided that they do wish to include some content on motorcycle parking. Colin explained issues with security, lack of spaces, motorcycle bays that are simply awkward corners where cars don’t fit, and the trials of car parks that allow you to park in car bays leading to conflict with drivers who don’t think you should use car spaces. The producers seem to be focusing largely on the conflict between drivers competing for ever fewer parking bays rather than the policy decisions leading to the problem, but they do want to cover motorcycling and would like to film one or two riders with stories to tell. The below is their exact wording: I've spoken with my colleague who's producing this programme and we're definitely interested in hearing more about motorcyclists who have had issues and altercations after having to park in a car sized bay. The story you mentioned on the phone about motorcyclists who have had cars drive into their bikes or had people wheel away their vehicles was particularly striking. Do you think you could do a bit of a call out to see if any motorcyclists who have experienced something like this would be happy to speak with us? It would be great to have a motorcyclist perspective in the programme.” If you are interested in being involved in the program the window is relatively small (next two weeks) please contact the researched directly: Liz Fox - [email protected] Louise Gibson Central Office The Motorcycle Action Group Limited Tel: 01926 844064 Fax: 01926 844065 www.mag-uk.org