Mag And Fema News

Well as the last thread went up in cyber space, I thought I'd start another one. So welcome to round 2 episode 1

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News from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG)

MAG unite with industry on a motorcycling ‘Journey to a Brighter
Destination’.

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) is uniting with the Motorcycle
Industry Association (MCIA) to make the case for motorcycling. MAG has
collaborated with the MCIA and endorses the long awaited ‘Journey to a
Brighter Destination’ document in support of leisure motorcycling.

Motorcycles offer significant environmental, economic, and societal
benefits to the UK’s transport population. ‘The Journey’ puts forward a
compelling case for why motorcycling as a leisure activity, primarily
using higher-powered motorcycles, must be protected as the Government
heads towards a net zero future. This future can, and will, be bright
for motorcycling but only if the Government ensures that the right level
of support is in place, starting from now, both in terms of financial
consumer incentives and also the time and investment needed for us to
adapt to new powertrains, electrical or otherwise.

MAG Chair, Neil Liversidge, said:

“MAG welcomes the highly significant statement of intent which the
Motorcycle Industry Association’s (MCIA) ‘Journey’ report represents.
The document lays out a clear position on the importance of motorcycling
as it stands today in the context of leisure, pastimes, and sports. It
also confirms the industry’s commitment to develop a strategy to create
a foundation for the continuation of motorcycling as we know it.
Further, it considers all the things that are important to today’s
riders. The objective is to ensure not only that motorcycling continues,
but that it also attracts a new, younger, and growing audience in the
years to come.

“MAG and MCIA are closely aligned in many key areas. MAG recognises that
the industry must naturally operate within and introduce products to
market that cannot just be eligible to be offered for sale, but also be
demanded by the changing marketplace. It is appreciated; however, this
must not just be shaped by government policy alone but also what
inspires the customer. As Government moves ahead with its agenda and
objectives for net zero by 2050, MAG will work closely with MCIA to
ensure the riders voices are heard with an objective of ensuring these
opinions sufficiently influence policy proposals and the final outcomes.

“We are looking forward to working with MCIA and, together, feel much
can be gained by working collaboratively, but with a mutual appreciation
of each organisation’s beliefs and objectives.”

Tony Campbell, CEO of MCIA, said:

“Today’s publication is all about celebrating what we all know and love.
Underlying this is the need to showcase the significant benefits our
industry brings to the UK economy and our society more generally.

“Though we are making significant progress in the lower powered end of
the L-Category classification and the role these vehicles can, are and
will play in the Government’s zero emission and future of transport
agendas, higher powered motorcycles will need to be treated differently,
as they face far greater challenges when it comes to electrification
using technologies that are available today.

“With the consultation on the phase out of new non-zero emission
L-Category vehicles expected this year, The Journey puts forward a
powerful case for why certain parts of our sector must be given more
time to adapt before working towards any arbitrary phase out date.

“The Government must, at the very least, have an open mind to
alternative fuels/powertrains, move away from focusing exclusively on
zero emissions at the tailpipe and, ultimately, be proportionate in its
prescribing the sector a phase out date based on both our current UK
emissions contribution and the whole life cycle environmental impact of
these vehicle types.

“We are looking forward to continuing our work with Government, helping
to shape the phase out consultation, and remain steadfast in ensuring
progress towards net zero in a way that is both commercially viable for
manufacturers and appealing to our riding community.”

https://www.mcia.co.uk/initiatives

 

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UK Motorcycling welcomes NABD

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), the UK’s leading voice for riders,
has welcomed the National Association of Bikers with a Disability (NABD)
to UK Motorcycling (UKM).

NABD, the world’s leading support group for motorcyclists with
disabilities, is to join UKM, which was recently formed by The
Motorcycle Action Group. The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCIA) is
also part of this new organisation.

Welcoming NABD to UKM, MAG’s Chairman, Neil F Liversidge, said:

“It’s great to have NABD joining us. UKM will give a voice to all
motorcyclists, working for their benefit and for the benefit of
motorcycling in all its forms. It is especially important for us to
have NABD on board because no organisation in the entire world has more
experience in its specialism.”

NABD National Chairman, Rick Hulse, commented:

“The NABD welcomes this opportunity to take part in this collaborative
forum, an opportunity never afforded to us by the National Motorcycle
Council (NMC).

We have been successful in influencing legislation, both domestic and
European, on numerous occasions over the past 30+ years. Now, with this
opportunity to act in unity with other motorcycling organisations via
the new UKM group, we look forward to being even more effective in
protecting the rights and freedoms enjoyed by both motorcyclists with
disabilities and the wider motorcycling community.”




Contact MAG on 01926 844 064 or at [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 ??

MAG’s Western Region in experienced hands

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), the UK’s leading voice for riders,
pleased to welcome staunch volunteer back to post of Regional Rep.

Bristol lady Anne Gale has so far volunteered with MAG for a grand total
of 49 years (and counting) and shows no signs of slowing down, even as
another significant birthday approaches. She was elected as Regional
Representative for MAG’s Western Region at their recent AGM, a post she
is already familiar with having worked in the role previously.

Anne commented: “I never, in a million years, thought that only two
months prior to my 78th birthday I would be the Western Region MAG
Representative again!”

A grandmother from Bristol, Anne also produces MAG’s on-line internal
political newsletter ‘Network’, a role she intends to continue with
alongside that of Regional Rep. She will be ably assisted by Deputy
Regional Rep Eddie Garnier, who has himself clocked up over 30 years
with MAG.

The Motorcycle Action Group - formed in 1973 – is a well-respected
lobbying organisation that has represented the interests and rights of
motorcyclists for almost half a century at local, regional and national
levels. Motorcycling today would look very different without their
tireless efforts to educate and advise Government, the Department for
Transport, local authorities and many other organisations.

Summing up, Anne said:

“We just love riding motorcycles. MAG exists to help those who frame
legislation to understand our culture and recognise that we are a
legitimate lobby that needs to be listened to. Motorcycles are a part of
the solution to the social, environmental and transport problems we face
today. Motorcycling should be encouraged, rather than discouraged, and
should not be unnecessarily complicated by pointless red tape.”


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 ??

Electric vehicle infrastructure strategy inadequate for motorcyclists.

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has said that the newly published
‘Electric vehicle infrastructure strategy’ is inadequate for meeting the
needs of motorcyclists wanting to go electric.

On Friday 25th March Grant Shapps announced the UK’s £1.6 billion
Electric vehicle infrastructure strategy. MAG responded to
consultations prior to the policy development calling for the specific
needs of motorcyclists to be fully considered.

MAG welcomes the comments that all Local Transport Plan EV charging
strategy must consider charging opportunities for electric motorbikes,
as well as cars and vans. The strategy gives little, however, to
reassure that the promised guidance for local authorities will be adequate.

MAG Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said:

“For those riders wanting to make the switch to electric, there is
insufficient detail in this strategy to reassure. Motorcycles will need
dedicated facilities with different ergonomic design and a strong focus
on security against theft. There is also nothing to indicate that
potential for interchangeable batteries and associated charging hubs has
been recognised.”

MAG continues to oppose the proposed phase-out of internal combustion
engine motorcycles, but still wishes to ensure that, for those who do
choose electric, motorcycle charging infrastructure will not be ignored.

Colin went on to say:

“We are pro choice when it comes to the future of motorcycling. It is
imperative that the broadest range of choices are catered for.
Certainly, if the Government wants to achieve decarbonisation of all
transport modes, they need to fully consider all the details - even for
motorcycles. We will be seeking to influence the drafting of detailed
guidance for local authorities.”

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 ??

Date set for parliamentary debate on anti-tamper proposals.

A date has been set for a parliamentary debate on the anti-tamper
proposals from last year. The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) is urging
its members to respond to a short Government survey to inform Nick
Fletcher MP who will be leading the debate.

Proposals for anti-tampering regulations brought a substantial backlash
late last year. A petition was raised opposing the proposals, which
received well over the 100,000 signatories bar to trigger a
parliamentary debate.

The debate will take place on 25th April 2022. It will be led by Nick
Fletcher MP and a minister from the Department for Transport (DfT) will
respond for the Government.

A short survey has been launched as part of the process to inform Nick
Fletcher of the reasons for the strong objections to the proposals. MAG
is recommending that all riders take the opportunity to respond to the
Petitions Committee's survey here:
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/V6ND30/. The survey will remain open
until 9am on Monday 11 April. You do not need to have signed the
petition to complete the survey.

MAG also recommends that riders contact their local MPs to ask them to
speak at the debate on 25th April.

MAG Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said:

“This is another opportunity to explain your objections to these
proposed regulations. We are keen to keep the pressure on to ensure
that common sense prevails, and that the proposals are at the very least
re-drafted if not entirely rejected. If you value the right to modify
your motorcycle in any way you see fit, then please respond to the
survey and lobby your representative in Parliament.”

Don't forget join MAG
Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or [email protected]

 

It also helps if people join MAG so that the old saying comes into force. "Strength in numbers".
Sadly people just can't see it, and they don't bother.

 

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 ??

And the not so good news

MAG leaves PACTS

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), the UK’s leading voice for riders, is
not renewing its membership of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for
Transport Safety (PACTS) this year.

Explaining why, Colin Brown, MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political
Engagement, stated:

“Sadly, MAG finds itself no longer aligned with the PACTS agenda. The
Council has proved increasingly difficult to engage and debate with, and
we find ourselves in a position where our voice is no longer heard
because there is little appetite for listening to a variety of views and
ideas.

We have always endeavoured to put forward the case for motorcycling but
have been met with increasing levels of hostility towards this transport
mode. There comes a point where one must bow out, and we have reached it.”

MAG’s Chair, Neil Liversidge, commented:

“MAG is always happy to engage with other organisations and authorities
regarding motorcycling, but we see no point in wasting our valuable
resources where our voice is consistently ignored. We have therefore
decided that withdrawing from PACTS is the best decision.
Personally, I find the inclusion of the word ‘Parliamentary’ in the
Council’s name somewhat misleading, as it implies that it is a
Parliamentary body, but this is not the case.”

MAG will continue to robustly defend the rights of motorcyclists,
engaging, lobbying and educating wherever a need is identified.


Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or [email protected]

 

Latest news from FEMA. Don't forget to fill out the parking survey.
https://www.femamotorcycling.eu/

 

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 ?


Won't be too long before this happens over here too. Thanks to the race cans.

 

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 ?

A Bill to scrap the EU’s ‘Vnuk’ motor insurance law passed through
Parliament yesterday (Monday 25th April). MAG Chair Neil Liversidge is
delighted that an issue he first flagged in February 2015 has finally
been laid to rest.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has stated that the bill has sacked
this “nonsensical EU rule”. Vnuk would have increased insurance premiums
in the UK by an average of £50 and potentially caused the collapse of
the motorsports sector.

The Bill - introduced to Parliament by Peter Bone MP - scraps (in the
UK) the EU ruling making motor insurance compulsory for vehicles being
used on private land, as well as potentially a greater range of vehicles
including those used in motorsports, agricultural machinery and light
electric vehicles.

Vnuk would have also covered motorsports collisions potentially
involving vehicles from go-karting to Formula One, which would have been
treated as regular road traffic incidents requiring insurance.

Neil Liversidge said: “MAG was first to identify VNUK as a serious
threat to motorcyclists, and especially to ‘off-roaders’. We are glad
to see that our campaigning has paid off, with a result made possible by
the Government’s greater freedom of action following Brexit.”

 

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 aligns with MP’s confession in Anti-Tampering debate.

Conservative MP confesses to a love of riding and driving petrol engine
vehicles.

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) warmly welcomes Steve Baker’s remarks
in the anti-tampering debate.

After the petition opposing the anti-tamper proposals received over
112,000 signatures, the debate was held in Westminster Hall yesterday
(Monday 25th April).

“I want to begin with a confession which, these days, I think is
increasingly socially unacceptable: I enjoy driving. I enjoy riding a
motorcycle. I love petrol engine vehicles.”

Steve Baker went on to make a passioned defence of the interests of
motorcyclists who love the experience and existential rewards of riding.

The response to the debate from Minister Trudy Harrison repeated the
Government line that there is no intention to prevent legitimate
motorsport activities, nor prevent restoration, repairs or legitimate
improvements to vehicles such as classic cars or motorbikes.

“We don’t intend our proposals to negatively impact businesses involved
in these activities either.” Harrison stated.

“What we intended to do with this is prevent tampering that can have
serious health and environmental consequences.”

The consultation received 7,891 responses and the full response is
expected to be published in Summer 2022.

Ms Harrison said:

“Members of this House can absolutely seek reassurance that the
proposals will not prevent all forms of vehicle modification. That is
not the intention, it is certainly not my intention, and we are
carefully considering the scope of the policy to ensure that it does not
prevent legitimate alterations or modifications including repair work.
As the Minister with the responsibility for the future of transport, my
role is to ensure that we have a regulatory regime that is fit for the
future, and which will achieve our vision of a better, greener UK, and
to achieve this we are now conducting a series of regulatory reviews to
consider how transport regulations need to change to make journeys
faster, safer, easier, and more secure.”


Commenting after the debate, MAG Director of Campaigns & Political
Engagement, Colin Brown, said:

“As was mentioned during the debate, the devil will be in the detail.
Whilst reassurances are being given, we shall have to wait to see the
detailed proposals when they are finally drafted. It was reassuring to
hear that the concern over potential unintended consequences has been
taken on board and will be considered. We just need to see if the
conclusions reached match our view of what is legitimate, not that of an
overzealous nanny state. I share Steve Baker’s love of driving and
riding petrol-powered vehicles - and that includes modified ones. That
should never be considered socially unacceptable and certainly not
outlawed.”

Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or [email protected]

Just a thought here, The consultation received received 7,891 responses, there are 1 Million motorcycles registered in the UK.
Boy didn't we show them politicians that we care about motorcycling.
I guess that makes the 7,891 responses, part of the 1% brigade.
And people wonder why we get on.

 

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 campaign for default bus lane access.

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) is today launching a new campaign for
default bus lane access. New research shows that motorcycles can
currently use 48% of all ‘with-flow’ bus lanes in the UK. MAG say it is
time for local authorities to stop debating and start delivering.

MAG has released a new report that for the first time collates UK-wide
information on motorcycle access in bus lanes. The report shows that of
the 159 local transport authorities with bus lanes, just 56 allow
motorcycle access.

Report author Colin Brown said:

“This research has revealed the successes of three decades of
campaigning by MAG on this issue. Given the complexity and stumbling
blocks placed between a coherent national policy and a totally
unnecessary exclusion of motorcycles from bus lanes, we have done well
to gain access to 48% of the nation’s bus lanes. We have also shown the
ludicrous situation where access permissions change along certain routes
or in opposite directions on the same road. We have had three decades
of expensive local trials but the overwhelming result of all these is
that motorcycle access to bus lanes is not a problem. It is time for a
consistent default access for motorcycles, just as already exists
informally for pedal cycles.”

A petition has been raised by Birmingham-based barrister Dr Mirza Ahmad
asking the Government to require local authorities in England to permit
motorcycles in bus lanes. MAG is asking motorcyclists - and indeed all
road users - to sign the petition.

Firstly, MAG is calling for a further meeting with Roads Minister,
Baroness Vere of Norbiton. The Minister previously asked MAG to list
its top five priorities. Bus lane access was the issue that MAG members
voted as their first ask.

MAG will then approach decision-makers in Wales and Scotland to promote
the sensible approach taken in Northern Ireland. The Department for
Infrastructure allows motorcycle access in all bus lanes in NI.

Finally, MAG has vowed to redouble efforts with key authorities that
still do not allow access. MAG is already pushing for meetings with
Glasgow, Manchester, Nottingham and Leicester, as well as discussing
with Transport for London (TfL) how best to get London Boroughs to
accept a common policy.

Colin Brown said:

“Even Sadiq Khan agrees that all London boroughs should allow motorcycle
access. TfL adopted a blanket policy on all red routes, but many
boroughs are still opposed to motorcycle access. If we can get Glasgow,
Manchester, Nottingham and Leicester on board that would be another 60
miles of access. Of course, if these councils are smart, they will back
our calls for default access as this would save them money and there
would be no argument for yet more trials.”

The petition raised by Dr Mirza Ahmad can be found here:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/614294

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 ?