Mag And Fema News

News from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG)

Motorcyclists’ voice heard at Stormont

On Wednesday 11th September, motorcyclists in Northern Ireland took their case for recognition of their safety needs to Stormont to put it to the people who can make the right decisions - the NI Assembly Committee for Infrastructure, which advises the Minister for Infrastructure on policy and legislation development.

The purpose of our meeting was to give the committee members the motorcyclists' perspective on for example, and hear what motorcyclists think can be done to make improvements.

Martyn Boyd, the NI Representative for Motorcycle Action Group (MAG: www.mag-uk.org) put forward our perspective on the state of our roads and road safety in general concerning motorcyclists and how we are affected by poor road conditions at a Committee evidence session. He was assisted by Colin Brown, MAG-UK Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement who attended via video link. Martyn made it clear that Northern Ireland’s roads are in crisis and, in many places, the conditions present lethal hazards to motorcyclists. he also made it clear MAG believes the Dept for Infrastructure’s (DfI) criteria for repairing road defects discriminate against the safety of motorcyclists, who are a defined vulnerable road user group, just like cyclists, pedestrians and equestrians, whose safety should be given extra consideration. Many of the road defects left unrepaired because they don’t fit the maintenance criteria put riders in peril.

Martyn told the Committee of our intense disappointment at having our detailed submission to the NI Road Safety Review, as requested by the DfI, seemingly completely ignored with none of our sensible and effective ideas for improvements being included in the new strategy. This sends motorcyclists a message that our safety is unimportant.

This meeting with the high-level people who can affect positive change on these issues for riders was the culmination of ten years of campaigning by Martyn and MAG. We believe we were heard loud and clear by the members of this influential cross-party committee and hope to see beneficial changes.

The Motorcycle Action Group Ltd (MAG) formed in 1973 is a civil rights organisation representing over 60,000 riders, dedicated to influencing political decisions and social attitudes for the benefit of motorcycling and motorcyclists.

Contact MAG Central Office on 01926 844 064 | [email protected]

 

MAG will fight underhanded motorcycle parking policy changes in Leeds.

Leeds and Bradford MAG will fight Leeds City Council’s underhanded motorcycle parking policy changes. The Council announced plans to charge for car parking whilst neglecting to mention that plans cover motorcycles too.
Leeds and Bradford MAG (L&B MAG) is gearing up to resist a covert policy change on motorcycle parking charges by Leeds City Council. Plans announced by the City Council will introduce car parking charges at three parks in the city. Despite there being no reference to motorcycles in the consultation documentation, L&B MAG sought reassurances that motorcycles would not be affected.

In a shocking response the council said: “We can confirm that at present the proposals within the parking order do include motorcycles under the definition of a motor vehicle as being expected to pay for parking.”

Thanks to extreme diligence L&B MAG has uncovered this decision which contravenes current policy to allow motorcycles free parking throughout the city. Leeds & Bradford MAG Local Campaigns Officer, Marcus Houlden, stated:

“This is extremely disappointing. The documents in this proposal make no reference to motorcycles. They concentrate on car use. Parking for motorcycles has always been treated separately by the Highways and Transportation department. I have been assured in numerous meetings with traffic planners that motorcycle parking would remain free of charge. I do not entirely understand how the Environment, Housing and Communities department seems to have developed its own independent policy. It is not a minor subclause of a traffic regulation order. It represents a major change to Leeds motorcycle parking policy.”

The Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) consultations are open until 10th October. L&B MAG is encouraging riders to send objections to the proposal to include motorcycles in these charges via email. Objections should be sent by email to [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected].

Whilst L&B MAG is a listed consultee for Leeds Highways TROs, the park TROs are being handled by the Environment, Housing and Communities department. These proposals almost slipped through without MAG being alerted and without consultation on a wider change to the City’s parking policies.

L&B MAG will be using every possible avenue to get this covert policy change on motorcycle parking overturned.

Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or [email protected]

 

Exasperation springs to mind. It's a never ending onslaught of ant bike crap. Of course I dare say the first thing you do, when you ride into town, like most bikers do, is to trash the place, and do unmentionable, things to other people. Some idiots are stuck in the 50' and 60's, with their outdated attitude towards bikers. I just don't understand it.

 

News from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG)

Government's new Insurance Taskforce cautiously welcomed by MAG.

MAG has sought and received confirmation that the Government’s new Motor Insurance Taskforce includes motorcycle insurance in its remit.

Announcements were made last week of the first meeting of a new Government Motor Insurance Taskforce. The pledge to deal with spiralling car insurance costs was included in Labour’s election manifesto.

MAG expressed concern that all the rhetoric mentioned car insurance exclusively, as did last week’s announcements. The Department for Transport (DfT) press release stated: “New taskforce is a major step forward in getting a fair deal for UK drivers by rooting out factors that increase costs for car insurance industry.”

MAG has since obtained confirmation from Department officials that motorcycle insurance is within the remit of the new taskforce.

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

“Whilst it is disappointing that we need to go through the process of ensuring the interests of motorcyclists are being covered in this work, we are hopeful that the work of this taskforce will reveal why the needs of the motorcycling community should be given much greater attention by the Government.”

MAG has previously demonstrated that motorcyclists are disproportionately represented as victims in Theft of Motor Vehicle offences. Motorcycles constitute approximately 25% of all vehicles stolen despite only representing 3% of registered vehicles.

MAG also raised concerns over the lack of funding and focus on motorcycle road safety. Statistically, motorcycles are the road user group with the highest fatality rate on UK roads. MAG argues that insufficient funding and focus is given to this over-representation in road casualty statistics.

Insurance costs are driven by theft and personal injury liabilities. Lack of action on these two key factors naturally leads to higher insurance costs.

Colin Brown said:

“I have previously requested the opportunity to meet Louise Haigh to discuss the key issues that the Government need to tackle to deliver meaningful change for motorcyclists. Bikers are voters and deserve to have their concerns heard by the Government. We hear the news about a new road safety strategy and now this new insurance taskforce, but motorcycling does not appear in the headlines for either. I hope that MAG can impress upon the Secretary of State why it is vital that the interests of motorcyclists are both heard and acted on.”

Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or [email protected]

 

News from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG)

Victory: Bath Council backs down on emission-based motorcycle parking charges.

Bath Council backs down. Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) Council has withdrawn plans to introduce emission-based charges for motorcycle parking.

B&NES Council said yesterday that amended emission-based parking charges will be introduced in January 2025. However, following a strong campaign, the Council has decided to back down on the motorcycle charges. A brief statement said: “Introducing emission-based charges for motorbikes has been withdrawn due to feedback received through the public consultation and technical challenges in providing them a lower parking charge.

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

“We are delighted that motorcycle parking will remain free of charge in Bath and surrounding towns. But we need to be mindful that the statement from the Council suggests we have won on a technicality rather than winning in principle. We must remain vigilant for a renewed attempt to introduce charges for motorcycles further down the line.”

The Council statement went further on the question of motorcycle charges saying: “The council plans on reviewing those proposed charges through a new consultation process at a later date.”

One key element of the argument against the charges was the lack of data held by the DVSA on motorcycle CO2 emissions. A Freedom of Information request showed that emissions data is held for less than 10% of registered motorcycles. This lack of data is likely to be the ‘technical challenge’ mentioned in the Council’s statement. The original plan, in the absence of DVSA records, would have seen a system for motorcycles relating to engine capacity with a 50cc moped charged the same as a 1550cc car and a 600cc motorcycle charged the same as a car over 2950cc.

It seems likely that the Council will want to consult on an amended mapping of motorcycle engine capacity to CO2 emissions.

MAG’s Political Officer for the region, Geoff Mills, said:

“It is wonderful news that we have at least won a reprieve, but we should not fool ourselves into thinking that the war is over. This has been a successful opening skirmish, but clearly the Council plan to return to the matter in the future. I would like to thank all those who responded to the consultation, signed petitions and wrote to their Councillors. We have shown that we can be an effective lobby. But we cannot assume that this issue will not return. We must be ready.”

Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or [email protected]

 

MAG to attend Motorcycle Live 2024

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) is excited to announce its attendance at this year’s Motorcycle Live event from the 16th - 24th of November, in conjunction with corporate member SorryMate. At their generous invitation, MAG volunteers will be found this year on the SorryMate stand (3E01).

Phil Paxton, Business Development Manager for SorryMate, commented:

“Once again, we’re exhibiting at Motorcycle Live at the NEC on the 16TH /24 NOV. This year we’re delighted to be joined by MAG on stand.

We have been the preferred legal services provider to MAG members for over a decade. We help injured motorcyclists and especially MAG members with personal injury claims ensuring they get the very best service from the legal system. We’re also here to provide advice on other bike-related matters, so always keep us in mind.

To reflect our ongoing relationship, we’re excited to welcome MAG to share our stand at this year's Motorcycle Live. So, if you need to enquire about membership or have a query or topic you want to raise, please head to the SorryMate stand where you’ll find MAG volunteers or perhaps us as a poor second if they’ve popped off for a brew!”

And MAG’s Chair, Neil Liversidge, noted:

“We’re grateful - and delighted - to be partnering with Sorry Mate, who’ve long been providing a service that MAG Members truly trust and value.”

Motorcycle Live started 43 years ago in 1981 as the International Motorcycle and Scooter Show, updated to Live in 2010. This year it will benefit from the addition of a Saturday Night Music Festival on the 23rd of November from 5.30 pm. More information about the event, music, exhibitors and tickets can be found on the official Motorcycle Live website here: https://www.motorcyclelive.co.uk/

MAG volunteers will attend the event on all days so if you would like to renew your membership, sign up or just come along for a chat please head to the SorryMate stand in hall 3. Merchandise this year will not be available on the stand, but purchases can still be made for posting the following day from Central Office.

Find more information about MAG Legal and MAG Legacy will writing service on the MAG member benefits page here: https://mag-uk.org/mag-benefits-2024/

Or see the SorryMate website here: https://sorrymate.com/


Central Office
The Motorcycle Action Group Limited
Tel: 03300 560 886

www.mag-uk.org

 

News from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG)

New evidence of non-existent political concern for motorcyclists.

Yesterday’s outcome to the motorcycles in bus lanes consultation provides new evidence of the non-existent political concern for motorcyclists. MAG will call on the Government to rethink this consultation decision.

The Government quietly released an outcome to the motorcycles in bus lanes consultation yesterday (21st November). The outcome was published on the Department for Transport (DfT) website without a press release or any wider ministerial comment.

The outcome summary states that safety benefits of allowing motorcycles into bus lanes are not clear. It points out that the response rate to this consultation from local authorities and stakeholder organisations was low and did not provide a robust evidence base to amend current policy. The decision was therefore that there is “little justification” for moving away from a position of local authority choice to one in which allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes is the default.

MAG has pointed out that default access does not remove local authority choice. Pedal cycles have default access, but local authorities can and do restrict pedal cycles in certain cases. The default status merely indicates that a conscious decision to exclude motorcycles needs to be justified rather than a conscious decision to allow them.

Question 22 of the consultation received 14309 responses. Only 197 disagreed with the statement: ‘If it is safe to do so, motorcycles should be allowed to access bus lanes by default’.

MAG research carried out in 2022 revealed that 159 UK local transport authorities (LTAs) have bus lanes in their road network. Of these 159 LTAs, 56 allow motorcycle access. Yet only 7 LTAs that allow access responded to the consultation. Therefore 49 LTAs have carried out expensive, taxpayer funded trials and concluded a positive outcome yet chose not to share their findings with the DfT.

The DfT outcome points to the fact that response from LTAs was low and yet simultaneously states that one combined authority and two transport authority responses were excluded because they “did not identify as local authorities”

The Government has stated that it “does not intend to change any of the current restrictions as a result of this consultation. Further work would be needed to consider the implications of the other changes suggested and there are no plans to do this.” It also confirms that it “has no policy to encourage greater use of motorcycles.”

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

“The outcome decision is ridiculous. It flies in the face of strong indications given by the previous Government that the outcome would favour default access. The Department is complaining about a low response rate from local authorities whilst rejecting responses from local authorities simply because they forgot to tick a box saying they were a local authority. All trials carried out on motorcycle access for bus lanes were publicly funded and the Government should be able to demand those trial reports and data are handed over. There is much in the detail of the outcome that needs to be reviewed in depth and MAG will be doing so over the coming weeks before making the formal case for a rethink of the outcome. In the meantime, I would ask the Government to look at the message it just sent to UK motorcyclists. That message is one of contempt thinly veiled as indifference.”

Central Office
The Motorcycle Action Group Limited
Tel: 03300 560 886

Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or [email protected]

 

Well as far as I'm concerned this is a communist government.
Dawsy said, We are a nuisance to everybody else and they will all be pleased if we disappeared.
Couldn't agree more, that is until the pot hole tax is up for renewal, then they're interested. These tossers just don't give a wank over us. Waste of space, the lot of them.