On the Road Again!

The weekend is here! But before you start riding, don't forget to join your national motorcyclists' association! You will find them here: https://www.femamotorcycling.eu/about-us/members/ In the UK we have two riders rights associations.  The BMF and MAG. http: rs

COVID-19 Motorcycle Riding Guidelines reviewed for  compliance with the ‘Rule of Six’. Review keeps the guidelines up to date with evolving legislation In light of the new ‘Rule of Six’ regulations, the Coalition of Motorcycling Organisations (CMO) has reviewed its COVID-19 Riding Guidelines.  Only minor amendments were necessary to ensure that the  guidelines meet not only the moral goal of staying safe, but also remain within legislation and the spirit and intended outcomes of the law. The Coalition has removed references to groups of 30, and now refers to groups of six in alignment with the new restrictions.  Richard Gladman (IAM) and Roger Bibbings (VMCC) have checked the changes to legislation  and advice issued by the Government over this recent period of announcements, and the Coalition is happy that the revised edition is fully compliant with the letter and intent of all laws and guidelines. Commenting on behalf of Coalition members, Mario Costa-Sa, Chai...

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has accepted an invitation from the Department for Transport (DfT) to join the Road Safety Delivery Group (RSDG).  Officials offered the invitation at a meeting between MAG and the DfT. MAG has secured meetings with the DfT as a result of concerns regarding an apparent lack of consideration for motorcyclists.  Following discussions across the series of meetings, officials suggested MAG's inclusion in the RSDG. The RSDG provides a forum for key road safety stakeholders to share knowledge and experience.  The Group aims to reduce the numbers of people that are killed or injured on British roads. Pauline Reeves, Deputy Director, Road User Licensing, Insurance and Safety, wrote in the invitation letter: 'As a leading road safety stakeholder and representative of one of the vulnerable road user groups we believe that you will provide a valuable contribution to RSDG.' MAG Chair, Selina Lavender commented: 'I am delighted that the DfT recognis...

The members of the Coalition of Motorcycling Organisations have issued a statement thanking motorcyclists for their restraint and responsible actions so far.  Ahead of further - and more complex - changes to the lockdown regulations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland this weekend, the Coalition points out that the guidelines on meeting in public are not changing to any significant degree.  The Coalition’s existing COVID-safe guidelines will be kept under review. The statement reads: “The Coalition of Motorcycling Organisations is pleased that the vast majority of motorcyclists have adhered to Government Coronavirus guidelines.  We appreciate that the restrictions have had a significant impact on motorcyclists in terms of the sport, social and utility aspects of riding.  We are pleased that the ACU are able to begin scheduling motorcycle sporting events, but much of the social side of motorcycling is still severely restricted.  We hope that riders w...

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has added its voice to demands that the appalling state of our roads is addressed. Road faults are damaging motorcycles and causing injury and death. MAG has backed the RAC's criticisms of the state of the roads in the UK. The damage to the road surfaces has been caused by limited repair budgets and extreme weather – both hot and cold – which the UK has recently experienced. David Bizley, RAC Chief Engineer, said: 'From a driver's point of view, our roads are still in a poor state of repair after the damage caused by 'The Beast from the East' and the generally harsh late winter conditions the country experienced.' The RAC recorded 4,091 pothole-related breakdowns between April and June – the highest figure for this three-month period since 2015. The figure includes breakdowns for the category 'likely to be attributed to damage caused by potholes and poor-quality road surfaces' – such as...

London's motorcycling community is protesting against City Hall's lack of action in respect to rising motorcyclist deaths and against the unfair Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) tax which looks set to make pollution worse. Led by the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), London's riders will hold a city-wide day of action this Saturday 21 April to protest against the Mayor's policies, which are contributing to the mounting deaths of Londoners who ride motorcycles and scooters. Thousands of motorcyclists will descend on Westminster and then rally near the Mayor's Office, where they will be addressed by supporters, including Peter Ramsbottom (Labour) and Keith Prince AM (Conservative). Liberal Democrats declined the invitation to send a speaker. Mayor Sadiq Khan also turned down the invitation. Tim Fawthrop, MAG's London Regional Representative, said: "For the last two years we have been trying to get the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to up...

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), the UK's leading voice for riders, has organised rides in memory of Fred Hill to take place this weekend. Fred Hill was born in 1909 and was a motorcycle dispatch rider during WWII.  In later years he campaigned for a repeal of the helmet law and became famous for riding his motorcycle in a beret.  Numerous arrests followed, with Hill being sentenced to over 30 prison terms between 1976 and 1984.  He died on 10th February, 1984, whilst serving a two-month sentence in Pentonville prison, having suffered a heart attack, aged 74. He attended many MAG demos, at which he often spoke.  As a token of respect to this remarkable man, MAG continues to this day to remember Fred by organising Freedom Rides each year in his name. ( http://www.visordown.com/features/fred-hill-man-of-unshakable-principle  - Written by MAG UK Super Bloke - Ian Mutch) There will be a number of Fred Hill Freedom Rides taking place this weekend a...

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) Chair, Selina Lavender, says she is delighted by how much progress MAG has made in recent years. 'MAG perhaps used to focus more on the 'fun' aspects like rallies and demonstrations but in more recent times it has become increasingly focussed on a professional dialogue.  It looks like this change is delivering a lot more clout than we've had previously, which is very good news for MAG.' Selina believes that this professional approach, along with investment in political and industry relationships, is paying dividends.  'Our political unit spends a great deal of time in meetings, and although that may not look as exciting as attending rallies or demos, the truth is we generate more of an impact by sitting inside the Home Office than we do by demonstrating outside it.  That's why our presence on the Home Office Task Group, which has been set up to tackle moped-enabled crime, is so important.  They've got the resources...

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has expressed concerns about the prospect of a ban on pillion passengers in London – a proposal which has been raised to combat the scooter crime epidemic currently gripping the city. The idea has been put forward by Green Greater London Authority member, Sian Berry who said  'A very small number of people are causing large amounts of fear on our street".   A local safer-neighbourhood panel Chair pointed out a tactic used in some other countries: to temporarily ban the carrying of pillion passengers across whole cities.' MAG's London Regional representative, Tim Fawthrop, has expressed his opposition to any blanket ban:  'As Ms Berry herself states, she isn't sure this is right for London, and we agree.  While all of us recognise the need to find solutions to the scooter mugger problem, the honest law-abiding, hard-working Londoner who takes his partner to work to cut costs and commuting time will be badly affected...

Ian Churchlow, the Motorcycle Action Group's (MAG) representative on a European bikers' rights federation, represented the movement at a major working group on riders' rights in Brussels. MAG Director Ian Churchlow has just returned from Brussels, having attended a full day conference held by the Federation of International Motorcyclists (FIM), to discuss issues affecting bikers across the European continent and beyond. Ian says, "this was a joint working group between FEMA and FIM and we met at FEMA Office Brussels on 18th October (2017).   We identified many areas where we have common interests and shared concerns.  These include motorcycle exhaust sounds and the balance between the damage irresponsible use of the motorcycle throttle and illegal exhausts can make to the image of motorcyclists versus the right to buy an aftermarket exhaust system without undue restrictions." "We also covered the question of self-driving cars and whether this c...

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), the UK’s leading voice for riders’ rights, held a joint session with the Chair of the Motorcycle Crime Reduction Group (MCRG), Kevin Howells, at MAG’s National Committee meeting on 11th February, 2017, in Warwickshire. Mr Howells talked about the shocking crime statistics affecting biking. ‘There are over 26,000 bike thefts a year in this country,’ he explained.  ‘That means that during my presentation three or four bikes will have been taken in the UK.  What the MCRG does is find ways to put people off stealing bikes.   Tagging them is the most important one, and it’s got a good track record.  With a system like Datatag your bike is 60% less likely to be stolen, and the recovery rates are a lot better. That’s one thing we can do and the industry has taken that up.’ The meeting looked at what can most effectively reduce crime for bikers.  MAG’s London Representative, Tim Fawthrop, reported that the Mayor of London, Sad...

MAG supports change in government policy over causing death or serious injury while disqualified. In a move announced today, the Government has changed its policy on causing death or serious injury on the roads through driving while disqualified. Now, if the person who caused an accident leading to someone’s death was found to be already disqualified from driving, then the driver will face up to 10 years in jail. While it is too late for Brian Hampton whose actions led to the death of Jade Clark in Dorset in 2013, or the many others whose lives have been taken by the actions of someone who should not have been on the road, MAG supports the change. MAG’s National Chairman, John Mitchell says, “MAG has been campaigning for a change to the sentencing guidelines for a long time now and it sees this chang...