Adventure Bike Rider

My T-shirt arrived this morning
Good quality & will easily fit over my jacket

I'm in also, plus some more mates, doing the one on the A11 from Barton Mills

I'm in,most likely be at Donington services on the M1.

trophydave wrote:


Lookout for the ABR stickers! Koala (Kev) is likely to be the Derby MAG person at Donington and we are trying to get some t-shirts to him before the weekend.

Over 1750 t-shirts have already been posted out !

even more reason to take part and show we have the numbers ready to speak out!

From MAG:

The Road Safety Authority in Ireland has confirmed that it intends to
make hi-viz clothing compulsory for all motorcyclists from 2014.

MAG(UK) requested confirmation earlier today after the Irish Road Safety
Authority told a reporter that the RSA wanted voluntary wearing of high
visibility jackets rather than compulsion.

Asked when the RSA had changed it's mind about mandatory wearing of high
visibility upper body clothing with full sleeves for ride and pillion
passenger, the Communications Manager at the RSA emailed MAG(UK) saying;

"I can confirm that the RSA has not dropped the position outlined in the
Motorcycle Action plan. We do intend to seek to introduce the measure in
2014, subject to consultation with motorcyclists and industry on the
most appropriate type of hi-viz material and possible solutions."

Too many riders have been unwilling to believe they will be forced to
wear day-glo clothing in the near future. Until now the RSA has
soft-pedalled its determination to legislate, but now there is no doubt
that the authorities are serious.

Recent research shows drivers who also ride motorcycles watch-out for
bikes and are far less likely to collide with them. Surely, this shows
that the key to road safety lies in getting everyone to look out for
each other and to think about who they share the road with. Forced
day-glo will simply marginalise riders and let unobservant drivers off
the hook. Such a lazy approach to road safety does not deserve to
succeed in Ireland, France or here in the UK

So, don't forget Sunday 25th September, MAG is co-ordinating
mass-protests against this and other threats to biking that are
springing-up throughout Europe - let's get out their in convoys to raise
awareness of bikes on the road and demonstrate our opposition to further
restrictions on biking.


Nich


FURTHER INFORMATION:

www.mag-uk.org

Latest from MAG 21/09/2011

With just 4 days to go before we all ride on Sunday 25th, we are already
making waves.

Another MP, Mark Lancaster has now confirmed he'll be riding from
Northampton services on the M1 and 6 MEPs have said they will be at
their local runs to show support. This number is likely to grow as more
call the office each day.

The IMCO vote has now been postponed again!
This time to the 22nd November, which means that the EU Parliament won't
now be voting on this Type Approval Regulation until next year.

The great news is that all this delay is directly related to the fuss we
are causing. This Regulation will not be rubber stamped.

There appears to be some friction between National Governments and the
EU that didn't exist before you all started writing letters.

The standard responses we were receiving from MEPs earlier in the year
have now become more focussed.

The Labour block of MEPs now appear to be supporting either a switch on
ABS, or no compulsion.

The UK Government is now as concerned as we are, that there hasn't been
the research to back much of the content in the Proposal and that the
Impact Assessment carried out was not robust.

They are concerned about the impact on consumers (us!), the increased
costs and complexity of bikes and the right of the UK to maintain its
Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) system, so that one off customs can still
be built.

On a less positive note, we've run out of T-shirts!

Orders came in so thick and fast that we had to reorder from the
suppliers and they were all sold before we'd even received them! Sorry
if you missed out, but some of the start points may still have a few for
sale on the day.

The other 'not so helpful' development, is that the Road Safety
Authority in Ireland has confirmed that it intends to make hi-viz
clothing compulsory for all motorcyclists from 2014.

The Motorcycle Action Group (UK) requested confirmation yesterday after
the RSA told a reporter on the Northern Irish newspaper 'NewsLetter';

"...at present the RSA's preference is for the voluntary wearing of high
visibility jackets rather than compulsion."

This contradicted the RSA's position in the National Motorcycle Safety
Action Plan 2010-14 which proposes the introduction of regulations for
the mandatory wearing of high visibility upper body clothing with full
sleeves for ride and pillion passenger.

Brian Farrell, Communications Manager at the Road Safety Authority,
emailed MAG(UK) in response to a request for clarification, saying;

"I can confirm that the RSA has not dropped the position outlined in the
Motorcycle Action plan. We do intend to seek to introduce the measure in
2014, subject to consultation with motorcyclists and industry on the
most appropriate type of hi-viz material."

MAG(UK)'s General Secretary Nich Brown said;

"too many riders have been unwilling to believe they will be forced to
wear day-glo clothing in the near future. Until now the RSA has
soft-pedalled its determination to legislate, but now there is no doubt
that the authorities are serious"

I'm not going to inundate you with mailings before Sunday, so I'd like
to say I hope you have a great day, please remember that the rules of
the road have not been suspended, respect other road users and don't
stop on the hard shoulder if your mate breaks down. Carry on to the next
exit.

The Highways Agency will be putting on extra patrols to help out near
each start point and they have confirmed that the motorway signs from
6am all across the country, will read 'Think bike!'

Not only are the Police being 'understanding' but I now know quite a few
of them will be joining us if they have the day off.

Now, let's hope it doesn't rain!
Kind regards

Paddy Tyson
Campaigns Co-ordinator
MAG (UK) - Motorcycle Action Group

Tel: 01926 844064
Mob: 07717 345605
www.mag-uk.org
www.ridersarevoters.org

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=718450245#!/pages/25th-Sept-2011-Action-Now-EU-Hands-Off-Biking/218514361530962

Between bike at the mo, but supporting in spirit

There's an e-petition running as well. I had a look back through the thread and can't see a link to it so I thought I'd post it here so people have the option epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/5334

I'm a bit concerned that, in some areas, we might be spreading ourselves a bit thin. I had a look on the MAG web site for the start points for the demo in my area, Ipswich, and found that there were two within 7 miles of each other. On will be going along the A14 and the other down the A12. I'm not really sure which to join as I live equidistant between the two.

OB1 wrote:


Toss a coin... ...and as regards spreading themselves thin - a lot of people live north of one, and a lot live south of the other... there are currently 70 MAG meet points and others that have not been notified to them... the M1 for example has virtually every service area with a meet and we are getting hit with a none stop stream of e-mail queries about it for the East Midlands Region ... the fact the SVA may be removed and you also have the National Chopper Club making this a full club turnout...it's feels like this may be the biggest motorcycle demo we will ever see and Jules and myself are gutted to be missing it.

Our last MAG meeting on Wednesday and we still had people popping in to confirm details. Increasing numbers of people are getting on board with this and when you consider that it took nearly 5 minutes for the 600 ish at the Brum demo to pass a given point even a couple of hundred at each meet point will cause an impact.

Norm De Plume wrote:


1. Given that it was created in a spirit of "speaking up" it can be applauded but also it is just downright embarrassing in the fact it looks like it was written with a green biro and ultimately says nothing at all. This is the reason why a lot of people have refused to sign it.
2.The Government are already on side with us on this one so there is already ongoing debate and consultation. So no need for it.
3. This is what really requires your input - the DfT Consultation on the Regulations www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2011-26 Tips on responses and background for them has been supplied within this thread. This carries more weight than a "pertition" as it is providing arguments against the specific regulations.

OB1 wrote:


I'm going to the one starting at Tesco's on the Toys R Us roundabout (A12/A14 junction)

Bonniebird wrote:

Think I'll probably join in with that one too

T shirts have arrived, should be at Donnington services for 12 on Sunday.

Don't forget folks - look out for each others ABR stickers at all the meet points and get some piccies up here !