MAG NEWS OUR REGULAR COLUMN BY THE MAG CHAIRNONGENDERSPECIFIC PERSON
TO
FIRSTLY, MANY THANKS
INVOLVED
ALL OF YOU WHO GOT
2021. AS WELL AS RIDING IN RIDE TO WORK DAY WITH HELPED BY ENGAGING TO WORK, YOU’VE TO THE AND RESPONDING
OUR SOCIAL MEDIA,
SHARE SOCIAL MEDIA SURVEY. WHEN YOU
HASHTAG, IT HELPS POSTS, OR USE THE
THE MESSAGE GREATLY IN SPREADING
COMMUNITY. IF YOU BEYOND THE RIDING
SURVEY, THEN YOU’VE RESPONDED TO THE WE’LL USEFUL DATA WHICH
HELPED US GATHER RIDE
BUT IF YOU MISSED
USE IN THE FUTURE,
DON’T WORRY AS IT’LL TO WORK DAY 2021,
NEXT YEAR.
ALL HAPPEN AGAIN
is continuing to have conversations at all levels so that riders’re represented in transport plans, although not all those conversations’re immediately visible. Thanks to your support we’re now attending some of the meetings that go on behind closed doors, meaning we get to represent the rider at an early stage in discussions. We need your help to continue to do this, as there’s always a variety of different transport consultations and issues happening across the nations, and you’re very good at alerting us to situations we might otherwise miss so, if you see something, send a quick message to central-office@mag-uk.org with brief details and any links and, if you want to get involved yourself, even better – just include your details in the email and we’ll work with you.
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I’m sure some of you’ll’ve seen the news coverage of Birmingham being the first city outside of London to introduce a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) that charges private vehicles to enter areas of the city. This came into effect on June 1st, but motorcycles’re exempt from the scheme, and we can thank the work of Colin Brown, MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, for this. CAZs continue to be a threat across the nation, and already different areas have different structures. Bath does not charge any private vehicles to enter their zone, and Nottingham has scrapped plans for CAZs altogether. The good news for riders is that, to date, we’re exempt from charges in all schemes outside of London.
We, of course, keep the pressure on in London, looking for an exemption there due to the positive benefits motorcycles bring. Keith Prince AM supports us in that fight, and we congratulate him on his new role as Deputy Chair of the Greater London Authority Transport Committee.
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Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) are under scrutiny in a number of areas, some introduced under emergency Covid-19 powers without consultation, and’re now being reviewed. The residents, and those living in the surrounding areas, often have objections to LTNs, and you can search these out and add your voice. It’s good to have diversity on these groups and add the rider’s voice into the mix.
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Colin notes that the visions of planners rarely receive much input from ordinary citizens, and he encourages you to get involved at an early stage with any plans that could affect you, be it where you live or work. Planners may be sitting in meetings with like-minded folk, looking at utopian ideas where personal transport’s a thing of the past, with little idea of the bigger (or real) picture. Following the May elections, we’re expecting a rise in plans to promote active travel (cycling and walking), and we’d like to make sure riders’ views’re represented in as many of these plans as possible. This doesn’t mean opposing everything – it means highlighting the need for design and infrastructure to be riderfriendly, and promote motorcycle use.
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No-one likes to hear of accidents, and no-one sets out to be involved in one. The United Nations has committed to a vision to reduce road KSIs (Killed & Seriously Injured) figures in 2030 by 50% when compared to 2021.
Lembit Öpik, MAG’s Director of Communication & Public Affairs, warns that, in the most advanced countries, data reveals that road KSI figures have flatlined and that, historically speaking, politicians’re dreadful at making calculations involving actuarial risk. This could see riders embroiled in the age-old debate of the acceptance of personal risk due to
transport choice. It’s going to be one to watch.
Colin has been busy working on updating the motorcycle theft ranking figures. Not surprisingly, motorcycle thefts fell during lockdown with even thieves following the Government’s ‘stay home’ message. I’ll bring you the full story when the updated document is released. If you want to push for secure motorcycle parking in your area, get in touch at central-office@mag-uk.org
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MAG remains concerned about the drive towards autonomous vehicles sharing road space with regular vehicles. An autonomous (self-driving) shuttle bus has taken to the streets of Cambridge, alongside ordinary traffic, in the first live trial of this kind in the UK. The project was originally delayed by Covid-19, but the first official journey took place on May 27th. We’ll keep speaking up for riders, and voicing their concerns about the ability of technology to detect any vehicle at all approach angles regardless of speed.
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The discussions on the move to E10 petrol’ve been going on for many years and, not surprisingly, it’s currently being pushed on the grounds of CO2 reduction, and is likely to hit the forecourts in September. If you look at the pumps when you’re filling up, you’ll currently see E5 which contains up to 5% ethanol – E10 has up to 10% ethanol. Why is it a problem? Well, ethanol degrades rubber and fuel lines, particularly on older vehicles, and speaking from experience, don’t use ethanol in a fibreglass tank or the fibreglass’ll end up in your engine! Be aware of what you’re putting in your tank, and note that the plan’s for ethanol to remain 5% and below in super-unleaded.
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It’s good to see some bike events returning, and things such as bike nights being well supported by riders. Stormin’ the Castle’s looking forward to celebrating its 30th anniversary this year on the weekend of 3–5th September. Tickets are on sale now until 18th August via www.storminthecastle.co.uk but if you kept your 2020 tickets, these are still valid.
NOTE: This is a pre-book event – there’ll be no tickets for sale on the gate due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions. Please visit the Stormin’ website to check details and for updates. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As always, we’d be happy to have you as a member if you’re not one already. Call the ladies in the office, join via the website, or wherever you see a MAG stand. Contact MAG at central-office@mag-uk.org or call
01926 844 064 during office hours, or visit www.mag-uk.org