All posts by admin

HUDDERSFIELD MAG AGM 2021

We held our AGM on 11 August 2021, with 13 members in attendance.

The meeting was chaired by Steve Travis, Wakefield MAG Rep and contact for the Yorkshire Region.

Our Committee has had a minor change, with David Denton stepping down from the membership Officer role, and Sal Slater, stepping into that role alongside her Fundraiser role.

Otherwise, the Committee remains the same – see The Committee | Huddersfield Motorcycle Action Group (mag-uk.org) for more info.

Thanks to David for his years in the Membership role, and many thanks to everyone who stood for and were elected into roles.

Great to see all who attended.

Huddersfield MAG AGM – 11 August 2021 @ 8.00 pm

We’ve got a date for this meeting – it’s Wednesday 11 August 2021, starting at 8 pm prompt, at The Field Head, Quarmby Road, HD3 4FB.

Steve Travis, Wakefield MAG Rep, has kindly agreed to observe.

As always, all Committee positions are up for re-election:

  • Rep
  • Vice Rep
  • Treasurer
  • Political
  • Fund Raiser
  • Membership
  • MAP Liaison
  • Web / Social Media
  • Dealer Liaison

If you want any further information about any of these roles, please get in touch.  Please be aware that anyone wishing to stand for any of these roles must have been a MAG member for at least 1 year.

Please bring your valid membership card to be able to vote.

7/1/2021 MAG starts the New Year under Lockdown but with fortitude

MAG is geared up to a new year of activities defending riders’ rights and contributing to the decision-making process at national and local governmental levels.

The Chair of MAG, Selina Lavender, noted that, whilst the challenges of 2020 had been almost unprecedented world-over, MAG’s personnel are refreshed and ready to work hard again during 2021.

Selina stated

“No-one could have foreseen that 2020 would be dominated by a dangerous global pandemic, with life so dramatically altered.  But MAG was able to rise to the occasion, swiftly moving many campaigning activities on-line and even managing to run one of the smaller premier fundraising events later in the year, which was an amazing achievement under the circumstances and a testament to the skills and commitment of our volunteers.

Unfortunately, we find ourselves in Lockdown once again, but sincerely hope that 2021 will, in due course, be a much better year, not just for MAG but for the entire world.  We stand strong, ready to continue defending motorcycling wherever we can.”

MAG will continue to engage with Government and Local Authorities wherever a need to protect riders’ rights is identified, building on its accomplishments and forging positive new relationships. 

MAG invites riders, dealers, mechanics and manufacturers to join MAG and help create a united voice for the common good of the riding community.

Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or central-office@mag-uk.org

30/12/2020 MAG’s Review of 2020: progress in a challenging year

Lembit Öpik and Colin Brown – MAG’s Political Unit review of 2020: progress in a challenging year. 

MAG have fought for riders’ rights throughout 2020, despite the Covid-19 pandemic. There have been challenges both old and new, but we believe we have made significant progress and extended our influence.

To read the full article, visit MAG’s Review of 2020: progress in a challenging year. (mag-uk.org)

7/9/2020 Huddersfield MAG to Resume Meetings & Socials This Week

Great news, we can re-start our socials and meetings at The Field Head as of 8.30 pm on Wednesday 9 September 2020.

Wednesdays 9, 16, 23 and 30 September are socials; first meeting will be Wednesday 7 October.

Same deal as before:

  • We can only go into the pub in small groups, ie no en masses arrivals into the building … This gives us time to catch up in the car park if a bunch of folk turn up at the same time
  • There is hand sanitiser straight ahead as you go through the front door which you need to use
  • There are 2 ordering/drinks pick up points, one at each side of the bar, with screens up. You wait for your drinks at the bar but otherwise there is no standing and no drinking at the bar
  • We can have the lounge area we normally do socials in, and we can have the conservatory or the lounge for meetings
  • We can sit within our bubbles (if we have any) whilst maintaining social distancing (1 metre)
  • We can have no more than 30 folk inside (shouldn’t be an issue). We can have more people outside – and there are more picnic tables now, but we can’t move them. Each seat 6. So start praying for good weather of a Wednesday!
  • Unfortunately, we can’t have raffles as we can’t be passing things around, so we will be looking at how other ways we can fundraise for MAG, but one thing at a time, eh
  • There is a standing/waiting area and a Give Way sign by the loos: there are 3 allowed in the ladies loos and 2 in the gents at any time
  • The Field Head has my contact details for the group for test and trace purposes. If anyone turns up who we don’t know, they need to give their details to the pub or to me so if the NHS contact me I can contact them.

Hope to see folks over the coming weeks and months as you feel able to join us.

Thank you all for your patience and continued support

Ride safe

Linz

Linz Foody

Huddersfield MAG Rep

7/9/2020 Farmyard Party Cancelled!!

MESSAGE FROM YORKSHIRE MAG EVENTS AND RALLIES
*** IT IS WITH THE GREATEST OF REGRETS THAT WE HAVE TO  INFORM YOU THAT FARMYARD PARTY 2020 IS CANCELLED FOR REASONS BEYOND OUR CONTROL ***
Late this afternoon (Monday 7th Sept) we received a telephone call from Ryedale District Council Licencing Dept. informing us that due to the recent increase in the R (infection) rate in the Ryedale area, their SAG (Safety Advisory Group) in conjunction with the Director of Public Health for North Yorkshire, have regrettably withdrawn support for this year’s Farmyard Party. Whilst they are only there in an advisory role we fully respect their decision and it would be wholly irresponsible of us to proceed without their full support. As a result of this decision our Event Liability Insurance is no longer valid which automatically puts an immediate halt to the event.
We realise this will come as a huge disappointment to many of you, it certainly has to us, but our hands are tied, we need to preserve the longer-term future of our events and we hope that you support us in this decision, and will continue to support us in the years to come.
A huge thanks again from all of us and we look forward to seeing you in a field in 2021, till then stay safe.
Please allow us a few days to respond to any questions, as we have a lot of traders, caterers, bands, marshals etc. to communicate with in the meantime.
We will make a full statement over the next few days when the written notification has come through from Ryedale District Council.
WHAT CAN I DO WITH MY FARMYARD PARTY 2020 TICKET(S)…
1. Simply keep your existing ticket(s) (including upgraded tickets) and use them for Farmyard Party 2021 (Provisional dates 18th – 20th June 2021) – new ticket(s) will not be issued, your 2020 ones will be valid
2. Donate the ticket cost to MAG – please email enquiries@mapevents.co.uk with your ticket numbers to notify us of this intention OR return your tickets to the PO Box*below with DONATED written on the back
3. If tickets were purchased from a MAG REP or one of our OUTLETS/SHOPS:
Return them to the PO Box*below for a refund** – Please enclose a note or write on the back of one of the tickets your name, sort code, bank account number and a contact phone number
4. If tickets were purchased ONLINE VIA OUR WEBSITE with a debit or credit card or with a cheque via the PO Box:
Return them to the PO Box*below for a refund** (excludes booking fee(s), these are retained by our 3rd party booking agent)
* MAP EVENTS, PO Box 247, Beverley, HU17 6BB, please write your contact number on the back of one of the tickets.
**REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUED FOR ANY TICKETS RETURNED TO THE PO BOX BEFORE 31st OCTOBER 2020.
For all enquiries call 0800 988 3199
This notice will also be sent to all email addresses that we have on file from this year’s online purchases, please check your junk mail folder if you do not receive it in the next 24 hours. *** IT IS WITH THE GREATEST OF REGRETS THAT WE HAVE TO INFORM YOU THAT FARMYARD PARTY 2020 IS CANCELLED FOR REASONS BEYOND OUR CONTROL ***
Late this afternoon (Monday 7th Sept) we received a telephone call from Ryedale District Council Licencing Dept. informing us that due to the recent increase in the R (infection) rate in the Ryedale area, their SAG (Safety Advisory Group) in conjunction with the Regional Director of Public Health, have regrettably withdrawn support for this year’s Farmyard Party. Whilst they are only there in an advisory role we fully respect their decision and it would be wholly irresponsible of us to proceed without their full support. As a result of this decision our Event Liability Insurance is no longer valid which automatically puts an immediate halt to the event.
We realise this will come as a huge disappointment to many of you, it certainly has to us, but our hands are tied, we need to preserve the longer-term future of our events and we hope that you support us in this decision, and will continue to support us in the years to come.
A huge thanks again from all of us and we look forward to seeing you in a field in 2021, till then stay safe.
Please allow us a few days to respond to any questions as we have a lot of traders, caterers, bands etc. to notify in the meantime.
We will make a full statement over the next few days when the written notification has come through from Ryedale District Council.
WHAT CAN I DO WITH MY FARMYARD PARTY 2020 TICKET(S)…
1. Simply keep your existing ticket(s) (including upgraded tickets) and use them for Farmyard Party 2021 (Provisional dates 18th – 20th June 2021) – new ticket(s) will not be issued, your 2020 ones will be valid
2. Donate the ticket cost to MAG – please email enquiries@mapevents.co.uk with your ticket numbers to notify us of this intention OR return your tickets to the PO Box*below with DONATED written on the back
3. If tickets were purchased from a MAG REP or one of our OUTLETS/SHOPS:
Return them to the PO Box*below for a refund** – Please enclose a note or write on the back of one of the tickets your name, sort code, bank account number and a contact phone number
4. If tickets were purchased ONLINE VIA OUR WEBSITE with a debit or credit card or with a cheque via the PO Box:
Return them to the PO Box*below for a refund** (excludes booking fee(s), these are retained by our 3rd party booking agent)
* MAP EVENTS, PO Box 247, Beverley, HU17 6BB, please write your contact number on the back of one of the tickets.
**REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUED FOR ANY TICKETS RETURNED TO THE PO BOX BEFORE 31st OCTOBER 2020.
For all enquiries call 0800 988 3199
This notice will also be sent to all email addresses that we have on file from this year’s online purchases, please check your junk mail folder if you do not receive it in the next 24 hours.

7/9/2020 Yorkshire Pudding Rally: ‘What a great weekend, thank you!’

Despite current concerns over Coronavirus and appalling August weather, August Bank Holiday weekend saw the Yorkshire Pudding Rally go ahead without incident.

Yorkshire Pudding Rally
Photo credit Richard Glynn

The Yorkshire Pudding Rally, held at Escrick Estate near Selby, traditionally takes place on the first weekend in August but, due to Covid-19 restrictions, which have decimated this year’s biking calendar, the event had to be rescheduled to August Bank Holiday weekend.

Before organisers could confirm the new dates, they worked closely with all relevant authorities to ensure that they had a plan to make sure riders would have a rally to attend this summer.

Authorities satisfied and risk assessments inspected with a fine-tooth comb, the weather then did its best to scupper proceedings! Weather reports predicted the lowest August Bank Holiday temperatures on record, and throughout build-up and rider arrival, there was heavy rain and strong winds.

Over a thousand riders attended this weekend event and managed to enjoy themselves under the unusual circumstances. Everyone arriving had their temperature checked before being allowed entry, there was a winding path to the bar, and rally-goers were reminded to stick to groups of no more than six and within social ‘bubbles’. None of these measures phased those in attendance, who regularly stopped marshals to express thanks to everyone involved for putting a rally on and brightening their lives. As was expected, there was a visit from local officials, who left satisfied that all measures were in place and being followed.

Yorkshire Pudding Rally
Photo credit Richard Glynn

MAG is truly grateful to the organisers for their untold hours and patience dealing with the authorities and getting the go-ahead for the event, the marshals for their dedication, the traders and bands, and the riders who attended and gave so much positive feedback on the event.

MAG Chair, Selina Lavender, said

‘It’s taken the dedication and hard work of many people to put this event on and there’s no underestimating the amount of joy this has brought to those attending the event. Those present attended because they’ve missed meeting in a field, and they were all fantastic, following the guidelines and showing respect to everyone else on site.’

Yorkshire Pudding Rally
Photo credit Richard Glynn

2020-06-17 MAG demands immediate three-point Government action

MAG demand immediate Government action

The Motorcycle Action Group are demanding immediate action by Government to include motorcycles in the COVID lockdown exit plan.  Amid press reports of rocketing demand for motorcycles and scooters, MAG is demanding that Government support this common-sense approach to commuting challenges.  MAG claims that three demands will cost not one penny of additional spending to implement yet will have a significant impact.

The demands are as follows:

  1. Specifically recognise and encourage the role of motorcycles and scooters as a socially distanced, congestion busting and sustainable transport mode for post-COVID transport in all Government transport messaging.
  2. Mandate all local authorities to immediately allow motorcycle and scooter access in all combined bus and cycle routes.
  3. Mandate all local authorities to immediately provide emergency secure two-wheeler parking facilities that can be used by both motorcyclists and cyclists.

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

“The time has come to forget about asking politely, and start demanding.  None of these proposed measures will cost Government a penny more than they have already committed to spending, yet could provide a meaningful level of support for those who recognise the benefits of commuting by motorcycle.  I would defy any Government Minister to come up with a logical reason not to support these proposals to spend public money more wisely.  The time for procrastination is over.  We have an economy to rebuild and a transport solution whose time has come.”

MAG’s Chair, Selina Lavender, said

“We have waited for engagement and polite debate for far too long.  These three simple proposals must be acted on now.”

2020-06-03 Coalition of Motorcycling Organisations to publish updated COVID Safe guidance

Coalition of Motorcycling Organisations

Members of the Coalition of Motorcycling Organisations have expressed their deep disappointment at the lack of engagement from Government, but continue to update their guidance to riders.  The guidance is tailored to motorcyclists wishing to enjoy the many pleasures and benefits of riding whilst complying with the Government guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus.  An updated version taking into account the recent relaxation of the guidelines will be published next week.

Mario Costa-Sa, Chair TRF said:

“It was good to see that the Secretary of State has been able to respond to the needs of horse riders and cyclists during COVID.  It would be great to see the riders of motorcycles treated with similar levels of care and help demonstrate that the safety of motorcyclists is important to his department.”

Selina Lavender, Chair of the Motorcycle Action Group commented:

“It is sad to say that this kind of delay and reticence to engage in dialogue with the organisations representing well over two million motorcycle licence holders appears to be institutional.  We are undaunted and will continue to assert the need for riders to be taken seriously.”

The Coalition are drafting an updated set of guidelines which are expected to be published early next week.  The Coalition notes that the updated guidelines could have been readied to coincide immediately with the changes to Government guidance had there been engagement with relevant officials.

Bob Clark, Chair of the VMCC said:

“The need to play catch up, and the consequent delay in publishing the new Ride COVID Safe guidelines is a clear demonstration of the need for Government to engage with us.”

Jim Freeman, BMF Chair said:

“As the Chair of an organisation representing around 60,000 voters, I will be reminding our members of this government’s failure to engage with it’s citizens, on this issue, come election time.”

The Coalition of Motorcycling Organisations consists of the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), the Vintage Motorcycle Club (VMCC), the Trail Riders Fellowship (TRF), the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) and IAM RoadSmart.

 

 

Issued on behalf of the Coalition of Motorcycling Organisations by the Motorcycle Action Group

Press and other enquiries c/o MAG at 01926 844 064 or central-office@mag-uk.org


The original White Paper “Riding COVID safe: a discussion paper” submitted to the Secretary of State on 14th May can be accessed here: https://bit.ly/2LqZSrt

2020-06-03 New paper shows the Carbon cost of anti-motorcycle transport policy

The Motorcycle Action Group has published a new paper examining the Carbon cost of poor motorcycle transport policy.  As pressure increases on the Government to properly address the role of motorcycles in the future of transport, MAG demonstrates the huge own-goal scored by transport policy makers over recent years.

anti-motorcycle policy carbon cost

The paper “Motorcycle Carbon Emissions” examines the tailpipe emissions from motorcycle commuter trips.  Noting that embedded emissions savings from manufacture of vehicles will be highly relevant, and again favour motorcycles over cars, the paper covers direct tailpipe emissions.  The paper analyses statistics from the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory and The Department for Transport.

The conclusion of the analysis is that had policies been put in place to halt the decline of motorcycle commuters, and to mildly promote the mode as an effective commuter choice, the nation could have reduced its Carbon emissions by a staggering 294.3 Kilotonnes over the 15-year period from 2002 to 2017.

Based on a modest 1% modal shift of commuters from cars to motorcycles over 15 years, the estimate is far from exaggerated.

MAG often quotes the findings of the TM Leuven study of 2011, which showed that a 10% modal shift from cars to motorcycles would reduce congestion by 40% and reduce transport Carbon emissions by 7.5%.  A modal shift of this magnitude would have equated to a saving of 8.85 million tonnes of Carbon in 2017 alone.

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

“The numbers shocked even me.  Bear in mind that my analysis only covers the emissions savings from commuter trips.  The savings if the same analysis is applied across the whole range of trip purposes, would be colossal.  MAG has long promoted motorcycling as an environmentally friendly transport mode.  This analysis shows that our claims are not fantasy.  We urge Government and local transport authorities to wake up to the idea that motorcycles are a valid part of future transport solutions.  This answer has been under their noses for long enough: now is the time to act.”

The Motorcycle Action Group is working with other motorcycling organisations on the “Ride COVID Safe” initiative and is promoting International Ride To Work Day, which falls on 15th June this year.

MAG Chair, Selina Lavender, said:

“Government may not yet actively promote motorcycles, but MAG will continue to rigorously and enthusiastically do so.  We can only do what we do with the support of the riding public.  There are over one and a quarter million regular riders in the UK, so it would really help for all those riders to join MAG and help us to help them.  Together we can protect our passion and save the planet too.”

Key findings of the analysis are:

  • The average motorcycle on the road emits around 30% less CO2 than the average car on the road.
  • Emissions from both cars and motorcycles have reduced at a broadly comparable rate over the last 20 years.
  • Numbers of motorcycle commuters have reduced by around 35% in the 15-year period   2002 – 2017, whilst car commuters increased by over 11%.
  • The emissions cost of motorcycle commuters taking up the car as an alternative mode resulted in an excess of 130.2 Kilotonnes of Carbon emitted to the atmosphere purely as a result of commuter trips made by car that would have otherwise been completed by motorcycle.
  • A 1% total modal shift from cars to motorcycles over a period of 15 years would have resulted in a cumulative saving of 294.3 Kilotonnes of Carbon emissions over the period.
  • Potential for Carbon emission savings from even modest levels of modal shift to motorcycles is indisputable.