MAG ends 2019 by offering a huge ‘thank you’ to all its members for their support during the year

MAG Chair, Selina Lavender, said “We have seen a continuation of some tough issues during 2019 – e.g. moped-enabled crime – but also other threats to our freedom, like ULEZ and CAZs and even the very real possibility of an end to production of the internal combustion engine!!

We are only able to continue to engage with relevant authorities regarding all of these issues because of our fantastic members.  So ‘thank you’ to each and every one of you for your support over the past year.  I hope you enjoy a very happy festive season and I look forward to helping take MAG forward with you all in 2020.”

Lembit Öpik, MAG’s Director of Communications & Public Affairs, added “MAG will continue to fight against threats to motorcycling in the coming year.  We can only do this because of our staunch members so I’d like to say a massive ‘thank you’ to you all because you make MAG what it is: the country’s leading riders’ rights organisation, and every MAG member should be proud of their contribution.”

MAG’s Central Office will be closed over the Christmas period from Tuesday 24th December at 12:30 until Thursday 2nd January at 09:00, but you can still join on-line at http://www.mag-uk.org/en/membership/.  Normal office hours are 09:00 to 17:00.

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

The Real Urban Emissions (TRUE) Initiative issued a report on real world emissions from vehicles in Paris LAST week.  MAG is seeking to discuss the research with the report authors and has expressed concern regarding the accuracy of the report conclusions.

The headline conclusions outlined in the report with respect to motorcycles were:

•    L-category vehicle fuel-specific emissions (grams per kilogram of fuel consumed) are up to 11.1 times higher for CO emissions and 6.1 times higher for NOX emissions compared to average petrol passenger car emissions.
•    While fuel-specific emissions of CO and NOX from L-category vehicles have declined with the implementation of more stringent Euro standards, they have trailed behind passenger cars, and L-category standards only go up to Euro 4.
•    Considering L-category vehicles only certified to current Euro 4 standards, CO emissions are almost 10 times those of both Euro 6 diesel and petrol cars, and NOX emissions are three times those of Euro 6 petrol cars.

The research was funded by the FIA Foundation.  Sheila Watson, Deputy Director of the FIA Foundation, said: ‘[the report] shows that two- and three-wheelers are neither the answer to urban air quality nor traffic issues.’

MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement stated “I have approached the report authors asking for the opportunity to discuss and examine their data.  Having read the full report, I have concerns that the conclusions reached from such a small sample of motorcycles and the fact that there was a very high failure rate in EDAR readings raises questions about the validity of the conclusions.  Certainly the comments by Sheila Walsh with respect to the role of motorcycles and other L category vehicles are highly questionable.  The effect of motorcycles on congestion was not within the scope of the research, so to claim that motorcycles are not the answer to urban traffic issues is entirely spurious.

I welcome research into real world emissions from motorcycles but the methodologies used for cars in the real world are clearly demonstrated in this report to be poor with respect to motorcycles.  Jumping to conclusions based on this research would seem extremely premature.”

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

MAG has released a national police force ranking system for motorcycle theft.  Following analysis of Freedom of Information responses the most complete picture of the national levels of motorcycle theft are now available for all to see.

The ranking system aims to demonstrate in a fair and balanced manner the level of motorcycle theft around the entire UK.  To give a fair representation things like geographic size and population differences between police force areas have been allowed for by calculating a figure for the number of thefts per thousand registered motorcycles in each force area.

All 45 territorial police forces responded to MAG’s FOI requests, but sadly 2 failed to meet the deadline to be included in the published ranking and a further six were unable to give the theft data within the constraints of the FOI regulations.

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

“It is disappointing that we do still have gaps in the overall picture, and we will be urging the eight forces that could not help this time round to consider ways to give us the data for future revisions.  We will be running the ranking on an annual basis.

MAG is clear that the purpose of the ranking system is not to point fingers, but rather to assist all parties in better understanding the issues and opportunities to combat what is probably one of the most pressing concerns for many bikers.

For a biker, the theft of their bike is most definitely not a victimless crime.  More so than for any other mode of transport, riders become very emotionally attached to their bikes.  For some loss of a bike is akin to the loss of a family member.  It is unsurprising that this passion stirs up much emotion, and with motorcycles currently being seven times more likely to be stolen than any other form of vehicle, we have a massive issue that needs to be confronted head on.

We can only start to solve a problem if we first understand it.  This work is only the beginning as far as we are concerned and we are already endeavouring to speak to and work with the forces that are showing the worst results.

We are fully engaged with the Metropolitan Police Force and will be involved in discussions with the MET in September.  We met the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Burns Williamson, in August and have approached the PCCs for all forces showing above average levels of motorcycle theft.”

The rankings show that the Metropolitan Police Force area (which for the purposes of the ranking combines the Metropolitan and City of London forces) as the worst performing with 82 of every 1000 registered bikes stolen in 2018.  Second place goes to West Yorkshire with 56 per 1000 stolen.  Best ranked was Derbyshire with just 1 in every 1000 bikes stolen.

The full report can be found here: https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/e/e7/Rankings_August_2019.pdf

Colin Brown said “The fact that well over 60% of all thefts happen in just 6 police force territories is a clear demonstration that a concerted effort in those locations can make a vast difference to the national picture.  We will be seeking to work with those forces to ensure that everything that can be done is done.  We will not sit back and simply complain that more needs to be done, but hopefully a bit of healthy competition between forces will work in our favour.

Compiling this information has taught me many things already, from the differing methods of recording crime in use across the country, to the variation in performance levels when it comes to recording all crime, as well as the stark variation in levels of motorcycle theft across the country.  Any analysis tends to lead to more questions, but it is only by asking those questions that we make progress.”

MAG gave opportunity for the worst performing forces to have sight of the statistics in advance of publishing the data, and asked for statements from them.

West Midlands Police issued the following statement:

“As a force we are committed to tackling vehicle crime and have introduced short and long term measures to reduce the problem.

We take all reports of theft seriously and investigate proportionately.

If you see any suspicious behaviour, please let us know, no matter how small it may seem.

For more information on how to keep your car or motorcycle safe from thieves, check out our dedicated website.”

Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “Having been contacted by the Motorcycle Action Group, I arranged to meet them, along with West Yorkshire Police, to discuss the ongoing work to help address and reduce motorcycle thefts across West Yorkshire as well as what more we could do together in partnership. The meeting resulted in a number of actions that we will be working towards.

“Whilst these types of offences are always going to be more prevalent in larger metropolitan police force areas that does not mean we are complacent.

Robust law enforcement has a big part to play and where there are positive lines of enquiry West Yorkshire Police will investigate and seek appropriate actions and prosecutions.

We would also ask motorcycle owners to take extra precautionary steps where possible to help reduce their chances of being targeted by criminals. These can include adding an immobiliser, using a steering lock or storing your bike out of sight at night.  More advice is available by visiting West Yorkshire Police’s website.

The fact that we are rated as outstanding by the HMICFRS in our crime recording will also affect our standing in MAG’s ranking. I understand this won’t bring much comfort to anyone that has unfortunately been targeted by thieves but it does mean that we have a solid base with which to understand the full extent of these incidents and work towards tackling them.

Going forward we will continue to build on our relationship with MAG in working to tackle these issues together and have agreed a number of positive stems linking in with our crime prevention leads.”

MAG looks forward to more productive engagement with West Yorkshire and all other forces where motorcycle theft is showing its ugly face.

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

MAG has welcomed news of an initiative to help learner drivers be more aware of motorcycles on the road. A new set of training aids in the form of videos has been launched by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).  The realistic computer-generated videos aim to encourage learner drivers to be more aware of motorcyclists, and have been made with the help of road safety campaigner and keen biker Ria Brisland.  Ria’s 19-year-old son, Nick, died in April 2015 after being involved in a collision with a car while riding his motorcycle.
The videos will become part of DVSA’s official learning materials and education products.
Michael Ellis, Road Safety Minister, said: “After reading Ria’s story and her concerns for fellow bikers, I was determined to help her and I am delighted that these clips will now be seen by millions of learners, helping improve road safety.”
MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown said: “The MAIDS research project showed that about 70% of the main causes of collisions involving a motorcycle and another vehicle are attributable to the driver of the other vehicle failing to spot the motorcycle.  There is only so much that a motorcyclist can do to raise his or her visibility; we are always reliant on other road users taking the time and remembering to consciously look for motorcycles.  Hopefully these new training videos will help new drivers to learn this important habit.  ‘Sorry mate, I didn’t see you’ is a phrase that deserves to go out of common use as soon as possible.” A sample video can be viewed HERE

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

MAG has received a belated response from Transport for London following two formal letters to Mayor Sadiq Khan.  Following a review of the response, MAG continues to press for greater clarity and common sense to be applied.

MAG wrote formally to Sadiq Khan in March, ahead of the 8th April launch of the Mayor’s ULEZ.  The initial letter requested a delay to implementation of charges for Powered Two Wheelers (PTWs).  There was no formal response. MAG wrote again on 25th April calling for a suspension of charges.  A response was finally received from Alex Williams, Director of City Planning at TfL dated 22nd May 2019.  The six page letter concludes by stating “We cannot therefore meet your request that motorcycles be exempt from ULEZ charges.” Going on to say “I trust this answers all of your queries and I look forward to working with you to prepare motorcyclists for the expansion of the ULEZ in October 2021”.

Selina commented “Whilst the letter was lengthy it carried no real substance, and failed to address the issues that we raised in a meaningful way.  A further round of virtue signalling and dismissive attitude fails to come close to acceptability in the eyes of our membership.”

MAG has therefore responded to Mr Williams with an eight page letter crammed full with hard facts and analysis of the weak comments made in Williams’ letter.

MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, commented: ‘To me it is self-evident that decisions are being made by TfL that simply cannot be defended.  The revelations about the COPERT modelling flaws even lead to a comment from Williams that it was MAG that was mistaken on the issue of degradation factors.  This demonstrates that Mr Williams has not even looked at the model data that TfL claim to evidence motorcycle emissions.  Indeed my ongoing communications with EMISIA, the company that designed the modelling software, has revealed that they “could not locate the original study where the NO2 emissions originated from.”  For TfL to claim this modelling data as evidence is laughable.’

MAG’s Director of Communications & Public Affairs, Lembit Öpik, said: ‘If TfL and the Mayor think this issue will simply go away, they are very much mistaken.  We hope that Client Earth and others are following this case with interest.  If they are not, they should be.  Sadiq and his team are actively attacking proposals and policies that would accelerate the reduction of NO2 on the streets of London.  This simply does not fit with the claim that he is leading the way on reducing emissions in the shortest time possible.  The only thing his “hard hitting” policy is hitting, is the pockets of the very Londoners he claims to work for.  He is letting NO2 off the hook.’

In response to Alex Williams closing remark, the letter from MAG concludes: “The Motorcycle Action Group looks forward to working with TfL to achieve the correct outcome of exemption for all motorcycles from the expansion of ULEZ in October 2021, allied with a policy to positively promote modal shift from single-occupancy cars to motorcycles.”

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