November 2014

Welcome,

In Europe FEMA has represented us at a road safety seminar and over in the UK there has been a victory on bus lanes in Brighton and the start of a consultation on a low emissions zone in London which would charge non-complying motorcycles the same as cars and light vans.

Regarding roadworthiness testing requirements for vintage motorcycles a number of people got in touch requesting that we make a formal response on the basis that while motorcycles are not currently subject to testing, it is proposed that they will be tested from 2022. MAG Ireland reviewed the consultation document and issued a formal response to the RSA consultation ahead of the closing date. 

If you’re planning a motorcycle related event in Ireland in 2014, let us know by sending details to events@magireland.org and we'll add it to the Irish Motorcycle Events Calendar for free.

Please add this email address to your safe sender/whitelist to ensure it arrives

Your feedback (email to roadrunner@magireland.org) is always welcome.

Editor

Bus Lanes Victory in Brighton

News from the UK where recently there was cross party support in Brighton for making a bus lane trial permanent on two roads and to start a new trial on a third. Cross party support that included the majority Green party.

All main arterial routes into and out of the city will then, in due course, have bus lane access for bikes and scooters. This positive outcome was arrived at after many months of careful lobbying, negotiating and partnership working.

For several years Brighton MAG has been a member of the Transport Partnership. A council chaired forum for all stakeholders living and travelling in the city e.g. bus company, taxi drivers, cycling groups and pedestrians etc. Brighton and Hove is very busy city with congestion, pollution and road safety issues all pressing concerns.

A trial was begun in June 2013 following a lobby by Brighton MAG to M.P.s and Councillors.

During the following year the trial demonstrated:
 No significant impact on accidents
 Increases in powered two wheeler usage
 No reduction in cycle usage or impact on cyclist safety

A subsequent report to The Transport Committee made for encouraging reading there then however followed a very busy week for local MAG members; writing to the political members on the committee urging them to vote in favour of the recommendations. All three local MPs were also making encouraging noises to their councillor colleagues, In the end the report was passed unanimously, in advance, by all members and no
debate/vote was needed at committee.

In a MAG Ireland poll carried out in March 2012, over 95% of you voted in favour of granting Irish motorcyclists legal access to the country’s bus lanes, yet the National Transport Authority continues to oppose the use of bus lanes by riders despite their own studies finding no adverse effects.

 Australian report on Graduated licensing

This report summarises an international review of effective motorcycle rider licensing systems and interventions. It details elements of best practice for motorcycle graduated licensing based on novice motorcycle risk patterns and practice from Australia and comparable overseas jurisdictions.

Motorcycle riders are disproportionately represented in road trauma statistics and improving their safety is a priority for road safety strategies in Australia, New Zealand and overseas. In response, a consistent approach to graduated motorcycle rider licensing is being considered by Australasian licensing agencies.

FEMA presents a paper on infrastructure and motorcycling at European Seminar 

On 5 November, 100 stakeholders from different continents gathered in Brussels to participate to the 3rd European edition of the AFB 20 (2) Roadside Safety Design Subcommittee on International Research Activities.  
 
Coordinated by the ERF and held at the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre, the event proved a great success with both in terms of content provided and participation.

Read MAG Ireland in Bike Buyers Guide

The December issue of Bike Buyers Guide is in shops and this month the MAG Ireland column takes a look at data recorders. Is an aircraft style "black box" coming to your next bike, and if it is what sort of form should it take?

Read all about it in the December issue of Bike Buyers Guide available from all good newsagents now.

Caption Competition Winner!

Last month, we published this picture for our caption competition and we're delighted to announce that the winner is Noel O'Sullivan. Congratulations Noel, there's a MAG Ireland goodie bag heading your way. The winning caption is below.

"Not sure... but I think it's off a Harley?"

Game changer?

No other brand so equates with motorcycling in the minds of the non riding public as does Harley Davidson, so when Harley launched their prototype electric motorcycle under the "Project Livewire" banner last June, they kick started a global debate about the future direction of motorcycling. 

Here in Ireland, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is responsible for administering the electric vehicle grant scheme and in the September issue of Bike Buyers Guide, we looked at just why the electric Harley might actually be a genuine breakthrough motorcycle, just not in the way everyone thinks.

That column has just been re-published as a feature article on our web site, so if you're a purist or a traditionalist you may want to look away now.

RSA Vintage vehicles consultation

The RSA recently undertook a consultation which seeks the views of interested parties regarding the future roadworthiness testing requirements for vintage vehicles in Ireland.

This is being done because action 59 of the government’s 2013-2020 Road Safety Strategy contains a commitment to review the roadworthiness testing of vintage vehicles. The consultation period began on 15th October 2014 and ran until 14th November 2014. 

MAG Ireland made a formal response ahead of the closing date.

Liberty Insurance 10% discount

Liberty Insurance have been in touch asking us to remind readers that anyone holding a motorcycle policy with them gets 10% off any other policy at the same address.

Specifically, Liberty will give a 10% discount for each additional policy (private motor, motorcycle or home) that a policyholder or their partner at the same address has with Liberty Insurance.

For full terms and conditions click here.

Daytime Headlights - Y/N ?

The RSA is currently running a campaign for car drivers to use dipped headlights at all times.

Traditionally riders groups have opposed compulsory daytime running lights for cars on the basis that motorcycles using them are then relatively less conspicuous (let alone cyclists).

Interestingly the research quoted is from two Scandinavian countries plus decade old research from the US.

The question for riders : Is this still something that matters to you and given the fact that most new cars are hardwired to run lights at all times anyway is this worth being active on and if so what is the correct position. 

Let us know what you think.

Members discount scheme updated

We aim to save you the cost of your membership many times over and MAG Ireland members can get 10% off all purchases from Halfords stores through our exclusive members only discount scheme.

We've now got a huge range of discounts for your everyday shopping wih top high street names like Heatons, Arnotts, Debenhams, Currys/PC World, Argos, B&Q, Boots and many more.

Christmas is fast approaching and with over €10,000 in savings made by members to date, now is the time to get your MAG Ireland membership in order and start claiming those discounts!

 FEMA speaks on European road safety

On 17th November 2014 Aline Delhaye and Dolf Willigers represented
FEMA at the "workshop in preparation of the mid-term evaluation of
Commission Road Safety Policy Orientations 2011-2020" in the
Berlaymont building in Brussels.

Their report is on the FEMA website and Facebook.

Debate on personal protection equipment (PPE) in IMCO

The personal protection equipment (PPE) proposal will be debated in the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) on Wednesday 3 December, 11.30 – 12.15. this debate is probably going to be streamed, so if you want to you will be able to follow it in any European language of your choice.

This proposed regulation is about conformity of PPE, not about wearing it! As motorcycle gear is just seen as a form of PPE it isn’t even mentioned in the regulation or the annexes (which means that it isn’t excluded also).

Motorcycle Events Calendar

Highlights

• Saturday, November 29
  • Christmas Rock Party - Gan Ainm M.C.C.
  • Fundraiser: Sins & Twins, Louth
  • Toy Run: Banner MCC, Ennis, Co. Clare
• December : Lots of Toy Runs basically.

Full details of these and other events we've been notified of are on the Irish Motorcycle Events Calendar. Click the button for more.

Help to protect motorcycling - Join Us

MAG Ireland represents Irish riders and is funded by Irish riders but we can only do that with the financial support of members subscriptions.

It now costs just €20 for a years membership, that’s less than 6 cent per day.

Not only that but we aim to save you the cost of your membership many times over via our exclusive vouchers and our group discount scheme. To get your member-only discounts follow the link on the top right hand side of  the site: www.magireland.groupscheme.com. All you need is your membership number to potentially save the cost of your membership many times over with great discounts like 10% off at all Halfords stores. 

If you can’t stretch to a membership subscription but you’d still like to help, just click the donate link on the menu at www.magireland.org and give whatever you can.