Leeds MAG Rider Survey

At Leeds MAG we’re keen to understand what issues matter to people locally, whether or not they’re a MAG member. In order to do this we’re carrying out a survey to find out people’s concerns and to understand how they use their bikes. It will run until the 30th of April and as a thank you for completing it all responses will be entered into a free prize draw to win a Leeds MAG t-shirt and a year’s MAG membership The survey is at  https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ZPCK5DB and the draw will take place at our meeting on the 7th of May.

Leeds MAG AGM 2019 Minutes

The minutes for our AGM held on the 12th of Feb 2019 are now are now available. Our new committee is as follows:

  • Leeds MAG Rep – Richard Manton
  • Leeds MAG Vice Rep – Martin Thompson
  • Leeds MAG Treasurer – Kate Williams
  • Leeds MAG MAP Liaison – Keith Maven
  • Leeds MAG Web Officer – Marcus Houlden
  • Leeds MAG Entertainment Officer – Helen Taylor
  • Leeds MAG Political Officer – Marcus Houlden
  • Leeds MAG Press Liaison – John Nettleship
  • Leeds MAG Communication Secretary – Sally Johnson
  • Events Promotions Secretary – to promote events in the media. Zoe Thompson/ Gavin Weiner jointly
  • Dealer Liaison (new role) – Bob Hawkins

Leeds MAG newsletter February/March

Welcome to the latest Leeds MAG newsletter
Here’s a quick rundown of the NC meeting that I attended on Saturday 19th February
MAG has been in touch with the United Nations Environment Programme to state the case for motorcycles being a positive influence on both congestion and pollution. This approach has been formally acknowledged with a letter back, stating “as you accurately say in your letter, motorcycles could provide a short term and immediate way to reduce emissions now” This is a big deal as obviously the UN is listened to by policy makers throughout the world.
Colin Brown has been looking at some statistics from London which may be pertinent in all cities around the country where cycling/bus lanes have been pushed as the way to go.
He’s looked at the modal share and KSI (Killed and Seriously Injured) statistics show that motorcycles make up 1.5% of all traffic and cycles make up 2.5% of all traffic in London.
The KSI statistics show that motorcycle KSI’s are up by 6% while cycling KSI’s are down by 4%
This is a very worrying trend as it seems to show that while both are classed as Vulnerable Road Users, cyclists are being protected with dedicated cycle lanes while motorcycles are being compressed into the road space that’s left, with tragic effect.
He intends doing more work on this matter and will report back.
The ULEZ charge in London will come into effect in April. MAG has worked hard to try get exemption for all motorcycles but unfortunately mayor Kahn hasn’t allowed this BUT we have gained exemptions for bikes that can prove that their emissions are below the Euro 3 levels used. This is a big win for thousands of bikers with older machines that will now not have to pay £12.50 a day to ride in London. Exemption has also been granted for any bike over 40 years old.
As we’re all now aware, the big push in cities is all about air quality (especially particulate matter) and the relentless push towards public transport “for our health” (or to tax our arses off). Lembit came across a startling statistic that air quality in the underground network in London is 2900% higher than when standing at the side of a busy road in central London.
Membership, nationally, is slightly down (by 17 members) and this looks as though it could be the effects of the new GDPR regulations introduced last year. The reps only have a very limited time to chase up lapsed members before all their contact details have to be deleted, so please think on next time you renew and do it via direct debit so your membership is seamless.
It has been decided that ALL group reps will now be DBS (formally CRB) checked from now on. This is to ensure the safety of all our members and their families and to ensure the organisation is totally transparent.
Politically we’ve been making good progress in Calderdale with secure motorcycle parking and there’s an article by our political rep, Steve Bolton, in the latest Road magazine. The other four local authorities are also forging ahead with more secure parking. We just need to remember to carry a lock so we can take advantage of the parking rails.
Huddersfield MAG have been running a campaign to get the unlit bollard problem throughout Kirklees sorted out. Great progress has been made and there’s been a decent article in the Huddersfield Examiner.
After much pushing from myself and both our political reps, Steve Bolton and Ian Whitaker, we’ve finally cajoled the decision makers in the five West Yorkshire councils to get together and discuss the bus lane issue. Bus lane access for motorcycles is now written onto the 20 year transport policy for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, it now just needs implementation. Leeds as “lead” council have opposed bikes in bus lanes since we first approached them six years ago, but hopefully this meeting will force some action.
Over in Hull, Karl Freebury, who you will remember was the rider behind the theft awareness ride in Hull last April, is to meet with the Police on 20th February.  The Police are keen to have another big push with Operation Yellowfin in Hull, but Karl has again stated this will not involve another mass ride. Even though East Yorkshire MAG helped him massively by providing marshals for the very successful anti theft ride, Mr Freebury still refuses to join MAG.
Both of our political reps StevieB and Ian have been pulling out all the stops for MAG members throughout Yorkshire and they deserve our thanks.
I put an official complaint in against a councillor in Leeds who has constantly stood in our way and proved difficult. We received a slightly grovelling email back and hopefully we can push on with progress to ensure a better deal for bikers.
Here is the link to the current “Network” which will keep you informed with MAG happenings around the country. https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/e/e1/Network_2019-02.pdf
Membership remains steady throughout the region as is generally the case at this time of year. When you come to renew, please think of doing it by direct debit as this way, it’s all done automatically and you continue being a MAG member.
On Sunday 10th February we held two Fred Hill memorial rides.
Despite the damp and chilly weather, 49 bikes, trikes and sidecars joined in the annual East Yorkshire MAG Fred Hill run on Sunday 10th February.  The route took the now traditional 20 mile ride into Hull City centre before heading west towards the Humber Bridge and back to our host pub, The Foresters in Beverley.  Non riding members were waiting to serve a welcoming hot brew, home made soup and hotdogs from which £82 was raised for MAG.
The second ride was from Squires Cafe, just outside Leeds and unfortunately the turnout was disappointing. 14 bikers joined in and my thanks goes to each one of them. Hopefully next year, people will reflect on why we do the Fred Hill Runs and make an effort to join one of the Yorkshire rides to remember a true biking hero who personifies the term “let the rider decide”
On Tuesday 12th February we had the Leeds MAG AGM. We had a good turnout and I was duly re elected along with a full committee of willing volunteers. Hopefully we can continue the great work we’ve been doing for the past few years. Anyone in Leeds or Bradford is more than welcome to come along to the meetings and join in the fun with a great bunch of bikers.
We’re still wanting to restart Scarborough MAG and York MAG or get a completely new group going in North Yorkshire. If anyone is willing to become a rep (it’s great fun and very rewarding) or even host a meeting, just to get a likeminded group of folk keeping in touch and pushing the MAG message, please give me a call (07867918722) or message me via email, text, Facebook etc. North Yorkshire is a big area and it’s a real shame we don’t have a North Yorkshire group or two, especially considering it’s a biking Nirvana.
Traditionally, this time of year is always a quiet one but behind the scenes at MAP HQ, everything is coming together nicely to give you the three best rallies on the biking calendar. Tickets are now on general sale and all the info you need is here https://www.mapevents.co.uk/tickets_where.html
We’re always on the look out for new marshals, because without our marshals we can’t put the rallies on. We’re almost like a family within a family and I can say from personal experience that marshalling at our rallies gives a whole new appreciation of them and is fantastic fun. Email mag.marshals@live.com for more details.
We’ve got a few events coming up in the next few months that you may want to add to your diaries.
Sunday 17th March – Yorkshire MAG and MAP meetings at The Royal Hotel LS28 8PR from 10am. All MAG members welcome.
Saturday 23rd March – Leeds MAG presents An Evening With Ed March! Following the success of our previous motorcycle travel talks, we’ve managed to secure madcap C90 adventurer Ed March to come and talk to us. Check out his exploits on YouTube then come and meet the man himself
Finally if you want to get more involved at a local level (and to really get the most out of your MAG membership, I strongly recommend that you do) here are the meeting details of the five Yorkshire MAG groups – though we are looking to expand with more groups so if you haven’t got one close by and fancy getting together with like minded bikers, get in touch with me at manny@mag-uk.org
We’re very lucky in having some very strong groups in Yorkshire, but we need the members to join in, so pop along to your local meeting and help to make a difference
East Yorkshire MAG meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 8pm at The Forresters Arms HU17 0PR
Huddersfield MAG meet every Wednesday from 8.30pm at The Fieldhead HD3 4FB
Leeds MAG meet every 1st and 3rd Tuesday from 8pm at The Royal Hotel LS28 8PR
South Yorkshire MAG meet every 1st and 3rd Sunday from 7pm at The Ball,1 Hesley Bar, Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham, S61 2PW
Wakefield MAG meet every Wednesday from 8.30 at The Grey Horse WF1 1JG
Ride safe
Manny (Yorkshire MAG rep)

West Yorkshire Rider and Bike Stats

Part of what we do is understanding what local transport policies there are, how they affect transport in general, and what the implications are for motorbikes. Some of this comes fairly easily through things like press releases and the local papers. Other times it involves digging a bit further and doing some research. In November last year we put out a Freedom of Information Act request to DVLA to find out more about the number of bikes and riders there are locally. This can be found at https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/motorcycle_and_rider_stats_for_w.

» Read more

Leeds MAG newsletter January/February

Happy new year and welcome to the latest Leeds MAG newsletter
Below is the political write up for this month from the Yorkshire Political Rep, Steve Bolton –
On the Political front, as ever the West Yorkshire Bus Lane debate rumbles on.
Things are nearing a critical stage and I hope to have some positive news for you in the next Newsletter.
However on the Parking front we have made considerable progress.
I’ve written an article for the next edition of The Road which outlines very positive parking  progress in Calderdale.
There are other positive parking improvements underway both in Kirklees and Wakefield and these too will form write ups in upcoming editions of The Road.
Meetings wise, Ian Whittaker and myself are out and about meeting various committees in West Yorkshire, networking for MAG and increasingly getting us recognised as the go-to people for Motorcycling input, opinions and advice.
There are lots of things going on behind the scenes as some of the councillors and officers locally, aren’t doing what they should be so we’re looking to bring them to account. There’ll be more details when we have them
Here is the link to the current “Network” which will keep you informed with MAG happenings around the country. https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/f/f5/Network_2019-01.pdf
Membership continues to rise steadily. NEC was a great success and they want to use more grass roots members to man the stand in the future. If you fancy helping out at next year’s show get in touch.
There were lots of group parties over Christmas and new year and it looks as though everyone had a great time according to Facebook. If you’re not already a member of the various Yorkshire Facebook groups, you really should join your local one (or all of them) as it’s a great way to keep in touch with what’s happening throughout the region.
I’ve been asked to shout out for Marshals for the Fat Skeleton Blues ‘n’ Bikes Rally.  This is over the Easter weekend (19th to 22nd April) at Carbourne Parva, Near Caistor, Lincolnshire, LN7 6DR.  Anyone who would like to volunteer, please contact Ron Smith 07737613786.
Tickets are now on sale for the three Yorkshire MAG rallies and can be bought at your local meetings, certain select retailers or online at https://mapevents.co.uk
We’re always on the look out for new marshals, because without our marshals we can’t put the rallies on. We’re almost like a family within a family and I can say from personal experience that marshalling at our rallies gives a whole new appreciation of them and is fantastic fun. Email mag.marshals@live.com for more details.
We’ve got a few events coming up in the next few months that you may want to add to your diaries.
Tuesday 22nd January – Leeds MAG Comedy night at The Royal Hotel, LS28 8PR. We have a few tickets left so if you want to come get your tickets here https://leeds.mag-uk.org/shop/ it’s always a brilliant night and the ticket price includes a curry supper.
Tuesday 29th January – Leeds MAG AGM at The Royal Hotel LS28 8PR from 8pm. All MAG members welcome and bring your card if you want to vote.
We’ve got two Fred Hill rides in the region. Both appreciate your support and the sacrifice Fred made should never be forgotten as it underpins the MAG ethos to the day – Freedom of choice rather than compulsion.
Sunday 10th February – Leeds MAG Fred Hill Run. Meeting at Squires from 10 to leave at 11 prompt to ride to The Sun Inn at Norwood
Sunday 17th March – Yorkshire MAG and MAP meetings at The Royal Hotel LS28 8PR from 10am. All MAG members welcome.
Saturday 23rd March – Leeds MAG presents An Evening With Ed March! Following the success of our previous motorcycle travel talks, we’ve managed to secure madcap C90 adventurer Ed March to come and talk to us. Check out his exploits on YouTube then come and meet the man himself
Finally if you want to get more involved at a local level (and to really get the most out of your MAG membership, I strongly recommend that you do) here are the meeting details of the five Yorkshire MAG groups – though we are looking to expand with more groups so if you haven’t got one close by and fancy getting together with like minded bikers, get in touch with me at manny@mag-uk.org
We’re very lucky in having some very strong groups in Yorkshire, but we need the members to join in, so pop along to your local meeting and help to make a difference
East Yorkshire MAG meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 8pm at The Forresters Arms HU17 0PR
Huddersfield MAG meet every Wednesday from 8.30pm at The Fieldhead HD3 4FB
Leeds MAG meet every 1st and 3rd Tuesday from 8pm at The Royal Hotel LS28 8PR
South Yorkshire MAG meet every 1st and 3rd Sunday from 7pm at The Ball,1 Hesley Bar, Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham, S61 2PW
Wakefield MAG meet every Wednesday from 8.30 at The Grey Horse WF1 1JG
Ride safe
Manny (Leeds and Yorkshire MAG rep)

Help us catch a potential road killer

MAG is offering up to £1,000 to catch a potential road killer.

MAG has announced a £1,000 reward for information leading to the successful prosecution of the individual responsible for a ‘hit & run’ incident near the Squires Café Bar in North Yorkshire, where a car driver left a seriously injured motorcyclist, Matthew Ramsden, lying on the road with his damaged motorcycle.

The incident occurred in Sherburn-in-Elmet. Police say that Matthew was travelling along the B1222, near Peckfield, on Sunday 6 January at around 4.40pm, when he collided with a car at the junction with the A63. The driver did not stop at the scene.

Castleford-based firm, West Riding Personal Financial Solutions, has also put up £1,000 for information leading to a prosecution. Police believe the car to be a silver saloon – possibly a VW or a Skoda – and it suffered severe rear bumper damage as a result of the collision.

Yorkshire MAG Representative Richard ‘Manny’ Manton describes this latest incident as a ‘line in the sand.’ He says: ‘the guilty driver showed no respect for the biker’s life or property – and also decided to evade the law instead of fulfilling a basic moral and legal responsibility as a road user.’

Manny continues: ‘we’re offering up to one thousand pounds for information leading to a successful prosecution because MAG isn’t going to stand by and tolerate blatant criminality on the highways of Yorkshire – or any other part of Britain. If you know who did this, and you don’t speak up, you’re protecting someone who can’t be trusted by you or anyone else. Help us get justice – and potentially pick up a thousand pounds for yourself. This offender isn’t fit to be on the roads. If they are not found, they can do it again – to you or someone you love.’

Please contact MAG on 01926 844 064 with any information. You can speak to us in confidence. We won’t reveal your identity – we just want the identity of a law-breaker too cowardly to stay at the scene of a serious accident where someone could have died.

You can visit this site to get further police information about the incident:

https://northyorkshire.police.uk/news/hit-run-appeal-b1222/

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

Leeds MAG Newsletter – December/January 2019

Welcome to the latest Leeds MAG newsletter
The Yorkshire Political reps, Steve and Ian, have been working their socks off to get a better deal for the bikers of West Yorkshire.
As anyone who has ever had dealings with their local council will know, getting anything done is akin to wading through treacle. Dealing with five separate councils is like hearding cats, so I thank them for their tenacity.
We had several responses from the plea in the last newsletter for suggestions for secure parking locations in Bradford. This is brilliant as the five West Yorkshire councils have all been given £16k per year for the next four years to pay for secure motorcycle parking. If the money isn’t earmarked for this use it is absorbed into other projects, so it’s important that we tell them what we want and where. If you have any suggestions within West Yorkshire, get in touch with me or your local rep.
I’ve sent a couple of emails off to the lead member for transport in Leeds City Council but have yet to receive a response – it turns out that your local councillors don’t have to respond to contact from their constituents. This is worth bearing in mind when it comes to election time!
Here is the link to the current “Network” which will keep you informed with MAG happenings around the country. https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/8/8e/Network_2018-12.pdf
Last Saturday was the December National Committee meeting in Warwick. This is attended by Lembit and Colin, all the board members and the regional reps.
Here is the national campaigns update.
The recent online survey gleaned lots of useful and relevant information with over 950 respondents. This info will be analysed and used appropriately. Central office has taken a Survey Monkey subscription out so we can do as many surveys as we want including more local/regional ones
Vision zero is now being pushed as a concept in London. The aim is zero road deaths by 2040. Motorcycles have no place within the vision zero model – for the London statistics, cycles have been excluded from the figures! As with all these things, what starts in London is often quickly jumped on by other local authorities, nationally. This is a very worrying development.
A report called “The Atkins report on 20mph zones” has been published and has found that there is no difference, nationally, to accident statistics where areas have been changed from 30mph to 20mph. It is stated though that by reducing road speeds it will push more people towards cycling.
The push towards CAZ’s has hit problems with full funding for Leeds been denied by central government and Nottingham has decided not to charge. The group of “environmental solicitors” behind this CAZ/ULEZ push is up in arms about current developments so expect this one to rumble on.
London MAG met with the London mayor Sadiq Khan and his team. The ULEZ rules are to charge all pre Euro 4 internal combustion engine vehicles – regardless of engine size. They have agreed to look at our arguments regarding motorcycles easing congestion thus lowering emissions which is a turn up considering we’ve been stonewalled throughout this process. The mayor also wants our help to try get bikes in bus lanes throughout the capital so things are starting to look up.
The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) is rebranding and their new head wants to concentrate on “L category vehicles” rather than motorcycles. These are all the strange things like, leaning three wheelers, micro cars, 2/3/4 wheelers up to a given weight. The director of the MCIA has gone on record to say that he’d rather not be associated with motorcycles! We discussed approaching Triumph/Norton etc to find out their feelings on this debacle.
Autonomous vehicles are being discussed at FEMA with the FIM. It was pointed out that a lot of vehicles now have “smart” cruise control and in the handbooks it states that “smaller vehicles may not be seen by the systems in certain situations”. These vehicles are currently on the road and nothing is being said!
There is a consultation for the lower Thames crossing currently going on. They are currently looking at charging motorcycles and also classing it as a motorway so learner riders can’t use it. If you have time you can fill it in here http://www.lowerthamescrossing.co.uk/haveyoursay
Next year we’re going to have a big membership drive with the aim of raising membership by 15%. The message will be “your right to ride” and will be aimed at sports bike riders, commuters and born again bikers
Membership continues to rise steadily. NEC was a great success and they want to use more grass roots members to man the stand in the future. If you fancy helping out next year, get in touch.
Locally…..
Wakefield MAG hosted their annual Biker Quiz on 21st November. There were plenty of teams fighting it out for the coveted title. Steve Travis had outdone himself this year with some especially fiendish questions but the eventual winners were Leeds MAG A team, closely followed by Leeds MAG B team and the VJMCC in third. The booby prize of the “fat bird on a scooter” trophy was won by Lorna’s Wakey MAG team with a truly pitiful score of 12.5 points out of 60. Funds were raised for MAG and a great night was had by all in attendance. Well done Wakefield MAG.
We’ve got a few events coming up in the next few months that you may want to add to your diaries.
Tuesday 22nd January – Leeds MAG’s “Owl with laughter” 7th Comedy night @ The Royal Hotel LS28 8PR from 8. Limited tickets available soon. First come first served.
Tuesday 29th January – Leeds MAG AGM from 8pm upstairs at The Royal Hotel, LS28 8PR. Don’t forget your membership cards if you want to vote.
Sunday 17th March – Yorkshire MAG and MAP meetings at The Royal Hotel LS28 8PR from 10am. All MAG members welcome.
Saturday 23rd March – Leeds MAG presents An Evening With Ed March! Following the success of our previous motorcycle travel talks, we’ve managed to secure madcap C90 adventurer Ed March to come and talk to us. Check out his exploits on YouTube then come and meet the man himself
Finally if you want to get more involved at a local level (and to really get the most out of your MAG membership, I strongly recommend that you do) here are the meeting details of the Leeds MAG group – though we are looking to expand with more groups so if you haven’t got one close by and fancy getting together with like minded bikers, get in touch with me at manny@mag-uk.org
Leeds MAG meet every 1st and 3rd Tuesday from 8pm at The Royal Hotel LS28 8PR
Ride safe
Manny (Yorkshire MAG rep)

Daft Way Up Raffle Results

Yesterday at the Yorkshire Pudding Rally, NABD Chairman Rick Hulse drew out the winning ticket for the Daft Way Up C90 raffle to win Manny’s bike.

The lucky winner is number 109, Lorna from Brighouse. Thanks to all who supported the Daft Way Up for the past few months. We’ll release the final total raised at the MAG AGC, but suffice to say both MAG and Macmillan cancer care will both be getting sizeable donations.

The Daft Way Up – The Full Story

Daft Way Up MAG and Macmillan fundraiser 1st – 7th April

 

The initial idea for this fundraiser came about after Leeds MAG had hosted a talk by Nathan Millward, who’d ridden a Honda postie bike from Australia to the UK.

“We should do something daft like that!” We said…..and if we do we should raise some funds for MAG. Last year the MAG family lost Ian Williamson to cancer, so Macmillan cancer care was added to the beneficiaries of the ride.

After batting a few ideas around we decided on Lands End to John O Groats and instead of one type of bike, we said inappropriate motorcycles should be ridden. Basically, if the bike you chose to ride was inappropriate for a trip of 1000 miles, that would do!

We decided to self fund the ride so the two causes would benefit from all the money raised, this meant that each rider paid out of their own pocket for an inappropriate motorcycle, all fuel, accommodation, and holiday time to complete the trip.

We were amazed at the response from interested MAG members and finally ended up with 17 riders, 2 support drivers a cameraman and a fixer (to sort out all the odds and ends for everyone)

We set the start date for 1st April (when else?) and planned everything from that.

Due to time restrictions (getting time off work) we planned to get the bikes from home to Lands End and from John O Groats to home at the end in hire vans.

» Read more

They Did It!

Congratulations to the Daft Way Up team for successfully completing their journey. It wasn’t easy. Snow in Alston claimed a few casualties and they also had to cope with speed cameras on the A9 to Inverness. However they arrived at John O’Groats yesterday.

You can still donate via https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mag-daft-way-up and remember, it’s 50% to MAG and 50% to Macmillan Nurses, both very good causes.

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