Wakefield MAG May 2019 Newsletter

Dear Wakefield MAG Member,

Welcome to the Wakefield MAG e-newsletter. If you can't attend our Wednesday meetings regularly, it's the next best thing to keep you up to date with what we are up to.

CONTENTS

1) Post Christmas Auction Report
2) Wakefield MAG May Day Bike Show
3) May Rideout
4) Rally Tickets
5) April Rideout Report
6) Clay Pigeon Shooting Report
7) MAG brands industry standard emissions calculator unfit for purpose
8) MAG calls for suspension of ULEZ charges for motorcycles
9) FYP Marshals Registration Now Open
10) Forthcoming Events (for May and beyond)

1) Post Christmas Auction

Check out the event report: Here

2) Wakefield MAG May Day Bike Show

Wakefield MAG Bike Show at the Wakefield Gala

Our popular bike show, hosted at the Wakefield Gala at Clarence Park Arena, on May Day Bank Holiday Monday, is rapidly approaching. Fettle up your pride and joy and enter it into the show .... for FREE. All types of Bike, Scooter, Moped, Combination and Trike are welcomed and there are six winning categories plus an overall Best in Show up for grabs. We will also be hosting the Yorkshire MAG stand and running a tombola (with some great prizes to win). Lots of other attractions at the gala (including a motorcycle stunt show) to entertain you whilst you wait to see if your bike has won, and it's a great family day out.

Location: Clarence Park, Wakefield. Show to be judged at 14:30, Entry into show from 09:30 onwards (Gala officially opens at 10:00).

Hope to see you there. Did we mention it was FREE !!!

3) May Rideout

Our May rideout will be on Sunday 12th May and will be led by Martin Burgess. The run will head South East to that popular biker haunt, Willingham Woods, near Market Rasen in Lincolnshire (N.B. The eagle eyed amongst you will note that this was the destination for the April Rideout ... but we never made it there (see Rideout Report Here), so we are going this month instead). Martin has planned a nice scenic learner friendly route, and the bloke upstairs with the long flowing beard has promised us wall to wall blue sky.

Usual Rideout rules apply. Meet at the Redbeck Cafe on Doncaster Road, Crofton, Wakefield at 8.30am for a 9.00am start. Hope to see you there.

www.willinghamwoods.com

Wakefield MAG Rideouts are very popular:
Wakefield MAG Rideouts are very popular

4) Rally Tickets

MAP Rallies 2019

Tickets for the Yorkshire MAG 2019 Rallies are for sale at our weekly meetings NOW.

Ticket prices and dates are:

The first of these 3 quite splendid events (ITV) is literally days away and it is a Pre-Book only event, which means if you want to go, you have no choice but to buy your tickets in advance. See Lorna at any of our weekly meetings to buy yours. Remember, if you buy your tickets directly from us, you save on the on-line booking fee and postage .... more money in your pocket = more beer money .... what more of an incentive could you possibly want !!!

See the Yorkshire MAG Events site for more details of these 3 fantastic rallies: www.mapevents.co.uk

5) April Rideout Report

Check out the event report: Here

6) Clay Pigeon Shooting Report

Check out the event report: Here

7) MAG brands industry standard emissions calculator unfit for purpose

Following repeated claims from Transport for London (TfL) that "individually, motorcycles can be highly polluting", MAG has demanded that TfL produce evidence to back this claim. TfL stalled for many months before finally claiming that they take information from the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory.

MAG investigated this 'evidence' and discovered that the information from NAEI is, in fact, a modelling calculation; and we can now reveal that this model actually backs our position that pre-Euro 3 motorcycles are not necessarily 'highly polluting' and that, by the admission of the software modellers, the figures over-estimate real-world emissions from motorcycles.

TfL has chosen a NOx emissions limit of 0.15g/km for motorcycles, based on the figure for this single pollutant in the Euro 3 motorcycle standard. TfL claim that the evidence for pre-Euro 3 motorcycles being highly polluting is provided by the COPERT 5 data for average motorcycle emissions at an average speed of 30km/h.

The data from COPERT 5 shows that average emissions from pre-Euro 1 less than 50cc mopeds; pre-Euro 1, Euro 1 and Euro 2 two-strokes; Euro 2 four-strokes 250 – 750cc; pre-Euro 1, Euro 1 and Euro 2 four strokes greater than 750cc, all average less than 0.15g/km. At the same time, the cleanest ULEZ-exempt Euro 6c diesel cars emit 0.21g/km. MAG has also had confirmation from Emisia - the company behind the COPERT modelling software - that their models do not allow for the emissions advantage possessed by motorcycles in terms of filtering through congested traffic.

Studies carried out by the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations (FEMA) demonstrated that, across 17 major European cities, motorcycles on average reduce journey times by 30 percent compared with cars. The COPERT modelling can therefore be shown to over-estimate the already low emissions figures for motorcycles by this same percentage.

MAG's Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, stated "This research has led us to a conclusion that has far-reaching implications beyond Sadiq Khan's London: indeed beyond the UK, to the whole of Europe. Any air quality modelling that relies on the COPERT software is misrepresenting the part that motorcycles play in air quality. No modelling will ever reveal the benefit that modal shift to motorcycles and scooters can play in improving the quality of the air that we all breathe. An opportunity for all is being hidden through the use of faulty assumptions that motorcycles are the same as cars and should be treated in exactly the same way. This is flawed modelling that leads to poor decision-making."

"MAG is more than happy to answer any questions about motorcycle emissions, and to work with any authority that genuinely wants to reduce air pollution to correct the modelling and come to workable policies that promote the use of motorcycles and scooters. As we have maintained all along: motorcycles are the solution not the problem."

8) MAG calls for suspension of ULEZ charges for motorcycles

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has formally requested a suspension of charges on motorcycles in the new London Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) citing the flawed evidence used to justify the charge. MAG is calling for a suspension to allow Transport for London (TfL) time to conduct valid research into emissions from older motorcycles and scooters.

MAG wrote formally to Sadiq Khan in March, ahead of the 8th April launch of the Mayor's flagship policy to tackle air pollution in the capital. National Chair of MAG, Selina Lavender, cited a number of reasonable justifications for a delay in the implementation of proposed charges for motorcycles. In the letter Lavender listed the following justification for a delay:

Selina commented "Despite many meetings and discussions between MAG and TfL, the Mayor chose to ignore the clear logic of a delay, and indeed made no attempt to respond personally to the letter. It is for this reason that MAG have decided to continue to keep campaigning for the exemption of all motorcycles from the charge."

In the latest letter, Selina wrote "It would therefore seem clear that TfL's cited evidence is, at best, highly questionable, and demonstrates that the ULEZ charge is knowingly being applied to vehicles that are below, and in many cases far below, the emissions standard that has been set. The Motorcycle Action Group is therefore formally requesting a suspension of charges for all motorcycles and scooters until an equitable and legal application of the charging system can be agreed based upon the evidence that TfL cite, and any further empirical evidence that can be found."

MAG's Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, commented: "We have continued to put much time and effort into researching the claimed evidence cited by TfL to justify the charge for older motorcycles. That work has reinforced our claim that there is no evidential basis to justify the charge for motorcycles. We are therefore demanding a suspension of the charge whilst further research and evidence is gathered by TfL to demonstrate a justification, or a decision is taken to accept that there is no reason to continue the charge."

MAG's Director of Communications & Public Affairs, Lembit Öpik, warns: "we predicted chaos if there was no delay to the implementation. Now that the ULEZ has been implemented, that chaos is upon us and with it comes the growing inevitability of legal cases being brought to bear against TfL by riders who have been victimised by this draconian policy. Of course the real irony is that the charge on motorcycles is counter-productive in terms of the results it aims to achieve. We should not need to follow the example of recent environmental protests to get the Mayor to listen to reason but, if we must, then that is exactly what we may do."

9) FYP Marshals Registration Now Open

Marshals registration for the 2019 Farmyard Party Rally (Friday 21st - Sunday 23rd June) is NOW OPEN (12th of April to the 24th of May).

Wakefield MAG tradionally marshal the Blues Tent and we agree out own rota (and hence shifts) amongst ourselves. If you are planning to visit this fine rally, please consider helping us to run it. All the marshals are volunteers and the life blood of the event, and without them, there would literally be NO EVENT.

There is a comprehensive Thank You Package for marshals (which also include the use of showers and a secure marshals camping area):

There will be a list of all pre-registered marshals held by the gate marshals. Anyone pre-registered for 3 shifts will be allowed free entry, 1 and 2 shift marshals and any late registrations will be required to purchase a ticket in advance in the same way as a paying customer, or pay on the gate.

To volunteer to marshal, please register at www.magmarshals.co.uk/

N.B. Although we organise our own shift rota, you will still need to register to ensure you are insured as a marshal, and importantly, you get your marshals 'Thank you' package.

10) Forthcoming Events (for May and beyond)

Friday 3rd May - Sunday 5th May - Into the Valley (ITV) Rally

See Above. www.intothevalley.co.uk

Bank Holiday Monday (May Day) 6th May - Wakefield MAG Bike show at the Wakefield Gala

See Above. 10:00 onwards at Clarence Park Arena, Wakefield

Sunday 12th May - Wakefield MAG Rideout (Destination: Willingham Woods)

See Above. Meet 8:30am (leaving at 09:00am) at Redbeck Cafe, 339 Doncaster Road, Crofton, Wakefield, WF4 1RT

Wednesday 29th May - Wakefield MAG Social Night - Event: TBC

20:30 in the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, Wakefield

Sunday 9th June - Wakefield MAG Rideout (Destination: TBC)

Meet 8:30am (leaving at 09:00am) at Redbeck Cafe, 339 Doncaster Road, Crofton, Wakefield, WF4 1RT

Friday 21st June - Sunday 23rd June - Farmyard Party (FYP) Rally

See Above. www.farmyardparty.co.uk

Wednesday 26th June - Wakefield MAG Evening Rideout (Destination: TBC)

Meet at Redbeck Cafe, Doncaster Road, Crofton from 18:00 onwards, leaving at 18:30

Friday 5th July - Fleur de Lys Classic Vehicle Show

4pm-8pm, Clarence Park, Wakefield. Free for spectators. fleurdelyscvs.org/

Sunday 14th July - Wakefield MAG Memorial Rideout (Destination: TBC)

Meet 8:30am (leaving at 09:00am) at Redbeck Cafe, 339 Doncaster Road, Crofton, Wakefield, WF4 1RT

Wednesday 31st July - Wakefield MAG Evening Rideout (Destination: TBC)

Meet at Redbeck Cafe, Doncaster Road, Crofton from 18:00 onwards, leaving at 18:30

Friday 2nd August - Sunday 4th August - Yorkshire Pudding Rally (YPR)

See Above. www.yorkshirepuddingrally.co.uk

See the events page for further details and more !!!

That's all for this month, hope to see you all soon.

Ride Safe .. Ride Free
Steve Travis
Chairman
Wakefield MAG
0772 078 4734

Wakefield MAG meet at the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, Wakefield at 8:30pm every Wednesday. New (and Old) faces are always welcome.