Wakefield MAG February 2016 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) Abolish VED (Road Tax) on all Powered 2 Wheelers
3) Motorcyclist jailed after police seize camera footage
4) New European rules for motorcycle gear
5) 2016 Rideouts
6) Wakefield MAG Annual General Meeting Report
7) Fred Hill Memorial Run
8) For Sale
9) Sales of Commuter Bikes and PTW's in General are on the Rise
10) Forthcoming Events (for February and beyond)

1) Post Christmas Auction Report

Check out the event report Here

2) Abolish VED (Road Tax) on all Powered 2 Wheelers

Powered 2 Wheelers (Motorcycles/Scooters/Mopeds) reduce congestion, use less parking land space, cause less wear and tear to the roads, use less energy and materials in construction (and destruction at end of life) than other forms of sustainable modes of transport. Abolishing VED can encourage more to use P2W's. Even a car with a zero rated VED and/or zero emmissions doesn't reduce congestion or parking land space! If you agree with these statements, you may wish to sign the petition below:

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/119766

Thank You.

3) Motorcyclist jailed after police seize camera footage

This unfortunately doesn't aid our case for making bikes more mainstream and seen to be part of the solution to personal transportation issues. Some idiots seem to be more than happy to do the police's job for them by recording their own misdemeanours. If you're going to record yourself, make sure you do it within the laws of the land, eh ;-)

http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news-videos/motorcyclist-jailed-after-police-seize-camera-footage/30728.html
http://news.sky.com/story/1628747/biker-jailed-after-doing-110mph-in-30mph-zone

4) New European rules for motorcycle gear

Click on the link below for details of a recently announced ruling on motorcycle gear for sale in the EU. It doesn't make it compulsary to wear protective gear, but if you do, you will know it has been properly tested to a consistent level. Protective gear is also VAT excempt so although manufacturers may claim it will now cost more to produce bike gear (as they will have to submit the items to a rigid testing regime), the cost price to consumers shouldn't increase due to the non-VAT status (in theory at least ;-)

http://www.fema-online.eu/website/index.php/2016/01/20/new-european-rules-for-motorcycle-gear/

5) 2016 Rideouts

We have set the dates for our 2016 rideouts, so you can book the dates in your calendar / diary:

There will also be 'special' rideouts in March (Sunday 20th March - the Pet Food Run) and November (Sunday 13th November - Remembrance Sunday Parade).

Hope to see you on several (if not all) of the above.

6) Wakefield MAG Annual General Meeting Report

The Wakefield & District Motorcycle Action Group Branch AGM was held in the Grey Horse, on Wednesday 13th January 2016. The full minutes are available Here. In summary, we have had a very successful year, smashing our previous fund raising record for the MAG fighting fund, increasing our membership (both new members and retentions), packing an awful lot of activities into the year, but most important of all, having lots of fun along the way. The Branch Committee for 2016 is virtually unchanged from 2015 (with the notable exception of a new MAP Rep - Sam Allen and a new member of the Social Committee - Clare Ellam). Our illustrious branch heroes of 2015 were:

P.S. Steve was voted in as Rep / Chairman again (for the 14th time), so unfortunately, you are all stuck with him for yet another year :-(

7) Fred Hill Memorial Run

Leeds MAG are again hosting the annual Fred Hill Memorial Run for Yorkshire MAG. Meeting on Sunday 21st February from 10.00am (to leave at 11.00 prompt) at Squires Cafe, Newthorpe Lane, Sherburn in Elmet, LS25 5LX. The run will take us through the fabulous North Yorkshire countryside ending at The Sun Inn, Brame Lane, Norwood HG3 1SZ. www.thesun-inn.com

If you don't know who Fred Hill was, or why MAG holds him in such high esteem, check out his obituary Here. Although Fred's protest was against the mandatory helmet law, introduced in 1973, it must be remembered that the helmet law in itself is NOT the issue. The issue was, and still is, the individuals right to freedom of choice. MAG's central ethos of Let the Rider Decide is as relevant now as it ever was, especially considering the current EU meddling!

Please note these runs are very subject to the weather, and may be cancelled at short notice (for very sensible safety reasons). It is advised to check the Leeds MAG Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/groups/306110975566 and/or web site: leeds.mag-uk.org/ before setting off.

For those wishing to travel in from Wakefield, you can meet at Redbeck Cafe on Doncaster Road, where we will be leaving at 10:00am, for the ride over to Squires to join up with the rest of the run participants.

8) For Sale

We have a number of new items for sale this month. These include some unsold items from the Post Christmas Auction, so we are casting the net farther out to see if anyone who could not attend the auction, would also like to bag a bargain. Also, not from the auction, but a garage clearout at the Jacques household - a 1952 Armstrong Siddeley Whitley and a Honda Goldwing Trike. Wow. Check the items out on our For Sale page.

9) Sales of Commuter Bikes and PTW's in General are on the Rise

MCIA Press Release: More 'commuter' motorcycles sold during 2015 than for the past 30 years

MAG welcomes the good news that sales of commuter bikes and PTW's in general are on the rise. MAG Chair Selina Lavender welcomed the news adding "It's great to see this increase in sales in 2015 which will result in more mopeds, motorcycles and scooters on our roads. We know this in turn sees other road users being more aware of us. We will continue to work hard to get local and national Government to see the benefits of two wheeled motorised transport which already has the recognition of many who are choosing to shift from log jamming four wheels. Riding is part of a flexible approach to transport policy and carries many benefits for all. MAG's long-standing campaign to open bus lanes to motorcycles is a major plank of our efforts on this front and we hope that many of the commuting riders recognise the value of our efforts and decide to support MAG by way of an individual membership."

Read the MCIA article here: http://www.mcia.co.uk/About/News/Article/More-commuter-motorcycles-sold-during-2015-than-for-the-past-30-years.aspx

10) Forthcoming Events (for February and beyond)

Sunday 21st February 2016 - Fred Hill Memorial Run

See Above.

Sunday 3rd April 2016 - Wakefield Hospice 10K Race

The 21st Wakefield Hospice 10k race is being held on Sunday 3rd April 2016, and takes the same route as previous years (starting from Clarence Park, it's a linear route straight out and back along Horbury Road). Wakefield MAG have helped to marshal this popular event for more years than we care to remember, and our role is as mobile race marshals, looking after those competitors at the tail end of the race. The roads will only be closed for an hour maximum, and although the bulk of runners will be finished whilst the road is still closed, a good number of runners (walkers !!!) will still be on the course, hence the requirement for mobile marshals (that's us !!) to ensure their safety, once the road is re-opened to traffic. We are generally the last 'officials' remaining on the course.

Meet at 08:30 on Lawfield Lane to be issued with your marshalls Hi-Viz vest and receive instructions.

More details of the event here: www.wakefield10k.org.uk

Saturday 9th April 2016 - MAG AGC

This year's MAG National Annual General Conference is being hosted by BADMAG, in nearby Barnsley, on Saturday 9th April (so no marathon trek down south to get there). MAG's Annual Group Conference is the ideal opportunity for members from all corners of the country to come together to discuss the organisation's successes, the way forward, and to vote on matters such as Motions that have been brought to the Conference, along with some of the posts that will be up for election. It is also an opportunity to acknowledge MAG groups and individuals for outstanding service. Although MAG is obliged, by law, to hold an annual conference and certain due processes must be observed, it is by no means a dry and dusty event; there is plenty of lively discussion and exchange of ideas and a chance, in the evening, for some downtime to catch up with friends old and new and to celebrate the country's leading riders' rights organisation. Location: Shaw Lane Rugby Club, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 6HZ.

Friday 29th April - Sunday 1st May 2016 - Into the Valley (ITV) Rally

Tickets available late February.

www.intothevalley.co.uk

Friday 17th June - Sunday 19th June 2016 - Farmyard Party (FYP) Rally

Tickets available late February.

www.farmyardparty.co.uk

Friday 5th August - Sunday 7th August 2016 - Yorkshire Pudding Rally (YPR)

Tickets available late February.

www.yorkshirepuddingrally.co.uk

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

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

Ride Safe .. Ride Free
Steve Travis
Chairman (since the early Carboniferous Period)
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.