Wakefield MAG June 2020 Newsletter

Dear Wakefield MAG Member,

Welcome to the Wakefield MAG e-newsletter, as all meetings are currently suspended until further notice due to Covid-19, this is THE ONLY WAY to keep up to date with what we are up to, in these quite surreal times.

CONTENTS

1) Ride to Work Day
2) ITV / FYP Ticket Options
3) Slow Return to Freedom
4) Petrol Engine Ban Threat
5) Covid, Confusion and Coalitions
6) Sadiq Khan brings back ULEZ
7) Wakefield Hospice 10K Race Marshalling
8) Funding for Potholes
9) MAG Needs You
10) Mega Raffle
11) Forthcoming Events (for June and beyond)

1) Ride to Work Day

Ride to Work Day 2020

The Motorcycle Action Group has launched its Ride To Work Day campaign website with the strong message that commuting by motorcycle or scooter is a perfect transport solution. With the current social distancing issues on public transport, MAG says that Ride To Work Day has never been more relevant. With the current concerns over gridlock on the roads, as displaced rail, bus and tube commuters search for alternative ways to get to work, motorcycling is the perfect complimentary travel solution for those who live too far from their workplace to walk or cycle.

Many existing motorcyclists currently use their bikes for leisure, but not for their daily commute. The campaign aims to encourage more of those individuals to ride into work, as well as opening the possibility of motorcycling to a new audience. The Government accepts the important role of motorcycling but is not actively encouraging the transport mode. MAG hopes to change all that and to kick-start a wider conversation about the benefits of two wheels and a motor with this year's Ride To Work Day campaign.

MAG's Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said, "Ride To Work Day is an international awareness day observed on the third Monday of June every year. We are delighted to be taking on the role of UK promoters of this international campaign from this year. The benefits of motorcycles as a commuter transport option are critically important at this time, with the effects of this terrible virus and the social distancing measures needed to prevent transmission of the disease. Riding a motorcycle, scooter or moped is the perfect option for many to solve the immediate transport dilemma. We are not competing with active travel, but do provide a sensible choice for anyone wishing to avoid gridlocked roads, but unable to turn to cycling and walking for their daily commute. Conventional motorcycles already help reduce air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and congestion. With the option to go electric, motorcycles really have no downside if we embrace them in transport policy, encourage responsible riding, and give equivalent priority to the safety for their riders as we do for cyclists."

MAG points out that an added benefit to all riders of more bikes on the road is that drivers become more aware of riders.

MAG will be creating a buzz with the Ride To Work Day Blog posts and social media interaction. There is an allied safety campaign, Filter Friendly, which asks drivers to look out for motorcyclists and points out that every motorcycle that filters past them is one less car in the queue in front of them. MAG will be looking to reach new audiences of commuters that have never considered two wheels as a transport solution.

Take a look at the website at ride-to-work-day.mag-uk.org and help us spread the message as we prepare for the big day on Monday 15th June.

2) ITV / FYP Ticket Options

A reminder of your options if you have already purchased ITV tickets for the cancelled 1st-3rd May rally, or for the FYP (re-arranged from 19th-21st June to 25th-27th Sept).

OPTIONS

This applies to PRE-BOOKED INTO THE VALLEY tickets only:

If tickets were purchased from a MAG rep or one of our outlets:

  1. Donate the ticket cost to MAG - please email enquiries@mapevents.co.uk with your ticket numbers to notify us of this intention OR return your tickets to the PO Box* with DONATED written on the back
  2. Use your ticket at Yorkshire Pudding Rally 2020 (please email enquiries@mapevents.co.uk with your ticket numbers to notify us and have your ticket transferred) or purchase an upgrade for £12 to a Weekend Farmyard Party (25-27 Sept) to do this go to www.magicactiononline.co.uk/shop/farmyard-party-upgrade/ (not available via reps or outlets)
  3. Return them to the outlet for a full refund (some outlets may currently be closed, please wait for them to reopen if you can)

If tickets were purchased online with a debit or credit card or with a cheque via the PO Box:

  1. Donate the ticket cost to MAG – please email enquiries@mapevents.co.uk with your ticket numbers to notify us of this intention OR return your tickets to the PO Box* with DONATED written on the back
  2. Use your ticket at Yorkshire Pudding Rally 2020 (please email enquiries@mapevents.co.uk with your ticket numbers to notify us and have your ticket transferred) or purchase an upgrade for £12 to a Weekend Farmyard Party (25-27 Sept) to do this go to www.magicactiononline.co.uk/shop/farmyard-party-upgrade/
  3. Return them to the PO Box* for a refund (excludes booking fee(s), these are retained by our 3rd party booking agent)

This applies to PRE-BOOKED FARMYARD PARTY tickets only:

If tickets were purchased from a MAG rep or one of our outlets:

  1. Use them for the new September date (25-27 Sept)
  2. Donate the ticket cost to MAG please email enquiries@mapevents.co.uk with your ticket numbers to notify us of this intention OR return your tickets to the PO Box* with DONATED written on the back
  3. Return them to the outlet for a full refund (some outlets may currently be closed, please wait for them to reopen if you can)

If tickets were purchased online with a debit or credit card or with a cheque via the PO Box:

  1. Use them for the new September date (25-27 Sept)
  2. Donate the ticket cost to MAG please email enquiries@mapevents.co.uk with your ticket numbers to notify us of this intention OR return your tickets to the PO Box* with DONATED written on the back
  3. Return them to the PO Box* for a refund (excludes booking fee(s), these are retained by our 3rd party booking agent)

* MAP EVENTS, PO Box 247, Beverley, HU17 6BB, please write your contact number on the back of one of the tickets.

All enquiries: 0800 988 3199 www.mapevents.co.uk

Thanks to each and every one of you for your support, take care till we see you in a field (hopefully sooner rather than later).

3) Slow Return to Freedom

We have a little bit more personal freedom now we can go out on the bike for pleasure rides, without it being restricted to essential food or medical supplies, or to go to a place of work where you cannot work from home. Fingers crossed, our branch rideouts might be back on the horizon soon, depending on Government guidelines etc. Once pubs are allowed to re-open, we'll re-instate our weekly meetings again, and the back room of the Grey Horse is certainly big enough to allow for social distancing .... watch this space for updates !!!!

In the meantime, if you are racking up a few much missed miles on the bike, do ride steady .... many of us may well be a little bit out of practice, car drivers are likely to be less attentive and out of practice themselves, so don't become an RTA statistic. Additionally, as MAG members (and fine upstanding pillars of society that such status brings), we are, like it or not, ambassadors of motorcycling, so lets not give it a bad name either, especially when we are trying to push the benefits of motorcycling as the perfect transport solution. So endeth the sermon ;-)

4) Petrol Engine Ban Threat

The deadline for submissions to the consultation on whether the Government should ban the sale of ALL new petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles by a certain date is looming. You have to get your comments into the Department for Transport by 31st July 2020. Make no mistake - this could spell the end of all new petrol motorcycles in the UK. It might turn out to be impossible to implement, but if they make it a policy, that will still wreck the entire motorcycle industry as we know it. Please take a few minutes to oppose this bad idea. We literally face an end to our right to choose to buy petrol machines by as early at 2030 !!!

Make your comments at: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consulting-on-ending-the-sale-of-new-petrol-diesel-and-hybrid-cars-and-vans If you don't, then you lose your voice and, quite possibly, your right to buy a new petrol engine motorbike for evermore.

5) Covid, Confusion and Coalitions

The Government has lifted some restrictions on going out, but the message is still confused. The Police in North Yorkshire have made matters worse by giving hard to understand guidance on what they will accept and what they won't in terms of riding motorbikes. MAG working hard within a coalition of motorcycling organisations to create specific motorcycling guidelines endorsed by Government as well as the role of motorcycling as a sensible alternative to cars in the public transport averse future we now face. The coalition consisting of MAG, VMCC (Vintage Motor Cycle Club), TRF (Trial Riders Fellowship) and BMF (British Motorcylists Federation) have recently gained endorsement from IAM (Institute of Advanced Motoring) RoadSmart and the All Parliamentary Motorcycling Group. We are getting Parliamentary Questions asked and glimmers of hope in the responses. We have a long way to go and the workload of this project is immense, but we cannot fail to turn up to the battle. We really are in a war against very clear and immediate threats to our rights as riders.

6) Sadiq Khan brings back ULEZ

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has reintroduced the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) and Congestion Charge, despite clear Government guidance that we should use private transport wherever possible to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19. In London Mayor's Questions on Thursday 21st May, Mr Khan tried to blame the Government for the sudden reintroduction, but, thanks to questions from Conservative Mayoral Candidate Shaun Bailey, Mr Khan was quickly exposed as having done so on his own initiative. The Government had only asked the Mayor for proposals on the reintroduction. Khan was also unable to provide a coherent defence of why he had included older motorcycles in the ULEZ charge.

Politically speaking, there are massive contradictions in what Mayor Khan is doing. In Parliament, in response to a question by Chris Law MP, who is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Motorcycling, Transport Minister Rachel Maclean stated: "We recognise the social distancing benefits of using motorcycles at this time." It is also recognised that motorcycles are the safest travel mode to limit Covid-19 infection, because riders MUST wear personal protective equipment - and naturally we ride over 2 metres apart. Riding a bike is clearly safer than the tube, trains and buses, where social distancing often fails, thus risking more Covid-19 infections and deaths. The UK's immediate priority is to save lives now. It therefore makes no sense to charge riders of older motorbikes a fortune under ULEZ, forcing them onto the public transport network.

Thanks to the valiant efforts of Keith Prince, a member of the Greater London Authority and former Chair of the Transport Committee, he secured a meeting with Khan's representatives to review the situation regarding Covid-19 and motorcycle ULEZ charges. It's worth remembering that in 2016, Mayor Khan stated motorbikes "generate far less pollution, save time and money for the rider - and don't create congestion." Even older bikes deliver those benefits. MAG is now preparing next steps with Keith Prince AM, prior to the meeting with the Mayor's people. We will put the case for exempting motorcycles from ULEZ. This will result in fewer deaths from Covid-19. Not to do so will cost lives, and MAG is determined to ensure that either the right outcome happens, of the Mayor faces the music in taking a step that WILL kill people who would otherwise have lived, if riders of older bikes could use those machines without the punitive cost of ULEZ charges. The forthcoming meeting will therefore test Mr Khan's credibility in terms of containing the spread of Covid-19. If he's serious about that, he WILL exempt motorcycles - and it's literally a life and death issue.

7) Wakefield Hospice 10K Race Marshalling

The 25th Wakefield Hospice 10k race was due to be held on Sunday 29th March 2020, but like many events, has been a victim of the Covid-19 lockdown. The hospice have set a new date for the Wakefield Hospice 10k which is now Sunday 20th September. Obviously, mass gatherings may still not be permitted by this date but it's a good few months away, so, fingers crossed.

Parked up, watching the runners

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, and hence play a vital role.

We generally need around 6 marshals, although the more the merrier. We'll be asking for volunteers nearer the time.

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

8) Funding for Potholes

The UK's roads look set for a major makeover thanks to a multi-billion pound investment announced by the government. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has set a target of filling 11 million potholes with the new Transport Infrastructure Investment Fund, among other vital improvements. Official statistics suggest the materials needed are enough to tarmac a road stretching a third of the way around Earth: www.gov.uk/government/news/multi-billion-pound-road-and-railway-investment-to-put-nation-on-path-to-recovery

The £1.7 billion pound boost will transform roads and bridges and help install new priority bus lanes at key locations to keep the country moving. A number of projects will be implemented to maintain the cleaner air levels recorded during lockdown, with £175 million worth of work accelerated to take place on quieter roads. England's motorways and major A-roads have already benefitted from £200 million worth of work carried out in April. Mr Shapps said: "To help those who do have to use public transport or get out on the roads to do their jobs, we've been accelerating infrastructure upgrades to make sure that, as we gradually reopen our society, everyone can benefit from smoother and safer journeys with better connections for our future."

RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: "We have pushed for essential road maintenance to be sped up considering the roads have been much quieter than normal, so we welcome the transport secretary's announcement." Pothole-related breakdowns rose in the first quarter of the year, even though the nation was encouraged to limit travel to essential journeys from early March: media.rac.co.uk/pressreleases/pothole-related-breakdowns-jump-in-first-three-months-of-2020-2995603

Mr Lyes added: "It is particularly welcome that ministers are removing the complex and bureaucratic bidding procedures that local authorities usually have to go through for these funds, which should speed up repairs."

9) MAG Needs You

MagNeedsYou"

A good many MAG fundraising events nationwide have had to be cancelled. This is obviously having a knock on effect to MAG's finances so we need as many bikers to join, renew or re-join MAG as possible. To make it easier, it is now possible to join by monthly direct debit: MAG Monthly DD. It is charged at a slightly higher rate per month to cover the additional costs of managing the scheme, but is still only £3.00 per month for an individual membership and £4.12 per month for a joint membership.

If you are already a member and would like to transfer to this new scheme, just complete the direct debit mandate and we will start collecting at your renewal date.

Our annual direct debit payment option is available at: MAG Annual DD.

Please complete either mandate, and then send it to the office address below:
MAG
Unit C13 Holly Farm Business Park
Honiley
Warwickshire
CV8 1NP

Please note that, unfortunately, MAG Central Office cannot accept direct debit instructions over the telephone.

If you are reading this newsletter and are not a current MAG member, please consider joining. As you can see, MAG is still very active fighting for Riders Rights, but unfortunately, this doesn't come free and costs money. If you feel that you could make a donation, however small, to support MAG at this difficult time, it would be very gratefully received. A donation button has been set up on the MAG website: Motorcycle Action Group.

Finally, a huge 'Thank You' to all of our members and supporters: we hope you all stay safe, stay well and follow government guidance.

10) Mega Raffle

Our Mega Raffle to win a basic service for your motorcycle at Not Your Average Bikes in Ossett, was supposed to have the Winning ticket drawn at our meeting on Wednesday 8th April. Obviously, as meetings were suspended by then, this didn't happen and the raffle is still 'live'. We are still selling tickets (at £5 and the lucky winner gets a voucher for a basic service (worth circa £100) at NYA Bikes (notyouraveragebikes.com).

If you would like to enter, send £5 to the Wakefield & District MAG Account (Acc No. 50288799 Sort Code: 40-41-57) and drop us an email confirming this, together with your name and phone number to: wakefield-rep@mag-uk.org. We'll then mail you back with your Raffle Ticket No.

The revised raffle ticket draw date will be announced as soon as we have a firm steer as to when MAG meetings will be able to recommence.

Good Luck in the draw !!! ... and a huge Thank You to our very good friends at NYA Bikes for donating such a fantastic prize !!!

11) Forthcoming Events (for June and beyond)

Apologies Folks, 2020 is not going to be a cracking biking year, although hopefully, we may still be able to get some events in.

Friday 31st July - Sunday 2nd August - Yorkshire Pudding Rally (YPR)

Currently still on. See Above. www.yorkshirepuddingrally.co.uk

Sunday 20th September 2020 - Wakefield Hospice 10K Race

See Above. www.wakefield10k.org.uk

Friday 25th - Sunday 27th September - Farmyard Party (FYP) Rally

#### RE-SCHEDULED FROM 19th - 21st June ####. See Above. www.farmyardparty.co.uk

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

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

Stay Safe
Steve Travis
Chairman
Wakefield MAG
0772 078 4734

Although MAG meetings are currently postponed until further notice, once we are permitted to, Wakefield MAG will resume meeting at the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, Wakefield at 8:30pm every Wednesday. New (and Old) faces are always welcome.