Dear Wakefield MAG Member,
Welcome to the Wakefield MAG e-newsletter, a bumper one as it's covering both March & April. 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) Wakefield MAG Post Christmas Auction
2) MP Responses
3) E10
4) Rally Tickets
5) ITV Marshals Registration now open
6) Wakefield MAG Bike Show
7) Wakefield Hospice 10K Race Marshalling
8) West Yorkshire Fred Hill Run
9) 2035 ban for petrol and diesel powered vehicles
10) New engines increase CO2 output!
11) Smart motorways feel the heat
12) Ride to Work Day
13) Motorcycles in bus lanes set to improve air quality in Cambridgeshire
14) Kidzaware burglaries
15) Wakefield MAG Easter Egg Collection
16) 2020 Rideouts
17) Test Pass
18) Mega Raffle
19) Forthcoming Events (for March, April and beyond)
1) Wakefield MAG Post Christmas auction
Check out the event report Here
In line with the other Yorkshire MAG groups, Wakefield MAG recently reached out to our four local MP's:
The purpose of the communication was to congratulate them on their recent election success, introduce ourselves as the local MAG group representing riders issues in the constituency, and encourage further dialogue. See last month's newsletter for details of the letters content.
So far, we have received responses from Imran Khan, Andrea Jenkins and Jon Trickett:
So, top marks to Jon Trickett, MP for the Hemsworth constituency in the Wakefield and District MAG catchment area, for the most proactive response. However, I feel less than assured the powers that be have our best interests at heart. Much work to do me thinks.
E10 has reared it's ugly head again ... as we all knew it would. Long standing readers of the Wakefield MAG newsletters will recall we ran a successful campaign back in 2012 against the introduction of 10% Ethanol (E10) into Petrol, which was scheduled to be bestowed on us in 2013. A huge thanks to all of you who followed the Yorkshire MAG campaign, signed the e-Petition, contacted your MP / Transport Minister and responded to the Government consultation. All this campaigning paid off as the Government postponed the E10 introduction until 2016; 2016 came and went and we are now in 2020, looking at an implementation in 2021.
The arguments for and against E10 have not changed in the intervening years. Ethanol is still a solvent and that means rubber, plastic and fibreglass parts that were designed to be in contact with pure petrol can melt once exposed to E10. Ethanol is still hygroscopic, which means it absorbs and mixes with water, even drawing it in from the air around it. This is one of the reasons it can cause corrosion, since it means parts of fuel systems that were never designed to be in contact with water are suddenly exposed to it. None of which are particularly good news for riders of older machines.
One thing that has changed over the intervening years is there is now strong environmental and industry backing for the adoption of E10, and with the vast majority of car drivers being largely unaffected by the change, it's likely that it will become the new 'standard' fuel in the place of the current premium unleaded.
There is a government consultation at this link: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/introducing-e10-petrol
Please respond to the consulatation and let them know your views. There is a good summary about E10 petrol at this link: www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/news-and-views/news/2020/march/what-is-e10-fuel-and-is-it-safe
We are highly unlikely to be able to postpone again the introduction of E10, however, we should be able to ensure there remains a ready supply of pure petrol, or at least E5 petrol for the foreseeable future (E5 is what you currently get at most petrol stations), although there are a small number of retailers, Shell notably, that do not put any ethanol into their petrol (for the time being at least).
We now have our Branch allocation of tickets for the Yorkshire MAG 2020 Rallies and these are for sale at our weekly meetings NOW.
Ticket prices and dates are:
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 !!!
Also, on the gate tickets are only available at the Farmyard Party, Into The Valley and Yorkshire Pudding rally are pre-book only, so you have no option other than to get your tickets in advance if you want to go to these quite splendid rallies.
See the Yorkshire MAG Events site for more details of these 3 fantastic rallies: www.mapevents.co.uk
5) ITV Marshals Registration now open
Rally season is nearly upon us and we would like to thank you all once again for your hard work in 2019. The registration forms are now open for ITV and available for you to complete online at: www.magmarshals.co.uk
For those of you that have marshalled for us before you only need to complete the form in the 'Marshal at an Event' header at the top of the webpage. Your username is your email address and if you have forgotten your password, just reset it from the link. If you have forgotten which email address you have used as your username, please get in touch with us at our NEW email address: marshals@mapevents.co.uk.
If you are a new or returning marshal and have not yet registered with us, then please first register as a new marshal from the header at the top of the marshal webpage and then fill in the form to Register at an Event.
For every form you fill in you will receive a confirmation email to let you know that your forms have been successfully submitted.
If you do not receive the confirmation email, then please get back in touch with us at the above email address so that we can help you to get registered with us.
The registration will close on Friday 17th April at 1pm. Confirmation emails with your allocated shifts will be sent on Monday 20th April.
If you need a car pass for this event then please email Pete Walker at pwalker@mapevents.co.uk
Pete emails all car passes to those who have requested one in the week before the event so please wait for this before you email him again as he does not reply to car pass requests until he needs to issue them.
There has also been a slight change to your marshal package this year. Whereas last year for your first shift you received a refillable water bottle, this year, if you bring your own bottle to collect your first shift tokens, you will receive a drinks voucher alongside your food voucher. If you do not have your own bottle, then you will receive a water bottle and a food voucher. Here is a short notice from Pete Walker:
Hi Marshals,
In MAPs efforts to become Greener than Greta we are asking you to bring a water bottle of some kind to the rallies with you. If you bring a water container for you to use throughout your time at the rally and bring it along to sign in on your arrival on site we will be happy to give you a beer voucher as part of your first shift package. If you don't bring your own water bottle with you we will provide you with one that you can keep, reuse and take home to bring along to all the rallies and you will get beer vouchers when you do. The bottles are a good standard bottle and not the same foldable bottle we gave you last year, but more of a traditional drinking water bottle.
If you want to be a part of the build up crew, please put this on your registration forms and then you will receive a confirmation email from us if you have been accepted.
Thank you all once again for volunteering for our Yorkshire Events, because without you all, they would not happen.
Kind regards Marshals Admin, MAP EVENTS, PO BOX 247, Beverley, HU17 6BB. Tel: 0800 988 3199
The annual Wakefield MAG Bike Show, hosted at the Wakefield Gala will be held on Sunday 3rd May this year. The bank holiday move in 2020 to commemorate VE day has resulted in a change of date from the traditional May Day to the Sunday. Unfortunately this now clashes with the tail end of the ITV rally, rather than the day after as in previous years. However, as we are guests at the Wakefield Gala, we don't have a lot of choice. Hopefully it won't impact the entries as only a minority of show entrants also go to ITV, and for those that do, you can pop into the bike show on your way home (we may even have a prize for best rally bike :-)
So, 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 !!!
7) Wakefield Hospice 10K Race Marshalling
The Wakefield 10k Road Race is organised for and by Wakefield Hospice, with the aim to raise as much as possible for patients and their families living with an end of life diagnosis. Wakefield Hospice annually needs to raise £4 million. They would not be able to achieve this without the help of local people going out of their way to raise funds through taking part in events like the Wakefield 10k.
This years event will be the 25th annual Wakefield 10k and during that time runners have raised more than £0.5 million for those who need specialist care at a very difficult time in their lives. Last year those running in the Wakefield 10k did an incredible job raising more than £50,000 for the hospice. This could fund a whole week's care in the hospice!
The 25th Wakefield Hospice 10k race is being held on Sunday 29th March 2020, and takes a similar route to 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, and hence play a vital role.
We generally need around 6 marshals, although the more the merrier. We will need a couple of extra marshals this year anyway as one regular can't make the day and another sadly no longer with us.
If you would like to volunteer, please let me know. P.S. you'll be home for lunchtime !!!
On the day, meet at 08:30 on Lawfield Lane to be issued with your marshalls Hi-Viz vest and receive any last minute instructions.
N.B. Please ensure your own bike insurance does not have an exclusion relating to marshalling non-motorsport events i.e. runners on a partially closed road route - MAG's preferred insurer, Bikesure, does not in it's standard insurance cover exclusions.
More details of the event here: www.wakefield10k.org.uk
8) West Yorkshire MAG Fred Hill Run
As you are no doubt aware, the planned West Yorkshire MAG annual Fred Hill Memorial Run on Sunday 9th February had to be cancelled on very sensible safety grounds due to Storm Ciara. Local reports of debris all over the roads due to the high winds and the road through Pool in Wharfdale being flooded, meant it was a very sensible call. The runs in February (the anniversary closest his death) are frequently susceptible to being cancelled and we hit this situation most years. Going forward, we have rearranged it for the nearest Sunday to Fred Hill's birthday on 13th May, so the West Yorkshire MAG Fred Hill run for 2020 will be on Sunday 17th May. Hopefully in May, we should have less inclement weather.
Meet on Sunday 17th May 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.
9) 2035 ban for petrol and diesel powered vehicles
On Tuesday 4th February, Boris Johnson launched the UK-hosted UN climate summit and announced that he would bring forward the end to the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2040 to 2035 - or earlier if possible - and include hybrids for the first time.
As with all such long range, broad announcements, it was not clear what the detailed policy would be and how it would be implemented. As such, the announcement caused a flurry of speculation and guesses for motorcyclists, with conflicting conclusions drawn.
As always, MAG has taken the sensible approach of seeking clarification. Speaking to Phil Killingley, Deputy Head of the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) at the Department for Transport, MAG's Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, received confirmation that the 2035 ban does not apply to motorcycles. Colin commented "We are pleased to hear that the ban from 2035 will not apply to the sale of petrol-powered motorcycles. Our membership consists overwhelmingly of petrol-engine bike users who do not wish to see the very thing they love banned. Yet it is clear, speaking to the Department, that the threat remains. It will not surprise anyone that the debate over electrification is also taking place in MAG, with a range of views expressed. The task ahead is to plot a sensible, evidence-based approach in a subject area that ignites great passion and emotion."
On Tuesday 4th February, Lembit Öpik, MAG's Director of Communications & Public Affairs, attended a key meeting in Parliament where Visiting Professor at Oxford and Imperial College London, Gautam Kalghatgi, explained why petrol and diesel powered vehicles cannot, in reality, be banned by the 2035 deadline. Professor Kalghatgi argued that the largescale adoption of electric power creates enormous and, as yet, unsolved problems. Lembit said "this is a highly complex issue in which all factors need to be weighed and the impacts fully understood before decisions are made. The answers for motorcycles are different to those for cars regarding readiness for electrification and impacts on users, so it's vital motorbikes are considered separately to cars and vans."
The government is consulting on the 2035 proposals, telling stakeholders: "We are aware that stakeholders will have a diverse range of views on this subject and both Ministers and senior officials will be engaging closely to understand what those are." The subjects that they want feedback on are: the phase-out date; the definition of what should be phased out; barriers to achieving the ambitions set out in the consultation; the impact of these ambitions on different sectors of industry and society; and what measures are required by Government and others to achieve the earlier phase-out date.
National MAG Chair, Selina Lavender, added: "MAG is on the list of stakeholders and will be engaging fully with OLEV so that the views and opinions of our members are fully represented."
Footnote:
Not being mentioned is NOT the same as not being included in any ban. There are different views on what will happen here. Lembit feels strongly that motorbikes would inevitably be threatened if petrol cars are axed. Others take a less pessimistic view. What's for sure is that these threats affect the industry now, because there's little point in investing long term if there's only a medium term market for what you're developing. MAG is planning a strategic response to all of this. Be aware, this is a clear and present danger to your right to ride a petrol motorbike. If nothing else, consider the fact that even if motorcycles survive and other petrol machines don't, the cost of petrol and its availability would alter the economics of biking substantially. The other scenario is that the whole agenda is abandoned when the world doesn't end in 2030, as some environmental catastrophists predict. By then it will be too late if we haven't taken a stand. Petrol motorbikes might simply not be on sale in large numbers in the UK by then. There will be consultations and it's clear to everyone that there is a lot of work to be done if the nation is to be moved away from it's love of petrol and diesel vehicles. We need to start preparation now to know where our Politicians stand on this emotive issue.
ACTION:
Please write to your MP and ask if they support or oppose the sale of petrol motorcycles by a given date. Let us know what you find out. We'll have to take this to individual MPs, and take the battle to them. Common sense simply isn't winning the day – it needs a little help from MAG !!
10) New engines increase CO2 output!
An interesting article in Which? magazine confirms what MAG's Political Unit has been saying for years: new (car) engines create more CO2 than older ones, even if the new engines produce LESS power. MAG has known this would happen, and we even explained why it happens. This is to do with running engines richer to reduce other emissions. So, the authorities have achieved exactly what we warned they'd achieve: a reduction in nitrogen oxides at the cost of an increase in Carbon Dioxide. In physics, there's no such thing as a free lunch. The sad thing is that, so far, nobody has proved which is a higher priority. It's the politics of guesswork. And while they're guessing, our fuel consumption goes up. Nice work, guys.
11) Smart motorways feel the heat
The Highways England Motorcycle Working Group meeting is coming up on 25th March. We have asked for Smart Motorways to be on the agenda. Please do get in touch with MAG Central if you have experience of issues on a stretch of Smart Motorway, whether as a result of breaking down yourself or as a result of another vehicle breaking down. Please also make your views known to your MP - the more people point out it's NOT smart to be told to sit on your machine in the outside lane when you break down, hoping for recovery before you get smashed to pieces by another vehicle, the better !!!
Central contact details email: central-office@mag-uk.org or call 01926 844 064
You may be aware that the Ride To Work Day event, which has traditionally been organised and sponsored by the MCIA is now a wholly MAG event.
Ride to Work Day 2020 is on 15th June. The pace is picking up for Ride To Work Day planning, with third party support being pledged to help promote the campaign. We will be centering efforts in Northamptonshire, but we need your help to ensure this is a truly national campaign. If you can get your local council, police force or local businesses to pledge support for the campaign, please let us know at Central. We will be putting together media packs to help supporters promote the ride to work day messaging, so let us know relevant contact details and we will send these packs out. It's very important we sell the benefits of biking right now, given the threats we face all the time.
And you don't necessarily just have to 'ride to work', just get out on your bike and ride on that day .... and be seen !!!
13) Motorcycles in bus lanes set to improve air quality in Cambridgeshire
MAG has welcomed a Cambridgeshire County Council move to consult on Motorcycle Access to Bus Lanes as part of its proposals to improve air quality. A tireless campaign by a local MAG activist has seen the Conservative leader of Cambridgeshire County Council pass a motion proposing a consultation on motorcycle access to bus lanes.
MAG has mounted a sustained campaign to get the role of motorcycles recognised in Cambridgeshire and particularly for motorcycle access to bus lanes. Having gained the support of local MP, Daniel Zeichner, engaging with councillors and officers and making formal representations to the Highways Committee, confirmation was finally received that 'the Council Leader announced in December that [Cambridgeshire County Council] will be consulting on allowing motorbikes in bus lanes as part of the climate change strategy action plan.'
In a motion passed by the Council on 19th December 2019, the council committed to a raft of measures being incorporated into its environmental strategy consultation proposals. One of those measures was 'Consulting on the use of bus lanes for electric vehicles and motorcycles and scooters.'
A local activist, who has been closely involved with the process, commented "I am delighted by this progress and look forward to the consultation being released in the near future. What is particularly rewarding is the fact that the policy proposal has been recognised as part of the wider environmental strategy plan, not simply as a road safety issue."
The motion, brought by Cllr Steve Count, did face an amendment brought forward by Liberal Democrat Cllr Lorna Dupre. The amendment would, amongst other things, have totally removed the bus lane access clause, but was not passed by the assembled councillors. The motion was therefore passed without amendment. The motion also caused controversy for its stance on charging motorists in clean air zones. Cllr Count said the Labour and Liberal Democrat controlled Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire councils "seem obsessed with charging motorists" as the 'only solution' to poor air quality. The remarks were made on his blog ahead of the motion being brought at Cambridgeshire County Council on December 19th. The motion as passed states that the Council is opposed to "pursuing charging proposals at this time".
MAG's Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said: "This recognition of the wider benefits of motorcycles and the need to support them as a sustainable transport mode is wonderful. The proposal for motorcycle access to bus lanes specifically promoted in this way, as part of the council's climate change strategy, is a first to my knowledge but, I hope, not the last. Local authorities and the national government need to recognise the fact that single track vehicles, be they human or mechanically powered, are a truly sustainable solution. Simply grouping motorcycles with cars is lazy thinking that neglects the potential benefits of this transport solution. If reducing emissions by promoting modal shift to motorcycles as well as pedal cycles can avoid the need for charging motorists as well as motorcyclists, this is a win for everyone."
Wakefield MAG are sickened to the core by the low life scum who would steal from a charity ... TWICE ..... Kidzaware is a local charity Wakefield MAG have supported for a good number of years and for this to happen twice is simply devastating for them. A GoFundMe has been set up to accept donations towards helping replace the equipment needed to carry on their work. To make a donation visit their GoFundMe page (link below).
Reporting courtesy of Wakefield Express Newpapers:
Hundreds of pounds worth of property, mostly donations, were stolen by burglars at the KidzAware charity, a little over a week after they were first targeted, losing work equipment and supplies.
It is believed the break-in happened between 6pm on Monday 17th and 10am on Tuesday 18th February. The charity, which helps families with children who have disabilities, has now released a second appeal for help. Gillian Archbold, founder of charity, said: "I was heartbroken. What do we do now? We have received donations to replace the previously stolen items and they have all just been stolen again."
Two laptops, Easter hampers, stamps and alcohol were among the items taken. Gillian's daughter Sabrina, who founded the charity alongside her mum, said: "I am frightened every time I come to the office. I don't want to be letting people down but it is hard for us. We would never turn anyone away, but we can't take much more. "If this were to happen again we may no longer exist."
Gillian, 59, and Sabrina, 40, is now appealing to the Wakefield community to help them relocate their office, as they are worried that they will be targeted again. "We were beginning to get over the first break in and get back on our feet and now this has just broken me," Gillian said. "We need to find another office within our budget and be wheelchair accessible. We just want out. But it's not just affecting us, it is having a massive impact on the people we support."
Anyone who can help is urged to call 101 referencing police crime number: 13200087947.
Information can also be given anonymously to the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
A GoFundMe has been set up to accept donations towards helping replace the equipment needed to carry on their work. To make a donation visit the GoFundMe page here: www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-kidzaware
15) Wakefield MAG Easter Egg Collection
As we are heading into our planned rideout season (April to October), it's timely to remind you of a change in the way these are being organised following a motion presented at our AGM back in January. Previously, we used to set the dates early in the year, for the whole year and these were pretty much stuck to. This meant potentially missing some cracking events which would have made good rideout destinations, as we didn't know about these until much later in the year, or, being committed to a day when the weather was crappy and the previous weekend it had been 'cracking the flags'. So, this year, rideout dates will be set approx 1-2 weeks prior to the actual ride out, and advertised on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/groups/wakefieldmag/).
N.B. You don't need a Facebook account to see events advertised on this page, just keep checking every week or so, or, if you are a Facebook user, join the Group and you'll get notifications automatically.
Congratulations to Wakefield MAG member Ashley Dobson on recently passing his bike test. Welcome to the world of no 'L plates' Ash !!!!
We are holding a Mega Raffle to win a basic service for your motorcycle at Not Your Average Bikes in Ossett. Tickets are £5 and the lucky winner gets a voucher for a basic service (worth circa £100) at NYA Bikes (notyouraveragebikes.com).
The Winning ticket will be drawn at our meeting on Wednesday 8th April. If you would to enter, see Chas at a Wednesday meeting and he would be positively delighted to sell you one (or more) tickets.
And a huge Thank You to our very good friends at NYA Bikes (notyouraveragebikes.com) for donating such a fantastic prize !!!
Good Luck in the draw !!!
19) Forthcoming Events (for March, April and beyond)
Saturday 14th March - An Evening with Steph Jeavons
**** SOLD OUT **** Leeds MAG is proud to present their 6th annual talk, An Evening with Steph Jeavons. 'First woman to ride on all 6 continents'.
20:00 at Squires Cafe Bar, Newthorpe Lane, LS25 5LX. Tickets £10 plus postage (also includes free camping) from leeds.mag-uk.org/
Wednesday 25th March - Wakefield MAG Social Night - Event: TBC
20:30 in the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, Wakefield
Sunday 29th March 2020 - Wakefield Hospice 10K Race
See Above. www.wakefield10k.org.uk
Wednesday 29th April - Wakefield MAG Social Night - Event: TBC
20:30 in the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, Wakefield
Friday 1st May - Sunday 3rd May - Into the Valley (ITV) Rally
Sunday 3rd May - Wakefield MAG Bike Show at the Wakefield Gala
See Above. 10:00 onwards at Clarence Park Arena, Wakefield
Sunday 17th May 2020 - West Yorkshire MAG Fred Hill Run
See Above.
Wednesday 27th May - Wakefield MAG Social Night - Event: TBC
20:30 in the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, Wakefield
Friday 19th - Sunday 21st June - Farmyard Party (FYP) Rally
Friday 31st July - Sunday 2nd August - Yorkshire Pudding Rally (YPR)
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.