Protest about motorcycle parking fees

Both the BMF (British Motorcyclists Federation) and MAG (Motorcycle Action Group) have come out in support of a protest on the 14th December against parking charges introduced for PTW (powered two wheelers) by Westminster City Council.

These charges running contrary to the Government's aim to make motorcycling mainstream and London Mayor Borris Johnson's recent decision to make London more motorcycle friendly.

Both organisations are backing the No to Bike Parking Fees Campaign (NTBPF) (notobikeparkingfees.com).

The demonstration being held at 11am on Sunday 14th December 2008 at Golden Square, London, W1.

Ride safe.

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk

Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

The Shows must go on!

Both MAG and the BMF have added their voice to the growing furore over what appears to be unjustified and discriminatory cancellation of a growing number of motorcycle shows here in the UK by the police.

So far far this year the police have cancelled the following shows:-

• Driffield Bike Day and DABS Rally, Yorkshire (23 - 25 May)
• The Welsh National Motorcycle Show 23 - 26 May
• Past it MCC 13th Birthday Party 31^st May
• Stourbridge MCC's Midsummer Bash 21st June
• Rock and Blues 24^th - 27^th July
• Stourbridge MCC's Woizel Rally 8^th 9^th 10^th August
• Great Yorkshire Bike Show 15^th-16^th August
• Past It MCC's 10th Zimmer Frame Rally 22^nd - 24^th August
• Patriot Games Rock Festival, Monmouth 22^nd - 24^th August
• Isle of Anglesey Motorcycle Show 22^nd 25^th August

The British Motorcyclists Federation have written to the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith MP, the Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy MP and the President of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Ken Jones QPM raising concern over this and have requested a meeting with the Home Secretary to discuss this growing problem.

BMF Chairman Anna Zee, said: "It is extraordinary that the authorities seem to assume that a motorcycle gathering must mean trouble. The BMF runs some very large shows, with attendances of up to 85,000 with never a hint of trouble. Nor are we aware of any previous history of problems at the events cancelled this year. With so many cancellations, and the reasons for them being shrouded in mystery, we feel that motorcyclists are suffering completely unjustified discrimination."

If you want the peaceful enjoyment of motorcycling and its social scene to continue then show your support to both MAG and the BMF in getting this discriminatory policy of cancelling motorcycle shows STOPPED, before its to late. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED, MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD BEFORE ITS TO LATE!!!!

Ride safe.

Jon Booth

Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk

Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/

Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

So finally the true Motorcycle VED evasion figures are out!

This week MAG , the BMF and the MCIA have all put out press releases concerning the release of the true Motorcycle Vehicle Evasion Duty evasion figures, which surprise, surprise are massively lower than the claimed 40% by the DVLA.

The actual figures from the Department of Transport into the true levels of VED indicates that motorcycle VED evasion is estimated at 6.5%.

What a climb down!! At least the truth is now out.

Ride safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

More anti-biking crap, but MAG fights for us all!

Well thank god for MAG battling away for motorcyclists rights in the UK. The latest crack pot thing to come out, is that the Home Office propose to increase the statutory charges for the removal, storage and disposal of motorcycles by the police, by a whopping 300%.
That's a flat £300 charge and an additional £15 a day storage.

MAG have responded to the consultation process (which closed on the 25th Jan) by
" highlighted the totally unjustified 300% increase and brought to the attention of the Home Office failures in communication between the police, insurers, and the recovery companies which results in unnecessary delays in the release of impounded bikes and escalating costs incurred by the biker"

Well lets hope MAG get this proposal put in the bin where it belongs.

Ride safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Sense on daytime dipped beam headlights at last!

MAG has reported today that the European Commission has finally seen sense and has scrapped the plans to enforce all vehicles to have their dipped beam headlights on during daytime.

Finally some common sense from the European Commission and in no small part due to lobbying by MAG.

Thanks MAG!

So now motorcycles which now run with dipped headlights on, won't be lost in a sea of vehicles all with dipped headlights on!!

Ride safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

New Highway Code launched!

MAG highlights the issue of a revised version of the Highway Code, which is the first revision for eight years. The new code highlights many of the dangers motorcyclists face!. Read the full text of MAG's press release on www.inter-bike.co.uk by clicking here.

Ride safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Help MAG fight motorcycle congestion charging

The Motorcycle Action Group has put out a very useful press release about proposals contained in Manchester’s congestion charging scheme to charge motorcycles, which MAG rightly sees as the thin end of the wedge as far as cities in the UK are concerned.

If you want to help oppose the imposition of congestion charging on powered two wheeler use in the UK, I urge you to read the press release on www.inter-bike.co.uk, which can be read here.

Further MAG's excellent full and detailed response to the Manchester congestion charging scheme can be read by downloading MAG's pdf document from:-
http://www.network.mag-uk.org/congestioncharging/MAG_UK_Response_to_Manchester_Congestion_Charging_Consultation_1_.pdf

However MOST IMPORTANT, please sign MAG's petition against congestion charging for motorcycles at:-
http://campaign.publicaffairsbriefing.co.uk/home.aspx?cid=c51e28b4-1215-404a-88fc-122369424b6e

we here at inter-bike have!!

We'd be interested here at www.inter-bike.co.uk to know hat you think about Manchester's proposal to apply congestion charging to motorcycles? Add your commet to this blog entry.

Ride safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Speed Control Systems on Motorcycles.

MAG published today an interesting press release on the Governments response to the Parliamentary Transport Select Committee, report on their scrutiny of the Governments Motorcycling Strategy.

Interestingly MAG's release states "Whilst the Committee recommended that work should be carried out to explore the fitting of speed control systems the Government has stated that there are no plans for speed limiter trials or speed limiters of any type being made compulsory. "

You can read the rest of MAG's press release on www.inter-bike.co.uk by clicking here.

Ride safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/