Bristol MAG held their AGM on the 22nd of September and all the usual
suspects were re-elected to office, however nobody has come forward for the
position of group Rep, and the next AGM is to be on Thursday 21st September
2006.
The annual charity ride: The Knott So So Soup Run in aid of the Julian
Trust Shelter, will take place on Sunday 23rd October 2005, and will be starting
from the Burrington Inn (in Burrington Combe B3134) at 10:30am, Bring tinned
food, tea, coffee, blankets etc.
The Halloween Party is to be held on the
29th October 2005.
Finally Tim’s stolen Buell has been recovered with minor
damage and false plates, the BMW F650 is still at large and has been spotted
being ridden around Bristol so if anybody has info about the two bikes please
contact the police or Tim.
Despite the odd shower the GWR rally went off OK, of course we made a few
mistakes along the way, but that adds to the learning experience that we can
carry forward to next years GWR rally, which is being held a week later. Most
people enjoyed the weekend and some even liked the band that did the middle set
on the Saturday night, as one rallyist said, “They sound ok from the
toilets at the bottom of the camp site.” Andy our rep even lost his
voice, which some said was an improvement!
A big thanks to everyone who
came, and the people who helped out at the rally especially Val for organising
the silly games. And as we even managed to make a very small profit in our
first year, is very encouraging for the future.
If anyone who attended has
any useful suggestions for next year’s rally please let us know.
I too would oppose any proposal to ban motorcycles. I also had concerns
about the some of the proposals in the current draft European Driving Licence
Directive and voted accordingly in the first reading in parliament. The
directive is now at the Council for reading, the results of which are expected
in early October.
The compromise reached with the Council and agreed to by
the parliamentary delegation is a two year staging between each category of
motorcycle licence, in accordance with the principle of gradual access to
motorcycles of increasing power. Accident statistics clearly show that
inexperienced motorcycle riders are an extremely high-risk class of drivers. It
does seem that lack of experience rather than age is the main problem.
Thank
you for writing to me about this issue. It is always useful to have input on
such matters. Graham Watson MEP
Thank you for your email letter of 5th September with regard to the 3rd
European Driving Licence Directive.
I am very sympathetic to your cause and
will do what I can through my colleagues on the Transport Committee to remove
any unfair discrimination against motorcyclists. Giles Chichester
MEP
Roger Knapman MEP has asked me to thank you for your email and to let you know that he completely agrees with you and will continue to oppose this directive. Piers Merchant Assistant to Roger Knapman MEP
PRU 3rd Driving Licence Directive letter
Thank you for your recent letter
about the European Union’s 3rd Driving Licence Directive.
The need to
harmonise European law in this area has arisen out of the requirement to
complete the European single market. The idea of standardizing the
qualifications and training required to gain a driving licence across Europe is
something that should generally be welcomed. However, I am concerned that the
need for harmonization is being used by some bureaucrats to try to bring about
extra and unnecessary regulation, apparently in the name of safety.
I am not
convinced that the proposed changes with relation to motorcycles are necessary
or will be effective in reducing casualties. If the Government or other groups
wish to introduce these regulations they should produce evidence justifying
these proposals. So far, this has not been done.
I am also concerned that
the Government may now be prepared to give in and accept these new motorcycle
provisions of the directive, not because they have overwhelming merit but
because Britain currently holds the Presidency of the European Union and for the
time being Ministers do not want to be seen as divisive. In my view, this must
not be allowed to happen.
Our motoring spokesman The Rt Hon Greg Knight MP
intends raising this matter with the Government when Parliament reassembles in
the Autumn. Liam Fox MP
Hopefully you all have written to your MEPs, and have had replies?
The Motorcycle Action Group accepts no responsibility for the content of this
publication and the views expressed are not necessarily those of the Editor or
MAG.
Due to the advancement of modern technology this newsletter is available
on 78rpm gramophone discs suitable for the optically challenged.