Despite the dismal weather about fifty people crowded into the Burrington Inn
to partake a full breakfast or just a hot drink, before setting off on Bristol
MAGs annual charity run to the Julian Trust.
On arrival at the trust we were
greeted by the staff with hot tea, coffee and biscuits, and in turn we handed
over a pile of tinned food toiletries and blankets, also a donation of
£120.
July, of the trust thanked us for the donations and explained the
work of the trust as it approaches its twentieth year.
John and Andy would
like to thank everyone for taking part and the marshals for their doing such an
excellent job.
Most of the Bristol MAG crowd then set off to The Fox, where
they joined Ray and the regulars on another charity run around North Somerset
pubs in aid of The British Legion Poppy Appeal. So if you saw a bunch of bikers
dressed up as Barbarians complete with cow horn helmets and wrapped in (fake)
furs, you weren’t seeing things.
W&NS MAG are holding an evening of live music featuring a rock band
called Garage Daze, on the 26th November at Hewish Parish Hall. The doors will
open at 7:30pm and tickets are available from John on 07917 747 967, at £3
pre-booked or £3.50 on the door.
Sadly it looks like we may be loosing
our venue, which is very unfortunate as our little group has grown considerably
since we started meeting there.
Our present Landlord has decided to move on
and we hear that the new landlord wants to change the Bell into a
restaurant!
So once again we are on the move and looking for a venue as good
as the Bell has been.
Our Christmas do will be at the Lysley Arms, Chippenham on Saturday the 3rd
of December with live music from Severance and Battle Witch, starting at 8pm
(tickets 5 pounds in advance 6 pounds on the door contact Paul on O1249 44731O
Taff O78O3 974O88)
The daytime ride will set off 12:30 sharp from the Lysley
arms and will be going to Springboard pre-school for Children with special needs
(financial donations welcome)
A Flyer is available at http://mid-wilts.mag-uk.org/2005_christ.pdf
There is also an AGM planned for January date TBC. Taffy
From the start of December 2005, Swindon MAG will be meeting on the 1st &
3rd Tuesdays of each month instead of Wednesdays.
Nothing else to report
except that Swindon Local Transport Plan is hundreds of pages long, and
motorcycles get a passing mention.Trace.
Our Xmas dinner, which is open to WR MAG and friends, is on Sunday 18th of
December. The Cost is £20. All in and that includes the present, 4 courses
from an excellent menu catering for meat eaters and veggies. We need a £5
deposit by the 14th November please. Or you can bring your present and only pay
£17 for further Info contact Donna.
Glos-MAGs
"VALENTINESDAYPARTYWHATHAPPENEDTOF'INGXMAS" is on the18th February, in
Gloucester and is about £6. You will get a feed, real beer, and The Worried
Men, more info later. Donna
The Regional AGM will be held on January 29th 2006 at The Mayors Arms, Clarence Rd, Bristol.
Today [Wednesday 26th October 2005] the Dutch minister for transport, Mrs.
Karla Peijs, met with our national parliament in a debate on road safety.
This debate started with statements and questions from all political parties in
our parliament. Every party-spokesperson for transport had seven minutes to
speak about the road safety issues that are important to their party.
During this, every single one of them (!) questioned the minister on
motorcycle-friendly crash barriers.
This morning, just hours before the
debate, Nico Perk and I were in parliament, talking to an MP who was willing to
use his entire seven minutes on motorcycle issues (and he did!).
Reacting to
the pressure from the MP's the minister made a commitment to work together with
MAG and identify the most important places on national roads (highways) where
crash barriers should be adapted to motorcyclists' standards.
She literally
said to parliament: “I will promise you that indeed something will now be
done. If they (MAG) say ‘the barriers in those bends must be dealt
with’ we will do that.”
During her speech in parliament the
minister mentioned MAG several times as the voice of Dutch riders. The minister
was also asked to put a ban on placing cable barriers and to put the issue of
CEN standard 1317 on the European agenda. These questions were not answered
yet, but I am in close contact with an MP who will make sure these questions
will be answered as well. You'll probably understand that we in the Netherlands
will have a couple of beers tonight, to celebrate this very important political
news! I think our endless lobbying is starting to pay off... It feels like we
are definitely on The road to success.
Greetings, Wim Taal,
MAG NL.
So all you pessimists out there it just goes to show how lobbying your MP can work, you just have to keep at it, but keep on good terms with your MP and who knows what we could achieve. The Troll.
The Highways Agency stand was just two doors away from the MAG stand at the
Bike show.
So I had a conversation with their “boss” standing
beside a sample of a motorcycle friendly crash barrier on their stand,
incidentally he mentioned that he certainly received the lobbying letters,
passed down from the transport minister, from MAG activists, excellent job all
those who lobbied.
They are producing a new DVD and booklet for riders next
year not just concentrating on the road but useful tips on riding and MAG will
be involved with input into this.
Now this doesn’t mean that if you visit
their stand you shouldn’t mention issues like rock salt, diesel spills,
crash barriers, positioning of road signs, pot holes all the usual stuff.
Cheers Trevor Baird
Despite the best efforts of Bristol MAG, the toll gate equipment operators
still refuse to allow motorcycles to pass over the bridge free.
Now the
trusties of Brunel’s 141 year old suspension bridge have asked the DfT for
permission to raise the toll from 30p to 50p per journey.
Their reason
behind this move is they claim increased maintenance and insurance costs.
The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCI) is urging riders to follow basic
riding advice as the weather changes and darker days create more hazardous
driving conditions.
Government statistics show on an average weekday
around half of all collisions with motorcycles happen during the morning and
evening peak traffic periods when the light is poor. As the winter approaches
and it gets dark earlier and the weather deteriorates the risk of accidents is
increased.
Studies and surveys also reveal that in motorcycle accidents in
urban areas around two-thirds of motorcycle accidents other road users,
usually car drivers, were involved. In rural areas about half of accidents
involve another vehicle.
See also: http://www.mcia.co.uk/S%5FPress/
Well the ghouls, ghosts, witches and vampires were out in force for Bristol MAG’s Halloween party, with an excellent band to help rock the evening away. For once the Troll didn’t look out of place, and a thoroughly enjoyable time was had by all. Well Done Bristol MAG.
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.
The Demented Troll welcomes contributions from all MAG members, preferably not about Goats!