Bristol Bike Show & Party
The Bristol Bike Show is back and will take place on the 16th August 2008. Once again the Bike Show will take over the streets around the St Nicholas Market in Corn Street, their will be live bands playing such as; The Advantages; Storm Theory; Pressed 4 Time; The Deltics; Bristol Breakout. If you can spare an hour or two marshals are needed on the day so contact Claire - 0117 3779429. In the evening you are invited to party at The After Show Party, being held at the Saracens RFC ground off Cribbs Causeway, once again their will be live music and camping available. For more info contact Claire. |
Bristol Congestion Charging
"It looks as though Bristol Group have a busy few years ahead of them. First there is the 3-year consultation period, which begins around September/October this year for Congestion charging in the City. Bristol had a committee meeting on the 19th June and the importance of Bristol being in on the negotiations right from square one to ensure PTWs are exempt was emphasised. Secondly, All the good work put in by, initially Rich Stiling and latterly Andy Derret to work with the Council for anti slip manhole covers within the City has paid off. Sandemans are financing a Conference on 24th June at the Marriott Hotel where both Andy Derret and David Short have been invited to speak. (The Troll knows of at least one Road safety Officer who came away from this Conference very impressed and has tackled his counties Road engineers as to what they are doing for Motorcyclists). Thirdly, The question of Advanced Stop lines designated for cyclists came up and the question as to whether riders could use that as well. I think it was John who said he had been told by the police that in Bristol riders could use this area. However, neither Andy or I had seen any proof of consultation and we both agreed that, before we could condone this use, we would have to see it on the Statute Books before quoting that. Fourthly, Bristol has just been declared a 'cycling city' netting a very large amount of money to encourage 100% increase in cyclists over the next few years. Again, at the meeting, it was emphasised the importance of working with Sustrans (who we believe will be fronting this venture) to ensure pedal cyclists and motorcyclists can co-habit together" Aine Gale MP’s condemn DVLAMPs today condemned the Department for Transport and the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency for misrepresenting motorcyclists as road tax dodgers. The Motorcycle Action Group welcomes the House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts' special report on motorcycle Vehicle Excise Duty evasion. Claims by the DfT and DVLA that the rate of motorcycle VED evasion was as high as 38% prompted politicians and the media to brand motorcyclists as law breakers, some reports proclaimed that half of all motorcyclists were criminals. MAG, working with other motorcycle interest groups, challenged the figures as obviously incorrect. This was subsequently proved to be the case earlier this year when DfT admitted that the actual level of VED evasion was less than10%. Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Edward Leigh MP, said it was one of the most serious issues the committee has had to deal with. Mr Leigh issued an unreserved apology to motorcyclists after hearing HM treasury admit incompetence and the DfT express regret at the embarrassment caused during the committees' recent special enquiry. MAG Campaigns Manager, David Short, said, "MAG applauds the vigilance of members of the Public Accounts Committee in helping to correct this misrepresentation of Britain’s million-plus motorcycle users. It is now clear that the vast majority of motorcyclists are ordinary law abiding citizens who should not have had to put up with being branded criminals. MAG challenged the basis of official estimates, which resulted in the second, special enquiry. Official figures often give a distorted view of motorcycle users and this results in riders getting a poor deal. MAG will keep fighting to make sure motorcycle users are no longer misrepresented". MAG UK July Events
August Events
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CX500 Trike at the recent Holy Joe’s Bike Show When space permits, or lack of news! The Troll will include the odd picture of Bikes and odd people, so beware you may be next! 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. A Demented Troll Publication |