BikersRVoters – Shaping UK Government Motorcycle Policy

Our partners over at Write To Ride have launched a new initiative to get Bikers motivated to lobby and have their opinions on motorcycling heard at Government level.  Relying on politicians to ‘understand’ biking issues without guidance can give results ranging from ludicrous to dangerous, take this complete arse for example – ‘Labour MP Barry Sheerman has called motorcyclists “widow makers and orphan makers” who were “disgraceful in a civilised society”.

Below is a statement from Write To Ride’s Trevor Baird on the BikersRVoters initiative and head over to www.bikersrvoters.org for more information.

BikersRVoters – Political Soapbox

As the General Election looms closer to elect MPs on 6th May 2010, Right To Ride has launched its BikersRVoters campaign website.

Bikers R Voters is a non – political lobby with no allegiance  to parties and historical divides. What is important (for us at least) is whether motorcyclists even have a modicum of influence in the ‘corridors of power’ and whether we can affect policies and legislation regarding motorcycles and other related issues that surround motorcycling.

Bikers may be Voters but there is no illusion here that motorcyclists as a community, won’t just vote for a motorcycle friendly politician, however it may have some influence to tip the balance, together with other major issues of concerns that we as voters face in our daily lives.

The objective is to inform – listen – debate  – with those who do not understand or have a different perspective regarding motorcycling and to stay engaged with those who fully understand the importance of motorcycling in Northern Ireland. .

We’d like to know what all parties think of motorcycling – what they can do for us in the various corridors of power and how they can implement this in the real world – a platform – a Political Soapbox for motorcycle policy issues.

We  also want to know the rider’s point of view – The Rider’s Soap Box gives the opportunity to express what riders think are the main issues for motorcycling. What you think the politicians should be doing and what they would do if they were in charge!

2010 is the 15th anniversary of  “The Bigger Than Borders” demo that saw 3,000 motorcyclists ride from Belfast to Dublin in protest against proposed new European anti motorcycling laws and interference by the European Commission in motorcycling matters.

This “megaphone diplomacy” still has its place in our armoury if there is no other option left.  But for now, we hope to be a bit more sophisticated in our engagement with the politicians – our elected representatives.

Who is in a better position to inform and communicate issues that effect motorcycling than the riders, either as individuals or organised as an effective lobby, armed with a knowledge of motorcycling.

Trevor Baird

http://www.writetoride.co.uk

New Ride The Wild Wind Information Page – The UK Bike Test

On the navigation tabs above you’ll find a new page featuring information about The UK Bike Test.  Yes the dreaded UK Bike Test, the one that breaks arms, almost causes fatalities, etc etc.  While the test may change at some point and a recent government committee reported huge flaws in its implementation and execution (RTWW reported on that here) for now we’re stuck with it and it’s not an insurmountable task.

With good training and a cool head the test is passable and hopefully the collection of DSA videos we’re featuring on the UK Bike Test page will help.  RTWW is in no way justifying the new test or the scandalous way it was introduced leading to jobs losses at training companies, but the future of UK biking will be badly affected by the loss of tens of thousands of new bikers that have turned away from taking the test in the last several months.

Motorcycling is under attack from so many different angles at the minute from Brussels Buffoons and some of our own Government expenses rich rip-off  merchants, that RTWW wouldn’t want the next excuse to curtail motorcycling to be that the lack of people becoming bikers shows it to be a ‘niche hobby’ and therefore ends up being restricted to a track.  I know that sounds a bit heavy but we have to defend and nurture our lifestyle, because if we don’t I don’t have faith that the organisations that are supposed to are up to the job.

So check out the new test, sign up, pass it and get out there on your first big bike.  Ride Safe and have a great weekend!

Motorcycle Safety Survey for Northern Ireland

It's not very often that Government actually asks Motorcyclists for their opinion so seize this chance while you can.

Bikers are being asked to take part in a survey to hopefully help
make NI roads safer.  The fantastic weekend weather here in Northern Ireland had dozens of bikes out on the roads, and unfortunately a series of accidents occurred with two bikers killed and a third critically injured.

The Department of Environment wants Motorcyclists to give their views about why crashes happen and how they can be stopped which is great and we'd encourage all riders in NI to fill in the survey.

In 2007, 153 bikers were killed or seriously injured on NI roads, and any attempt by the government to reach out to the biking community for ways to help prevent that should be welcomed.

Motorcyclist's views will feed into a new road safety strategy which aims to cut road
deaths by a third each year and reduce children's deaths and injuries
by half on the 1996 – 2000 average.

So please visit www.motorcyclecasualtiesni.com to complete a short survey which looks
at rider attitudes, experience and behaviour on the roads.

Stay safe out there!

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