MAGLink, January 2005
A monthly update from the Irish Motorcyclists Action Group.
MAG Ireland : Representing Riders
The progress reported below in promoting and protecting motorcycling
has been possible because of your support.
Index:
1. Campaign Updates
2. National Motorcycle Events Calendar,
3. MAG details and contact numbers
4. Disclaimer
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The following is a brief summary of some of the work undertaken within
the Campaigns portfolio during December 2004. Background to any of
the topics mentioned can be found by referring to previous issues of
MAGlink and on the website www.magireland.org . For further
information or if you have any comments or questions you can contact
the MAG Office at office@magireland.org or telephone 01 4530797 (MAG
Office).
BUS LANES
The current pilot scheme in Northern Ireland which allows bikers into
a large number of bus lanes will enter its second six month trial
period this month. With one third of the experimental time scale
elapsed, December should have brought about the first review of the
scheme. Access was granted back in June on a trial basis spread over
18 months and to be reviewed every six months where the scheme would
be either put back to trial, made permanent or cancelled altogether.
This has not come about because of objections to the trials but more
so as the Roads Transportation Unit need more time to evaluate the
whole situation, i.e. the benefits gained by allowing motorcycle
access, weighed against potential factors such as conflict with other
road users.
Objections to the scheme are minimal at this stage and very positive
feedback suggests that bikers in Northern Ireland are riding in a safe
and responsible manner whilst using the selected lanes.
The positive experience to date with the NI scheme adds weight to our
arguments for the introduction of a similar project here which will be
put to the new Minister for Transport when we meet with him.
INSURANCE
New Insurers
Contrary to information circulated in the media recently, Brit
Insurance have no plans to open an Irish office or to move into the
Irish motor insurance sector. When I contacted them recently they said
that reports in the UK's Sunday Times citing them as one of the
companies moving into the Irish market were completely unfounded.
Santam Europe have not yet unveiled any plans for their motor
insurance business in Ireland and ARB and St Paul Travelers Ireland
have yet to respond to requests for meetings to dicuss the
possibilities of taking on motorcycle insurance business.
Carole Nash Breakdown Service
Regarding our recent request for details of problems members have
experienced with the Carole Nash Breakdown Service we have not as yet
received any feedback from members. If you have had difficulties using
this service please email the MAg office at office@magireland.org and
we
will include your complaint when contacting the CN Quality Control
Department.
AON Training Discounts
AON Insurance (now underwritten by AXA) is to give discounts to riders
who satisfactorily complete a training course with one of their
approved instructors. The course is expected to be of a higher
standard than the CBT type course currently being considered by the
Department of Transport and only AXA approved instructors will be able
to provide the tuition necessary to qualify for the discount.
A discount will also be offered to riders with RoSPA training awards.
RIDER LICENSING, TESTING & TRAINING
Compulsory Basic Training
Legislation requiring motorcyclists to complete a compulsory course of
initial training before taking to the road may not now be introduced
until as late as Summer 2006. With the previous Minister for
Transport's underestimation of the groundwork necessary to get the
scheme up and running it comes as no surprise that the training
requirement has been so seriously delayed.
Bob Tomlins has been appointed Project Co ordinator of the FEMA
Initial Rider Training Project and will step down from his FEMA duties
due to the time commitment involved. The international riders'
organisations, FEMA and FIM, and the motorcycle manufacturers'
association ACEM are developing a European model for Initial Rider
Training (IRT). The objective of this EU co-funded project, which is
also sponsored by Vägverket, the Swedish road traffic authority,
is to
ensure that the training needed for a rider to be able to obtain a
motorcycle licence provides the necessary range of skills and
knowledge.
MOTORCYCLE TAX BANDS
We have contacted John Keenan of the Department of the Environment
with regard to the current system of motor tax bands as suggested by
the
Minister's representative when replying to our request for a meeting.
We met with Mr Keenan shortly after the system was introduced with no
changes to the banding system following from our discussions.
ROAD SAFETY
Road Safety Strategy
The government's Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006 was launched recently
and identifies motorcyclists clearly as Vulnerable Road Users. MAG's
initiative to set up the Irish Rider Training Association is mentioned
in connection with the intention to introduce compulsory initial
practical training for motorcyclists.
The Strategy document states the intention to introduce a requirement
that motorcyclists with provisional licences display L plates to help
enforce current legislation regarding the carrying of pillion
passengers by provisional licence holders.
The "This is Your Bike" booklet launched in Spring 2004 and jointly
developed by the National Safety Council and MAG Ireland is also
mentioned.
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2. NATIONAL MOTORCYCLING EVENTS CALENDAR, 2005
MAG Ireland encourages event organisers to support motorcycling by
offering a discount of one euro to holders of current MAG membership
cards at their events in 2004.
It's a quiet time of the year - we have not been notified of any
rallies or other events of a motorcycling nature due to take place in
January around Ireland. If you know of any events or want to publicise
your own forthcoming event, send details to office@magireland.org or
directly to maglink@magireland.org and we'll put it on the website and
also include it in next month's MAGLink.
Friday 18th February to Sunday 20th February 2005
Northern Ireland Motorcycle Show makes a welcome return to the Odyssey
Arena, Belfast. Visitors will be able to see all the
new 2005 models on display as well as a wide range of other goods
catering to every biker's needs. For stand space and ticket
information contact Nutt Promotions on 028 7035 1199
4th - 6th March 2005
The Irish Motorcycle and Scooter Show takes place at the RDS Main
Hall, Ballsbridge, Dublin - MAG will have a stand there as usual.
Contact details - SDL Exhibitions Ltd 18 Main Street Rathfarnham
Dublin 14 Tel: 00353 1 4900600 Fax: 00353 1 4908934 Web:
www.irishmotorbikeshow.com
MAG UK events can be seen online at the MAG UK website www.mag-uk.org
BMF events www.bmf.co.uk
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3. MAG Calendar 2005
Board meetings
1st Tuesday every month, 7:30pm MAG Office, Dublin.
MAG Local Group meetings:-
MAG Donegal: 1st Tuesday of each month at 8pm, Road House Bar,
Ballybofey
MAG Dublin: 1st Tuesday of each month 8.30pm Strawberry Hall, Lucan,
(contact Jimmy Kenny, 01 4502330)
MAG Limerick: Meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month in Gus
O'Driscolls Pub, Corbally. http://maglimerick.pitas.com/
MAG Tipperary North/South Offaly. Every last Thursday of the month at
'The Mill House', Birr Road, Roscrea. Contact Keith Leaver at
kleaver@gofree.indigo.ie for further details.
MAG Cork: Tuesday nights in an Cruiscin Lan, on Douglas Street at
8.30pm. We are usually in the snug!
MAG Wexford - last Tuesday of every month at Ballycarney Inn,
Ballycarney, Co, Wexford, Co. Wexford from 8.30pm. A second meeting
also takes place on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, at a venue
announced at the previous Ballycarney meeting.
E&OE. Changes should be advised to the MAG office
office@magireland.org
or Groad O'Byrne maglink@magireland.org
Publication Deadlines - RoadRunner: February 15th, May 15th. August
15th, November 15th,
Letters and articles welcome, articles with pictures very welcome.
Send submissions roadrunner@magireland.org or to RoadRunner c/o MAG
Office.
MAG Member Benefits
* A nationwide organisation representing your interests as a rider
* RoadRunner Magazine
* BikeShop Discounts, Full list in RoadRunner or on website
www.magireland.org
* Motorcycle Insurance
* Local Groups - Social Activity and Local Representation
* Information Service, (Info sheets, MAGLink and advice)
* MAG Products
* Training discounts
* Discounts on the entry fee to participating motorcyclist events
* Route Planning Service
* Discounts on VHI Health Insurance, Ferries, Accident Insurance and
Breakdown Cover.* MAG Credit Card. Competitive credit facility which
also makes a small donation to MAG with each transaction.
The discounts alone will save you much more than the membership fee
every year.
Membership costs ? 30 per annum, with reductions for young riders,
partners and for payment by standing order. To join now ring the MAG
Office on (01) 4530797. Credit cards accepted.
* Events Advertising
As an additional benefit to affiliated clubs only, MAG are offering
substantial discounts to advertise their rally in Roadrunner.
Roadrunner is Ireland's largest circulation motorcycle magazine and
goes out to over 4000 Irish motorcyclists every quarter. See below
for details
Club affiliation costs ?30 per annum.
Information Sheets & Reps Resource Kit MAG currently has information
sheets on:
Accidents a Legal Perspective, Anti Theft, Member Benefits, Bike
Promotion, Bike Rental, Discount Shops, Drink Driving, Driving Test,
Events Insurance, FEMA, Group Riding, Importing a Bike, Irish Touring,
Licence Regulations, Long Distance Riding, MAG History, New Member,
Ride Safely, Local Groups, European Lobbying. Training, Motorcycle
Awareness, Type Approval, MAG Structure, What is MAG, Perception of
Motorcycles as Unsafe, Consumer Rights for Motorcyclists
MAG's Information Sheets can be found at the MAG website.
MAG also issues a computer CD which contains the reps handbooks, info
sheets, local group report template and useful forms such as road
hazard reporting and membership. There's also a very wide selection of
research and motorcycle promotion material useful when lobbying and
for background information. Copy one from your local group or contact
the MAG Office.
MAG Products
Premium T- shirts = ? 12.70 each (Black with MAG logo)
Nectectors = ? 12.70 each (Red or Black tubular
neckwarmers)
Baseball Caps = ? 12.70 each (Black cloth, with MAG logo)MAG
EIRE, RIDE FREE Patches = ? 3.80 each
Flourescent "Do Not Remove This Helmet" sticker = ?1.00
RIDE FREE Adhesive stickers = ? 1.80 each
Previous years Members' Metal Badges = ? 2.56 each
2004 MAG Enamel badge = ? 3.80 each
MAG Fleecies - ?35 - heavy gauge, navy, with "MAG Ireland"
embroidered
on front.
BOOKS
Motorcycle Roadcraft = ? 17.00 each
All items are including postage by ordinary post. These exclusive
products are available from your local Group, direct from the MAG
Office, or from our MAG Products Outlet Shop, Kilkenny Camping &
Water-sports Centre, U24 The Arcade, High Street, Kilkenny. Save
postage by shopping locally.
Profits from the sale of MAG Products goes directly to campaigning for
Riders Rights.
MAG Advertising
Roadrunner is Ireland's largest circulation motorcycle magazine and is
mailed directly to over 4000 Irish motorcyclists every quarter. If you
want the Irish motorcycling world to know about something (your shop,
your sale, your club, your product, your event.....) then advertising
in RoadRunner is the way to tell them.
Contact the MAG Office for details of our advertising rates.
MAG Contacts
MAG Board (Composed of elected and co-opted officers and responsible
for the day to day running of MAG)
Eoin Kirwan: Chairman, IT & Transport: 087 6166207 Mailto:
chair@magireland.org
Linda O'Loideoin: Treasurer, Roadrunner Editor
mailto:roadrunner@magireland.org
Gearóid O Byrne: Local Groups Liaison & MAGlink
mailto:maglink@magireland.org
David French: European Liaison, Safety Officer
mailto:davidfrench@magireland.org
Peter Bartlett:
National Council and Local MAG Group Contact Details
The National Council (NC) is composed of elected county
representatives and responsible for the overall running of MAG. Unless
a county position of "NC representative" is elected, the county
chairperson is on the NC.
MAG County Groups
MAG Donegal
Chair: Marty Boyle 087 - 6557414 martyboyle@unison.ie
or magdonegal@yahoo.com
Or Michael McNulty mnulty@mcmenaminsteel.com
MAG Dublin
Chair: Jimmy Kenny 01 - 4502330
MAG Limerick
Secretary - Alec Quinn. ajquinn@eircom.net
Treasurer - Mark Hackett. haket@hotmail.com
NC Rep - Vinny White. vwhite@eircom.net
PRO - Sharon Curtin. yamxv250@hotmail.com
Clubs liason officer - Karl Murphy. crashtestdummy@oceanfree.net
Local Authority liason officer - John Mullin.
MAG North Tipperary and South Offaly
Paul O'Dwyer 086-2686091 froggieod@yahoo.com
Keith Lever kleaver@gofree.indigo.ie
MAG Cork
Chair - Ger Donnolly
Treasurer - Martin O'Driscoll martdris@gofree.indigo.ie
MAG Wexford
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