MAGLink, November 2001
A monthly update from the Irish Motorcyclists
Action Group.
The progress reported below in promoting and
protecting motorcycling has been possible because of your support.
Download MAGLink in Microsoft Word RTF format
from the MAG website: http://www.iol.ie/~maglink
New Benefit: MAG Credit Card.............. 1
NOTE to Local Groups and Affiliated Clubs:........... 2
National Campaigns :. 2
Bikers Are Voters...... 2
Bus Lanes 2
Direct Access.... 2
Daytime Running Lights...... 2
Independent Insurance 2
Insurance 3
Motorcycle Tax Bands 3
Road Pricing.................. 3
Local Group Update......... 3
MAG Wexford and MAG Tipperary 3
Membership discount. Three months free................ 4
International Update......... 4
MAG UK M4 Bus lane proposal.. 4
Main Actions and Decisions 4
Board October 3th 4
National Council.... 4
AGC......... 5
MAG Calendar...................... 5
Board meetings.. 5
National Council meetings (All local groups to attend)..... 5
Annual Group Conference (AGC):..... 5
MAG Local Group meetings.. 5
MAG Events..... 6
Publication Deadlines 6
MAG Ireland's Events Calendar, 2001.......... 6
MAG Benefits 6
Member Benefits... 6
Affiliated Club Benefits... 7
Information Sheets & Reps Resource Kit (November 2001)........ 7
MAG Products...................... 7
MAG Advertising. 8
Shops...... 8
Discounts: 8
Clubs....... 8
MAG Contacts...................... 9
Board....... 9
National Council and Local MAG Group Contact Details..... 9
MAG Office................ 10
General News Items........... 10
Getting MAGLink and passing it on 10
Disclaimer.. 10
By now all members
will have received application forms for a MAG credit card. This new benefit provides MAG members with
exclusive access to a competitive credit card facility. (Compare the terms with
your current credit card.) Each use of these cards also results in a small
donation to promoting and protecting Irish motorcycling.
Underwriting
difficulties with Irish insurance are affecting the MAG Ireland events
insurance benefit. Please contact the MAG office for the current details if you
are planning to hold an event under MAG Public Liability cover in the near
future. MAG Ireland is currently looking at the insurance market place and
welcomes any recommendations from clubs or other groups.
Report by Karen Kiely
: Campaigns Officer
Further to our circulation of policy questionnaire to political parties,
MAG met with Eamon Gilmore TD (Labour spokesperson on the Environment &
Transport) to discuss Labour’s position on the issues raised. We have also received a communication from
the Progressive Democrats indicating that the issues raised in our questionnaire
will be considered for inclusion in their Manifesto currently being
prepared. MAG will be contacting them
to request a meeting.
The DTO continue to cite safety considerations as the basis for their
opposition to the admission of motorcycles to Bus Lanes despite the fact that
the Gardai and Dublin Corporation are amenable to the use of Bus Lanes by PTW.
Documentation on European schemes is to be sent to the relevant bodies in
support of such a scheme.
In response to T.D. Olivia Mitchell’s Parliamentary Question on Direct
Access, Mr Molloy cited Safety considerations as the basis for Ireland’s
non-implementation of the DA option. He
stated that the situation would be kept under review in regard to accident
& fatality rates and the impact of the I.R.T.A. training initiative. MAG will be contacting the UK Driving
Standards Authority requesting a brief review of their positive experience of
D.A. and I am preparing a detailed explanation of the current systems as it
applies in the UK.
In response to MAG’s
recent letters to MEPs outlining our opposition to the use of DRL we have
received replies from Mary Banotti, Brian Crowley and Proinsias de Rossa. MAG
is currently researching the use of DRL in other European countries and any
research on the impact of use of same on conspicuity of motorcyclists and other
vulnerable road users and will be submitting a document on same to MEPs,
opposition party spokespersons on the Environment and DoE in due course.
We have received a letter from Malcolm Nash in response to a request for
clarification on the matter of the IR£30 fee payable by Carole Nash’s Irish
policyholders in order to transfer to cover with RSA. It explains that Carole Nash were unable to negotiate an en bloc
transfer to another insurer as they were in the UK, hence the charge. Again, it does not explain why Carole Nash
Ireland passed this charge on to their policyholders rather than absorbing it
themselves. It also states that the
errors on letters showing incorrect refund amounts have been rectified and he
will look into individual cases of non-issue of letters of proof of NCB on
receipt of details of same.
MAG will be raising these issues in the next meeting with Carole Nash.
We await with interest the Final Report of the MIAB due in December,
despite the fact that Nora Owen raised the issue of our exclusion from the board
and stated “it is naïve of the Minister to say that car drivers on the Board…
will understand the concerns of motorcyclists”.
The MAG office has received a significant number of calls from Hibernian
policyholders who have been quoted ludicrously high premiums upon renewal, in
the region of IR£2,500 to IR£4,000, despite being claims-free in the previous
year or years. Many of the complaints
come from riders who availed of insurance through their dealer when purchasing
their motorcycle/scooter. We have had
reports that Hibernian are now classifying the Honda NSR 125 as a Group 7
rating putting it in a similar category to much higher powered machines. We will be requesting a meeting with
Hibernian to justify these exorbitant rises in premiums and to discuss other
issues in relation to incentives for training, coverage for modifications etc.
MAG has contacted the Carole Nash UK office to express members
discontent with the standards of customer service in their Dublin office and
was assured that this will be examined.
MAG will be meeting with Carole Nash Ireland to discuss this and other
issues relating to members’ complaints regarding excessive quotes for renewals
and instances of refusal of coverage for modifications, refusal of coverage on
larger capacity machines despite restrictor kits being fitted etc..
In a recent meeting with John Keenan (Motor Taxation Dept, DoE) MAG
Ireland proposal on revised Tax Bands and Tax Rates for motorcycles were
discussed. Mr Keenan was of the opinion
that the rates proposed by MAG were unrealistic and had little chance of being
accepted especially in the current economic climate and in light of the lack of
increases in Motor Tax applied to motorcycles between 1983 to 1991 and the
single rate of IR£20 applied in 1992, but undertook to submit same for
consideration to the Minister. Mr
Keenan was much more amenable to the revised Tax Banding structure proposed by
MAG and assured me that our proposal is being closely examined in this regard.
The Oral Hearing on the M1 Toll Plaza is scheduled for December 11th
2001 at the Fairways Hotel, Dundalk.
The list of Objectors includes Louth/Meath No Tolls Group and the Irish
Road Haulage Association.
An Bord Pleanala has written informing us that they do not adjudicate on
matters regarding tolling and that this is solely the concern of the N.R.A.,
which raises the question of the value of objecting to new schemes on tolling
grounds.
The AA has called on the government and National Toll Roads to raise the
toll barriers on the Westlink bridge during peak times to alleviate traffic
congestion. They say in light of the
unexpectedly high revenues generated from the Toll bridge that both the
government and NTR can afford to absorb the costs involved. When the deal with Westlink was first
incepted in 1987, daily traffic on the bridge was expected to be 45,000 per day
by 2001, with the government receiving IR£6,400 daily ex. VAT (VAT was not
envisaged as being levied); at the present time daily traffic is 70,000 per day
generating a revenue of IR£33,000 daily.
MAG will be approaching the AA to explain our position on exempting
motorcyclists from tolls at this and other schemes as a way of reducing
congestion.
Contact Gearoid
O’Byrne for details of new groups planning to set up in Wexford and in
Tipperary.
MAG members paying by
standing order now receive three months free membership. Paying membership by
standing order ensures you always have a current membership. Current membership
is necessary to claim MAG discount, to participate in insurance or other
special deals or if you want to vote in elections to your local group or at the
AGC. Please contact the office for a standing order form or download from the
MAG website.
In the wake of
sustained campaigning by MAG, the M4
bus lane will be opened to motorcycles
under proposals announced by Transport Minister John Spellar today.
Furthermore the speed
limit for the bus lane section will be increased from 50mph to 60mph. The
increased speed limit will improve road users' journey times on the stretch
which runs from junction four to the elevated section of the M4 near Chiswick.
The speed limit on the elevated section will remain at 40mph.
Mr Spellar told MPs in
a written reply to a Parliamentary Question:
"The effectiveness of the bus lane is
closely monitored by the Highways Agency. They report that it continues to
alleviate peak congestion on this busy section of the motorway but they
recommend that the scheme could be improved by raising the speed limit between
junction 4 and the elevated section to 60mph and the use by motorcycles of the
lane designated for buses and taxis. I have agreed that the Highways Agency
should consult on these changes and this consultation will be launched
today."
Highways Agency
Project Manager Paul Harwood said:"Allowing motorcyclists to use the lane
would help to make their journeys safer by keeping them clear of lane changes
by other vehicles. The Agency will be monitoring this change carefully and the
results will help inform decisions on whether there is a wider case for
motorcyclists to be allowed to use bus lanes."
The Highways Agency
will now consult road users, local authorities and other interested parties. If
the proposals are accepted the Agency will make the necessary alterations to
the metal and electronic signs and the changes will come into affect next
summer.
MAG Spokesman Ian
Mutch:
'This is great news
and shows that persistent lobbying does work, London & Home Counties MAG
and MAG's employed lobbyists are to be congratulated on this result. Let us
hope that all riders appreciate the efforts being made on their behalf and lend
MAG their support through joining us.'
(omitted due to lack
of space, copy available to members from MAG office or from the MAGLink
compiler)
(omitted due to lack
of space)
(minutes to be
included in the next MAGLink)
=============================================
1st Wednesday every
month, 7:30pm
February 2002: Venue
and Date to be announced
Last weekend in
October 2002, Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh,Co. Tipperary from 12.30 to 5.30pm.
Registration starts at
11:30
See the MAG website http://www.iol.ie/~maglink/ for
directions and further details.
MAG Cork: Every
Tuesday at 8.30pm, Cruiscin Lan, Douglas Street
MAG Carlow: 3rd Monday
of the month, Sherrif O'Hara's, Brown St.
MAG Donegal: 1st
Monday 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 Dublin: 3rd
Tuesday of each month 8.30pm Four Provinces, Ranelagh,
(contact Mark Newman
086 847 2746. mnewman@tramway.ie)
MAG Kerry: 1st Tuesday
of each month 9.00pm alternating between Flaherty’s in Ardfert,
Katie Nolan’s in
Lissleton and the Golden Nugget in Killarney.
Ring Baerbel Ott to
get the correct venue (087) 297 7992
MAG Kildare: Last
Wednesday of the month, Grand Hotel, Newbridge.
MAG Limerick: Every
2nd Wednesday starting 30th May in Gus O'Driscolls pub Corbally.
For June July August:
13/6, 27/6, 11/7, 25/7, 8/8, 22/8
MAG Sligo: Contact
Sligo rep (see below) for new venue details.
MAG Cavan, Galway,
Kildare, Innishowen, Longford, Mayo, Westmeath
Venue changes. To be
confirmed. Ring rep for correct details.
E&OE. Changes
should be advised to the MAG office or Gearoid O’Byrne at 087-2607747, maglink@magireland.iol.ie
For further details of
anything on the MAG calendar contact maglink@magireland.iol.ie
( or during office
hours MAG Office at magsupport@magireland.iol.ie
)
-----------------------------------------------------------
RoadRunner: February
15th, May 15th. August 15th, November 15th,
Letters and articles
welcome, articles with pictures very welcome.
Send submissions to herb@iol.ie or to RoadRunner c/o MAG Office
MAGLink: Second
Wednesday in the month.
DECEMBER
1st, Toy Run, (Kildare - Kilkenny), Druids &
Rooters MCC's, Pat Conlon, 087 - 959 8430
16, Toy Run (Dublin),
Clondalkin MCC, Martin Convery, 01 624 6113
2002
August 16th/17th
Stop the Rot, Venue to be announced.
Welsh National
Motorcycle Show
Due to the change in
the 2002 bank holiday weekend the hugely successful Welsh National Motorcycle
Show will now take place on the 31st May - 3rd June 2002 at the
Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, Mid Wales.
FEMA festival :
Koksijde Belgian Coast. weekend of 20/21/22 september 2002
FOR FREE LISTING
PLEASE SEND IN YOUR 2002 EVENT DETAILS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
All Events in italics
have been notified by the Vintage & Veteran Committee.
The above information
is correct to our knowledge and belief as we got to press but MAG Ireland
cannot guarantee
its accuracy. The next update will be issued along with
the next issue of RoadRunner, due out soon.
The Events Calendar is
also sent out monthly to all local MAG Groups and affiliated clubs and is
posted on our web-site.
Details of any
additional /revised events should be advised to the MAG office or directly to
maglink@magireland.iol.ie.
MAG UK events can be
seen online at the MAG UK website http://www.mag-uk.org .
BMF events http://www.bmf.co.uk
* RoadRunner Magazine
* BikeShop Discounts,
Contact office for list or http://www.iol.ie/~maglink
* Motorcycle Insurance
* Local Groups -
Social Activity and Local Representation
* Information Service,
(Info sheets, MAGLink and advice)
* Products
* Route Planning
Service
* Discounts on VHI
Health Insurance, Ferries, Accident Insurance and Breakdown Cover.
* MAG Credit Card
The discounts alone
will save you much more than the membership fee every year.
Membership costs £20
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 Insurance
Public Liability Cover for your rally or event. Currently cover stands at under
IR 60 for a one-off event of up to 5 days such as a rally. Please contact office
for the information sheet on events insurance.
NOTE: Underwriting difficulties with Irish insurance are affecting the events
insurance benefit. Please contact the MAG office for current details.
* Monthly MAG Events
Calendar Update by Post
* 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 5000 Irish
motorcyclists every quarter. The
reduced rates for one issue are as follows:, Full Page B&W - IR 200, Half Page B&W - IR 100,
Quarter Page B&W - IR 50
Club affiliation costs
IR 20 per annum.
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, IrishTouring, 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 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.
------------------------------------------------
ZIPPO lighters = IR 20.00 ea (Brass with MAG LOGO)
Hooded
Sweatshirts = IR 20.00 each
(Black,Zipped,MAG logo)
Premium T- shirts = IR 10.00 each (Black with MAG logo)
Nectectors = IR 10.00 each (Red or Black
tubular neckwarmers)
Baseball Caps = IR 10.00 each (Black cloth, with MAG
logo)
MAG Ireland Yellow
Visibility Waistcoats = IR 12.00 each
MAG EIRE, RIDE FREE
Patches = IR 3.00 each
RIDE FREE Adhesive
stickers = IR 1.50 each
1999,2000 Members’
Metal Badges = IR 2.00 each
2001 Blue Enamel
badge = IR 3.00 each
MAG embossed Leather
Keyfob = IR 2.00 each
BOOKS
Pass Your Advanced
Driving Test = IR 10.00 each
Motorcycle
Roadcraft = IR 13.40 each
There is a Mail Order
packing & postage charge of IR 3.00 on the Hooded Sweatshirts & of IR
1.00 on the waistcoats. All other items are including postage by ordinary post.
These exclusive products are available from your local Group, direct from the
MAG Office, or from our new 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.
---------------------------------------------------
Roadrunner
is Ireland's largest circulation motorcycle magazine and is mailed directly to
over 5000 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.
Single
Colour Advertising Rates -
Full Page,
Front Inner Cover £375 (euro 481)
Full Page,
Rear Inner Cover £375 (euro 481)
Full Page,
Back Cover £390 (euro
500)
TWO CENTRE
PAGES £553 (euro 709)
Full Page
(8" x 11.5") £350
(euro 448.71)
¾ Page (8" x 8") £263 (euro 337.17)
½ Page (8" x 5.75") £175 (euro 224.36)
¼ Page (3.75" x 5.75") £88 (euro 112.82)
1/8 Page (3.75" x 2.75") £44 (euro 56.41)
Two issues
10%, three issues 15%, four issues 20%
MAG
Discount shops: additional 10% discount.
More than
four issues, contact RoadRunner for special rates.
* Events
Advertising
As an additional benefit to affiliated clubs only, MAG are offering substantial
discounts to advertise their rally in Roadrunner. The reduced rates for one
issue are as follows:
Full Page IR£
200, (euro 256.41)
Half Page
B&W - IR£ 100, (euro
128.20)
Quarter Page B&W IR£ 50 (euro 61.10)
---------------------------------------------------
(Composed of elected
officers and responsible for the day to day running of MAG)
Eoin Kirwan: Chairman,
IT Officer, Transport: 087 6166207 eoin@bikerider.com
Linda O’Loideoin:
Treasurer, Member Queries/Consumer Issues
Jimmy Kenny: Product
and Process Officer 01 4502330
Gearóid O Byrne: Local
Groups Liaison geobyrne@indigo.ie
David French: European
Liaison, Safety Officer +49 711 5590511 davidfrench@bikerider.com
Herb Finnegan:
RoadRunner Liaison herb@iol.ie
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 Carlow:
Ger FitzGibbons 087
6781688 sner@oceanfree.net
MAG Cavan
Chair: Declan
Brady 049 8640031
MAG Cork
Chair: Ger
Donnelly 087 2354820 donely@esatclear.ie
Treasurer: Martin
O'Driscoll
Committee member:
David Robinson
MAG Donegal
Contact: Marty Boyle martyboyle@unison.ie
MAG Innishowen (region within Donegal)
Chair: Andy
Robinson 077 76 054
MAG Dublin
Chair: Jimmy
Kenny 01 4502330
MAG Galway
Chair:John Brinn 093
24694 (JJ Finn 086 8182188)
MAG Kerry
Chair: Baerbel
Ott 087 2977992
MAG Kildare
Chair: Joe Swords 086 8974259 joeswords@tattoos.com
Secretary: BJ Martin
086 4006279 thedok@cyberdude.com
Treasurer: Dave Browne
087 6523582
Information Officer
Dave Keeley 087 2692180 davkee@esatclear.ie
Events Secretary: Ivor
Hemmingway 086 8150410
Road Hazards Officer:
Karen Kiely 086 8632444
MAG Limerick
Chair: John
Suckling 061 384342
NC Rep: Don Moloney moz@iol.ie
MAG Mayo
Chair: Robert
Gibbons 094 22118 smartart@iol.ie
MAG Sligo
Chair: Eoin
Lappin 071 43758
e_lappin@hotmail.com
AGM: February
MAG Westmeath
Chair: Greg
Lennon 0902 72578
The remaining counties
are currently not represented on the National Council. If you are interested in
assisting please contact the MAG Office or the Local Group & Clubs Liaison
Gearoid O’Byrne at 087-2607747, maglink@magireland.iol.ie
Karen Kiely: National Campaign’s Officer and
RoadRunner Editor- 086 8632444 karenkiely@eircom.net
Herb Finnegan: RoadRunner Editor - 087
6790908 herb@iol.ie
Liz Keane Office
Assistant
1b Ring Terrace,
Inchicore, Dublin 8.
Tel: 01 453 0797 Fax: 01 453 3643
Before ringing the MAG
office please consider if it wouldn't be better ringing a MAG representative,
the DOE Driver Testing Section, your local motorcycle dealer or the Yellow
Pages first. The MAG Office will help with your queries where possible but
doing so reduces the time available to administer MAG for everyone's benefit.
Website: http://www.iol.ie/~maglink
To receive MAGLink
every month by email (free) send a blank message to imag_info-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
It costs MAG almost 10
pounds a year of member's money to have someone on the postal list and that
money can be better spent fighting for riders rights. If you can get MAGLink by
email instead then please do so and tell us.
Please forward your
copy of MAGLink to other motorcyclists and please print out a few copies to
drop into your local dealer / pub / friends without email.
MAGLink is provided free of charge as a service to
motorcycling.
MAG Ireland cannot
accept any responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions
MAGLink November
2001, compiled by David French, (davidfrench@bikerider.com )
© Copyright : MAG Ireland