1st November 2003

MAG Ireland is calling on all motorcyclists, scooterists and moped users to support calls for effective and immediate reform of the motorcycle insurance industry and positive change to the current licensing and testing system for motorcycle riders. A demonstration is to take place on Saturday, November 1st to highlight these and other issues concerning riders such as access to bus lanes, toll charges for motorcycles, road safety and motorcycle theft. Bikers will meet at Mountjoy Square and travel en masse to the Department of Transport to hand in a petition calling for parity of treatment of motorcyclists with other road users.

Why Pro-Bike?
In these days of traffic gridlock and sheer frustration at the inability to use a four wheeled vehicle as it was intended, there is positive benefit to using a two wheeler in our cities. From eco-friendly electric mopeds with nigh on zero maintenance to super-scooters capable of a cross-country tour in comfort, to the latest in cruisers and sportsbikes - many with ABS, fuel injection and even catalytic converters – bikes are not the dirty, smelly, noisy contraptions the old image would have you believe. Yet all we hear is negative and we never hear the positive reasons why riding a bike is such a good idea:

Bikes:
Take less resources to manufacture , Use less fuel to run, ake up less room on the road, Are more recyclable than cars, Use less parking space...
Modern Bikes are more user friendly, easier to ride, mechanically better than ever, quality training is available to ride them safely and they are one of the more stress-free and mobile vehicles on our roads and in our cities. As bikes are an important part of the solution to our traffic problems we ask - why are they never included in transport planning?

Insurance Costs:
MAG Ireland has campaigned for many years to try to reduce the cost of motorcycle insurance. We set up the Irish Rider Training Association to ensure that bikers nationwide could avail of affordable training. Unfortunately, whilst many riders have availed themselves of this training and other schemes like Fingal County Council’s Star Rider, insurance companies have not seen fit to reward riders by offering discounts.
We have heard a lot recently in the media on how various insurance companies are reducing car insurance by 10% following the introduction of penalty points. Bike insurance has risen on average by 40% and in some by in excess of 200% for this year.
We demand that the Irish Government implements immediately the findings in the MIAB report and amends the Road Traffic Act to allow for insurance companies outside the State to offer motorcycle insurance here in accordance with EU Directives.

Licensing Issues:
Irish motorcycle riders have had to endure a two-tiered licensing system for many years. Since 1999, riders have had to endure being restricted to motorcycles not exceeding 34 horsepower for two years after passing their test. No similar restriction has been placed on car drivers. Despite repeated requests to allow for a "Direct Access" test, as in all other E.U. countries, the Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan is now talking about placing further restrictions on motorcycle licences. MAG Ireland calls for the 34bhp limit to be abolished for riders who have taken additional training.

Bus Lane Access:
MAG is pleased to see that the Minister is now reconsidering his previous refusal to allow motorcycles into Bus Lanes. Bus Lane Access for motorcyclists has been successfully introduced in many UK cities in recent years. For bikers this is a major safety issue in our congested cities and allows motorcyclists to ride in a safer environment.

Toll Charges:
MAG is opposed to the current system of road tolling, in addition to the heavy task burdens already endured by road users. Collecting cash tolls from motorcyclists is inconvenient and delays all road users. Tolls are doubly unfair to motorcyclists as they do not cause congestion and cause less wear and tear to road surfaces. MAG calls for tolls to be removed for motorbikes, which will reduce delays at toll booths for all road users.
We demand an overhaul of the way the National Roads Authority operates and that it be made answerable to the Irish taxpayers who fund it.

Road Safety:
Potholes, trenches, mud, gravel, etc. frequently place riders at risk of an accident, even on major routes.
MAG calls for the improvement of road surfaces to be given top priority.
MAG demands a halt to the use of loose gravel for road resurfacing, which is extremely dangerous for two-wheeled road users and can lead to a loss of control with the risk of injury or loss of life for bikers.
Where road surfaces have been excavated to allow access for utilities, resurfacing and reinstatement work must be of the same quality as the existing road surface and not subside or disintegrate within a short period. The use of smooth metal plates at roadworks is now illegal, but nonetheless is still common, this also presents an unacceptable risk to motorcyclists.
MAG calls for road safety to be pushed higher up the government agenda and for the introduction of an integrated overall road safety strategy in conjunction with County Councils, the AA and all other interested parties.

Vehicle Registration Tax:
MAG calls for the Minister for Finance to immediately abolish this tax in line with the spirit of the European single market. VRT is unjust and results in our motor vehicles being taxed twice (VAT and VRT) before we add on the cost of road tax and fuel taxes.

Theft:
MAG calls for secure motorcycle parking to be provided in all town and city centres , tougher sentencing for bike thieves and the end of charges for the recovery of stolen vehicles.

Background:
MAG Ireland (Irish Motorcyclist's Action Group) was set up in 1985 and represents the interests of Ireland's 40,000 motorcyclists, scooterists and moped users. Areas tackled by MAG Ireland include road safety, training, road conditions, technical harmonisation, tax issues, consumer issues affecting riders, licencing and insurance. MAG Ireland offers a wide range of benefits to its membership of over four thousand riders including discounts at many retail outlets and events, a subscription to Ireland's largest circulation motorcyclist magazine, a health insurance scheme and information service.

For further information contact:

Linda O'Loideoin
Road Safety Officer

Karen Kiely
National Campaigns Officer

+ 353 1 453 07 97
campaigns@magireland.org
MAG Ireland
1b Ring Terrace
Inchicore
Dublin 8
Republic of Ireland