These are the questions most frequently asked of MAG Ireland.
Q. Why did MAG Ireland Support CBT?
A. Because the EU wants to legislate motorcycles out of existence, and is using casualty rates to justify it’s position. Between 2001 & 2008 casualty figures for other transport modes (cars, trucks, buses etc.) fell by an average of 30%. Motorcycle casualties fell by less than 5%. As a result we now face the imposition of mandatory ABS, more restrictive licenses, and “technical measures” such as anti-tamper & throttle control. The EU aims to cut road deaths in half by 2020 (compared to 2010 levels), and MAG Ireland believes CBT will help to cut our casualty rates. We think that’s a better approach to casualty reduction than the punitive and unproven restrictions being proposed by the EU. Hence MAG Ireland supports both CBT and advanced rider training post test. If “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” then an ounce of CBT “prevention” is most certainly worth a pound of the EU’s “no more bikes” cure.
Q. Why is MAG Ireland doing nothing about [insert topic of choice here]?
A. Because we don’t have enough volunteers. Sadly, most Irish bikers would sooner stand by and let someone else do the dirty work than lend a hand. With just 5 part time board members doing 99% of the work, we haven’t a hope of covering every possible threat to biking. So we pick ten or so issues that we think we can make progress on, and we focus our activities on those. If you want to help make a difference, join MAG Ireland. If you really want to make a difference, join & then volunteer as a MAG researcher. We need all the help we can get.
Q. Why does MAG Ireland only concentrate on Dublin issues?
A. When MAG first campaigned for access to bus lanes people stood up and decried it as a Dublin issue. Now there are bus lanes in places as far apart as Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath and Galway city to name but two.
When MAG first campaigned against road tolling for bikes, people stood up and decried it as a Dublin issue because the toll was on the M50. Now there’s a toll on every motorway in the country, sometimes two, and more planned. Even national roads will have tolls if the current Government gets it’s way.
When MAG came out with a statement on the 30kph limit in Dublin, people still came out of the woodwork to decry it as a Dublin issue despite the fact that the 30kph limit can be applied anywhere, such as on the N2 in Slane in Co. Meath for example.
The reality is that there is no such thing as a Dublin issue, because every issue is a Dublin issue. And a Cork issue. And a Limerick issue, and so on. MAG Ireland is a national organisation with members in every county. All MAG Ireland campaigns are National issues.
Q. Why doesn’t MAG Ireland run demos anymore?
A. A decade ago, MAG Ireland was on the streets, banging on the doors of the the insurers, the Dept. of Transport & so on. Today, in a lot of cases, we’re inside those doors pushing the riders rights issues with the relevant people and we have found that steady communication with the relevant agencies can get the riders rights agenda taken seriously. It’s a different approach to that of a decade ago. Demonstrations & protest rides are difficult to organise and manage, and they achieve very little in real terms. Our Government has a long history of ignoring protests as hauliers, taxi drivers and farmers have all discovered of late. Demos certainly have their place – they help to boost MAG membership plus they make people feel that MAG is “doing something”. So MAG might well run more demos in future, but as a campaign tool they are the least effective weapon we have.
Q. Where does the money go?
A. MAG Ireland ‘s principal outgoings are the rent for the office, utility bills, printing, postage & consumables like paper. A small portion of our funds goes to FEMA to enable us, together with other riders rights organisations across Europe, to fight your corner at the EU level. All MAG executive members are volunteers, and we each meet the costs of attending meetings etc. out of our own pockets. Accounts are presented at the annual AGM, and available for any member to inspect on the day.
Q. Why did MAG Ireland do [this] instead of doing [that]?
A. MAG Ireland recognises that you as an individual rider may sometimes disagree with the decisions made by MAG, but we feel it’s important that you understand that everything we do is driven by a desire to protect and promote motorcycling. The Chairman’s address at our 2010 AGM dealt with this very point;
There have always been, and will always be, differences of opinion regarding how best to achieve our objectives. Each substantive decision taken by MAG will inevitably alienate some who feel that a different approach could or should have been taken. MAG Ireland makes it’s choices in the best interest of it’s membership. Some choices will always be divisive, but they are made in pursuit of the overall goal of defending our right to ride. Now more than ever, we as riders need to present a united front towards that common goal.
Q: Why do older members pay more than younger members, isn’t that ageist?
A. Members under the age of 25 get a discount because young riders already face an uphill battle to get on the road, and riders under the age of 25 face the toughest challenges of all. They’re hit with sky high insurance premiums, the cost of buying all their gear, IBT, and road tax on top of the cost of buying and running their bike. MAG Ireland is determined to do everything possible to help young riders get started. Giving them a discount on MAG membership is one of the ways we can do that.
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