03/05/2002 Immediate Release

With the General Election fast approaching, MAG Ireland continues its campaign to raise awareness of issues affecting Ireland's 30,000+ motorcycle, scooter and moped riders among the candidates.

Over 10,000 copies of MAG Ireland's "Bikers Are Voters!" flyer have been distributed to date. The flyer depicts a group of motorcyclists in biker clothing and then shows the same group in their work attire. The flyer is intended to challenge the traditional stereotypes associated with motorcyclists and motorcycling and participants were selected to represent a wide range of occupations.

Those taking part comprise: I.T. Manager; Administrator; Airport Police Officer; Soldier; Paramedic; Postman; Clergyman.
On the reverse, the flyer lists ten questions which MAGIreland hopes motorcyclists and their families, friends and relatives

will put to candidates when they come to their doors canvassing votes. Issues include Licensing (Direct Access), Insurance costs, VAT on helmets, Road Tax and access to Bus Lanes.

"The Bikers Are Voters flyer is only one aspect of the campaign. MAG has been in contact with all the major political parties in recent times both at national and European level, establishing their policies on issues affecting bikers, and lobbying on behalf of Irish motorcyclists to have our opinions heard. We have been successful ona number of issues, for example the recent decision to omit theinstallation of Daytime Running Lights (DRL) from the ACEA commitment on safety to the European Commission. We argued that such a measure could adversely affect the relative conspicuity of motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians," says MAG Ireland's Campaigns Officer, Karen Kiely.
"This General Election is a chance for us to raise the profile of bikers among the politicians and to ensure our interests our being served by government. Door-to-Door canvassing is perhaps the only opportunity most of us ever have to meet face to face with the people who will legislate on the issues which affect us on a daily basis.

We are urging motorcyclists to ask their local candidates the difficult questions, get the answers and vote accordingly."