Welcome to the latest Yorkshire MAG newsletter
A week last Sunday we had the Yorkshire MAG meeting at The Royal Hotel in Pudsey. It was well attended, with all Yorkshire branches in attendance.
East Yorkshire are still keeping a watch on the theft problem in Hull and Carl Freebury, who organised the theft awareness ride last year, is in talks with the police to keep the pressure on the thieves.
West Yorkshire is very busy with all the five West Yorkshire Councils moving on getting secure motorcycle parking in place not only in the city centres but in the outlying towns as well.
Unfortunately the 2+ lane down Stanningley Road in Leeds looks set to become a full time bus lane after a consultation. This will mean that motorcycles will no longer be able to use this lane as currently, bikes aren’t allowed to use bus lanes. We are working very hard on this situation and the Leeds Political Rep has done some fantastic research to show the council and some of its councillors up for the lying, cheating charlatans that they are. Hopefully after next months local elections, we’ll be dealing with different councillors. If you want to read Marcus’s blog which has now been published independently follow this link https://westleedsdispatch.com/guest-post-why-stanningley-road-bus-priority-measures-may-not-work/
Leeds MAG are carrying out a survey to find out more about what matters to riders, whether or not they’re MAG members. Fill it in at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ZPCK5DB and share it with your friends. There’s a chance to win a Leeds MAG t shirt and a year’s MAG membership if you do.
South Yorkshire is apparently a utopia for motorcyclists with councils that already cater for us, but if you have an issue locally that you feel MAG should know about please contact the South Yorkshire Rep Oliver at oliver.rose@mag-uk.org
Unfortunately, due to no groups in North Yorkshire, we have no regular contact with the councils or members, so if you fancy setting up a group, please contact me at manny@mag-uk.org. We’ll offer as much help as possible to anyone who fancies having o go. It’s not a massively onerous job and the rewards and camaraderie are great.
Following the complaint I made against my local councillor and the subsequent grovelling apology I received back, we’ve put in a freedom of information request to see the evidence that they say they used to reach a decision on bikes in bus lanes. We still await a response and we strongly suspect that personal prejudices were used rather that hard facts.
Both of our political reps StevieB and Ian have been pulling out all the stops for MAG members throughout Yorkshire and they deserve our thanks.
Here is the link to the current “Network” which will keep you informed with MAG happenings around the country. This month it’s in two parts.
https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/7/74/Network_2019-03.pdf
https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/b/b7/Network_2019-03_part_2.pdf
Membership remains steady throughout the region as is generally the case at this time of year. When you come to renew, please think of doing it by direct debit as this way, it’s all done automatically and you continue being a MAG member.
We’re still wanting to restart Scarborough MAG and York MAG or get a completely new group going in North Yorkshire. If anyone is willing to become a rep (it’s great fun and very rewarding) or even host a meeting, just to get a like-minded group of folk keeping in touch and pushing the MAG message, please give me a call (07867918722) or message me via email, text, Facebook etc. North Yorkshire is a big area and it’s a real shame we don’t have a North Yorkshire group or two, especially considering it’s a biking Nirvana.
Traditionally, this time of year is always a quiet one but behind the scenes at MAP HQ, everything is coming together nicely to give you the three best rallies on the biking calendar. Tickets are now on general sale and all the info you need is here https://www.mapevents.co.uk/tickets_where.html
We’re always on the look out for new marshals, because without our marshals we can’t put the rallies on. We’re almost like a family within a family and I can say from personal experience that marshalling at our rallies gives a whole new appreciation of them and is fantastic fun. Email mag.marshals@live.com for more details.
Last Saturday Leeds MAG hosted Ed March at Squires Cafe, where he gave us a brilliant talk on his ride from Alaska to Argentina on his C90. Everyone went home with big smiles on their faces and we raised just over £900 for MAG so massive thanks go to all who came along and supported us.
We’ve got a few events coming up in the next few months that you may want to add to your diaries.
Wednesday 3rd April – Wakefield MAG’s 15th post Christmas auction. From 8pm at The Grey Horse WF11JG. Feel free to donate any unwanted prezzies or just come along and bid on something and help raise money for MAG
Tuesday 9th April – Leeds MAG Easter Egg Run to Lineham Farm Children’s Centre. Meeting from 6pm at Cardigan Fields car park (behind McDonalds on Kirkstall Road) to leave at 6.30pm to ride in convoy to the centre. Please bring as many Easter Eggs as you want. Everyone welcome
Saturday 20th April – Easter MAGness , 7:30pm until late at the Foresters Arms, 1-7 Beckside, Beverley, HU17 0PR featuring band Tin Pan Ally
Sunday 21st April – MAG visiting The Craven Collection. Meet at Squires @ 11am to leave at noon to ride to the Craven Collection Motorcycle Museum at Stockton on the Forest. £5 entry. All members welcome
Sunday 28th April – Annual post Easter ride out, meeting ready for a 10am start at the Foresters Arms, 1 – 7 Beckside, Beverley HU17 0PR, ride around East Yorkshire finishing at Seaways cafe, Fridaythorpe for a bite to eat.
Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th May – Into The Valley Rally @ Sledmere House. Weekend ticket £25 prebook. https://www.mapevents.co.uk
Wednesday 8th May – Huddersfield MAG AGM @ The Field Head, Quarmby, HD3 4FB from 8pm. All MAG members welcome. Don’t forget your membership card if you want to vote.
Sunday 19th May – Yorkshire Regional Meeting @ The Royal Hotel, Pudsey, LS28 8PR at 10am. All MAG members welcome.
Finally if you want to get more involved at a local level (and to really get the most out of your MAG membership, I strongly recommend that you do) here are the meeting details of the five Yorkshire MAG groups – though we are looking to expand with more groups so if you haven’t got one close by and fancy getting together with like minded bikers, get in touch with me at manny@mag-uk.org
We’re very lucky in having some very strong groups in Yorkshire, but we need the members to join in, so pop along to your local meeting and help to make a difference
East Yorkshire MAG meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 8pm at The Forresters Arms HU17 0PR
Huddersfield MAG meet every Wednesday from 8.30pm at The Fieldhead HD3 4FB
Leeds MAG meet every 1st and 3rd Tuesday from 8pm at The Royal Hotel LS28 8PR
South Yorkshire MAG meet every 1st and 3rd Sunday from 7pm at The Ball,1 Hesley Bar, Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham, S61 2PW
Wakefield MAG meet every Wednesday from 8.30 at The Grey Horse WF1 1JG
Ride safe
Manny (Yorkshire MAG rep)
