Hi everyone.
Everything seems to have gone into slow motion (even slower
motion?) with the various councils around the county during the
recent run up to the general election.
We’ve had some very positive emails back and forth with
Bradford City Council and it looks as though a meeting will be
arranged for sometime in January to discuss secure parking and bus
lane access. If you’re a Bradford member and have any thoughts on
where you’d like to see secure parking rails to be sited, please
email me at manny@mag-uk.org . It would
be far better for residents to give me suggestions rather than me
guessing where they should go. It doesn’t have to be in the city
centre, it can be anywhere with a BD postcode. Get your thinking
caps on!
We’re hoping for a reply from Leeds City Council to give us a
timescale for the implementation of the proposed bus lane trial in
Leeds. As always this is very much a waiting game.
Over in East Yorkshire, Rep, Garry Williams has been chasing up
the police to ensure that operation Yellowfin (the Humberside
Police operation to combat bike theft) is still ongoing as thefts
seem to be on the rise again. We can now confirm that the
operation is still ongoing.
In a similar vein, West Yorkshire Police have currently got an
operation ongoing to detect and prosecute bike thieves. This
follows the disastrous results of the MAG national freedom of
information requests that put West Yorkshire second worst in the
country, behind London, for motorcycle theft.
Myself and Colin Brown had a meeting at Leeds Elland Road
Police HQ with the West Yorkshire crime prevention officer and one
of the area managers of “Park Mark” car park accreditation scheme
to discuss adding secure motorcycle parking into the list of
requirements to gain the Park Mark certificate. The suggestions
were taken onboard and we’ve received very positive feedback after
the meeting, to the point that a second meeting in January has
been arranged to discuss the proposals in finer detail.
Last weekend was the December NC meeting. I couldn’t go due to
working so Yorkshire MAG deputy rep, Andy Foody went in my place.
It sounds as though it was a lively meeting and below are some of
the points that were discussed.
- Blind people opposed to shared space with other road users. Physically and psychologically dangerous. Autonomous vehicles in shared road space where everyone will look out for everyone else + no signs will make everyone really careful – Blind and disabled strongly disagree.
- Good work on the new mag WordPress website. Social media training for reps and members who run MAG website can book on course by contacting Julie.
- Proposal of on board diagnostics – connected to your phone and potential to extract info from your phone. Possibly use your contact list to advertise to. Not replacing certain parts as they have info that you’ve over revved you engine etc – This is a watching brief to keep an eye on what’s going on.
- MAG media – post election – letters to be sent to newly / re-elected MPs. Congratulate on their appointment and get in touch re motorcycles. Is a regular MP bulletin feasible? – Ongoing. – use Lembit’s experience to get it moving.
- Due to election result, tho MAG are apolitical, it is clear MAG needs to work with Tories re: transport plans and strategies.
- M/C live in Birmingham went well. Stand well received and lots of interest. Future incentives, goody bags? Training for volunteers on stand to deal with public? Lots of connections amde at NEC and MAG being taken seriously.
- MAG mission statement as per AGC – continue to lobby MP. Generally thought having one strong party to deal with is better than hung parliament or coalition. With government in power for five years, chance to build relationships and real chance to influence. Possibility to build bikes into travel agenda. MAG very positive they can work with this.
- Election implications for MAG – Government likely to :- Freeze fuel duty, 2040 put end to petrol engines (theoretical), road improvement promises, possible roll back on eco-schemes.
- MAG should endeavor to meet new Sec. of Transport and Junior Ministers. Ask Boris Johnson for a media event (on a bike)?
- Engage parliament and get general public to understand motorcycles are sustainable transport rather than lumped in with cars to be got rid of. Part of the solution, not part of the problem.
- Currently approx 1.2 million regular riders and MAG need to tap into these as more potential members.
- As of now Ride To Work Day officially belongs to MAG – ongoing advertising for next year 2020.
Here is the link to the current “Network” which will keep you
informed with MAG happenings around the country. https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/b/be/Network_2019-12.pdf
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 likeminded 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.
As I’ve had little interest in starting a North Yorkshire group
up, we’ve decided to start a North Yorkshire MAG Facebook group.
I’ll be admin along with Marcus, our webmaster, so if you live in
North Yorkshire and want to chat with like minded folk, get on it
Obviously at this time of year the rally scene has quietened
down for now, but the MAG groups still carry on with our own
events.
Leeds had their Christmas meal at the utterly fantastic Fazenda
Brazilian meat restaurant on 10th December.
The weekend after, Wakefield MAG had their Christmas do again
at a meat restaurant followed by drinks around Wakey centre
Last weekend Huddersfield MAG had their Christmas meal at their
home of The Field Head, and knowing the food that Ivan cooks, I’m
sure it was a fantastic meal.
On Wednesday Leeds MAG had their annual Christmas toy run to
Lineham farm children’s centre on the outskirts of Leeds. Lots of
bikers turned up with lots of presents for the kids and a lovely
night was had by all.
We’ve got a few events coming up in the next few months that
you may want to add to your diaries.
Sunday 22nd December – Leeds MAG Christmas drinkypoos with the
Interiorz at The Duck and Drake. The usual fun and festivities
will happen.
Friday 27th December – EY MAG Christmas Drinkathon. Meet from
2pm at the Kings Head, Market Place, Beverley for (quite) a
few before moving onwards to discover more watering holes around
Beverley.
Sunday 5th January – South Yorkshire MAG AGM. Oliver is
stepping down this year so this AGM will be a new chapter for MAG
in South Yorkshire. A new rep will mean a new group, with new
ideas and aims so come along and get involved in the new South
Yorkshire MAG Group.
Wednesday 15th January -The Wakefield & District Motorcycle
Action Group Branch AGM will be held in the Grey Horse @ 8pm. All
members are invited to attend this special meeting, so please try
to attend if you can. At this meeting there will be a review of
the year, elections for the branch committee and the prize giving
for our branch heroes.
Friday 24th January – Post Christmas Blues. Come and join EY
MAG at the Foresters Arms, Beckside, Beverley, for another night
to remember. Free entry, live band The Fat Spaniels, raffle and
food available on the night. Bag up and bring any unwanted items
for our tombola. Feel free to invite all family and friends.
Tuesday 28th January – Leeds MAG Annual General Meeting @ The
Royal Hotel LS28 8PR from 8pm in the upstairs room. All MAG
members are encouraged to attend.
Wednesday 29th January – Wakefield MAG’s 16th Post Christmas
Auction at the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, Wakefield, WF1 4EJ. Got lots
of unwanted Christmas presents this year? Got items that are of
use/value but you don’t have the space for them any more?
Prepared to donate them for a good cause? Bring them along to the
Wakefield MAG ‘Post Christmas auction’ where they will be raffled
off to the highest bidder with all the proceeds being donated at
MAG and other worth causes.
Sunday 9th February – West Yorkshire MAG Fred Hill run. Meeting
at Squires cafe LS25 5LX from 10am ,
leaving at 11am prompt to
ride to the Sun Inn at Newthorpe to remember the sacrifice for
riders rights that Fred made.
Sunday 9th February 2020 – EY MAG Fred Hill Memorial
Ride, usual 10:30am meet at Bonus Electrical, Connaught
Road, Kingswood, Hull, HU7 3AP, for 11:00am ride through
Hull city centre and back to the Foresters for a warm up and
refreshments. All bikes, trikes and scooters welcome to join the
learner and pillion friendly ride.
Saturday 14th March – Leeds MAG presents an evening with Steph
Jeavons @ Squires cafe. The first woman to ride a motorcycle on
all seven continents and recently led an all female expedition
riding Enfields to Everest base camp! Tickets are £10 each from
Squires, Leeds MAG meetings or online at http://leeds.mag-uk.org/shop/
Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd May – Into The Valley – full details
from https://www.mapevents.co.uk
Friday 19th to Sunday 21st June – The Farmyard Party – full
details from https://www.mapevents.co.uk
Friday 31st July to Sunday 2nd August – The Yorkshire Pudding
Rally – full details from https://www.mapevents.co.uk
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 Tuesday and 3rd Thursday 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
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all Yorkshire MAG
members a great Christmas and an even better 2020.
Ride safe
Manny (Yorkshire MAG rep)
