Ribcrackers Soap Box Derby 2008

Finally Youtube has let me put up the first taster edit of the fun and frolics at Lumb Farm on the 16th of Feb.



Thankfully the guy from Pakistan Telecom will have been sacked after stupidly broadcasting a URL redirect to all the DNS's in the world yesterday!

Riders Get To Grips With Manhole Covers

Carriageway manhole covers, especially on bends, can present a potentially lethal danger to motorcyclists but this could all change if revisions to the European Standard for them, proposed by the UK, is agreed.

It is well known that over time some manhole cover surfaces become smooth and polished and if wet, very slippery, but thanks to the work undertaken by the National Motorcycle Council i.e. The British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF), Institute of Highway Incorporated Engineers (IHIE), Motor Cycle Industry Association MCIA, Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) RAC Foundation and Devon County Council, the UK committee working on the revision of European Standard EN124 have agreed unanimously to recommend a minimum ‘polished skid resistance value for manhole covers’.

This will give manhole covers the equivalent grip of good quality road surfacing but in addition, the suggested revised standard also allows for the use of an even higher grip cover in areas of greater concern, such as bends.

The work was brought about due to a lack of effective skid resistance requirements for manhole covers in the present standard, BS EN 124. This is of particular concern as manholes to allow access to underground services are often found on bends, a location where motorcyclists can be particularly vulnerable due to a sudden change in grip when cornering.

The next stage will be to address this matter at a European level to gain support and agreement from the other countries. Achieving this should lead to a change in the EN124 standard and a safer European-wide road network for bikers.

David Short, MAG Campaigns Manager said, "The Government is always talking about joined up thinking in support of road safety and the work undertaken by these different organisations just show what can be achieved when everyone works together. It is the simple measures that can make so much difference and save lives. The European and UK Government now need to show some leadership, effect a change in the skid resistance standard and make our roads safer for vulnerable road users.

Welcoming the agreement, Chris Hodder, the BMF’s Government Relations Executive said: "I would like to thank Devon County Council’s Material’s Laboratory and the IHIE for their work on this. As motorcyclists we know we need a level of skid resistance equal to that of the main carriageway, but what we needed was a technical specification and that’s what we have now been able to agree on."

Sheila Rainger, Head of Campaigns for the RAC Foundation added "No-one needs to be put at risk by a slippery manhole cover in the road surface. Safer covers are available but they are rarely used because the current European Standard does not require covers to be skid-resistant in real-world conditions. If the UK is successful in amending the standard, the roads will be safer for motorcyclists and for other vulnerable road users."

www.mag-uk.org

VED Evasion – True Figures

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) challenged figures released in a recent Parliamentary Committee of Public Accounts report which suggested that motorcycle VED evasion rates were as high as 40%.

This headline grabbing figure was picked up by the national media which portrayed motorcyclists as habitual law breakers and VED duty evaders. MAG challenge the claim which it describes as irresponsible in stereotyping motorcyclists as law breakers.

Today’s release of information from the Department of Transport into the true levels of VED indicates that motorcycle VED evasion is estimated at 6.5% compared to 2.5% VED evasion for all other vehicle types. Very different to the 40% figure for motorcycle VED evasion previously bandied about.

MAG Campaigns Manager, David Short, says, "MAG does not condone in any way those who ride their bikes without tax. The overwhelming majority of bikers are law abiding and pay their dues as responsible citizens. It is therefore very galling when figures put out by government, as the public accounts committee did, that motorcycle VED evasion was up to 40% despite dubious methodologies used to arrive at this fantasy figure. Clearly it is still too high but it is not the all out snub to society as it was previously suggested'.

Notes

1. Department for Transport (DfT) report here www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/vehicles/excisedutyevasion

2. David Short, MAG Campaigns Manager can be contacted on:

Email: campaigns-manager@mag-uk

A Poor Workman always blames his tools

I have always been into tools to aid navigation, ever since as a Cub I was first shown how to use a Silva Explorer compass and an Ordnance Survey map. I advanced from merely finding a grid reference, to plotting position and then using profiles from contour lines alongside Naismith's Rule to calculate distance and time taken to complete a route.

Then the satellites went into orbit, and Global Positioning by Satellite (GPS) was born. Since the 2nd of May 2000 civillian users have had access to the same signal as the military and access to a wonderful new navigation tool. The GPS reciever , known as the GPSr.

For a long time it was the preserve of the hobbyist and people who needed fast accurate positioning data without complicated calculations, like seafarers and pilots. It became the must have for anyone going into the outdoors, even if it was just a simple "here you are " tool to be used alongside a map.

The cost was high, as with any new tech, then with all the other advances in computer chip technology the prices came down. At this point approximately 3 years ago we entered the world of SatNav! The real enthusiasts tool had become a new consumer toy. But worryingly it had also still retained the sophisticated elements of the first GPSr navigation tools.

Many people rushed out and bought the new toy declaring maps to be redundant. This marvellous new box will show me the quickest most efficient way of getting anywhere with a postcode! Wrong ! The simple element of RTFM had been lost on these new digital pioneers, it was a shiny new toy that told them how not to get lost.

Like any new technology you get what you pay for, a lot of the new mapping GPSr used old data to keep cost down. Roads had been built and in some cases entire towns several years after the data was compiled. Options on the GPSr allowed fine tuning of routing, but this was lost on the majority of the new pioneers girding their loins for an new quicker way to go see Aunt Mabel in Staines.

Reports started fl0oding in of people getting jammed on farm tracks,driving into rivers and lorrys stuck on country lanes ! RTFM numpties!

The cost of stupidity should be taxed at source for anyone using a tool that cannot use it correctly. Network Rail have announced the over 2,000 bridges have been damaged this year by lorrys taking inappropriate routes; people crashing into fences and crossing rail lines in the wrong places have added to the millions of pounds of damage!

I am now of the opinion that unless you can read a map you should not buy a GPSr. Look at the map, choose your route then program this into the GPSr or at least ensure it does not have options chosen to take you down country lanes and under low bridges. It should be included in the Highway Code and as part of the Driving Test.

Is it just too much to ask for people to use Common Sense... sadly it seems it is!

FEMA Elects New President

The Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA) warmly welcomes Hans Petter Strifeldt as its new President. The former Chairman of the Norsk Motorcykkel Union (NMCU) was unanimously elected by FEMA’s national members at their Annual General Meeting on Saturday 2 February.

Hans Petter replaces Kees Meijer, who after five successful years (2003-2008) as FEMA’s President decided to step down from the position. He leaves with the belief that FEMA is evolving in the right direction and is confident regarding FEMA’s future.

The election at the Annual General Meeting was a first for FEMA, as Hans Petter flight was cancelled due to a snowstorm in Norway he could not attend the meeting in Brussels, nevertheless he managed to communicate with FEMA’s members via webcam.

Hans Petter is also the first FEMA President coming from a country which is not a member of the European Union. However, he clearly sees this positively: “I think the challenges European motorcyclists are facing are universal. Even Norway is heavily influenced by EU decisions. We clearly cannot achieve results only by working at the national level. We must work on a European level and, eventually, globally. Coming from a non-EU country does not matter. I am European, and will work from that angle.”

He has a clear vision for FEMA’s future: “I see FEMA as a strong, economically independent and highly respected organization not only recognized by its professionalism - as is already the case - but also with a strong support from European motorcyclists. Strong national associations are the best foundation onto which FEMA must be further built. I hope - in short - that FEMA will further prosper through strong national organizations.”

Hans Petter (38) has been working as a journalist for some 12 years before entering into communication and media relations 8 years ago. He obtained his motorcycle licence in 1992 but did not become an active rider until 2000. From that time onwards, however, bikes became his first and most important leisure activity, only surpassed by time spent with his family. He rides some 20-25000 km per season and uses his bikes as much as possible for commuting, touring, or holidays. His wife and daughter also ride, so they pretty much form a “motorcyclists’ family”.

Hans Petter is FEMA’s 6th President and joins FEMA as the association celebrates 20 years of active representation in Brussels, promoting and defending motorcycling in Europe.

1. The full interview of Hans Petter Strifeldt is available at the following link: <http://www.fema.ridersrights.org/20years/index.php?p=downloads>
2. Please also note that the second part of "FEMA History" is now online: <http://www.fema.ridersrights.org/20years/index.php?p=About>
3. For any further information, please directly contact <virginie.fema@chello.be>.

-----------
FEMA - Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations
Rue des Champs 62, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)2 736 9047 / Fax: +32 (0)2 736 9401
http://www.fema.ridersrights.org

London Mayor’s Dithering puts Road User Lives at Risk

The Motorcycle Action Group, (MAG UK), is very concerned that the safety of vulnerable road users is being put at risk by the procrastination of London’s Mayor Ken Livingstone and the blocking by the Mayor’s office of the publication of the ‘Transport for London PTW in Bus Lane Study’.

The report was completed in April 2007 and was first due to be published in October 20007, then January 2008. It has still to be released.

The study looked in detail at the effects of allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes on certain streets in the Capital and has proved conclusively that there are significant net road safety benefits for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and bus passengers.

The study showed that despite concerns by cycling groups that cyclists would be put in danger the results showed that cyclist collisions reduced by 39%, motorcycle collisions reduced by 44% and pedestrians by 24%.

During the last 11 years motorcycle access to bus lanes has been successfully trialled or introduced as a permanent measure in a number of locations in the UK. A growing number of European towns and cities deploy this measure for road safety purposes. Motorcycles have been allowed in Sweden’s capital city Stockholm since 1986.

No trial of powered two wheelers in bus lanes, anywhere in the UK, or anywhere else in the world has ever been rejected on road safety grounds.

David Short, MAG Campaigns Manager says,” The blocking of this report and the subsequent delays in introducing proven road safety measures for vulnerable road users is inexcusable.”

“It is beyond comprehension that political interference is putting lives at risk, especially when the Parliamentary Transport Select Committee have announced a scrutiny into what further measures can be put in place between now and 2010 to achieve the Government’s casualty reduction targets.”

“I am seeking legal advice on behalf of MAG on the culpability of the Mayor’s office in the event that a motorcyclist, cyclist or pedestrian sustains injury which could have been avoided had the measures recommended in the report been introduced”.

Notes

1. For further information contact

David Short

Campaigns Manager

Motorcycle Action Group

Telephone: 01347 822214

Mobile: 077389 48080

Email: campaigns-manager@mag-uk.org

The UK's Leading Riders' Rights Organisation

www.mag-uk.org

Keep it Rubber Side Down

Dislocombobulated Shoulder
Originally uploaded by Scouse_and_Jules

Okay folks, here is the reason why my motorcycle travelling is on hold for a couple of months.

What should have been a short trip home from work on Jules's F650 ended up in a trip to A&E and a lot of pain.

It's still very cold and the potential for black ice and slippy roads, so be careful. Even careful speeds and engine braking can end up in a spill.

Now where can I get to in April....