Monday 16 November 2009

Dreaming...



Originally uploaded by Giorgio Violino



Originally uploaded by Giorgio Violino
.. Of high roads in high places..finding fun and adventure in far away places and just riding my bikes... must be that time of the year again to start fettling and planning for the summer.


Originally uploaded by Giorgio Violino

Tuesday 3 November 2009

MAG applauds Birmingham bus lane decision

MAG applauds the decision by Birmingham City Council to open its bus lanes to motorcycles. In an effort to make more effective and efficient use of its roads, Birmingham City Council recently completed an experiment allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes. The policy allows motorcyclists to see and be seen in congested traffic.

The Birmingham experiment confirmed the experience of other towns and cities, that allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes was beneficial to motorcyclists, with no disadvantages to other road users.

MAG in Birmingham and nation-wide has been campaigning on this issue for years, first winning access to bus lanes throughout Bristol in 1996.

London opened all of its major route bus lanes to motorcycles recently and now the second biggest city in the country has followed suit.

MAG President Ian Mutch said ‘There seems to be an outbreak of sanity among local authorities all over the country, this is great news and shows how MAG’s campaigning is helping to produce real results for riders.


Further information:

Ian Mutch theroad@mag-uk.org

Nich Brown: nich.brown@mag-uk.org

For more on MAG’s bus lane campaign see http://www.mag-uk.org/en/index/a6296


The Motorcycle Action Group – Protecting motorcycling

Sunday 1 November 2009

Biker jailed for 166mph is mad BUT

MAG condemns the madness of the biker convicted of riding at 166mph on an A road in Scotland – BUT – asks if the law is failing in its commitment to be consistent and proportionate in sentencing.

MAG notes that the nine month prison sentence is poignantly identical to that recently handed down to a motorist who caused an accident which resulted in the death of a motorcyclist and injury to his son.

MAG President Ian Mutch said:
‘Traveling at 166mph on any A road is lunatic behavior but lunacy cannot be the sole factor in determining sentencing policy. For the law to be recognised as just it must be consistent and I suspect that the magistrates in this case have let outrage blind them to that responsibility.’
He added,
‘Let’s be crystal clear about this. Traveling at astronomic speed on public roads warrants serious sentencing BUT if nine months is deemed appropriate for a rider traveling at high speed but hurting no one then a driver whose hazardous behavior causes death should surely deserve a higher penalty. Magistrates should be accountable for major discrepancies in sentencing or the law loses respect.’


For further information

Contact Ian Mutch

theroad@mag-uk.org

The Motorcycle Action Group – Protecting motorcycling