Guest Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 I'm a member, and I'm always interested in why people who ride are not members. Not in a finger-pointing 'tell me why you aren't a member' kind of way, but in a 'what is it that discourages you joining MAG?' kind of way Would be interested in your perspectives... Quote
dynax Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 (edited) I am a affiliate member with my motorcycle club Edited January 4, 2021 by dynax Quote
KiwiBob Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 "The Motorcycle Action Group is the representative voice of riders in Local and National government and passionately defends all that is good about biking." Have they made a difference? Quote
dynax Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 1 minute ago, KiwiBob said: "The Motorcycle Action Group is the representative voice of riders in Local and National government and passionately defends all that is good about biking." Have they made a difference? Yes they have in lots of areas regarding motorcycling, they have ongoing campaigns for all kinds of things. https://www.mag-uk.org/ Quote
KiwiBob Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 Just now, dynax said: Yes they have in lots of areas regarding motorcycling, they have ongoing campaigns for all kinds of things. https://www.mag-uk.org/ Can you name some? Quote
Guest Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 (edited) 19 hours ago, KiwiBob said: "The Motorcycle Action Group is the representative voice of riders in Local and National government and passionately defends all that is good about biking." Have they made a difference? In this month's member magazine (The Road) they list these things (direct quote): Quote Defeated an EU proposed 100bhp limit on new motorcycles Resisted efforts to prohibit all owner modification from stock criteria Persuaded the UK Government to abandon plans for compulsory leg protectors on new bikes Defeated plans for all vehicles to be taxed continuously even if not on the road Gained exemption from congestion charging scheme Resisted attempts to introduce mandatory protective clothing Negotiated free passage for motorcycles on major tolled bridges and tunnels Gained access to many bus lanes nation-wide Helped launch the police-run Bikesafe programme of observed rides Taken on promotion of the Ride to Work Day initiative Launched a pan European rider body to lobby the EU Established a nation-wide programme of non-partisan social events for riders Established MAG as the legitimate voice of the motorcycle rider in the UK. MAG is the 'go to' body for Government Source: The Road, Issue 92, January / February 2021 Edited January 5, 2021 by Guest Introduce a direct quote, with source. Quote
dynax Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 6 minutes ago, KiwiBob said: Can you name some? A review of 2020. https://www.mag-uk.org/mags-review-of-2020-progress-in-a-challenging-year/ 1 Quote
Guest Swagman Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 Nothing discourages me I just don’t want to join MAG. Quote
Mississippi Bullfrog Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 It's never even crossed my radar. Besides, most motorbike platforms are full of nobs ( present company excepted of course)(well mostly)(ok maybe not mostly but a valiant few) 3 Quote
Gerontious Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 They describe helmet law as "outrageous legislation" and with thinking like that its not an organisation I want to be involved with in any way. Quote
Slowlycatchymonkey Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 (edited) I am a member, by member I mean I give them membership money to keep up their good work and have nothing else to do with it. When it comes to renewal I groan because like everyone else on here you don’t know or hear about what they achieve but they are surprisingly effective at lobbying parliament and influencing the laws that effect motorcycling. Their opinion is sought and has made changes in legislation up to EU level where they have stopped several daft ‘think tank’ ideas ever seeing the light of day by having representation with a reasoned argument swiftly available. Their view on helmet law is it should be a choice. They understand this is a controversial point of view and seem almost apologetic about this freedom of choice policy but they dont wish to be disrespectful to their heritage. They did sterling work dissuading Birmingham city council on congestion charging of motorcycles. The list @ZX7R has posted is not some incidental or minor list of victories, they were instrumental in stopping these things. This is because they don’t mess around like some ineffectual charity jumping up and down on the sidelines trying to get someone to listen. They find and pay politicians who ride bikes themselves to represent us so Im happy to cough up the pennies to pay for that. Edited January 4, 2021 by Slowlycatchymonkey 3 Quote
Mickly Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 6 minutes ago, Slowlycatchymonkey said: I am a member, by member I mean I give them membership money to keep up their good work and have nothing else to do with it. When it comes to renewal I groan because like everyone else on here you don’t know or hear about what they achieve but they are surprisingly effective at lobbying parliament and influencing the laws that effect motorcycling. Their opinion is sought and has made changes in legislation up to EU level where they have stopped several daft ‘think tank’ ideas ever seeing the light of day by having representation with a reasoned argument swiftly available. Their view on helmet law is it should be a choice. They understand this is a controversial point of view and seem almost apologetic about this freedom of choice policy but they dont wish to be disrespectful to their heritage. They did sterling work dissuading Birmingham city council on congestion charging of motorcycles. The list @ZX7R has posted is not some incidental or minor list of victories, they were instrumental in stopping these things. This is because they don’t mess around like some ineffectual charity jumping up and down on the sidelines trying to get someone to listen. They find and pay politicians who ride bikes themselves to represent us so Im happy to cough up the pennies to pay for that. Don’t you receive a copy of the ‘Road’ as part of your membership? It usually has the latest on campaigns- successes & failures. Quote
dynax Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 I would quite happily ride into town without a helmet if it was optional, a couple of miles on 20 and 30 minor roads. I always ride into town as it's free parking and there are a few secure parking areas, just a pain having to walk around with the helmet, yes I could lock it to the bike but i shouldn't have to. Quote
Slowlycatchymonkey Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 2 minutes ago, Mickly said: Don’t you receive a copy of the ‘Road’ as part of your membership? It usually has the latest on campaigns- successes & failures. I do get it but mostly I light the fire with it, couldn’t tell you the last time I read one Quote
Mickly Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 As @Slowlycatchymonkey says, the helmet thing is all about choice not legislation, they see it as the thin end of the wedge, that for example, could lead the mandating of full face helmets & the use of CE certified clothing, invalidating insurance if not used.’ Quote
S-Westerly Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 Doesn't matter if your ride is 50 feet or 50 miles. If some SMIDSY hits you wrong and he's speeding it's probably going to end up with you living your life as a vegetable. Helmets should be compulsory. The rest not so much, its personal choice. 3 Quote
Bender Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 1 hour ago, S-Westerly said: Doesn't matter if your ride is 50 feet or 50 miles. If some SMIDSY hits you wrong and he's speeding it's probably going to end up with you living your life as a vegetable. Helmets should be compulsory. The rest not so much, its personal choice. Taken from devits. Motorbikes account for 1% of road traffic, but 19% of casualties, so it is important that as one of the most vulnerable road user groups are being kept as safe as possible. Especially when 80% of all motorcyclist fatalities and 70% of serious injuries are from sustained head injuries during the accident 1 Quote
S-Westerly Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 It's even higher in the USA where unbelievably to me some states don't mandate the wearing of helmets. Weird. 1 Quote
Mickly Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 13 minutes ago, S-Westerly said: It's even higher in the USA where unbelievably to me some states don't mandate the wearing of helmets. Weird. Any biker with an ounce of sense would wear a helmet, doesn’t need to be compulsory. 2 Quote
Bender Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 3 minutes ago, Mickly said: Any biker with an ounce of sense would wear a helmet, doesn’t need to be compulsory. You would think, but you only have to look at the number of cyclists that still don't. 1 Quote
Stu Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 I used to be a member many moons ago and I must say it was this helmet policy they are chasing that did it for me! I am a firm believer in keeping it mandatory At least you can identify some crooks from real riders at least 1 Quote
Tiggie Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 6 minutes ago, Stu said: At least you can identify some crooks from real riders at least Thats a good point that I've never considered before 1 Quote
onesea Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 2 hours ago, Slowlycatchymonkey said: I do get it but mostly I light the fire with it, couldn’t tell you the last time I read one Is it better than the MCN this year we have really struggled lighting guess with that! MAG where quite active rind here, I had considered joining. Then slowly they vanished, not enough support and it all got a bit political. Quote
Ian Frog Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 Having been a semi active member back in the early 80`s as I was chatting with @fastbob on another thread about, I have to say at most local levels that I saw they became very political and seemed to enjoy spending evenings arguing with each other and general willy waving (mind you we were a right bunch of scruffy greebos back in the day lol). All that said the list of achievements and their lobbying power are quite impressive so good luck to them. I believe Lembit Opik of Cheeky Girls fame is part of their lobbying committee. Cheers Ian Quote
Slowlycatchymonkey Posted January 4, 2021 Posted January 4, 2021 14 minutes ago, onesea said: Is it better than the MCN this year we have really struggled lighting guess with that! MAG where quite active rind here, I had considered joining. Then slowly they vanished, not enough support and it all got a bit political. So far the MCN has done the better job than MAG on setting the world on fire Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.