MAG / Motorcycle Action Group

[Marino]

15 hours ago, Ian Frog said:

As long as it is ok for the paramedics and hospital staff to choose whether or not they choose to treat you !

As someone who has covered a lot of miles without a lid I will happily confess I wouldn`t entertain it now even in country`s or climates that might not favour there use.

I have read the medical reports from the states that highlight additional injuries caused by the weight of a helmet and rotation/friction impacts on neck muscles and bones but given that evidence I am sorry but much as I hate compulsion I am wearing one.

I will support your right to protest but I think you are wrong.

Cheers

Ian

It is not about right or wrong, I said I wouldn’t ride without helmet but I do not agree about to be mandatory. 
I never ride without full protective equipment, either not mandatory, I always wear proper boots, trousers and jacket with all impact protection. As long all gear is not mandatory there is no sense to push with helmet.

Not directly connected to bikes, UK is only place in Eu (now not in Eu anymore) where cars winter tyres are not a must. And we know the benefit of winter tyres during the cold days.

so forcing one think and not another, I don’t see any sense.  But that is jut my opinion. 

[onesea]

18 minutes ago, Marino said:

Not directly connected to bikes, UK is only place in Eu (now not in Eu anymore) where cars winter tyres are not a must. And we know the benefit of winter tyres during the cold days.

https://www.uniroyal-tyres.com/car/tyre-guide/winter-care/winter-tyres-mandatory
 

Not strictly true... However it probably explains why the country melts down at the first snow flake...

 

I am not a great believer in legislation, I don’t want to see cycle helmet regulations.  Even though I know several who would be dead without them.

 

 however once in forced when it’s for the general good why undo it?  Seatbelts mobile phones when driving etc.

 

[dynax]

The main reasoning behind it all is our freedom of choice, slowly but surely our liberties and rights are being reduced and taken away, yes some might feel for the greater good but who has the right to do this. Sure most people will just carry on as normal as it probably won't affect them so why should they care, but it matters to some and it is these few that fight for change so everyone can benefit.

[S-Westerly]

That's fine as far as it goes but if I exercise my right to not wear a helmet then have an accident resulting in me possibly needing expensive medical treatment and potentially lifelong support what right do I have to expect that to be funded by someone else?

[JRH]

4 hours ago, Marino said:

It is not about right or wrong, I said I wouldn’t ride without helmet but I do not agree about to be mandatory. 
I never ride without full protective equipment, either not mandatory, I always wear proper boots, trousers and jacket with all impact protection. As long all gear is not mandatory there is no sense to push with helmet.

Not directly connected to bikes, UK is only place in Eu (now not in Eu anymore) where cars winter tyres are not a must. And we know the benefit of winter tyres during the cold days.

so forcing one think and not another, I don’t see any sense.  But that is jut my opinion. 

winter tyres are NOT mandatory in all EU countries.

https://www.uniroyal-tyres.com/car/tyre-guide/winter-care/winter-tyres-mandatory

 

oopps @onesea beat me to it. Must read all the posts.

Edited January 5, 2021 by JRH

[exportmanuk]

Joined MAG for a while but the local group was poorly organised and seemed to be an unofficial branch of a major political party, rather than a group advocating for the motorcyclists.

The National group would appear to have got their act together recently so may be something I consider again in the future.  I note that the Belgium MAG organisation folded before Christmas and the Dutch one had recently too 

[skyrider]

6 minutes ago, exportmanuk said:

Joined MAG for a while but the local group was poorly organised and seemed to be an unofficial branch of a major political party, rather than a group advocating for the motorcyclists.

The National group would appear to have got their act together recently so may be something I consider again in the future.  I note that the Belgium MAG organisation folded before Christmas and the Dutch one had recently too 

do you think that mag is not as popular as it used to be ?

[Stu]

Just now, skyrider said:

do you think that mag is not as popular as it used to be ?

 

I think its dying a slow death and a lot of the younger riders don't care about this sort of thing so support will slowly go! 

[skyrider]

Just now, Stu said:

 

I think its dying a slow death and a lot of the younger riders don't care about this sort of thing so support will slowly go! 

yeah a lot of modern youths only have their modern scooters for a short while and then it's straight on to cars 

[Liveware Problem]

16 hours ago, skyrider said:

yeah a lot of modern youths only have their modern scooters for a short while and then it's straight on to cars 

 

Agreed, I think more than ever are not even trying a bike at all and it is slowly dying out.. admittedly I don't have the figures to hand but whenever stopping at bike cafes etc. in the past couple of years I'm usually one of the youngest there, and I'm not young - most pro footballers my age would be considered well past it 

The vast majority of 125s I see are food delivery scooters.

 

I think on the whole society is becoming increasingly risk-averse, why would you ride a motorcycle they're so dangerous! Better to be in a steel cocoon with multiple airbags etc.

Better yet get AI to take over, given how fallible humans are!

 

MAG seem to have some laudable aims, I can't agree with them on helmets but at least there are some people prepared to actively defend biking and try to halt or at least slow it being legislated out of existence!

[Trooper74]

I've not renewed my Veteran Time Trial Association membership for the first time in 20 years so MAG haven't got a chance.

Edited January 6, 2021 by Trooper74

[fastbob]

Let's look at Karl's take on the Helmet Laws . ( Watch the whole thing ) 

 

[Stu]

4 hours ago, Liveware Problem said:

 

Agreed, I think more than ever are not even trying a bike at all and it is slowly dying out.. admittedly I don't have the figures to hand but whenever stopping at bike cafes etc. in the past couple of years I'm usually one of the youngest there, and I'm not young - most pro footballers my age would be considered well past it 

The vast majority of 125s I see are food delivery scooters.

 

I think on the whole society is becoming increasingly risk-averse, why would you ride a motorcycle they're so dangerous! Better to be in a steel cocoon with multiple airbags etc.

Better yet get AI to take over, given how fallible humans are!

 

MAG seem to have some laudable aims, I can't agree with them on helmets but at least there are some people prepared to actively defend biking and try to halt or at least slow it being legislated out of existence!

 

The trouble you have is that it's been made harder to get the licence for that all important powerful bike we all craved at 20 years old! 

[Liveware Problem]

8 minutes ago, Stu said:

 

The trouble you have is that it's been made harder to get the licence for that all important powerful bike we all craved at 20 years old! 

Fair point, that puts quite a few off I'm sure.

 

I could be wrong, I think perhaps there was more of a natural sequence (pushbike - motorbike - car) previously, and having tried a motorbike some would enjoy it and wish to pursue biking, whereas now younger people are less likely to own a car let alone have started off with a motorbike. A lost opportunity perhaps.

[dynax]

If I could I would lower the age limit to 14 for AM but they would need to pass the theory first as well as the CBT, kids are growing up fast anyway, so giving them some responsibility earlier on wouldn't be a bad thing.

[Stu]

43 minutes ago, Liveware Problem said:

Fair point, that puts quite a few off I'm sure.

 

I could be wrong, I think perhaps there was more of a natural sequence (pushbike - motorbike - car) previously, and having tried a motorbike some would enjoy it and wish to pursue biking, whereas now younger people are less likely to own a car let alone have started off with a motorbike. A lost opportunity perhaps.

 

I'm not sure I agree with that.

 

i think years ago a bike was a cheap way to get around but now rich mammy and daddies buy their kids cars and pay for driving lessons so they skip the bike bit 

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

Year on year bike sales are increasing and the Covid malarkey has pushed them up even further so it’s not all doom n gloom. 

[Stu]

9 minutes ago, Slowlycatchymonkey said:

Year on year bike sales are increasing and the Covid malarkey has pushed them up even further so it’s not all doom n gloom. 

 

well technically it is! 

 

It takes people off public transport and puts people out of a job 

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

26 minutes ago, Stu said:

 

well technically it is! 

 

It takes people off public transport and puts people out of a job 

So long as there’s people too young to ride and people too old and infirm to drive they’ll be buses. 
Once this Covid crap is over buses will be back to being the way to travel- better for the environment and cheaper than paying a congestion charge.
I see buses in the future becoming far more utilised as a mode of transport. The golden age of the battery powered bus is coming to a city near you soon

[Guest Swagman]

1 minute ago, Slowlycatchymonkey said:

So long as there’s people too young to ride and people too old and infirm to drive they’ll be buses. 
Once this Covid crap is over buses will be back to being the way to travel- better for the environment and cheaper than paying a congestion charge.
I see buses in the future becoming far more utilised as a mode of transport. The golden age of the battery powered bus is coming to a city near you soon

Us old folk will keep riding and driving so the buses can go to hell.

[Bender]

19 minutes ago, Swagman said:

Us old folk will keep riding and driving so the buses can go to hell.

It's where they belong, most of the folk on them are probably heading that way.

 

Don't worry @Stu drivers will be allowed to fetch the bus back out so it can be filled back up.

[Davidtav]

I think we may be the last generation with the opportunity to ride a motorcycle on public roads. I say that because we are, I think, at the beginning of a transition to self driving cars. I have read that, in testing, self driving cars have difficulty in identifying solo motorcycles. Of course these difficulties may be overcome to an extent. But I have a gut feeling that in 20 or 30 years time motorcycling will become a track only pastime. If at all. 

[Guest Swagman]

4 hours ago, Davidtav said:

I think we may be the last generation with the opportunity to ride a motorcycle on public roads. I say that because we are, I think, at the beginning of a transition to self driving cars. I have read that, in testing, self driving cars have difficulty in identifying solo motorcycles. Of course these difficulties may be overcome to an extent. But I have a gut feeling that in 20 or 30 years time motorcycling will become a track only pastime. If at all. 

Then they will have to be isolated from cyclist in that case, if they can’t see motorcycles then they won’t see pushbikes.

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

51 minutes ago, Swagman said:

Then they will have to be isolated from cyclist in that case, if they can’t see motorcycles then they won’t see pushbikes.

They have killed a cyclist haven’t they? 

[Bender]

8 hours ago, Slowlycatchymonkey said:

They have killed a cyclist haven’t they? 

Yes, the autonomous car which was still under development was also accompanied by a fully functioning human, who decided to watch TV instead of the road.

 

The woman if I remember rightly decided to cross over the road in the dark infront of the car with lights.

 

The car picked her up 6seconds out at the side of the road, she was pushing the bike, the car couldn’t work out what she was, the tester didn't see her till instant before impact.

 

As part of the testing they had disabled volvos own safety braking system that would have likely saved her.

 

Complete catalogue of errors all round unfortunately.