Bristol MAG is the local branch of the Motorcycle Action Group and is made up of a wide variety of bikers, riding many different types of motorcycle. The group promotes MAG's campaigns in our area and raises awareness of local biking and safety issues. MAG is not just about the politics of biking, it is also a great way to get to meet like minded people with an interest in motorcycles.
So don't be shy, why not come along to our next meeting? We meet every Thursday from 8.30 p.m.
Parking charges introduced for PTW (Powered Two Wheelers) by Westminster City Council, run contrary to the Government’s aim to ‘mainstream’ motorcycling and to the Mayor of London’s plans to make London more motorcycle-friendly, say representatives of the motorcycling community.
Coming out in support of a protest demonstration arranged for December 14th MAG and BMF, jointly representing some 150,000 motorcyclists, say that at a time when Mayor Boris Johnson is opening up bus lanes to PTWs and more and more people are turning to motorcycles and scooters, increased and free parking provision should be provided, not punitive charges introduced.
Concerned that the Westminster model is likely to be adopted elsewhere in the UK, the group is now calling for all PTW users, whether directly affected or not, to support the next demonstration being held at 11am on Sunday 14th December 2008 at Golden Square, London, W1.
For more info see No to bike parking fees
Sunday 23 November 2008, from The Colosseum Pub to the Lysley Arms, Thanks to the 15 that braved the weather forecast and supported Babes On Our Bikes (BOOBS) Calander appeal in aid of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance and TENOVUS Cancer charities, £75 was raised
6 Dec 2008 Mid Wilts MAG Pet Food Run
Turkey Trot, 18 Dec 2008, CANCELLED
Bristol and Avon Roadrunners Kev's birthday 19 Dec 2008
New Years Eve Party, Crosshands, Fishponds
Committee meeting 22 Jan 2009 7.30 for 8.00 p.m. start
Night out at Hope & Anchor 30 Jan 2009
for more events and events info click on the Events tab.
Dawn has now transferred to Chepstow Hospital, Caerwent ward, visiting time 2pm to 8pm. tel 01291 636636
Dawn is still being very brave despite all the pain she is enduring and side effects of medication. She is having an operation on 2nd Dec 2008 to manipulate her knee so keep her in your thoughts
Pauline
SATURDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 2008 SCRAWNY DAWNS RIDEOUT
Thank you everyone for turning out on such a beautiful day. For those of you who didn't spot Dawn, she was there waving madly and we truly did put a big smile on her face. Well done. If you have any pictures of the day please email me them or hand me a cd when you're next at Bristol MAG. I will post them on this site and send copies to Dawn. Contact Pauline
First of photos uploaded, click the Picture Gallery tab at top of page and click on the folder named Dawn
Check out this video of everyone leaving the Mayors, riding on to Frenchay, might take time to load.
£172 was raised in all for Ward 202.
Dawn, one of Bristol MAG's members, had a really bad RTA and is in Frenchay Hospital and on Monday 18 August had her right leg removed below the knee. Since her accident she has endured 4 operations, including two skin grafts but despite all the pain that she is in she remains very positive and is in great spirits.
Dawn and Steve would like to thank everyone for all the cards,letters and messages and support.
On Tuesday 2nd Sept, Dawn had a surprise visit from Charley Boorman and Hawg Haven's Jon Quantrell. The guys came bearing gifts, signed books, dvds and the like and I know Dawn was really chuffed. Thanks guys for taking the time and effort to visit.
Pauline
What another great show. Thanks to everyone that helped out on the day and to all the sponsors and traders who ensured that the event was so successful. Photos have been uploaded to this site so click on the album tab and take a look. Also check out the dedicated website The Bristol Bike Show for more info, pictures and video.
June 24 2008 saw the launch of the 'Grip top' non slip manhole cover by French multi national Saint Gobain in Bristol. Both Andy Derritt, MAG BristolRep and MAG Campaigns Manager David Short were guest speakers at the event. For more details including press release issued by Saint Gobain click on the Campaigns tab.
At the Bristol Motorcycle Forum last week the police representative told us about the Bobby Van Scheme. Up to March 2006 in Bristol 964 bikes, mopeds and scooters were stolen. More then half of those were taken from outside the owner’s home. If someone has stolen or attempted to steal your bike contact the police and report it under the Bobby Van Scheme. They will visit and can offer advice and free practical assistance to secure your bike. Under the scheme they have the resources to give you a secure anchor for your bike.
It seems that bikes, mopeds and scooters are 2% of Bristol’s traffic, but while there are 17,000 dedicated, non-residential car parking spaces in the city there are only about 50 dedicated m/cycle bays. The Council is tackling this inequality by actively seeking suitable m/cycle parking spaces. They do this in consultation with the police and MAG to be aware of safety and security of bikers. By my reckoning 2% of 17,000 is 340, so if the number of bike bays is to reflect bike usage, we need another 300 bays. If you know of what you think is a suitable site, let me know and I’ll pass it on to the Council.
We were told that where bikes use bus-lanes the rate of collisions involving m/cycles has been reduced by 30%. That is nearly a third! and represents a fantastic benefit to all of us, bikers or not: fewer visits to A&E, saved repair and insurance money, saved police time.
You may have noticed the extensive roadworks beginning in Old Market and continuing through Lawrence Hill and out along the A420 towards Kingswood and Longwell Green. The Council is installing a new bus-lane, at the same time it is linking the traffic lights and installing Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to monitor the bus lanes. The linked lights will detect and permit buses to move unhindered along the road.
Included in the scheme are two m/cycle parking bays in the St. George shops area.
In the past MAG and other m/cycle user organisations have pointed out the dangers represented by the “cushion” type of speed hump. “Cushions” are the speed humps that are placed as two or three separate humps across the width of the road with gaps between them. They are frequently a slippery material and sometimes come unfixed from the road below. As if those weren’t dangers enough both bikers and car drivers aim to get their wheels into the flat bits beside the hump, cars do this by straddling the hump, bikes move out into the road centre or into the gutter; both moves endanger the biker through exposure to oncoming traffic or to the kind of dangerous rubbish that builds up in the gutter.
Bristol City Council will stop using “cushion” humps, instead they will use full width speed ramps with a long flat top. Much kinder to suspension and safer.
Stuart
Each year Bristol MAG does the Not So So-So Soup Run to raise money for the Julian Trust, a shelter for homeless people in Bristol.
Bristol MAG has an email mailing list to keep people informed about what’s going on.
If you’d like to join it click here.
This document last modified Friday, 05-Dec-2008 08:00:46 GMT
