General News

From Derby Pride Park to Loughborough University in aid of the Rainbows Children's Hospice. Eddie Hodgkiss and his wife Denise have raised nearly £1,200 for the Rainbow Children's Hospice in Loughborough by organising the Toy Run above and through various fundraisings such as raffles, selling badges, t-shirts and Pudsey bears

The BMF has successfully completed its move of its headquarters into a brand new development, the ‘Business Box’, in Braunstone, Leicester.

The move follows a review of operations and running costs by the BMF’s Management Team of the BMF’s Jack Wiley House base at nearby Enderby and, say the BMF, the new rented accommodation will not only result in overall cost savings, but bring in a substantial income through the renting out or possible disposal of the vacated Enderby premises.

Newly elected Director of Administration Sue Chadwick said: “Staffing reductions and the contracting out of our events operations have meant that the extensive space and resultant running costs of Jack Wiley House could not be justified. Our new rented accommodation on the other hand is ideal for our needs and will result in considerable operational savings. Our staff our happy with the move too so this really is a win, win situation.”

The new address, telephone and fax numbers are as follows:

Birmingham City Council are in the process of developing a Motorcycle Strategy for Birmingham. This Strategy once adopted will outline the way forward for motorcycling in the City. The TravelWise Team is keen to hear the views of motorcyclists and would welcome their thoughts, comments and ideas on what needs to be done to improve Motorcycling in the City. If so we would like to hear about them! Are there initiatives you know about that work well and could be expanded? Is Motorcycling parking sufficient? What about the bus lanes? What prevents more motorcycling?

It is hoped that the Strategy will tackle everyday problems faced by motorcyclists, cover safety issues, cater for potential growth in motorcycling and develop the whole motorcycling experience for all. The TravelWise Team would like to hear from as many motorcyclists as possible to help us develop a Strategy that will benefit all current and future motorcyclists, as well as other road users. We are looking for sensible and realistic comments and ideas that can be incorporated into the Strategy.

Furthermore if there are any motorists or cyclists who would like to contribute comments or ideas on their experience of motorcycles that as fellow road users will help us work towards a road network that is suitable all, we would like to hear from you too.

We would also like motorcyclists to pass on an email address so that the TravelWise Team can invite them to comment on the Motorcycle Strategy at its various stages of development. This will be sent forward as a pdf and no personal details would be required.

If you have any views on Motorcycling issues please let us know as soon as possible at travelwise@birmingham.gov.uk

Following the installation of new barriers on a Telford roundabout the following letter was sent to Telford council - if you've seen this problem you to could drop a line to Telford council

I am writing with regard to the barrier that has recently been erected at the Old Park Roundabout on the approach from Telford Town Centre.

While we appreciate that the Highways Agency is making an effort to reduce the number of rear end shunts that are occurring on this particular roundabout, we do not feel that reducing visibility on the approach to the roundabout is the most beneficial way of achieving this and more importantly it does not take into account the safety of other road users, particularly cyclists and motorcyclists approaching from the right.

There is a distance of approximately fifteen metres between the end of the visibility reducing barrier and the roundabout, which can be covered in a matter of seconds even if the approaching vehicle is slowing down. The greater the distance over which the driver has visibility of traffic approaching from the right, the more likely they are to see a vehicle. Cutting down this distance reduces the likelihood of a driver spotting a vehicle with a small frontal area.

The pillar at the side of the windscreen already creates a blind spot sufficient in size to completely obscure a motorcyclist. A further point to note is that there is a lamp post and a road directional sign on the traffic island the new barrier connects to. These along with the natural blind spot enhance the risk of an approaching vehicle not spotting a motorcycle or cyclist. This problem is therefore exacerbated by reducing the time in which a driver has to look to the right.

Since the installation of this barrier, a car approaching this roundabout from the direction of the town centre had to brake sharply at the last second in order to avoid running onto the roundabout and hitting several of our members who were already on the roundabout. As a group of motorbikes is far more visible and audible than an individual motorcyclist this must say something about the lack of visibility and therefore the lack of time in which drivers are able to react.

We believe that lives are being put at risk by this experiment and that it is only a matter of time before a motorcyclist is severely injured or even killed as a result. We would therefore ask that you reconsider and remove this barrier before this occurs.

If you would like to discuss this further our Club Chairman, Paul Myler, is more than happy to speak with you and he can be contacted on xxxx xxxxxxx. Alternatively I look forward to receiving your response at your earliest convenience.

"Campaigner" EMail from Chris Hodder - Government Relations Executive - British Motorcyclists Federation (sign up for "Campaigner" emails here)

Bikes in Bus Lanes

As you may have been aware from stories in this weeks press (Friday’s London Evening Standard, Saturday’s Daily Telegraph and today’s Motorcycle News), Transport for London has not been playing fair with motorcyclists. They currently have in their possession a report which highlights the numerous safety benefits to all vulnerable road users of allowing motorcycles into bus lanes, an issue on which the BMF has been campaigning for a very long time. However, it appears that political expediency is more important than road user safety and that the Mayor of London’s office has been repeatedly sending this report back for rewrites to change the conclusions.

This is of national importance as various local authorities and government agencies have been waiting over 2 years for the results of this trial to decide whether allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes is a benefit or not. Some local authorities, such as Birmingham and Plymouth, are so fed up with waiting that they have decided to conduct studies of their own. Others have just decided that as Bristol, Sheffield and others have allowed motorcycles to use bus lanes for years, they will follow their lead. However, the vast majority are awaiting this crucial report.

Local authorities are often judged on the number of complaints they receive. Last year, Transport for London had 145 complaints against them referred to the Local Government Ombudsman. The more complaints they receive, the worse it appears they are performing.

What we would like you to do, especially if you live in London, is to make an official complaint about the delay of this report. The correct procedure is as follows:-

Secondly, after a few days of waiting, appeal to London Travel Watch (http://www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/index) who are the body responsible for ensuring that TfL acts properly. The e-mail address is enquiries@londontravelwatch.org.uk. (Incidentally, there is a poll on this page which is asking whether motorcycles should use bus lanes).

Thirdly, when you receive no joy there, complain to the Local Government Ombudsman. It is best to do this via the on-line complaints form which can be found at http://www.lgo.org.uk/complaint_form_all.htm.

Please find the time to do this as it will make a very big difference to our campaign.

Lives at Risk in Bus Lane Trial Cover-up say BMF

The British Motorcyclists Federation have accused London Mayor Ken Livingston’s office of putting motorcyclists lives at risk by failing to authorise the use of London’s bus lanes by motorcycles. The BMF will now be making a formal complaint against the Mayor who is also Chairman of Transport for London.

This follows the leaking of a long overdue Transport for London (TfL) report in to the use of bus lanes by motorcycles. The report (the findings of which of not been disputed), shows that accidents were nearly halved over a three-year period on two trial routes where motorcycles were allowed into bus lanes. In fact it found that when motorcycles were allowed access to bus lanes, it proved safer for all users, pedestrians, cyclists, car drivers and motorcyclists, with a 42 per cent fall in the overall rate of collisions.

Speaking on the report, BMF Chairman Anna Zee said: “Considering that the Mayor set a target for a 40% casualty reduction across London and the only group that has not met this are motorcyclists, this is a disgraceful affair. The report was available in September but has been suppressed for political reasons. Lives are being put at risk for political expediency.”

Comparing the trial routes of Brixton Road and Finchley Road with a control route, the report found that accidents directly involving motorcycles fell by 45 per cent, while those on the control route increased by 19 per cent. Also down were pedestrian casualties by 39 per cent against a three per cent rise on control route.

On the perceived danger to cyclists, the report shows that collisions between cyclists and motorcyclists fell by 44 per cent. Summarising, the draft report said: "These figures demonstrate that crashes involving powered two-wheelers and other vulnerable road-users become more infrequent even when considering the increased concentration of riders."

A year ago the BMF welcomed the news that a TfL review was underway of its trials that ran between 2002 and 2005, but has bemoaned the fact that despite repeated requests, the report has still not been published.

Commenting on reports that Mayoral staff have now ordered a re-write of the report to avoid a green back-lash from the cycle lobby, the BMF say that this is like living in a dictatorship where everything is manipulated to suit the state.

BMF Spokesman Jeff Stone said: “We’ve been involved with the campaign for wider bus lane access for over twelve years now. These findings match what we know from elsewhere and I find it bizarre that an expensive report set up to establish the facts has confirmed what we have been saying – but has been suppressed because it doesn’t suit. This smacks of political interference from the highest level.”

Ends

Note 1: In March 2007 the Government issued a new Traffic Advisory Leaflet (TAL02/07) to Local Authorities that specifically encouraged a more objective assessment to be made of bus lane use by motorcycles. The Government’s Motorcycling Strategy (published in February 2005) also sought to facilitate motorcycling as a choice of travel within a sustainable transport framework.
Note 2: Existing Bus lane access sites
Bristol has operated a permanent bus lane access since 1996 and Reading since 1999. Other sites are in: Northern Ireland, Birmingham, Colchester, Derby, Bath, Hull, Swindon, Richmond on Thames, Newcastle on Tyne, Sunderland and the M4 bus lane. Being trialled in London are the Finchley Road (A41) at St John's Wood to Hampstead, the A23 to the South and A13 to the East.
Motorcycles are also allowed to use some HOVs (High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes). Those in Leeds and South Gloucestershire have been used for some years while others will include the southbound stretch of the M1 from junction 13 near Bedford to junction 7 near Hemel Hempstead, and the M3 north from junction 3 near Bagshot to the M25 turn-off at junction 2, both areas already popular with motorcycle commuter users.

Issued by Jeff Stone: t: 0121 709 1040 m: 07802 763094 e: jeff.stone@bmf.co.uk
Details on this and other BMF activities can also be found on our web site: http://www.bmf.co.uk

Impact Award - Northamptonshire Casualty Reduction Partnership, IMPACT AWARDS. On May 11th Phil Barton, Northamptonshire Rep for BMF Region 3, attended a gala dinner and presentation at Towcester race course. Phil, and other members of the Northants Motorcycle Casualty Reduction Forum, received the Impact Award for their contribution to reducing road casualties in Northamptonshire - congratulations Phil - photos here!

Transport Select Committee report on the Government's Motorcycling Strategy - some positives but silly ideas about power limiters reducing accidents and out of date information on emissions - read it all here.

LifeRiders - long term BMF members, the LifeRiders club is the only UK support team for Riders for Health and are always looking for volunteers to help at events. Interested? contact Malc Emptage at memptage@riders.org - Team coordinator 'The LifeRiders' - UK Support Team for RIDERS for Health. Dates for events can be found here.

New free parking facilities in central Coventry have been welcomed by the Motorcycle Forum - more here.

There are two pieces of news to bring to your attention before I go any further; the first is the bad news that the Royal is unable to provide a room for our club night on the 11th February. Despite trying other venues in the area nothing could be found for a reasonable price.

The second piece of news is that Lewis is out of hospital having had his operation. He is well enough to be thinking of attending the next club night and looking forward to a ride out. Lewis would like to thank everyone who visited him or phoned to wish him well.

Discounts on heated grips in the run up to Christmas resulted in bulk purchases of the things by some members of East Midlands HOC. These wonders of modern technology are suspected of being a contributory factor in the new found enthusiasm of certain members for winter riding and in particular the early start of the 2007 riding season (1st January â€" see below).

As one of the benefactors of this purchase I have been enjoying the novelty of warm hands on my post Christmas rides to and from work. You can have too much of a good thing though and, like an old dog that can't be moved away from in front of a fire, I rode to Leeds and back today with my grips on full, refusing to turn them down despite the excessive heat. I am reminded of this as I write this newsletter; with a bright red left hand and a blister emerging.

For other members January has been a time for essential bike maintenance. One of our older, more experienced members, was telling me he had gone to the trouble of creating for himself the necessary time and space for that bit of essential TLC for his bike.

Surrounded by the necessary tools, cup of tea within reach he began; taking his time, loosening the bolts to release the pads and callipers and then giving the piston a good clean â€" only pump the lever just enough to â€¦.

Oh f**< it the piston has popped out. A few seconds of uncharacteristic quick thinking and plenty of cursing and the piston is back in, together with an air bubble. Try the brake and sure enough nothing happens, never mind I'll just loosen off the bleed nipple and pump the air out. Gently does it though 'cause those things can get a bit stiff â€" b*!!*<s - the bloody thing snapped off in our hero's hand! Fortunately permanent depression and post-Christmas bankruptcy are averted by a local bike shop's solution; their solution is Â£304 less than the Honda dealers'.

Many of you will know better than me that this is a well established biking event, kicking the New Year off and blowing the Christmas lethargy away with a blast around the local area. Bikes meet up at various points in the midlands and ride to the Vic at Coalville. At least one EM HOC member is a regular attendee and this year was joined by a couple of other members for the annual ride out around the Charnwood forest. Paul Derham, together with Bev, Karen and Martin represented EM HOC on the ride.

Overseal village hall, on Sunday 21^st January, was the venue for the Niall Mackenzie interview of James Toseland. The hall was pretty well full, although there were only four of us were there from EM HOC. However armed with the necessary drinks we were entertained by a late arriving James who turned out to be an easy interview armed as he was with a few good stories to tell in between the questions.

The stories ranged from batman outfits in night clubs to the teething troubles in developing traction control for Ducati. Shortly after helping develop this system James left Ducati and moved to Honda, who, at the time, had no such system. Having listened to James' stories and advice on the subject the four of us who attended from EM HOC left having enjoyed the evening and now much better placed should we ever be called on to change, at short notice, from a WSB Ducati machine to an equivalent Honda.

This Donnington event was mentioned in passing by Martin at our last January club night. The interest this generated was not apparent at the time but in the following days, once arrangements had been made with the various better half's, a series of phone calls resulted in the first February ride out. A small group left the Royal at 9.30am on Sunday for the short icy ride over to Donnington. I'll include any details I get in the March news letter.

Oxford soft luggage; - Panniers, Tail pack and tank bag. Colour for all items is black.

Anyone interested in either of the above items should contact Tony Williams with offers. He is prepared to bring the items down to a club night for viewing.

Sunday 25th Egg Collection, Mike Halewood Memorial Ride, Club Night; Road Craft session