MAGregionsandclubsMAGregionsMAGregionsandclubsMAGregions From Scotland Regional Rep Steve Wykes
north of the border
Firstly let me extend my thanks to each and every one of you who took the trouble to publicise and take part in the ʻEU hands off biking demoʼ runs on September the 25th.
Riders from across Scotland turned up in their hundreds at the nine departure points across Scotland. In Scotland close on 2,500 riders took part on the day and many of them also took the trouble to contact their MEPs and MPs on the issue.
Not every demo worked exactly as we would have wished, but the overall effect was positive and attracted a significant amount of press coverage.
Any who doubted the
effectiveness of these demos only need look at the political responses this one has earned us. MEPs who had previously failed to respond to constituents’ earlier letters are now doing so. Many of them who appeared oblivious to the issues up until September 25th are asking how they can help. MEPs researchers are also asking for our advice and there is a real increase in cross party support for our stance on these serious issues
These really are great leaps forward and proof positive that the demo is still one of the valid
tools in our box of lobbying tricks. Of course, as a tool, its over-use will blunt it quite significantly, so we'll have to be very careful when we use it again and that may not be until the Spring when the Parliament is
John Dunbar as their respective replacements.
Once again the rock night following the AGM was successful even though numbers were slightly down on the previous event, probably down to
These really are great leaps forward and proof positive that the demo is still one of the valid tools in our box of lobbying tricks
gearing up to vote on the EU Type Approval and Market Surveillance Regulation. You can be sure that if another set of demo runs does take place then the lessons we learned will be acted upon to ensure that they are even more effective. October 15th saw the MAG Scotland AGM and rock night taking place at the Stair Arms Hotel Pathhead. The AGM was positive with various issues discussed and valid points raised. I would like to thank Fiona Chisholm, Kenny Macgill and Colin Forsyth for all their efforts as Secretary, Treasurer and Web- master respectively and welcome Irene Kale, Stuart Dykes and
our publicity being a little late due to our efforts being largely concentrated on the demos of September 25th. There’s plenty of time to pencil in the next rock night which will be held in conjunction with the Edinburgh MAG AGM on Saturday March 17th at the Stair Arms Hotel. The Sunday saw an early start to enable me to freshen up and catch a flight and train to Brussels to meet Stephen O’Donnell MEP. Stephen is Catherine Stihler’s assistant who is responsible for looking after motorcycling issues while Catherine is on maternity leave. Stephen, who is preparing for his bike test, had been well
briefed by Malcolm Harbour and was aware of most of the issues and is certainly looking to get Article 18 on anti-tampering dropped from the proposals. He also took on board many of our concerns on other issues including compulsory ABS, particularly because of its cost implications for smaller machines and the likely negative impact on commuter bike sales. Further meetings are planned prior to the vote of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee. This is the commitee charged with looking into the proposed changes to motorcycle legislation.
This is all proof that lobbying and demonstrating works and our efforts can make a difference. I was also pleased to hear that another of our campaigns is bearing fruit. Our efforts to get better testing arrangement and test centres established are bearing fruit. A new one part on- road test is now being trialled. Pending its introduction the DSA has announced that they will be conducting Module 1 tests at Anderson High School in Lerwick.
This will mean that Shetlanders will no longer have to travel to the mainland to sit their bike tests. A little late but welcome all the same.
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