MAG Ireland in Partnership with MAG Northern Ireland National Demonstration

Demo Day 19th August

Around sixty motorcyclists attended at Belfast City Hall for the start of the Demo run to Stormount with no police to provide an escort to Stormount a big thanks goes to the marshalls on the day for guiding us through safely to our destination and the local police from Musgrave Street RUC Station for stopping the traffic to get us safely away.

For the demo and it will now extend to all organised type cavalcade runs for MAG and Motorcycle Clubs. We had to apply through the police on form 11/1, available from the local police station where your run starts,which then had to go to the Parades Commission for their acceptance. Check it out with your local RUC Stations Operational Planning Department when you apply for a police escort.

Demo’s where held through out Ireland with the biggest turn out in Dublin with 300 bikes with a representative from the Ministers Office, there to receive our paperwork. RTE shot a video of the event and two freelance photographers turned up. With other demos in Sligo, Longford/Westmeath, Louth/Monaghan, Kilkenny, Cork, Limerick, Carlow and Donegal. With coverage in local newspapers and radio station.

I n Northern Ireland the demo was featured in the Irish News and Belfast Telegraph and BBC 1 turned up with the cameras on the day and the previous week for an interview with the head of the Department of Regional Development Gregory Campbell and MLA Ian Paisley jnr for the handing over of our demands.

A big thanks must go to Philip for liaison on our demands with MAG Ireland, the organisation of press releases, getting the press there, meetings with the department and generally running about behind the scenes.

After the days event it was down to the Stop the Rot Rally organised by MAG Ireland and a well earned celebration.

What did we demand for motorcyclists, with MAG Ireland we set out our demands and these were handed over to the representatives of Government, Department and Council Representatives throughout Ireland through a letter of protest which is set out below.

Letter of Protest

The Irish Motorcyclists' Action Group (MAG Ireland) and Motorcycle Action Group (Northern Ireland region MAG UK) are the only motorcyclists' organisations - in Ireland and Northern Ireland respectively - that represent the interests of motorcycle riders in the areas of safety, training, and other positive aspects of motorcycle riding. MAG Ireland represents over 5,000 active members, and MAG Northern Ireland represents over 12,000 motorcyclists regionally. We are affiliated with The Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations (FEMA), which represents over 500,000 motorcyclists on a European level.

DEMANDS

DIRECT ACCESS:  The full implementation of the provisions of the Second EU Directive on Driver Licensing, which provide for Direct Access at age 21, subject to a test of competency, to motorcycles without restriction.

ROAD SAFETY: Elimination of road hazards that pose a serious threat to road users across the entire nation. 

THIEVES:  A Minimum one-year custodial sentence for vehicle thieves convicted of their crime.

BIKE FRIENDLINESS:  Officially-designated and secure bike parking. Access to BusLanes. Recognition that motorcycles are a solution to urban congestion. Exemption from tolls.

ROAD HAZARDS

Road Hazards are consistently raised by our members as negative contributors to safe road use and pose significant risks to their safety. The main hazards complained of are:

Debris/Slurry/Mud On Road :

The movement of agricultural and construction equipment in and out of fields onto public roads sometimes (through carelessness, accident or otherwise) leaves slurry or mud on the highway. When suddenly encountered such within local authorities’ jurisdiction be advised to always keep carriageways free of debris at all times and that this be enforced by law/bye-law.

Public roads sometimes (through carelessness, accident or otherwise) leaves slurry or mud on the highway. When suddenly encountered such conditions are extremely hazardous. We demand that construction staff and contractors within local authorities’ jurisdiction be advised to always keep carriageways free of debris at all times and that this be enforced by law/bye-law.

Gravel at Junctions / Bends

Spillage of gravel from trucks and natural detachment of gravel from the road surface at junctions and on main
carriageways gives rise to patches of gravel which are treacherous to vehicles when negotiating junctions and bends at ANY speed. We demand all local authorities implement a regular program of clearing such gravel from roads, especially at junctions.

Gravel From Road Re-Surfacing

Summertime brings the perennial road-resurfacing programs. Our members are aware that gravel is left in copious quantities on the bitumen in order that motor traffic will bed the gravel into the bitumen and eventually push the
residue into the roadside or ditch. Such copious amounts of gravel create treacherous driving conditions at ANY speed. Apart from what immediate measures that can be taken to minimise the risk, we call on the authorities to investigate/pursue research into more modern and enlightened methods of road re-surfacing.

Debris Due To Road Works

With the voluminous amount of roadworks currently in progress, our members have encountered many cases of gravel, stones and other debris lying outside the perimeter of the works. These present a hazard to road users. We demand that local authorities instruct works staff and contractors to keep carriageways free of debris at all times and that this be enforced by law/bye-law.

Potholes

The roads of the nation are riddled with potholes. Unlike a car, which can ride out a sudden encounter with a
pothole, the unfortunate result for the rider of a two-wheeled vehicle is that he will likely be thrown off his motorcycle onto the verge - or worse - to the road where he is susceptible to further injury from other vehicles. We call on all local authorities to implement an immediate program to repair potholes, with their first priority primary roads, followed by the secondary roads, together with a follow up program to inspect roads regularly and keep them
maintained in a fit condition for use

Tar Banding

When road repairs are made, it is common practice to seal the joint of the repair with smooth bitumen. In wet conditions, extensive and wide stretches of smooth bitumen offer a slippery surface to a two-wheeled vehicle. An alternative to smooth bitumen has been discovered by FEMA (the European motorcyclists organisation to which MAG Ireland is affiliated), which has proved to be non-slip and cheaper than the traditional bitumen. Details of this alternative, which includes supply information, are available from MAG Ireland. We demand that steps be taken to introduce this new material and that smooth bitumen-banding should cease upon introduction of the new material.

Metal/Iron Hole Covers

There is an increasing practice of temporarily covering roadworks with an iron plate. In the wet, these iron plates offer a slippery surface to vehicles. In addition, the sides of these plates are sometimes tamped with bitumen/gravel compound which offers a sudden and unpredictable obstacle to a two-wheeled vehicle, especially in the dark when these temporary coverings are often not marked with advance-warning signs or lights. We demand that all authorities ban the use of these metal plates.

Traffic-Calming Measures

There is an increased use of chicanes and other obstacles in towns and villages, as ‘traffic-calming measures’. These mostly consist of islands with or without railings. Following erection these islands are not maintained in that the kerbs and railings are not painted/maintained in highly-conspicuous colours, and lights at either end of the islands are often unlit and dirty from road-spray. These islands offer a significant hazard to all road users, especially to motorcyclists. We demand that the authorities effectively maintain all traffic management furniture , kerbing, islands, and road markings.

DIRECT ACCESS

The loss of what is called Direct Access, at age 25, with the implementation of the new vehicle licensing laws, which came into effect on 26 November, unfairly discriminates against motorcyclists.

Under the 2nd European Directive on Vehicle Licensing, a stepped licensing system provides that new motorcycle license holders (A1) may only ride a motorcycle under 25kV (approximately 250 cc) and, after passing their test, are restricted to that power limit for two years before they can progress to the A class license which has no power limit. The Directive provides that this restriction may be waived if the motorcyclist is age 21 and passes a test of competency.

The Irish government, which was last of all the EU nations to implement the Directive, and contrary to the majority of other nations, chose not to provide for Direct Access at age 21 despite drastic improvements in motorcycle safety records and the development (by MAG Ireland) of a motorcycle training program. Under the old licensing system, Direct Access was available at age 25.

A jet-fighter pilot, with a full car licence, and years of road experience would be subject to the restriction of two years on a small motorcycle, while an 18 year old with no road experience can step into a powerful sports car on a provisional license and drive unaccompanied (on a second provisional), and on motorways - due to non-enforcement! - without restriction. What we have here is blatant discrimination against motorcyclists.

MAG Ireland, having ALREADY signalled its dissatisfaction with the implementation of the Directive to the Department, calls on the Government to implement the 2nd. Directive in full and provide for Direct Access at age 21.

So there you have it if anybody asks you what’s MAG doing for me you have the answers