Representatives of the Labour and Lib Dems were there, as well as two independent councillors and a small but vocal two dozen riders asking questions.

The leader of the Labour Group in Derby City, Paul Bayliss even joined MAG on the night and is pictured with Paddy Tyson, MAG’s Campaigns Manager.

Huge thanks to the two fledgling Derbyshire MAG groups who put on the event and especially Jules and Sean, the respective reps.

Lee and all the staff at Bridge put on an excellent spread for those attending and apart from the panel of councillors and hopeful new candidates from all the main parties, there was Green Party attendance which is a welcome first for RAV.

It was a lively evening, that started when two of the candidates, Lib Dem and Conservative, went for a first ever ride on the pillion of the Devon Advanced Motorcyclists.

As the evening progressed, the Labour sitting Councillor in Exeter City Council joined MAG, as did four other individuals and there were pledges of corporate MAG memberships from 3 organisations, one of which being the regional Conservative Party!

Paddy Tyson, MAG’s campaigns manager used the closing moments of the evening to highlight the Get A Grip (GAG) campaign for consistent road surfaces and everyone who hadn’t already, signed the GAG petition.

Huge thanks to everyone who attended, and especially to John Groves who put a fantastic event together. All the politicians said they had a really informative evening and learnt alot about the issues affecting riders and that after all, is what it’s all about.

It was a lively and informative evening and the MP reiterated the call from Simon Frampton of Brighton MAG, that riders must speak to the relevant people if they want their voice to be heard.

Riders Are Voters, but the issues we care about will not appear on the political agenda unless we put them there.

Paddy Tyson, MAG’s campaigns manager, gave a presentation on the new GET A GRIP! campaign for consistent grip levels on our road network and had brought a new, ‘composite non-slip’ manhole cover with him that everyone was invited to stand on. The grip offered is exactly the same as surrounding tarmac and will make a massive difference to riders in both urban and rural areas if they become the standard fit.

Although many of the questions from the floor were of a local transportation nature, MP Weatherley asked that riders write to him anyway, so that he can ensure the Secretary of State is made aware of certain issues that effect riders nationally.

The Question Time Event that will be hosted by Chandlers BMW in April, will be before the local elections of 5th May, and, like QTs accross the country, will see local candidates from all political persuasions answering questions directly from riders.

The people seeking election will be the very people responsible for nonslip manhole covers, bike parking, access to bus-lanes etc. If they don’t know there is a problem, they will never act to rectify the situation.

Riders Are Voters will be giving you the opportunity to make your voice heard. I hope you’ll be a part of it.

Huge thanks to Chris and Simon of Brighton MAG and to Emmet and all at Chandlers BMW, for organising the event and demonstrating that motorcycling matters.

See a full list of local authorities going to the polls by clicking here