The Mass Lobby is not a street demo, it is a rare opportunity for riders from across the UK to gather at Parliament and tell the politicians how best they can serve the riding public.

There is plenty for the riders to say to their elected representatives and the governing parties:

• The cost and bureaucratic complexity of getting a licence is spiralling out of control, while DSA has slashed the number of driving test centres.
• Road conditions are worsening – road design and repair must become bike-friendly if cuts in public spending are not to result in avoidable danger to riders.
• The UK Parliament must resist European proposals to restrict rider choice – current proposals for a new ‘Multi-Directive’ threaten to restrict riders carrying out basic maintenance task or modifying their own bike to suit their needs.  Mandating the use of expensive anti-lock brakes and electronics will add further cost and complexity to biking.  Mandating permanently lit headlamps on all new bikes may do more harm than good.
• Riders are paying too much for too little in return – many bikes pay higher amounts of road tax than do less fuel-efficient cars.
• The Bike industry has been left to sink or swim as Government bail-outs for the Car industry and public money to develop more environmentally-friendly vehicles are not available for two-wheelers.
• Many Bus Lanes are still closed to bikes despite the advantages of opening them.
• Motorcycle Sport is under pressure from agricultural policies that deter land-owners and planning rules that threaten to close circuits.

Taking part in the Mass Lobby is very easy and free of charge, but you must register your details with Riders Are Voters if you want to attend.

You can register by Emailing central-office@mag-uk.org or Phoning the Riders Are Voters office on 0800 9883193 (rider registration is being co-ordinated by MAG on behalf of the RAV campaign organisations).

You will need to tell us: – your Name and home Address including the Postcode (we will need to check details for your constituency and MP). – your E-mail Address and Telephone contact details (we will need to confirm your registration and may need to tell you about final arrangements for the day). – which motorcycle organisations you are a member of, if any (RAV is a coalition of groups working for a better deal for riders).

RAV will send you further information about arrangements for the day, including travel information.

Riders who are not able to take part in the Mass Lobby at Parliament can still support the campaign by making an appointment to see their MP at one of their local constituency ‘surgeries’ – ideally BEFORE the 8th of November.

Phone 0800 9883193 for further information.

This is your opportunity  – meet your MP where they work for you.

Hear what lies ahead for biking in the UK – Say what should be done.

Be a part of it, let your voice be heard.

Nich Brown, MAG General Secretary said; “All the effort people put in to the Riders Are Voters campaign is paying off. So many MPs and Ministers in the new Government are now aware of the isues surrounding the new test fiasco, bikes in bus lanes, parking, the need for common-sense on road safety and an end to offical disinterest. For once, we have had an earlier hearing than most of the established lobby groups that have consistently marginalised biking.”

The new Minister said he wanted to see a situation “…where biking is as pleasurable as possible, with the state interfering as little as possible”. He added that “any action government takes should be based on evidence”. Of course, most of his predecessors in the Ministerial office-suite have said much the same from time-to-time, so we listened carefully to what he had to say on some current topics:

On the expense, safety and availability of the new riding test…
We understand that the Minister visited one of the DSA’s handful of white-elephant ‘Multi-Purpose Test Centres’ to witness the new bike test for himself – just one week in to his new job. From what we could gather, it seems that what he saw convinced him that we need a better, fairer, more affordable and accessible training and testing system – just what BMF, MAG and MCI have been campaigning for.

On bikes in bus lanes…
With the results of the Transport for London Bus Lanes experiment expected at any time, the new Minister seemed convinced that letting us use bus lanes has to be good, not only for riders but for others as well. However, despite the obvious need for certainty and consistency from one town to another, there is no prospect of DfT dictating every bus lane should be opened-up – although we may see stronger guidance from DfT on the safety and mobility benefits that allowing bikes to use bus lanes can bring.

On parking…
Again the Minister talked in terms of stronger guidance from DfT about the need to provide enough bike parking of the right kind, but this will fall short of insisting on minimum standards and consistent treatment across the country. The NoToBikeParkingTax campaign have called for a mass demonstration by riders on 19th June in the form of a slow lap of the M25 (www.notobikeparkingtax.com)

On the real causes of bike accidents…
The new Minister says any proposals for an EU-wide limit on Brake-Horse Power would not tackle the real issues of road safety. Instead, he sees riders’ and drivers’ attitudes as the most important issue when it comes to preventing crashes.

On compulsory protective equipment…
The new minister clearly does not like to see riders exposing their flesh to the possibility of gravel-rash, or worse, and wants to see more use of protective clothing to prevent injury. However, he was clear that further compulsion as to the choice of helmet, high-viz or protective clothing is not on his radar and agreed that education, not regulation, is the way to achieve his goal.

In a two pronged attack, the Parliamentarians seem to be working with RAV. The day after Mark Williams MP asked probing questions in Parliament about the conduct of the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) and their failure to provide adequate m/c testing provision in Wales, Ann Main MP for St Albans has launched an Early Day Motion (EDM) in the House.

An early day motion, if it recieves enough signatures from MPs, can lead to the introduction of a private member’s bill, but it certainly raises awareness of the strength of feeling in the Commons about an issue.

Please read the text of the EDM, by clicking here, contact your MP and urge them to sign EDM 1002. It just might help save motorcycling as we know it.