any UK motorcycle organisation that do SOMETHING?

[Val]

Hi,

I am not a member of any motorcycle organisation except BCF

One question is there in the UK ANY motorcycle organisation that actually is doing something for all of us?

I mean I would like basic non-political things like making good roads and organising transport road system to be motorcycle friendly - like changing the Road Traffic Act so that riding in a bus lane is not left to some local counsel bureaucrat wishes.

I do not want my tax payers money spent by the government for stupid campaigns, posters and stickers like Think Bike - I want road organisation in way that prevents accidents for riders.

Means actively lobbying and pushing for us.

On BMF page here are the reasons why I should join them:

Why join the BMF?

Get a quarterly 27+ page magazine!
Get discounted BMF show tickets in advance!
Get money off services, tours and holidays!
Support the rights of motorcyclists on the roads!

WTF?

On MAG page they just say: MAG's main activities are political

no details whatsoever.

Really?
____________________
Adrian Monk: Unless I'm wrong, which, you know, I'm not...
Yamaha Fazer FZS 600, MT09, XSR 900

[Itchy]

Yup got it in one.

The only way to get more political power is to encourage more people to ride once you are a bigger % of the population you have a bigger voice.


Unfortunately we have idiotic motorbike training schools that keep lobbying for their own demise* which is killing off the number of new bikers.


*motorcycle schools wanted and got the graded licensing system thinking they would get much more new business because of it. They were wrong as not as many people will jump through all the hoops.
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[alexknight200...]

[thx1138]

[Rogerborg]

MAG are having a go.

Local groups have had local successes. Bus lane access, grippy manhole covers. Good show. I'd give my local lot a try but I can't make it to their monthly meeting, and sadly they're firmly entrenched in "do it at the pub" culture.

MAG UK Plc Inc, I'm not sure. They do appear to have got a rethink on the Bedford "turbo" roundabout, and got the raised lane dividers removed.

I can't actually think of anything else that they've successfully achieved in the past decade, other than turning subs and raffle money into staff and "consultant" salaries.

Asking for examples inevitably triggers defensive rage rants - wot 'ave YOU dun then, rrraaagh, LEG PROTECTORS!!!!! - so I'm guessing it's actually nothing.

A swing and a miss is still a swing though. The BMF appear to have become an events management company.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Itchy]

I know lets set up a biking organisation of our own and have Keith as the head of it! we will fight for the motorbiking cause whole heartedly*




*then later we can become corrupt, accept bribes and turn all subs into fat salaries and weekend 'meetings'
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[wr6133]

[Llama-Farmer]

[Itchy]

Sure but Keith is well known amongst the non BCFers as he has appeared in RiDE magazine every other month for years.
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[WD Forte]

They all do 'something' but none seem to tick all the boxes.
This may well be impossible of course because a broad definiton of a biker/motorcyclist
would include a 50cc scooterist up to a 2.3 /6 litre Triumphalist.
Simply put, anyone who rides two wheels with an engine in the middle

Its a broad church though and includes as wide a variation in lifestyles and attitudes as you get anywhere
and getting the commuter riders chummying up with tattooed, assless chap wearing 'real bikers' may not be easy.

MAG seems to be more active than BMF but I lost interest in it both locally and nationally and have lapsed my membership.
Having senior members talking such shite was appalling and it felt like an organisation that was too busy braying about istelf to listen.

I do think it would good for all riders to have an organisation that
attempted to be all encompassing ( two wheels, engine in the middle)
that kept its feet on the ground and gave its members a feeling of genuinely being involved
and a voice without them feeling they were being preached to or fed bullshit.

It would be like herding cats of course........

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