Having actively campaigned for wider bus lane use for over fifteen years, London’s current eighteen-month trial, ending on July 5th, followed a commitment from
Mr Johnson given to the bmf in the run up to the Mayoral elections, so while pleased at the trial’s qualified success, the bmf is nevertheless disappointed that yet another trial is being introduced and the effective this will have on other local authorities.
The bmf knows that many local authorities with bus lanes are already cautious over opening them up to motorcycles and this further trial will do nothing to encourage them to introduce bus lane use.
The independent report on the existing trial, carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), found that ninety-three per cent of motorcyclists and 51 per cent of cyclists and car and van drivers supported the ‘Motorcycles in Bus Lanes’ trial and that fears of an increase in cyclist collisions with motorcyclists were unfounded.
The report actually found that there was a fall in the cyclist collision rate across trial bus lanes and despite 51 per cent of motorcyclists switching to bus lane use, there were no fatal accidents over the period of the trial. It was also found that motorcycle journeys were now more than 10 per cent quicker than those not using bus lanes and 36 per cent quicker than cars.
Against the positives, the report found that there was a slight increase in the rate of motorcyclist collisions, predominantly with cars turning into or out of side roads, hence says Transport for London, the need for a new trial with greater education of other road users. Driver awareness is blamed as a key factor and says the bmf, if bus lane access was more widespread across the UK, drivers would become more aware and thus reduce accidents.
Commenting on the report the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said that the initial trial has shown some positive results and that “the chaos that was predicted by some doomsayers has clearly not materialised and, as I suspected would be the case, we have found substantial support for the measure.”
The bmf’s Government Relations Executive Chris Hodder commented: “While we’re pleased with a continuation of bus lane use, the bmf are keen for other local authorities to allow motorcycles access to bus lanes and therefore to change expectations of who or what might be there. We are however pleased to see that the Mayor has decided to address this problem with a better awareness advertising campaign.”
For the TfL report see http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/15795.aspx
Received from Paul Airton, East Anglian Air Ambulance
Please find attached the preliminary details for a planned ride-out on 7 & 8 August….
The ride is in two separate days, with currently no overnight stay….although that is a possibility for those wanting to do both days, travelling into Bedfordshire to start the run….
Day 1 is completely under the rotors of EAAA – and we are delighted that the organiser has selected us to be the beneficiary of his efforts. Graham is in the ambulance service – and when folks from the ambulance service itself are giving money to the air ambulance, it says an awful lot about the need for the charity.
Day 2 takes riders through the area of Essex Air Ambulance & Hertfordshire Air Ambulance. Any riders are welcome to take part in the ride, and if they wish to raise money for their local air ambulance of these two counties, please set your own JustGiving or VirginMoney pages up for your sponsors.
Please Support Graham in any way you can. Join in the ride, or help organise the rideout – or both. Either way, this is not a race…..remember Think Bike applies to riders as well as other road users. Ride Safely…
From Graham Sharp …
I am organising a motorcycle rally over two days on the 7th and 8th of August 2010. The route over both days will take us to 13 different ambulance stations within the East of England Trust area, stopping off for approximately 15 minutes for a leg stretch and brew, and an hour for lunch at the seafront of Great Yarmouth and Southend. Attached is the planned route of main roads to be travelled on. (Any better route suggestions considered!)
I would like to add some fundraising for the rally in aid of the East Anglian Air Ambulance charity. Any ideas for the raising of money, e.g. sponsorship or entry fees, to me ASAP please! One suggestion is for each rider to donate and a little bit of “not bucket shaking” 
at the stations stopped at en route….
If you or your friends/family ride a bike and would be interested in joining us for the whole rally, part of the rally, or maybe you live/work out of one of the stations along the route and would like to join us from there? Or have any questions, please let me know/contact me by email to (don’t laugh!) grahamsharp999@hotmail.co.uk or txt to 07500706435 (just for rough numbers of expected participants).
Everyone is welcome to join us, the more the merrier!!!
Thanks for reading and hope to see you on the road.
Stay upright!
Graham Sharp, SAP, Kempston Group.
Motorcycle Ride Out
Planned Route for Day 1, Saturday 7th August 2010
(Timings and mileage are an estimate from AA route planner, town to town)
- Leave Kempston @ 0800hrs > A421 > A1 Northbound, 41 miles, 51 minutes to Peterborough
- Leave Peterborough @ 0915hrs > A15 > A47, 37 miles, 58 minutes to Kings Lynn
- Leave Kings Lynn @ 1030hrs > A148, 43 miles, 1 hour to Cromer
- Leave Cromer @1145hrs > A149 > A140, 23 miles, 36 minutes to Norwich
- Leave Norwich @ 1230hrs > A47, 20 miles, 32 minutes to Great Yarmouth (Lunch)
- Leave Great Yarmouth @1345hrs > A12, 57 miles, 1 hour 24 minutes to Ipswich
- Leave Ipswich @ 1530hrs > A14, 54 miles, 1 hour 14 minutes to Cambridge
- Leave Cambridge @ 1700hrs > A428 > A1 southbound > A421, 30 miles, 49 minutes to Kempston @ approximately 1750hrs.
Total miles for day 1 – 305
Motorcycle Ride Out
Planned Route for Day 2, Sunday 8th August 2010
(Timings and mileage are an estimate from AA route planner, town to town)
- Leave Kempston @ 0900hrs > A603 > A1 southbound, 23 miles, 36 minutes to Letchworth
- Leave Letchworth @ 0945hrs > B656 > A507 > A10 > A120, 23 miles, 41 minutes to Bishops Stortford
- Leave Bishops Stortford @ 1035hrs > A120, 35 miles, 56 minutes to Colchester
- Leave Colchester @ 1145hrs > A12, 25 miles, 36 minutes to Chelmsford
- Leave Chelmsford @ 1230hrs > A130 > A127, 21 miles, 33 minutes to Southend on Sea (Lunch)
- Leave Southend on Sea @ 1400hrs > A127 > M25 to J22 (I know, boring road!), 55 miles, 1 hour 10 minutes to St. Albans
- Leave St. Albans @ 1530hrs > A1081, 11 miles, 23 minutes to Luton
- Leave Luton @ 1605hrs > A6, 20 miles, 36 minutes to Kempston @ approximately 1640hrs
Total miles for day 2 – 213
We’ve just received this email from our colleague, David, in West Yorkshire. As many of you are regular commuters, you may wish to help out by giving some feedback …
I’ve been asked by the guys who made the ‘Great Roads Great Rides’ DVD’s if I can pass on the message below. They’re putting together a new riders DVD and want your input:
Filming for the Commuter Survival Guide for Motorcyclists starts 15th June and we want the input of real bikers to shape the production. The film will deliver practical guidance and tips from a top rider’s perspective on surviving the commute. This commentary based film will follow a motorcyclist on a journey out of a busy UK city during rush hour.
To ensure we create a programme with all the information a biker could ever need, we would appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to complete the pre-filming survey on the link below. Please tell us a bit about yourself. This information will not be shared and is for internal use only.
From Caryl, Casualty Reduction Partnership
Help spread the word. There’s a new, national initative to help promote rider training and safety by giving people – novice riders or returning riders – the opportunity to get a free motorcycle training session. It’s a scheme run by the Motorcycle Industry Association and the emphasis is on fun and safety. Details of the scheme can be found at http://www.geton.co.uk/. You’ll also find details of participating dealers in Bedfordshire and beyond.
And here’s an article from someone who has taken part … tp://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorbikes/7724582/How-safe-are-teenagers-on-two-wheels.html
It’s been all quiet on the blog for a while, but we’ve been busy behind the scenes working on new safety initatives for motorcyclists for 2010.
We’re pleased to have produced our second edition of Bedfordshire Biker magazine which was mailed to all subscribers and distributed to local motorcycle dealers in March and April. If you haven’t seen a copy, contact us and we’ll add you to our subscriber list. Subscribe online at www.bedfordshire-biker.org or phone Nicola or Caryl 01234 716333 or email your address to subscriptions@bedfordshire-biker.org.
We also have a season of RideSafe assessments planned – your chance to have your riding assessed by a Bedfordshire Police Advanced Motorcyclist. It’s free and you’ll receive expert advice on what you do well and where you could improve or benefit from further training. For dates and details, follow this link.
1st Ride for pre-CBT novice riders, launched lat year, is also running throughout the summer. For details of 1st Ride, follow this link.
We’re also pleased to be distributors of the CRASH card, developed by the Ambulance Motorcycle Club and supported by the East of England Ambulance Service. The concept is simple – motorcyclists are asked to carry a CRASH card inside their helmet which includes your name, post code, date of birth and any important medical information that paramedics and hospital staff can refer to in case you are involved in an ‘unscheduled dismount’. A small green dot to fix to your helmet will let paramedics know that you have a CRASH card inside your helmet. For your CRASH card, email info@motorcyclingmatters.org or call 01234 716333. For more information, visit http://www.ambulancemotorcycleclub.150m.com/crash-card.htm
Blog post submitted by Bob Long
The 50th Anniversary bmf Show saw sun, smiles and bikers in their thousands turn out over the weekend for one of the best bmf shows of the century! As Europe’s largest outdoors motorcycle show, the bmf show is the traditional season-opener for thousands of motorcyclists and this year certainly did not disappoint.
The bmf’s new event organisers the Mulberry group were determined to pull out all the stops to make this a show to remember and they succeeded big time. With an improved layout, more manufacturers and top-line traders plus fantastic sunny weather, it’s no wonder that over 60,000 people were smiling over the show weekend!
Advance ticket sales had been down on last year, but with the forecast good weather people turned up on the day and formed massive queues, so much so that for the first time ever, tickets ran out and the bmf show found itself with ticket touts! However, the organisers soon resolved that and showgoers gained admission without paying a premium!
With the official presence of BMW, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Triumph, Norton, Victory, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, plus Ducati, there were plenty of new bikes to look at and test rides to be had on BMW, Suzuki and Kawasaki. Norton were there for the first time and Norton Sales Manager and top BSB racer Chris Walker, having sold four of the stunning new Nortons over the weekend, was well pleased commenting that “the bmf show has everything going for it with good organisation, a good crowd and good security. It’s a great place to be and to be seen,” he said.
On the other hand a regular exhibitor for the past seven years, Richard Spies of Victory Motorcycles, was also well pleased with the weekend. With a prime corner position in the newly defined manufacturer’s area Richard said it had been a “great show with a great crowd.”
BMW, currently riding high in the sales charts was similarly pleased with the weekend. “The bmf show is good for us with plenty of serious enquiries from serious enthusiasts” said BMW Marketing Manager Tony Jakeman. On a completely different level, thousands come to the bmf show on a shopping expedition to buy their kit for the new season so smaller traders too reported brisk business. Chris Hawley of Baglux, a regular for the past 25 years and just one of the 300 traders on site, said that business had been good and that “there was a buzz about the place again that had been missing in recent years.” Someone really happy was Norman Ford, the winner of the bmf’s Win-A-Bike/Choose-A-Bike prize draw. Stunned that he had won, Norman is yet to choose which bike he wants to take home from either a Yamaha XVS1300 ‘Midnight Star’, a Suzuki GSXR600 or a Honda CB1000R. Another winner on the day was David Blight who having joined the bmf over the weekend, found that he was also the lucky winner of a Giacomo Agostini replica helmet in the bmf’s special membership promotion.
The stunning weather also made the perfect back-drop to two action-packed days of arena activities featuring Jason Smyth – The Adrenalin Tour, The Stanage International stunt display team and of course, old favourites the madness that is Moped Enduro and the thrills of Short Track racing. Commenting, bmf spokesman Jeff Stone said, “This really was an excellent show. I’ve run the press office at most of the bmf shows since 1977 and this was one of the best. It wasn’t as packed as some, but in a way it was better for it and given the current economic climate, we did amazingly well. To be honest, the bmf show had lost its way over the last few years, but due credit to the Mulberry Group, their input means it’s now back on track!”
In the run-up to the BMF’s 50th anniversary next year, ‘yes we can, indeed we must’, perhaps best sums up the underlying message from this year’s British Motorcyclists Federation’s Annual General Meeting.
Held in Tuddenham, Norfolk, in the BMF’s Eastern Region, members and delegates from BMF clubs heard that while the BMF’s lobbying work was highly regarded and the BMF still had a reputation to be proud of, membership, in line with that of many other membership organisations, was falling and so therefore was its income.
The BMF’s portfolio of shows and events, although continuing to produce a profit, had not reached their projected figures either and this had only compounded the situation said Anna Zee, the BMF’s chairman.
Addressing the latter, Martin Chick, the MD of the Mulberry Group, the BMF’s new event contractor, said that the BMF had a powerful brand but it was not being used to its best advantage. “As a motorcyclist, my passion for and love of motorcycling will be very much at the forefront of the Mulberry Group’s approach to BMF events. I know what motorcycling means to people and I know what makes a good event, but equally, I want to improve the image of the BMF and we’ll help to do that by delivering on our promises.”
BMF Chairman Anna Zee agreed and in thanking the BMF’s outgoing event contractors, Live Promotions, said that they had come in three years ago at a very difficult time for the BMF but now the BMF was looking to improve its own performance too and considered that Mulberry had much to offer as a partner in this mission.
On a similar theme, Dorian Burrows of the BMF’s Marketing Committee stressed the need for broadening the BMF’s appeal. Communication was key to involving existing members and reaching out to all motorcyclists he said, but the message had to be right and it had to be relevant to today’s more informed motorcyclists.
As a way of streamlining BMF operations, the meeting was told that the posts of Affiliate Member Services and Individual Member Services had been amalgamated into one and that a separate post of Events Director had therefore been created. Pete Laidlaw was duly elected to the new post of Member Services Director and Tony Young was elected to the new post of Events Director. The post of chairman was uncontested with Anna Zee being elected for another year.
A new post from Bob, our local BMF bod….
The British Motorcyclists Federation have appointed event specialists, the Mulberry Group, as organisers of the BMF’s range of popular motorcycle events.
Starting as from 1st October 2009, the Mulberry Group will take over the organisation of BMF events from Live Promotions, the BMF’s event contractors since 2007.
BMF Chairman Anna Zee said: “Outsourcing our events back in 2007 was a big move for us and our thanks go to Live Promotions for coming in at a very difficult time for the BMF, but now, after a through review of our requirements, we want to further develop our unique range of events and have decided that the Mulberry Group, (no ‘Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush’ jokes thank you!), under their Managing Director Martin Chick, himself a keen motorcyclist, are the people to do that.”
For the Mulberry Group, Kawasaki ZZR1400 riding MD, Martin Chick, a motorcyclist for over 30 years, said that he intends to be very hands-on and while he already has several ideas for improvements, wants to undertake a thorough and joint review before implementing any changes.
“We are delighted to have been chosen to manage the BMF events and we look forward to the challenges this will bring,” said Martin. “My passion for and love of motorcycling will be very much at the forefront of the Mulberry Group’s approach to the BMF events. “We want to review the entire make-up of the shows, including the sponsorship and exhibitor packages, and intend to create some new and innovative changes which we are confident that both members and the public will benefit from”
Overall responsibility for the shows will rest with Martin Chick with day to day matters being dealt with by the Mulberry events team in conjunction with the BMF’s Assistant Events Manager, Jane Longthorn.
Contact details:
Public enquiries to the BMF on: 0116 279 5111 or enquiry@bmf.co.uk
Martin took a RideSafe riding assessment with a Bedfordshire Police Advanced Motorcyclist in August. Here he tells us how it went …
“It was with some trepidation that I headed for Bedford Fire station for my assessed ride appointment, the weather was dry warm and sunny, in fact perfect for a Sunday morning ride in the country, but I had an idea that this morning’s ride would be slightly different.
As I entered the car park there was an abundance of blue and yellow decorated bikes and I was thinking to myself ‘now would not be a good time to cock up the u turn required, and have to lay the bike on its side’.
With the necessary manoeuvres completed and the bike safely on its side stand I headed over to the registration desk, where I was greeted warmly, and my booking confirmed.
After a short form filling in session I was introduced to Paul my assessor for the ride, he looked over my bike as only the police seem able to do and asked questions about my riding history and the sort of rider I thought I was. So far so good, and he even had a sense of humour, which for riding behind me for any distance was a good thing.
A quick ‘can you read that number plate’ and we were kitting up for our ride. Paul advised me that he would stay behind me for the assessment and that I was not to take any notice of where he was on the road as he wanted to view my ‘style’ from all angles. I was to ride as I normally do but keep an eye in my mirrors for directions and instructions, he had a simple hand signal and indication process that seemed to work as long as I used my mirrors. Once I had gotten over the shock of a fully kitted up police bike swarming all over my rear, and the startled onlookers, who I was sure were thinking ‘there goes another biker being chased’ things started to settle down and I got into the swing of things. We were making good progress, even overtaking ‘The public’ as required. Sure I missed a couple of speed limit signs, I missed a couple of Paul’s direction signals, but after 40 minutes we arrived back in Bedford without incident.
Ok I thought this was the moment of truth, I had got back in one piece, Paul had not had to stop me and issue any warnings, and after all he had managed to keep up with me, so how bad could it be?
After a quick chat and some brief discussion about my approach to the ride, we both sat down to write down our thoughts, mine on a questionnaire and Pauls on the full page assessment report.
It’s amazing how accurate the report was, where I was marked down in an area it was backed up with a recollection of the exact point on the ride where the error had occurred, and how it might have been avoided. It was also pointed out where I could have actually ‘Enjoyed’ my riding further and not been held up as much, simply by being in a better position.
So was it worthwhile?
Without a doubt, even after 30 years of biking you never stop learning, a fair and very useful morning which above all is very good fun.
If you are thinking about going along and you just cannot make up your mind, I would say just do it, it’s a real eye opener into the way these guys ride, and boy can they ride! And what’s more you learn a lot about how you ride, and how you could ride better still.
Mind you I am not sure I will ever get used to riding with a police bike that close behind me. It’s just unnerving.
Thanks to all involved, a great morning, and time well spent.”
Competition for rider trainers
Submit an exercise for riders
CIECA, the International Commission of Driver and Rider Testing Authorities has launched a worldwide competition to collect examples of the best rider trainig exercises. Together with its partners ACEM, FIM and FEMA, CIECA invites rider trainers to submit rider training exercises related to the ten most frequent accident causes for PTWs. This competition has been re-launched with a new deadline of December 1, 2009. An example of a submission was given by the Finnish national road safety organisation. The winner of the BikeSafety competition will win a Suzuki SIXteen 150cc scooter. Runner-up prizes include guided tours and tickets for racing events.
For more information, visit http://www.cieca.be/CIECARidTraSur_EN.pp