Lobby – The Motorcycle Factor
Who is in a better position to inform and communicate issues that effect motorcycling than the riders, either as individuals or organised as an effective lobby armed with a knowledge of motorcycling?
Cutting through the raft of information on this website, Right To Ride’s purpose is to engage, to talk, to listen and to debate with – Politicians – Decision makers – Authorities – Other organisations – to work out sensible, practical and political aims and objectives for motorcycling.
The aim is for acceptance and to recognise the advantages motorcycling plays as:
An integral part of road transport, based on evidence and facts that – Economic gains from biking tourism – including motorcycle events – sporting and non sporting – has for Northern Ireland as a whole.
For all to take shared responsibility regarding Road Safety.
The objective: to inform – listen – debate – with those that do not understand or have a different perspective regarding motorcycling.
To stay engaged – talk – listen to those Politicians – Decision makers – Authorities who fully understand the importance of motorcycling in Northern Ireland.
Motorcyclists are passionate about motorcycling and understand the pleasure of riding a motorcycle.
Riders Representation In Northern Ireland
We have got on with the job in hand to promote and protect motorcycling, especially with regards to proposed legislation. We have been in contact with various politicians – not just MLAs but also MPs and MEPs. We have been in contact with government departments and have met with officials. In 2009 we produced a document ”Motorcycling in Northern Ireland – the Riders Perspective”. The Riders Perspective offers the views of motorcyclists as a point of reference to develop a strategy for motorcycle safety in Northern Ireland by encompassing all stakeholders. Including the motorcycle community, individual riders, clubs, groups and associations to be steered through the establishment of a Motorcycling Forum, which would consider an inclusive and strategic approach to motorcycling. This view has been included in the Department of the Environment’s (DOE) consultation paper, to prepare a new road safety strategy for Northern Ireland which will cover the years 2010 to 2020. We can only hope that a motorcycle forum will guide any development of a motorcycle strategy with sensible, constructive input from riders, offering sound and proven expertise to guarantee the future of motorcycling in Northern Ireland. Although we are based in Northern Ireland, we have responded to consultations from the RSA (Road Safety Authority – Ireland) regarding Daytime Running Lights (DRL) and the National Motorcycle Safety Plan in the Republic of Ireland that would if implemented, undoubtedly affect us here too.
We have made contact with rider organisations in the UK, keeping them informed of Northern Ireland issues and offered a mutual voice of similar opinions for motorcycling in Northern Ireland. A loose alliance has been formed with the BMF (British Motorcyclists Federation) representative in Northern Ireland and an expert in rider training to be represented on the committee that is presently overseeing the introduction of CBT (Compulsory Basic Training). We successfully campaigned regarding the removal of helmets in petrol stations and without the encouragement of our supporters none of this would have been possible. We have got involved in and now chair the motorcycle safety initiative Ride It Right www.rideitright.org which has brought together the motorcycle community and authorities together in shared a responsibility for motorcycle safety. We hope we have given riders in Northern Ireland, based on our years of experience of consultation and lobbying, a voice that can be used to inform politicians – decision makers – authorities and anybody who needs convincing, that we, the riders are the experts. Check on Right To Rides issues – Click Here |
Right To Ride has been presenting motorcycle issues in Northern Ireland since April 2009.
We have produced a report –
Riders Representation Rest of the UK
Reporting on The Department for Transport’s (DfT) excellent THINK! Bike – THINK! Biker campaign No To The Bike Parking Tax campaign a non-political action group representing motorcyclists and scooterists who object to the illegitimate introduction of parking levies by Westminster City Council and any other authorities. Keeping an eye on UK consultations and debates in Parliament and its committees; reviewing what is said regarding consultations on the 3rd European Driving Licence Directive that arrived on these shores from Europe via Great Britain and now is a separate consultation in Northern Ireland. We have responded to the Department of the Environment’s (DOE) consultation paper, “Preparing a ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY for Northern Ireland 2010-20 20/20 Vision: Driving Forward Road Safety”. We have welcomed the “consideration” of a motorcycling safety strategy for Northern Ireland and the establishment of a Motorcycle Forum which would consider an inclusive and strategic approach to motorcycling.
Right To Ride’s – BikersRVoters and our own experience of running the previous Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) Bikers Are Voters campaign (why reinvent the wheel) has gone live for riders in Northern Ireland, with an understanding of the politics of Northern Ireland and no illusion that here, we as a community, won’t just vote for motorcycle friendly policies. However motorcycle friendly policies may have some influence to tip a balance on who we vote for with their promises to carry these policies forward post election. Our elected representatives and authorities do not sit in a closed world, they do not just look inward to Northern Ireland, its a global world out there for motorcycling. Check our Virtual Library Click Here |
We keep an eye on events in the rest of the UK – Great Britain (England – Scotland - Wales.)
Riders Representation in Europe
In the UK two rider organisations, the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) and the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) are members of FEMA. FEMA’s primary objective is to represent European motorcyclists both within the European Union and agencies of the United Nations However at Right To Ride we have an independent voice and by standing back from the orthodox views of the motorcycle industry, government, research institutes and other safety bodies we can offer a view of motorcycling for the benefit of riders especially for Northern Ireland. There is a raft of other organisations and their experts who input into Europe and the UNECE and its institutions – committees and meetings, with their own opinions and positions on what is best for motorcycling, in particular safety issues. We must be in a position to challenge these opinions and positions particularly were we consider them to be negative for motorcycling. The whole business of safety has become an industry which has taken on a life of its own. The measures and solutions that are put on the table are not necessarily the right ones because of the vested interests of the various stakeholders.
In June 2010 Right To Ride attended, what was hailed, as the 1st International Motorcyclists Conference in Brussels, organized by FEMA (Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations) in partnership with the Canadian and Australian motorcycling associations and the European Commission. The Conference was also the launch of the European Motorcyclists Forum by the European Commission. We support the principles of the Motorcyclists Forum and look forward with interest regarding its structure and influence, as well as the opportunities to promote the positive aspects of motorcycling. More importantly, we are very supportive of the input within the forum of FEMA, FIM and ACEM (Association des Constructeurs Européens de Motocycles). However, we would also hope that this forum will aim to encourage the input of independent organisations, as well as scooter and moped riders who make up just under half of the 20 million PTW riders in Europe. This is exactly why Right To Ride has participated in issues such as:
DOE Consultation on European Driving Licence Directive for Northern Ireland Europe Brands Motorcycles As Dangerous Brussels Tampers With Motorcycles Monitoring issues regarding Vehicle Restraint Systems Responded to European river Training and Traffic Safety Education Reports on issues: Rise Of the Machines – Electric Power Check on Right To Rides issues – Click Here
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Supporting Motorcyclists have the right to clean Roads
