The BikersRVoters campaign for the 2010 General Election – to elect MPs to Westminster – was the first election campaign for Right To Ride in Northern Ireland.
We sent our “formal” invitation for comment to the Northern Ireland political parties and individual politicians that have shown an interest in what we are doing.
We asked them their position on motorcycling, about their general transport policy and road safety policy in Northern Ireland and to formally write to us to regarding the BikersRVoters website.
We scoured through the parties manifestos to find out what the parties and politicians had to say or rather what they didn’t have to say!
Success?
However despite trying to raise motorcycling on the radar through BikersRVoters, the parties failed miserably in the main to respond.
Given their overall generalisation of the issues to gain voters, it was was perhaps too much to wish for motorcycling to appear as a blip on the radar screen, proof is that those who have mentioned transport issues in their manifestos failed to include motorcycling.
Issues that effect motorcyclists are local issues but these are also affected by what happens in Westminster.
It was no surprise that one politician replied to us directly, outlining the stance his party has regarding motorcycling.
However!
As a community who else 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?
With the aim to lobby for the acceptance and to have the advantages motorcycling recognized 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 and for all to take a shared responsibility regarding Road Safety.
And 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.
However BikersRVoters is not just about elections, its a continuing message and we will lobby post election to generate interest in Political Parties – Politicians – informing and seeking dialogue on motorcycling issues.
One thing is definite – Don’t Expect Us To Be Quiet!
Links
Northern Ireland MPs – As Elected at the General Election – 6th May 2010 – Click Here
View the letter sent Click Here pdf 80kb and below.
You can read what the politicians said and what the political party manifestos said – Click Here
BikersRVoters on Facebook – Click Here
BikersRVoters
Letter Send To Political Parties9th April 2010
As lobbyists and enthusiasts for the promotion and protection of motorcycling in Northern Ireland, we have just launched our BikersRVoters website at www.bikersrvoters.org We are contacting all the political parties in Northern Ireland to give a political platform/soapbox for politicians and their political parties to inform motorcyclists of their views on motorcycling as part of the Northern Ireland transport mix. Although we are running up to the General Election, BikersRVoters is not just about the Election of MPs. It is also about post Election in Westminster, Northern Ireland Assembly and European Parliament issues.
The number of registered motorcycles on Northern Ireland roads now exceeds 31,000 and with the cost of petrol increasing, this form of transport is becoming a more viable alternative to cars. We believe that this needs recognition by the politicians and authorities of Northern Ireland. We would also like the parties and individual politicians to consider a dedicated motorcycle manifesto as recognition of the importance of motorcycling to Northern Ireland. In the Northern Ireland Assembly there is an All Party Assembly Group on Roads Safety, so we would like you to consider an All Party Assembly Group on Motorcycling. The whole slant of our BikersRVoters is to allow politicians and the political parties to inform motorcyclists about their views on motorcycling. However, we are also enabling motorcyclists to get their message to politicians by offering them “The Rider’s Soap Box” which should be of interest to yourselves. We will publish your response on the BikersRVoters website in order to provide motorcyclists information about your policies and views which could perhaps tip the balance on how they could vote, outside traditional political boundaries. We look forward to hearing from you. Regards Trevor Baird trevor.baird@writetoride.co.uk Mobile: 07747604119 Phone: 02842 757131 |
