Bristol MAG is the local branch of the Motorcycle Action Group and is made up of a wide variety of bikers, riding many different types of motorcycle. The group promotes MAG's campaigns in our area and raises awareness of local biking and safety issues. MAG is not just about the politics of biking, it is also a great way to get to meet like minded people with an interest in motorcycles.
So don't be shy, why not come along to our next meeting? We meet every Thursday from 8.30 p.m.
GWR event cancelled This weekend's rally not going ahead due to conditions in the field and further bad weather forecasted.
SATURDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 2008 SCRAWNY DAWNS RIDEOUT
Thank you everyone for turning out on such a beautiful day. For those of you who didn't spot Dawn, she was there waving madly and we truly did put a big smile on her face. Well done. If you have any pictures of today please email me them or hand me a cd when you're next at Bristol MAG. I will post them on this site and send copies to Dawn. Contact Pauline
Dawn one of Bristol MAG's members has had a really bad RTA and is in Frenchay Hospital. We all wish her well with her recovery. Steve thanks you all for your texts and calls of support but, as I am sure you will all appreciate, it is not possible for Steve to get back to everyone. So I will post updates of her progress here.
Tue 19 Aug Yesterday Dawn had her right leg removed below the knee. She is being very brave and remains positive about the future.
Sat 06 Sep Dawn had her 4th operation Monday, 1 Sept. but the good news is that the grafts are healing and Dawn is now not confined to bed rest.
On Tuesday 2nd Sept, Dawn had a surprise visit from Charley Boorman and Hawg Heaven's Jon Quantrell. The guys came bearing gifts, signed books, dvds and the like and I know Dawn was really chuffed. Thanks guys for taking the time and effort to visit.
Pauline
What another great show. Thanks to everyone that helped out on the day and to all the sponsors and traders who ensured that the event was so successful. Photos have been uploaded to this site so click on the album tab and take a look. Also check out the dedicated website The Bristol Bike Show for more info and pictures in the next couple of days
Bristol MAG committee meeting Thur 18 Sep 2008
End of Year bash at Lower Lode Inn, Tewkesbury, camping weekend 27-28 Sep 2008
Halloween Party, 1 Nov 2008
for more events and events info click on the Events tab.
June 24 2008 saw the launch of the 'Grip top' non slip manhole cover by French multi national Saint Gobain in Bristol. Both Andy Derritt, MAG BristolRep and MAG Campaigns Manager David Short were guest speakers at the event. For more details including press release issued by Saint Gobain click on the Campaigns tab.
At the Bristol Motorcycle Forum last week the police representative told us about the Bobby Van Scheme. Up to March 2006 in Bristol 964 bikes, mopeds and scooters were stolen. More then half of those were taken from outside the owner’s home. If someone has stolen or attempted to steal your bike contact the police and report it under the Bobby Van Scheme. They will visit and can offer advice and free practical assistance to secure your bike. Under the scheme they have the resources to give you a secure anchor for your bike.
It seems that bikes, mopeds and scooters are 2% of Bristol’s traffic, but while there are 17,000 dedicated, non-residential car parking spaces in the city there are only about 50 dedicated m/cycle bays. The Council is tackling this inequality by actively seeking suitable m/cycle parking spaces. They do this in consultation with the police and MAG to be aware of safety and security of bikers. By my reckoning 2% of 17,000 is 340, so if the number of bike bays is to reflect bike usage, we need another 300 bays. If you know of what you think is a suitable site, let me know and I’ll pass it on to the Council, you can find my email address at the foot of this page.
We were told that where bikes use bus-lanes the rate of collisions involving m/cycles has been reduced by 30%. That is nearly a third! and represents a fantastic benefit to all of us, bikers or not: fewer visits to A&E, saved repair and insurance money, saved police time.
You may have noticed the extensive roadworks beginning in Old Market and continuing through Lawrence Hill and out along the A420 towards Kingswood and Longwell Green. The Council is installing a new bus-lane, at the same time it is linking the traffic lights and installing Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to monitor the bus lanes. The linked lights will detect and permit buses to move unhindered along the road.
Included in the scheme are two m/cycle parking bays in the St. George shops area.
In the past MAG and other m/cycle user organisations have pointed out the dangers represented by the “cushion” type of speed hump. “Cushions” are the speed humps that are placed as two or three separate humps across the width of the road with gaps between them. They are frequently a slippery material and sometimes come unfixed from the road below. As if those weren’t dangers enough both bikers and car drivers aim to get their wheels into the flat bits beside the hump, cars do this by straddling the hump, bikes move out into the road centre or into the gutter; both moves endanger the biker through exposure to oncoming traffic or to the kind of dangerous rubbish that builds up in the gutter.
Bristol City Council will stop using “cushion” humps, instead they will use full width speed ramps with a long flat top. Much kinder to suspension and safer.
Stuart
Each year Bristol MAG does the Not So So-So Soup Run to raise money for the Julian Trust, a shelter for homeless people in Bristol.
Bristol MAG has an email mailing list to keep people informed about what’s going on.
If you’d like to join it click here.
This document last modified Saturday, 06-Sep-2008 19:45:50 BST
