Thousands of bikers are now emerging from winter hibernation and to coincide with the start of the biking season proper, Somerset Road Safety is launching a local Think Bike, Think Biker publicity campaign.

The four-week long “Professionals” campaign will feature actual motorcyclists from Somerset and highlight the work that they each do for the local community, including a fire-fighter, a nurse and a doctor. The hope is that this will cause other road users to look out for moped, scooter and motorcycle riders if they can associate with a real person beneath the crash helmet.

Head of Road Safety for Somerset, Terry Beale, explains; “Research for the Department for Transport has shown that road users who personally know bikers – as friends, relatives, or work colleagues for example, are much more likely to be respectful and watching out for motorcyclists in general. We want to remove the anonymity of motorcyclists and to try and reduce the number of collisions in which they are involved. ‘Sorry Mate, I didn’t see you’, isn’t an excuse when you put someone else in danger; nor is ‘Sorry Mate, I didn’t know you“.

The campaign starts on the 26th of March and will use bus back advertising on Somerset roads, where higher than average numbers of collisions involving bikers have occurred in recent years. It is also timed to follow on from the national ‘Think Bike, Think Biker’ campaign that is using television, radio and outdoor media to highlight the same message.

Free campaign posters are available to any business, college or other organisation in Somerset that wishes to display them. Please contact Jim Newman at Somerset Road Safety on (01823) 423 430 or email [email protected]

For more information about the work of Somerset Road Safety, go to www.somersetroadsafety.org

THE BIKER GUIDE will be @ The Manchester Bike Show, 23rd - 24th March on stands 243 - 244...

Come and pass by to say Hi, enter into free to enter competitions for a a weekend for two @ The Glen Guest House in Kendal, an On Any Sunday dvd and tickets to Stormin the Castle, admire our new sexy signage, grab a free lolly and a good bit of banter is ensured!

Until then...THE BIKER GUIDE®

Last summer over one hundred Surrey bikers took to the country lanes for the Wheels For Troops event, raising well over £1,000 for charities benefitting troops.

This year, organiser Mandy Jenkins is planning a bigger and better event. Over the weekend of 13-14 July 2013, bikers, cyclists and any other ‘wheel riders’ from around the county are invited join forces for a weekend of activities at the Fox Revived pub in Horley to raise funds.

On Saturday the main focus will once again be upon the many motorbike riders, with a 25mile ride out through Surrey show respect for the fallen at points along the route. Starting at 10am on the Saturday, participants will meet at The Fox Revived and enjoy a warm welcome with bacon butties available before the ride-out, before returning to the pub for a day of live music, great food, drink, craft stalls, fun and games which will continue on the Sunday, along with other types of Wheeled Transport, whilst events and activities in the large pub garden continue. Royal British Legion Riders will marshal Saturday’s ride-out. Participants are asked to make a £10 donation to take part in the ride and in return will receive a commemorative t-shirt.

Riders are asked to pre-register via email on [email protected].

Mandy Jenkins, organiser commented: “The charities are close to my family’s hearts, as my eldest son is currently serving in The Princes of Wales Royal Regiment, so I am particularly dedicated to this event, especially after the success of last year. I’m delighted that Jon and Paula from The Fox Revived have agreed to help us once again with the event – I’m sure it’s going to be a really special weekend and one that will raise much needed funds.” Jon Briscoe, who along with his wife, Paula, owns the Fox Revived pub, said: “Wheels For Troops was an amazing event last year; I was even persuaded to dust the leathers off and join in! When Mandy approached us about the event again for this year we were delighted to help. We’ve built a business here that’s about the community and the level of support we’ve seen for this event shows that the community cares – it will be an honour to help facilitate this and we’re really looking forward to it being bigger and better!”

www.wheelsfortroops.co.uk

www.facebook.com/wheelsfrotroops

The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCI) has today announced its intention its launch the eMCI, a 'partner' Association of the MCI, which will proactively promote and develop a positive market and political environment for the UK's embryonic but highly significant alternative powered two wheeler (e-PTW) sector. The official launch will take place during May 2011.

The new grouping, called the e-MCIA (to be known as eMCI), is born from developing contacts with new players in the ePTW sector, coupled with increasing interest in alternative powered technologies from existing major manufacturers. A recently published MCI report on the potential of electric motorcycles as part of a UK low carbon transport strategy, revealed a need for industry to act in a positive way.

The report, titled 'Report on the Sector and Opportunities for Realising Government Objectives' was written in response to the omission of e-PTW's from the recent electric transport initiative called the 'Plug in Grant'. A key objective of the report is to brief Government on the potential for ePTW and to illustrate why is makes sense to include ePTW's in the 'Plugged in Car Grant' framework.

The report highlighted significant opportunities for the sector, such as the creation of 'ePTW city plans' and the MCI's aim of helping ensure that these opportunities are fully embraced and exploited as the industry continues to evolve as new alternative power technologies develop.

A recent Parliamentary Question (Zak Goldsmith 28th Feb) revealed that the ePTW sector currently comprises 43% of the entire fledgling electric vehicle sector. This dwarfs the e-cars sector which despite publicity and Government support comprises only 21% of the electric vehicle sector. These market figures reveal a clear potential for ePTW.
Steve Kenward, MCI CEO, said; "Despite the current low numbers of ePTWs being sold, the indications are that this sector will experience significant growth over the next few years. Socio/political pressure and environmental concerns are painting a clear road map to the future of transport and transport policy, so it is vital that the ePTW sector benefits from specific support from the established UK industry Association, in order to ensure that both new and existing ePTW players can maximise market and public policy opportunities as the motorcycle product offering evolves. This is why we are launching eMCI as a specific platform for the alternative powered sector."

Initial research has revealed that support for a new Association is significant and the eMCI project team will be contacting further key players in the ePTW sector over the coming weeks, inviting them to the first meeting of the group.  It is anticipated that membership of the group will expand quickly as business engages the ePTW sector. Government departments and a number of MPs have also expressed interest in the new initiative.
The role of the group will be to help create a single voice for the ePTW sector in the UK, both in addressing the many technical challenges faced in developing a viable low carbon transport infrastructure, and also the perception and image of ePTW's as a genuine low impact urban transport option. It is envisaged that the eMCI will also draw membership and advice from key technology and infrastructure providers in addition to manufacturers, importers and related businesses.

The MCI believes that the creation of the eMCI will give the ePTW sector appropriate support, to enable it to evolve into a strong and influential player in the development of a UK wide low carbon transport strategy, with its own voice and identity within the wider industry. 

The Heritage Motor Centre has just taken delivery of a new famous exhibit – a recreation of the DeLorean car that starred in the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Back to the Future’.

The car, which arrived on Monday 18 March, is on loan from its owner indefinitely and looks set to be a star attraction whilst on display. Although a replica from the film, the car has all the kit including the flux capacitor and the dash board is signed by Christopher Lloyd who played the original Dr Emmett “Doc” Brown in the film. The owner uses the car to raise money for charity and will be attending some of the major events at the HMC dressed up as the “Doc”, whom he incidentally closely resembles!

Amid a glare of media interest, the first DeLorean cars left the Northern Ireland factory in January 1981 built for the American market. Sales in America were disappointingly low and the company subsequently collapsed. Made famous by the Back to the Future films and infamous by the exploits of its creator, the car is like no other. Just over 9,000 were built and most are in North America. Only a handful of right-hand drive models exist, primarily in England, Ireland and Australia. The car has gullwing doors meaning the doors go up rather than out in a space no larger than 13".

Stephen Laing, Curator at the Heritage Motor Centre stated” We are delighted to have the infamous DeLorean car on loan to us from its owner. The car already caused a great stir when it arrived and I’m sure it will prove to be a very popular exhibit!”

Entry fees to the HMC Museum are: Adults £12, Child £8 (5-16 years) under 5 free, Concessions £10 & Family £34 (2 adults & up to 3 children). 

www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk