As reported by some European rider organisations, the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations (FEMA) argues that, “Road users and motorcyclists in particular, have serious doubts about the objectiveness of the EU decision-making process and the actual motives and democratic values of our representatives.”  

FEMA adds, “It would not be the first time the EU has been accused of not having its actual people’s interests as a priority.” and wonders, “how long it (we assume the European decision making process) can really afford to carry on operating like this.”  

These accusations and further mutterings from FEMA concern the European Commission’s proposal to introduce mandatory Road Worthiness Testing (RWT) for motorcycles in all European member states. At this point in time there are 9 countries that do not have RWT aka MoT for motorcycles and scooters.  

Just to be clear, our position at Right to Ride is and has always been that this is a national issue and should be left to Member States to decide, which is why we support the EU Council’s position (which is similar to the Northern Ireland Assembly’s position) to change the proposal into a Directive.  

However we have also made it clear that we believe that roadworthiness testing is a valid means of ensuring that vehicles circulating on our roads are compliant from a technical and emissions perspective.  

What is the actual problem between those individuals and bodies in the European decision making process?  In response to our queries, FEMA’s President Frederic Jeorge replied that they do meet the MEPs, interact and discuss, and have plenty of them (MEPs) on their side. However, evidently the FEMA representatives in Brussels are unable to have any impact within the TRAN committee or in this case with the rapporteur Werner Kuhn and Chairman Brian Simpson. Perhaps it is the case that FEMA left it too late and should have perhaps been in contact with these people months ago when the proposal was first introduced?  

As per our previous article – RWT – Is it Toast?

We considered what we believe to be the most likely outcome, which is that due to the vast difference of positions between the EP (i.e. Rapporteur Kuhn of the TRAN Committee) and the EU Council, we find it unlikely that this proposal will see the light of day in its present form, because the majority of the Member States don’t want it (RWT) as proposed by the Commission, nor do a significant proportion of MEPs.  

Let’s hope somebody can enlighten us or get this alleged problem sorted before riders representative credibility swirls down the plug hole!  

Read the full article on Right To Ride EU

The Manchester Bike Show offers you the opportunity to get close up and personal with the hottest new bikes from major manufacturers such as Ducati, Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, MV Augusta, Harley-Davidson, Victory Motorcycles and many many more with all the major motorcycle dealers in the North West in attendance over the weekend. 

It’s a great day out for the whole family with Steve “Stuntman” Colley - THE top name in two wheeled crowd pleasing action, performing gravity defying stunts three times daily in the live action arena.  Not to mention on Sunday nine times Isle of Man TT winner Charlie Williams and the fastest lady rider round the TT circuit, Jenny Tinmouth, will be on hand along with their machines to talk about their many experiences racing around this famous old circuit.

Over 300 rare and exotic classics and customs will form a major part of the Manchester Bike Show within the dedicated enthusiasts hall with trade stands and club displays from the leading enthusiasts groups, restoration and customising companies. 

This will be the biggest and best concours competition in the north of England and a chance to see some priceless machinery. While at the show don’t also forget to visit the 70 or so trade stands in our retail village selling everything to keep the motorcyclist on the road including leathers and helmets, tools and accessories, toys and models, books and literature etc etc.  Not to mention the live stage where The Bowden and Williamson Band, plus Stevie Simpson will each be appearing twice daily along with a DJ to entertain our guests in the bar and restaurant area throughout the day.

Shaping up to be the best bike show Manchester has ever seen with easy access just two minutes from junction 9 or 10 of the M60, right next to the Trafford Centre, with free parking and a dedicated bike park, visiting the Manchester bike show at EventCity simply couldn’t be easier.

Advance tickets with a 20% discount and no booking fee are available from www.manchesterbikeshow.com or by calling 01749 813899 (none premium rate line).  Tickets on the door are £12 adults, £10 seniors and kids go for a quid! 

See you there!

Oh and come and say Hi to THE BIKER GUIDE on stand 419!

Fresh from his best ever WRC result at Rally Mexico, Monster Energy's Ken Block continues his epic world tour and jets into the UK on Friday 22nd March to catch up with his fans on this side of the "pond".    

Ken will be visiting Ace Cafe London from 6pm - 9pm to check out the bikes along with TT race legend John McGuinness.  

If you want to get up close with Ken and his 2013 GRC Fiesta, head over and get yourself a signed poster.  Just don't get too close, or else he might sign your face instead!  

www.monsterenergy.com/gb/en/news

www.hoonigan.com

www.ace-cafe-london.com

The Heritage Motor Centre has a whole host of special events and activities for the family to enjoy during the Easter holidays from the 23 March – 7 April.  The Land Rover customised for Aardman Productions 'Shaun the Sheep’, will take centre stage supported by a series of themed special family activities.

Families can explore the sights and sounds of the museum with a quiz designed to educate and entertain the whole family.  New this year is an outdoor children’s play area featuring a new galleon ship climbing frame offering a variety of challenges, both mental and physical.

On Thursday 28 March and Thursday 4 April children can make their own ‘Shaun’ or ‘Timmy’ pompom sheep or face masks whilst older children may prefer to design and decorate their own model Land Rover. Children can get inspiration from around the museum or simply let their creative skills run wild with their very own unique designs.

The baaaringly good ‘Find the Flock’ Easter Trail runs from Thursday 28 March – Monday 1 April. Children who complete the trail can earn an Easter treat.

On Thursday 4 April youngsters can discover how to create stop-frame animation film in ‘hands on’ drop in sessions from 10.30am - 3.30pm. Animator, Tom Grainger, will be on hand to show how to make puppets, build sets, create story boards, animate and edit a short film.  Youngsters will be introduced to a range of stop-motion techniques and learn how to make their own short experimental films.

Or why not enjoy a ride in a real Land Rover – take a 20 minute taster session to experience the thrills and spills of off-road driving. These run daily with qualified instructors driving around a challenging off-road course over rocky inclines, steep descents and some pretty impressive water sections. Not suitable for children under 5 years. £9 Adult, £6 Child.

Great for bored teenagers! The range of Stop Start Driving Lessons are designed for teenagers aged 15+, to experience and learn some fundamental driving skills in dual controlled vehicles. Each hour long lesson costs just £45 which also includes entrance to the museum for the driver.  Pre booking is essential, call 01926 645128, price includes entrance to the Museum for the driver.

Museum entry fees are: Adults £12, Child £8 (5-16 years) under 5 free, Concessions £10 & Family £34 (2 adults & up to 3 children).  For more information about any of these events please visit www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk or call 01926 641188.

BBC News reported last week, that the RAC Foundation along with Fair Fuel UK were calling upon the Chancellor to cut fuel duty in the budget this month in order to relieve hardship for members of the public.

It was quoted that a quarter of people’s salaries are spent on running their cars. In some areas fuel has risen by as much as 4p in a week, yet more than half of the price of a litre of unleaded at the pumps is tax and VAT. Both petrol and diesel are approaching record levels, yet little, if anything has been reported about the impact that the soaring fuel tax has on charities that such as The Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes, who each year are forced to meet such costs.

The Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes is a charity that transports blood, plasma, platelets, samples, vaccines, human breast milk and other urgently required medical items to hospitals and special baby units - completely free of charge. It is run by dedicated volunteers who receive no financial compensation for their time or costs, allowing the NHS to divert funds to where they are needed most. This out of hour’s medical essentials courier service completely depends on public donations.

Ahead of the budget on March 20 2013 - the charity has launched a campaign to force a debate about tax cuts for them and other 'blood bikes' operating in the UK. The Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes have lodged a petition with the Treasury, calling on the government to have an urgent review of this situation and in doing so, to call upon the government to return in the form of grants to Bloodbike member groups all future fuel duty which the Treasury collects from them.

So far over 1400 people have signed the petition which closes tomorrow! http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/31185

National Association of Bloodbikes Treasurer Gordon Downie said: "Our fuel costs are just going up and up and that makes it very difficult for us to continue our vital service. With no assistance or government funding, charities like ours are already feeling the strain on the recession, but it’s the fuel costs that hits us the hardest, not getting any exemption from fuel duty. We are hoping people will back our campaign to force the Government to debate that matter. Allowing The National Association of Blood Bike groups to recoup fuel duty would not only assist us, but to the public and NHS at large – as we could be able expand the vital service operations throughout the country.”

Will your next journey save a life?

Why do we need The National Association of Blood Bikes...

The National Health Service does not have unlimited resources. One area that is very costly to the NHS is courier services. Most hospitals operate an internal courier service to ferry diagnostic specimens, blood, notes, x-rays, scans and other medical equipment between themselves and other hospitals in the area. These services generally operate during office hours, which means that in the evening and at weekends the hospitals need to make alternative provision for items that need to be transported there and then. In many cases this alternative provision is to use a taxi. With taxi rates around £2 per mile and even more at night, it doesn't take much for a hospital to run up huge bills. In the South West of England, for example, NHS Blood and Transplant have a regional processing and distribution centre at Filton near Bristol. Many hospitals across the South and South West of England send samples to Filton for urgent cross-matching. This can involve journeys such as 100 miles from QA Hospital in Portsmouth costing £240, or 80 miles from the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital costing £190, but the blood bikes that do this for free, often working together so that a blood bike group in one area hands over at the edge of its area to their neighbouring group. This relay approach used by blood bike guards against rider fatigue on long journeys, ensuring safe and efficient transport of precious cargo as well as protecting rider safety.

So why should blood bike groups do this? It is very simple - if they didn't then more money would have to be found from the taxpayer. Blood bike volunteers give their time, and sometimes their own money, freely. In 2010, just one NABB member group made 2,500 deliveries and travelled over 100,000 miles at a cost of around £25,000 - all of which was paid for by charitable donations. If the NHS had used taxis for the same journeys it would have cost more than £120,000. If hospitals had tried to do it using their own motorcycles and paid staff it would have cost closer to £300,000.

Saving Lives

There are times when blood or other medical items need to be transported urgently because a patient's life is at risk. A blood bike can be relied upon to respond quickly and move with ease through busy traffic, even if it is not fitted with emergency lights and sirens. Furthermore the groups can guarantee to be available after 11:00pm on a Saturday night when the chances of getting a taxi to respond in less than an hour would be slim. To steal from the Mastercard advertisements, Taxi - £100, Commercial courier - £80, Blood Bike - £0, saving a patient's life - priceless!