Category: Organisations

1. Manchester doubles amount of motorcycle parking, and it’s FREE

   Posted on 12:00pm Tuesday 23rd Mar 2021

   The number of dedicated parking places for motorcycles in Manchester car parks has more than doubled – and they are all free! A review of motorcycle parking within the city showed that demand for parking exceeded the supply, and as a result a considerable number of motorcyclists were parking unofficially, and sometimes illegally.   

   There are now 127 dedicated motorcycle spaces; a mixture of on-street (63 spaces) and covered car parks (64 spaces), and full details are available on the council’s website at: https://secure.manchester.gov.uk/info/500346/city_centre_parking/332/motorcycles    

   The measures were informed by consultation with various motorcycle community groups and organisations such as the British Motorcycle Federation and Motorcycle Action Group. They told us that having spaces in car parks and on the ground or first floors, making sure they were well-lit and having CCTV coverage was important, along with anchor points or rails for chaining bikes to. All of these suggestions have been adopted.   

   A grace period informing motorcyclists of the new provisions will run from 12/03/21 – 6/05/21, where motorcyclists who are parked illegally will receive an information leaflet informing them of the new parking provisions across the city centre.  During the grace period motorcyclists will not receive a parking ticket. However, after the grace period ends, MCC will enforce penalties (£70 penalty, discounted to £35 if paid within 14 days of issue) for motorcyclists parking in the wrong place. This includes designated cycle parking spaces and racks. Motorcyclists can park in a normal pay and display bays anywhere across the city, provided that they purchase a pay and display ticket. It is advisable to write 'M' for motorbike and the registration number of the bike on the ticket before attaching this to the motorbike, to discourage theft.  

   A motorcycle parking policy will be produced in order to finalise and formalise the changes.

   

2. Prescott Bike Festival 2021 postponed

   Posted on 10:00am Tuesday 16th Mar 2021

   Prescott Bike Festival

   It with a heavy heart that the organisers of the Prescott Bike Festival announce today that this year’s Festival won’t go ahead and has been rescheduled to June 25^th / 26^th 2022. All ticket holders, including those who rolled over from the 2020 event, will be contacted directly.

   Gordon Downie, Festival Organiser said, “Who would have thought that we’d still be in the grip of the pandemic a year on but here we are again. We’ve again been faced with the difficult decision on doing what’s best for you and the charity. It’s with a heavy heart, but we’re postponing the 2021 event to 2022.  I guess we can all see the light at the end of the tunnel but realistically that’s not going to be at the end of June and we just can’t take the risk, for all our sakes.”

   The Bike Fest website is currently not taking bookings for 2022 and will be back, fully operational, later in the year.

   We’re all aware that the Festival is an important date in the Blood Bike fund raising calendar but until better times, Gordon and his team wish all their supporters well, to keep safe and give a wave when they pass a Blood Bike on the road.

   Gordon

   Gordon Downie, Event Organiser

   

    

3. NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSITY APPEAL RAFFLE AND MUSEUM REOPENING PLANS

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 10th Mar 2021

   The National Motorcycle Museum team wants to thank everyone who has given to both of our Covid-19 appeal raffles over the last year. As promised, following the recent announcement of HM Government’s “roadmap” out of restrictions, the funds raised are being used directly for the purpose of reopening the museum to visitors.

   At the present time, and if the “roadmap” goes to plan, we intend to reopen the museum to visitors on Monday 17th May 2021.

   INITIAL OPENING FROM MAY 2021.

   Restrictions permitting, the museum collection, shop and restaurant will reopen on Monday 17th May 2021. Please visit www.thenmm.co.uk for further updates including opening hours.

   HELP US TO RETURN TO NORMAL 7 DAY OPENING.

   Whilst the funds raised so far will allow us to reopen in a limited way on 17/05/21, at the time of writing we have still only raised just over half of our original £500k reopening target.

   As from Monday 21st June 2021, we would like to return to our normal 7 day a week opening hours.

   Therefore we want to remind everyone about our ‘Museum Triumph over Adversity Recovery Appeal Raffle” which will help us achieve that aim.

   Details of this important appeal can be seen below, and special thanks must go to our friends at Triumph Motorcycles for donating the brand new 2021 Triumph Trident 660 as a first prize.

   1st Prize: Brand new 2021 Triumph Trident 660cc motorcycle.

   Stunning new model donated by our friends at Triumph Motorcycles.

   2nd Prize: 1978 Triumph Trident T160 750cc motorcycle.

   Low mileage and only one previous owner.

   3rd Prize: 1956 Triumph Tiger T100 500cc motorcycle.

   Fresh from restoration in the museum’s workshop.

   Images of all three prizes are attached for media use.

   The prize draw for the “Triumph Over Adversity” appeal raffle will take place on Friday 25th June 2021 at The National Motorcycle Museum. Tickets cost £6.00 each and can be purchased online by visiting www.thenmm.co.uk

   COVID-19 ROADMAP.

   Like the rest of the UK, we are hoping that HM Government’s “roadmap” out of the current pandemic goes to plan, according to the dates set out. 

   However, given the ongoing uncertainty, we will regularly update reopening details on our website www.thenmm.co.uk and our social media channels.

    

   
   

    

4. Ben launches fast-track access to digital mental health platform

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 20th Jan 2021

   Today on Blue Monday, automotive charity Ben is launching fast-track access to its digital mental and wellbeing platform, offering immediate support to those in need. On a day hailed as the most depressing of the year, Ben is giving automotive people the ability to sign up free to access online digital support for their mental health and wellbeing.

5. RSTA response to Spending Review and National Infrastructure Strategy

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 26th Nov 2020

   The Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) has welcomed the Chancellor’s emphasis on the need for a well-maintained local road network.

    

   The National Infrastructure Strategy, launched today (25^th November 2020)  by the Chancellor Rishi Sunak as part of his Spending Review, underlined how “well maintained local roads allow for faster and reliable journeys, boosting local businesses and serving all road users.”

    

   The Strategy confirms the Government commitment of £1.125 billion of local roads maintenance funding in 2021-22 including £500 million for the Potholes Fund to fix potholes and surface roads. This will be supported by £260 million allocated to Local Authorities in 2021-22 for shovel ready local transport schemes through the Integrated Transport Block, including public transport and active travel upgrades. The government is also investing £310 million in 2021-22 in upgrading the road network. Altogether, this means that the government is investing £1.7 billion in local roads in 2021-22.

    

   “Whilst the additional £500 million funding is not new, having already been highlighted in the March budget, the government’s commitment to maintaining the capital maintenance block allocation for improving the local road network, despite the significant public borrowing costs of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, is welcomed and represents a significant overall increase,” said Paul Boss, RSTA chief executive. “We will continue to work with both national and local government to ensure proactive cost effective investment in, what the National Infrastructure Strategy rightly calls, ‘one of the UK’s most valuable public assets.’