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Category: Events and Shows
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Ride to Work Week (20th to 26th June) highlights the benefits of commuting via motorcycle and scooter, which is being actively encouraged by Northamptonshire County Council.
The Ride to Work team has produced a video showing why this decision makes sense:
John Spencer, Team Leader of Road Safety and Travel Choices, Northamptonshire Highways says:
“As part of our modal shift strategy Northamptonshire County Council intends to embrace motorcycles and scooters as a sustainable transport mode within the future countywide transport programme. Greater use of motorcycles can bring environmental, congestion and accessibility benefits, particularly on journeys made for commuting to places of employment or education. The road safety team in Northamptonshire is committed to improving safety for all road users but is also looking at encouraging different ways to travel. In 2015 we carried out a motorcycle survey to reaffirm why people were using motorbikes, but also why they were not! We collaborate with various partners like the Motorcycle Industry Association, Get on Team and the Ride to Work team, to encourage people to take up motorcycling as a safe, sustainable and better way of getting around.” 
Background to Northamptonshire project
- Motorcycle Northants was recently launched by Northamptonshire County Council, making it the first local authority in the UK to actively encourage a modal shift towards motorcycles, which is currently just 0.4% of all commuter traffic in the county. This is part of a wider plan to encourage sustainable transport options, which also include cycling, walking and using public transport.
- Motorcycle Northants will encourage the county’s leisure riders to use their bikes to commute, especially where distance by pedal bike is impractical, aiming for an initial modal shift of 3%. Each day in Northamptonshire, an estimated 43% of commuter journeys are made by just one person in a car or van, so there is great capacity for some of these to be made on a powered two wheeler.
- Northamptonshire recognises that journey times on motorcycles are shorter due to the ability to filter and reduced pressure on parking. This helps all road users, which is backed up by a European study showing when just 10% of car drivers swapped to a motorcycle, scooter or moped, then congestion for all road users is reduced by 40%.[1]
- As a county which relies heavily on the distribution/logistics industry, it is important that the roads do not become congested. For the first phase of the project, Motorcycle Northants has put a framework in place to make sure existing and new riders have access to high quality training providers.
- A second phase of the project will include looking at increasing motorcycle friendly infrastructure on roads and working with employers to encourage the availability of workplace changing facilities and motorcycle parking.
- Around two-thirds of motorcyclists do not have commuter cover on their policy, so major motorcycle insurers Ageas, ERS and Carole Nash are making commuter insurance cover available free to existing customers during Ride to Work Week. [2]
About Ride to Work Week
National Ride to Work Week spotlights the many benefits of commuting on a motorcycle, scooter or moped and will be particularly active in Northamptonshire this year. The county’s residents will get the chance to try a motorcycle for free with Get On – the motorcycle industry’s free ‘try out’ programme - during Ride to Work Week.
- These are available after work each evening at the Obelisk Centre, Kingsthorpe, Northampton, NN2 8UE. Monday 20th to Friday 24th June between 6pm and 9pm each evening.
- Also available on Saturday 25th June at the Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, Northampton, NN12 8TN between 9.15 am and 4.30 pm.
- Get On sessions are with professional instructors and last for half an hour. All protective clothing is provided. Get On provides a safe and structured introduction to motorcycling. There are also opportunities to try motorcycling in several parts of the UK during the Summer and Autumn.
Booking via the website www.geton.co.uk or by calling 02476 408040.
[2] Information based on around 700,000 unique insurance quotes.
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Ace Cafe London's annual Triumph Day, Sunday 12th June, this year includes with Dave Lilley and his team with stand and display from the Triumph dealership Jack Lilley Ashford, along with intrepid two wheel traveller and writer Zoe Cano signing copies of her books, and confirmed attendance includes with West Middlesex Triumph Owners MCC, Mk1 Speed Triple Owners Club and Triumph Tiger Cub magazine and spares – spanning Triumphs unique history and range!
Three "Ace" goodies packs are up for grabs as raffle prizes at the cafe and each of the three prize packs will include items from Jack Lilley, a Zoe Cano book and a pair of tickets to attend the cafe's annual Stunt Fest & Streetfighter Show, Wembley, Sunday 17th July.
One of the prize packs will include a pair of tickets to attend the forthcoming “Simply Bikes Show” at Beaulieu, home of the National Motor Museum, on Sunday 10th July!
Spend £5 or more over the counter from 9am and receive a raffle ticket.
Draw to be held at 3pm.
www.ace-cafe-london.com
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 500 Veteran and Vintage motorcycles will ride out as a group when the British Motor Museum hosts the nostalgic Vintage Motor Cycle Club Banbury Run on Sunday 19th June. Now in its 68th year, it is the largest gathering of pre-1931 motorcycles & 3-wheelers in the world and visitors will be able to see the motorcycles start and finish at the Museum.
The Banbury Run is aimed at those who enjoy the thrill of riding with other Vintage, Veteran & Pioneer bikes. In addition to the Run, there will also be Club and Trade Stands, 100 Autojumble pitches and special interest displays within the Museum grounds. Camping is also available on the Saturday and Sunday night. 
Tom Caren, Show Manager at the British Motor Museum stated “The Banbury Run is a celebration of vintage and veteran motorcycles. Seeing hundreds of vintage motorcycles ride together is a motoring spectacle that deserves to continue to flourish!”
The Museum will be open from 9am – 5pm with the Banbury Run beginning at 10am. Riders will start at 5 per minute. Spectators tickets for the Run cost £8 in advance or £10 on the day for adults, children and concessions and include entry to the Museum and new Collections Centre.
To find out more about the British Motor Museum please visit the website at www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk
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Severn Freewheelers are not a charity that has a front line operation; they do not fly helicopters, they do not go to the scene of accidents - they do not even operate during the day (except at weekends), so we tend to disappear under the public radar! However they do vital work – once you are in hospital all that urgency to get you there is wasted unless your blood samples, transfusion, medical notes get into the right hands, at the right time and that is where they come in, when hospital transport is not available – 7pm to 7am, 24 hours at weekends and public holidays, 365 days a year. They even help transport frozen human milk, so very premature babies get a fighting chance. All run by volunteers who receive not a single penny for their efforts.
They make 3,500 potentially life-saving calls per year. To raise funds and awareness they organise two great events - The Prescott and Shelsley Bike Festivals.
All proceeds from the festivals go to the regional Blood Bike group, Severn Freewheelers
Here's a news video from last year that pretty much says it all.
Shelsley Bike Festival, 4th September 2016
A great Festival in 2015 and 2016 will be bigger and better. A great day out for motorcycle enthusiasts and their families.
See here for more
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I must admit I am really looking forward to this year's Farmyard Party - even though I will be working throughout the rally. Many of you have been coming to our events, especially Farmyard, for years in support of MAG UK. This year it’s a little special - it's Farmyard's 30th anniversary (if you didn't already know!) - and our pre-book tickets have been going exceptionally well, with many people returning after a few years to celebrate this and catch up with mates they may not have seen for a while.
To celebrate this anniversary, we are starting the party early on Friday, with Scott Dangleberry playing in Crusties Bar from 2pm by special request. We will also have the return of the Eat Your Words (again by special request) for those wanting a late night 'dance'. Personally, I will be looking to visit the Blues Bar where there are some fantastic bands, including The Grimms and 24 Pesos amongst others. By the way, if you fancy having a go at entertaining us, we have an open mic session on Saturday afternoon in the Blues Bar - with prizes would you believe?
Of course, we will have a range of bands playing in the Back Street Heroes main stage and the Riders' Rights Party tent. It's going to be a tricky one deciding whether to see Limehouse Lizzy or Exhibit A on Saturday night. Mr Hulse's Smacked Arse Comedy Show - one of our most popular features of all our events - starts at 1pm on Saturday to put a smile on your face and help you through your hangover from Friday night. Martin Mor - the 'knife man' comedian seen in our recent promo video - is headlining, so be careful not to sit too near the front unless you have a death wish.
We are very proud that this year's Farmyard will host Round 1 of the BSH Custom Bike Building Championship. There will be 5 additional prizes with winners going through to the Custom Xtreme stand at the NEC in November.
We will have a range of world food outlets within the main arena and also in each of the camping fields - don't forget we have a central marquee where you can sit and chat with your mates whilst eating. It's better than dropping half of your food on the floor... Alternatively, you can enjoy a sit down meal - with proper plates and cutlery - at our world famous cafe. Johnsons of Leeds will be there as usual along with a wide range of stalls and traders.
Full details of bands, comedians and all other special features below and on our website here.
I look forward to seeing you all on the 17th for this special rally - or the Thursday the 16th if you're looking to get away early to enjoy the rally. Our cut off dates for pre-booked tickets is the 12th of June for telephone and web bookings. Tickets will be available on the gate priced at £40.
Pete Walker
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