Welcome to another TUG.
If you subscribe to any magazines, you probably look at the summer editions and think they look rather thin. TUG is no different. It’s probably a good sign that there is a lack of editorial material in the summer as it hints that everyone is too busy enjoying themselves whether it be riding or taking family holidays. Have a good summer!
My granddaughter recently started pre-school so freed of child-minding duties I have been able to participate in the mid-week rides organised by Bob Cowl and Dave Hawke. Many of the participants are as you might expect, retired but there are many others with flexible working hours who have discovered the benefits of arranging their work schedule to fit in a weekday ride. Town centres are predictably busy in the week but the rural roads we seek out generally have very little traffic. And as if that was not already reason enough to take a week-day ride out you will find that usually rather popular coffee and lunch stop locations are very quiet. In fact on each of the rides I’ve attended we have had at least one of the venues to ourselves which makes for a very relaxed break. The rides are open to all members and are usually split into two groups so can easily accommodate more riders if you fancy a mid-week ride. The rides are listed in the diary on the EAMG website and thanks to the excellent planning by our ride leaders, route info complete with GPS map files are published under “Runs and Rides” on our forum.
If you have photos of group rides or events that you would be happy to share, maybe even a possible cover shot, please do send them to tug@eamg.org.uk .
You can find all of our social media and the EAMG membership form when you need via our Linktree using the QR code below.
https://linktr.ee/eamg_bikers
Graham Simpkins, Editor
webmaster@eamg.org.uk
COVER PHOTO
July Mid-week ride.
CHAIRMAN’S PIECE
Hi all.
At last, the sun has now showed itself, as I write this it is now too HOT, oh how we like to complain. Although I am glad that I was riding for 2 days in monsoon conditions two days in succession I found out it was time to replace my 15 year old Daytona boots, and time to wash and retreat my textile trousers. The Hideout jacket has still not let a drop of water in since I got it.
Glad to say that we are having our Christmas Dinner at Little Channels again on Monday 16th December. All who came last year found it to be a great venue, the food was excellent and at a reasonable cost too. Tickets will be £38 per person which includes Eamg contributing a bottle of red and white wines to each table, a little gift from the committee.
We would also like to do some trips away in 2025, we have a couple of nights in Wales in mind along with a one night away maybe about 150m away, stay somewhere nice and sociable with a nice ride back the next day. If anyone has any suggestions, please do email chair@eamg.org.uk.
In fact, if anyone reads this, please do email me, I would love to know if anyone does read this?? I bet it is less than 3 replies so please do prove me wrong.
2024 has been a bit of a strange year, seems that the weather delayed new members from joining, but now we are I think ahead of 2023 membership already, so that is great. We do have a lot to offer if one takes advantage of it all, but we do want to offer more.
One of the things that holds us back from offering more is a lack of new volunteers to the committee as the committee is already working at pretty much maximum capacity, and we are always looking for members who might be interested in becoming an observer too, as the observer team is fully stretched too. Without new people coming onboard to become the next generation things can stagnate, so I do say if you think you can contribute in rider training, to our social media or on the committee in general then please get in touch with me chair@emg.org.uk
We have some 200 members and the running of EAMG falls to far too few who will need a rest at some point as they have given so much to the group, so please get thinking about what you would like to see from Eamg and perhaps how you might be able to chip in.
That will do from me and my begging bowl, I now await a ton of emails, I hope!
Yours,
Michel Couque EAMG Chairman.
BMF NEWS ROUND UP.
Meetings attended for the BMF by Paul Morgan and Anna Zee in July.
Anna Zee:
I attended a seminar given by Howdens on insurance matters – catastrophic injuries are becoming very expensive, with a 22% increase in amounts paid out in the last two years, and still rising. They also take a long time to settle – four or five years is not uncommon – which all means higher premiums for any insurance that includes an element of personal injury cover. That will include the public liability cover we get for the BMF and the affiliated clubs and vehicle insurance
Paul Morgan:
With the General Election over the BMF through the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) has commenced work on building a collaborative and credible relationship with the new Government. Congratulatory letters have been sent out to new Ministers and all MPs with meetings sought with new Secretaries of State, Parliamentary Under Secretaries and officials. We are also following up on the pledges received before the election (over 100 in total) in support of our Manifesto "Motorcycling Matters." Louise Haig is the new Secretary of State for Transport at Department for transport (DfT), whose new motto is "move fast and fix things" which will hopefully lead to progress on fixing the appalling state of the UK's roads and potholes through close collaboration with the "Pothole Partnership."
Realistically, with officials currently seeking to tie down and agree new Ministerial Priorities and Parliament rising for recess at the end of July, we are unlikely to see any Ministerial/Official meetings taking place with the motorcycling lobby until the end of August at the earliest.
PACTS COUNCIL OF MEMBERS
Barry Shearman MP and President of PACTS gave an overview of PACTS achievements to date to improve UK road safety. The previous Government had slipped back on delivery road safety improvements. There was optimism now that the new Government would deliver on PACTS objectives and set tangible targets to drive road safety improvement. The PACTS Manifesto set out the 4 key priorities for the organisation going forward. Road accidents were the biggest killer of children worldwide. Change and improvement was urgently needed.
In Other News:
It’s not just Bath looking at charging motorcycles for parking. Camden Council has delayed its consultation on bike parking fees after opposition from the BMF and others. If you live or work in Camden, please email your MP or Councillor to protest. Motorcycles could be charged a toll for using the Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnels in London, if current proposals go through – respond to the consultation by 3rd September at www.haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk. And finally, on consultations, the BMF has submitted a detailed response to the Government’s investigation of motorcycles in bus lanes – we’re calling for this to be the default position.
Presentations at June Group Night
Our chairman was not available for June Group Night so membership secretary Dave Hawke had the honour of presenting EAMG Full Member certificates to Michelle Bolton and Stephen Fletcher
Presentations at July Group Night
Having returned for July Group Night our chairman was able to sign Michelle Bolton’s full member certificate and present it to her again.
