Welcome to another TUG.
I’ve just returned from a Full Member Ride led by Colin Digby. He guided us on a fabulous route and found an excellent venue for lunch that most of us hadn’t previously visited. Another good reason to be an EAMG member. You’ll find more good reasons in this issue of TUG including photos from the recent slow riding day.
Do take a look at the EAMG online shop as we have recently added to the range of EAMG branded garments. Recent additions include cotton polo and tee shirts for those occasions when you want a casual garment rather than a performance layer. Also available is an EAMG branded Hi-Viz vest with zip front and pockets, modelled here by Dave Hawke. Just the thing if leading or tail ending a group ride.
I’ll have samples of many of the clothing range available at the next few group nights so you can see styles, material and sizing.
Graham Simpkins, Editor tug@eamg.org.uk
Use this QR code to find EAMG on Linktree where you can access all of our social media channels and the EAMG Shop.
There is also a link to our membership form for those requiring it.
COVER PHOTO
Slow Riding Day at North Weald as the EHAAT helicopter comes in to land.
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 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.
Infact, 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, 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. 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.
RoSPATestPasses
CongratulationstothefollowingforachievingRoSPAtestpasses
ThanksalsototheObserversandExaminers.
CandidateTestPassedObserverExaminer
IanBurtRoSPASILVERPhilReaderMickJones
MarkStokesRoSPAGOLDPaulCardenMickJones
JohnTullettRoSPAGOLDN/AMickJones
SimonMansfieldRoSPAGOLDMickHewittMickJones
PhilRuddockRoSPAGOLDGrahamCooperMickJones
GeoffKingRoSPAGOLDAndyParnhamMickJones
GrahamCooperRoSPAGOLDN/AMickJones
PeteMooreRoSPAGOLDAndyParnham/ CliveTaylor MickJones
MickHewittRoSPAGOLDN/AMickJones
Congratulationstothefollowingfortheirsuccessfultestpasses. ThanksalsototheExaminers.
CandidateTestPassedObserverExaminer
JohnTullettIAMMastersN/APeteDoherty
PaulCardenObserverRetestN/AGrahamCooper
There is a qualification here that most won’t be familiar with: IAM Masters. The basic principles are no different to those we are hopefully all applying to our rides but IAM Masters candidates have to demonstrate a very high standard whilst also “Delivering a fluent, relevant and continuous commentary”.
That last bit is hard! Next time you are out on a ride try giving a commentary to yourself. It seems easy until you encounter a tricky situation that requires extra concentration. That’s when most of us stop speaking!
OtherTestPasses
Excerpts from the BMF NEWS ROUND UP – August 2024
Meetings attended for the BMF by Paul Morgan and Anna Zee in August.
Anna Zee: 20240806 National Young Riders Forum
First contribution from Marc Clothier, National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) member in charge of the Roads Policing portfolio. The new NPCC member i/c motorcycling is Simon Blatchley from the Derbyshire force. Marc Clothier reported a 15% increase in traffic offences, fewer motorcycles on the road probably due to the weather and Scotland is seeing an increase in killed and seriously injured. Antisocial behaviour is occurring mainly in urban areas.
A roads policing review is being carried out.
Ian Harvey, motorcycle instructor and ex-Devon & Cornwall police, reported on Project Apex which is trialling a motorcycle simulator. This has potential for a new approach to motorcycle training. It is possible to simulate different weather and lighting conditions on the simulator.
A project is being run on hazard perception testing, target audience to be primarily gig economy riders. Currently engaged in filming. Hazard perception training may include stopping videos at a critical moment and asking the trainee what happens next.
Infographics were published on four offences (see https://newriderhub.net/euro-2024/). These were themed and timed for the UEFA football.
Vison Zero
reference group 20240808
Update on victims’ support scheme, offers support to victims and families of victims.
This started as 1-year pilot of enhanced support; charity Brake offering shorter term support, charity RoadPeace for longer term. These receive referrals direct from Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). Pilot has now been extended to November 2025.
Future strategy in development, aiming to make this permanent in some form.
Casualties update
Full report of the statistics for 2023 will be published on 26th September, on the same day as the national figures. Motorcycle casualties are down 31% against the 2010-2014 baseline. TfL’s figures can be accessed here: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/road-safety#on-this-page-0
Vision Zero Action Plan (VZAP)
The 2018 VZAP is mostly supposed to be delivered by 2024-25. Work has started on a plan to run till 2030, looking ahead to 2041. VZAP 2 to be published early 2025 with new areas of focus.
Following the meeting I emailed the organisers suggesting that the new action plan should include something to encourage all road users, regardless of mode, to respect the right of all other road users to use the road.
Transport for London (TfL) Silvertown/Blackwall Tunnels 20240816
Tfl invited the representatives of motorcycle groups to a meeting to discuss the charging proposals for the Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnels, prior to submitting our responses to the consultation. Consultation link is https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/TC-yourview you might like to respond, especially if you may have need
to use either tunnel. Current proposals charge motorcycles the same as cars out of the rush hour, though there is a lower charge for bikes in peak hours. Oh, and that only applies if you are registered for AutoPay. TfL say that their prime objective with respect to use of the tunnels is traffic management. We have asked for some additional data which we hope we will have time to examine properly before completing our response.
In Other News:
London’s ULEZ scrappage scheme will soon be history. Transport for London (TfL) announced that the deadline for new applications was 7th September 2024. In 18 months the scrappage scheme, which offered cash grants for scrapping non-compliant cars, vans or motorcycles, paid out just over £186 million to 53,944 successful applicants. The Ukrainian offshoot scheme, which allows non-compliant bikes, vans and cars to be donated to war-torn Ukraine, will continue.
Sometimes bad news turns out to be exaggerated or misinformed, and so it is with MOTs and chrome plating. In July the Daily Express reported that a ‘super-MOT’ was being considered for classic bikes and cars – not true, according to Roger Bibbings of the Vintage Motorcycle Club. He confirmed that the 40-year rolling exemption for old vehicles is continuing. Similarly, reports of the death of chrome plating have been much exaggerated – although the common Hexavalent process faces restrictions from September, the non-toxic Trivalent process can carry on as before. Restorers, breathe again.
Still on the good news, Norton pension investors have received £9.8 million in compensation. Over 200 people invested in the failed Norton pension schemes, of which former boss Stuart Garner was the sole trustee – he received a suspended jail sentence in March 2022 for breaking pension fund rules.
Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Police are spraying anti-social riders and their bikes or quads with a water-based forensic spray – SmartWater contains a unique forensic code which shows up under UV light.
On the roads, a Government report has criticised the Department for Transport (DfT) for falling short on road maintenance funding – the DfT provided £1.1 million to Councils in 2022-23, but they actually spent £2.1 billion.
UK motorcycle and scooter sales dropped in June and July, with all categories experiencing a fall except the 126-500cc sector, which continues to see strong growth thanks in part to Triumph’s Speed 400 plus the Royal Enfield Himalayan 452 and Meteor 350.
If off-road sport is your thing, Lauren Collingwood’s all-female motocross school could be of interest. The five times British MXGP Champion says she wants to increase opportunities for girls and women in the sport.
2024 EAMGEVENTDIARY
October Tuesday,1st GroupNight
Sunday,6th GroupTraining(GT)
Tuesday,8th BobCowl/DaveHawkeMid-WeekSocialRideforall.
Sunday,13th Associate/FullMemberTraining(AMT/FMT2404)
Sunday,20th Mick&Alan’sAssociate/MemberRide
Sunday,20th Colin'sFullMemberRide
November Tuesday,5th GroupNight
Sunday,10th GroupTraining(GT)–RemembranceSunday
Sunday,17th Mick&Alan’sAssociate/MemberRide
Sunday,24th Colin'sFullMemberRide
December Sunday,1st Mick&Alan’sAssociate/MemberRide
Tuesday,3rd GroupNight-XmasQuiz
Sunday,8th GroupTraining(GT)
Sunday,15th Colin'sFullMemberRide
