MAG Foundation – Time For Change
The MAG Foundation is a registered charity and has been set up to provide a new dimension in motorcycle and
scooter safety and research.
The Foundation is privileged to have John Moss retired head of safety for Cheshire County Council, as its patron.
The aims and the objectives of the Foundation are to promote motorcycling through: Research – Representation –
Collaboration for the public benefit and raising awareness and understanding of environmental road safety and
security issues relating to the use of motorcycles and scooters and to research and investigate solutions to these
issues.
The Foundation research program aims to use its research to represent the opinions of the motorcycling community
as a whole and offer sound information to government, the industry other riders’ organizations and the motorcycling
press.
Motorcycle theft is a big issue with riders and the Foundations first seminar in 2004 concentrated to give the
participants a deeper understanding of the issues relating to the identification and examination of stolen motorcycles and
how to work with other organisations to combat this problem.
The Foundation has produced a booklet identifying secure parking throughout the country. This booklet represents another
milestone for the Foundation and aims to provide information not just for riders, but for councils that do not provide
secure parking for motorcycles or so that they can improve their existing facilities. This first edition covers most of the
country; each council was contacted and further information was provided by numerous other sources
Over the last two years, safety has become more and more an issue with government, the European Union and now, global
transport safety is under the authority of the World Health Organisation. We don’t know how this will affect us, but we need
to be prepared with the right answers. We need to make sense of the facts and figures so that we can make informed decisions
for the benefit of the motorcycling community.
The roads are a vulnerable place for motorcyclists and we need to understand why motorcyclists have collisions, we already
know that over half of motorcycle collisions are with other vehicles, mainly cars and at junctions, we need to understand in
depth why this happens. Is there blame to apportion? Is it a simple case of Sorry Mate I didn’t See You? What makes riders
and drivers tick? Now can we make riders and drivers "safer"? These are some of the questions we hope to answer in
collaboration with safety organisations and government.
The Foundation has made a start to answer these questions by sponsoring a "Think Bike" operated by the Road
Safety Unit of Gloucestershire County Council and it is hoped this will influence other authorities to implement similar
projects.
The "Think Bike" has several purposes, visiting the scene of motorcycle collisions the bikes on board camera
system will assist in gathering about the circumstances that led to the incident and for road safety audits, investigating
the road infrastructure for motorcycle related problems e.g. pot holes.
It will be used at displays, dealer days and events across the County acting as a catalyst promoting discussion on
motorcycle rider safety. It will also be a visible reminder to riders and other road users when being ridden to THINK!
It will also be used as a training vehicle in association with the Rider Assessment and Better Roadcraft schemes as well as
in support of the Police Bikesafe initiative.
The Think campaign is co-ordinated by the Department for Transport with support from various stakeholders. The campaign
targets all road users, the motorist, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, etc. It is about how we all use our roads safely,
whether we happen to be motoring, walking, cycling or whatever. This is mainly to build a mood of "we're all in it
together" to have greater effect.
The "motorcycle" THINK! campaign targets both urban commuters and leisure riders with specific safety messages
and is included in the Government’s Motorcycling Strategy document published in February 2005 as the main campaign to reach
the general motorcycle community. The operation of the Think Bike is hoped to influence other authorities to implement
similar projects and draw sponsorship from other quarters.
Our future is dependent on young people taking up motorcycling. The testing regime and insurance are major obstacles and
deterrents for the youth of our country to ride. At the same time, young people are criticised and even criminalized for
riding minimotos and dirt bikes. In East Anglia, the Moto KL Project has attempted to address this issue. The project was
set up to give young people between 12 and 16 years the opportunity of learning how to ride minimotos competitively, but
safely and within the boundaries of the law. The Foundation has sponsored one of the teams participating in this project. So
far eight young people have joined this team which is called MAG Sport J's. The Moto KL Project is nearing its goal of being
based at one high profile venue - the Norfolk Arena Speedway Track - with a dedicated circuit and superb facilities for
practising and race events. The future of the Project is to open up to more Community Groups. MAG Foundation supports the
hard work and dedication of those involved in making this project a success.
If you require any information regarding the MAG Foundation please contact us at info@mag-foundation.org
or on 01788 570450.
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