FREE RACING ON THE MINI-MOTOS

Issued May 2007

Teen teams wanted at ‘dream venue’

TEAMS are being invited to sign up for the thrills of mini-moto racing – and the good news is, it’s free.

The bikes, at just 18ins in height, provide great fun for young people.

The stipulation is that riders must be aged between 11 and 17, and live in Norfolk, no experience is necessary - novice riders are welcome, and the bikes, protective gear and track time are all provided free.

All the action will take place at the Norfolk Arena – the home of Lynn Stars speedway team – using a circuit inside the speedway track.

Co-ordinator of Moto-KL is Shan Tedder who said: “This is the only scheme of its type in the county and we have got teams interested, but we would like to see more taking part.

“The aim is to have six riders to a team, plus an adult team manager and practice sessions will be starting it off on Thursday, April 19. The practice sessions will be from 4-6pm and continue on Thursdays. Teams will take part in an inter team league.

“We have a dream venue in the Norfolk Arena thanks to the generosity of Keith and Jonathan Chapman who have been 100 per cent behind the project. We cannot really thank them enough.”

On the committee of Moto-KL are: Chair and Co-ordinator, Shan Tedder; Secretary and Administrator, Sue Payne (Borough Council); Committee member, Nathan Holland (Norfolk Arena); Treasurer, Dave Cusdin; Police liaison, PC Sharon Page and PC Paul Smith; Committee Member, Chris Marsh; Youth Representative, Fen Govier-Tedder.

Moto KL was initially launched early in 2004 and, thanks to the huge efforts of Sue Payne, Community Development Officer for the West Norfolk Council, who has evolved the project from the beginning, supported by Norfolk Constabulary, and the immense support from Keith Chapman of Norfolk Arena, Moto KL has reached its aims.

Sue is currently working on the educational side of the project which will provide modules for riders to work through which will include all aspects of racing.

Sponsors so far include the MAG Foundation, MHB Services Ltd (Street Lighting) and MAG Sport. If you are interested in sponsoring this unique project then you should contact the coordinator, Shan Tedder.

Mini-moto racing for all age groups is available on Tuesday evenings at the Norfolk Arena. For further information call on 01553 771111.

Call Shan Tedder: 01366 77001
Text: 07944 943 651
Send an email to: co-ordinator@motokl.org.uk
Visit the website at: www.motokl.org.uk

NEW SECURE MOTORCYCLE LOCKERS FOR LEEDS CITY CENTRE

Issued September 2006

Bikers visiting Leeds city centre can now leave their bikes in the utmost security at two of Leeds City Council’s car parks. From Monday 11 September two Motosafe secure lockers will be available at the Portland Crescent car park and a further two will be installed at the Markets car park. These lockers enable motorcyclists not just to leave their valuable bikes, but also have a shelf and hangers to store their leathers, helmet and other gear to allow them to go to work, or visit the city, without having to carry everything around with them. The lockers are very secure, protecting against both theft and vandalism – 64% of motorbike thefts are from car parks or on-street parking.
The lockers are also weatherproof. Each user operates the locker by choosing their own four-digit passcode and the unit stays locked until it receives that passcode again.
The lockers, which can also be used for scooters and pedal cycles, cost £1 an hour with a reduction for stays of over 4 hours, which is cheaper than the standard car parking rate, and are available 24 hours a day.

Councillor Steve Smith, executive member responsible for parking provision, said:
"This is a great opportunity for motorcyclists to store their bikes in a safe, dry place and will hopefully encourage more people to use this more environmentally friendly form of transport to come into the city."
"We will be monitoring their use to see whether more secure motorcycle lockers can be installed in the future."
David Boath, Managing Director of Motosafe, who lease the lockers to Leeds City Council, said:
"These lockers are ideal if you’ve decided to take your motorbike to work and want to leave it and your helmet, boots and protective clothing safely locked away for the day."
"They give bikers and cyclists the reassurance that their bikes won’t be vandalised or stolen. I suspect we will need many more of these in the future."

For further information on Motosafe please contact: David Boath, Managing Director of Motosafe Ltd., on 0114 232 7788 or 07970912997. Email dboath@airflow-group.com or dboath@motosafe.co.uk

NEW SECURE MOTORCYCLE LOCKERS FOR SHEFFIELD CAR PARKS

Issued August 2006

The very first secure enclosures in the UK for motorcycles are being tested in Sheffield Council's car parks.The first three lockers have been installed in the Fitzwilliam Street Car Park and an additional three are planned for the Rockingham Street car park in the coming months. The cost of using the lockers is 60 pence per hour and they are available 24 hours a day.

The lockers have been leased from Airflow World Group of Sheffield and are marketed under their 'Motosafe' brand that provides dry, safe and private motorcycle storage.

There are over 1,300 of their domestic "Bikesafe" units currently in use nationally. The Fitzwilliam Street units are the first installation of a car park version anywhere in the UK.

If you work in the city centre or are just visiting and don't have anywhere safe to park your motorbike or bicycle, the lockers are perfect. They provide secure storage for your bike, helmet, leathers and other gear. Motorbikes and Cycles left on the street are open to the elements and bikes locked in standard car parking areas are vulnerable to thieves. Motorbike theft accounts for 6% of all vehicle crime nationally and recovery rates for stolen Bikes are well below that for stolen cars.

The lockers are really secure and will keep your motorbike or cycle safely locked away while you're at work or shopping. Each user operates the locker by choosing their own 4 digit passcode and the unit stays locked until it receives that code again. "These lockers are ideal if you've decided to take your motorbike to work and want to leave it and your helmet, boots and protective clothing safely locked away for the day," said David Boath, Managing Director of Motosafe. "We are particularly pleased that our first installation is in our home city of Sheffield and it will be followed by more units in the Rockingham Street Car Park.

"They give bikers & cyclists the reassurance that their bikes won't be vandalised or stolen. Motorbike tourists visiting Sheffield will find them really useful for a few hours stopover, and indeed any Biker or cyclist will find them handy when they've got a bit more stuff than they really want to carry when away from their Bikes. I suspect we will need many more of these in the future."

Terry Fox, Sheffield Council Cabinet Member for Transport and Nigel Trant of A4B Ltd. at the first Motosafe Site at Fitzwilliam Street in Sheffield.

Councillor Terry Fox, the Council's Cabinet member for Transport is also firmly behind the initiative. He said: "This is a really positive way of encouraging people into the city using an environmentally-friendly method of transport as well as helping to reduce crime in the city centre. We will be monitoring their usage to see whether the scheme could be extended to other car parks in the future."

For further information please contact David Boath, Managing Director, Motosafe Ltd., on 0114 232 7788 or 07970 912997.
Email: dboath@airflow-group.com or dboath@motosafe.co.uk.

For further information please contact Warwick Toone, Deputy Communications Manager (Media) on 0114 273 5767 or 07764 659182.
E-mail: warwick.toone@sheffield.gov.uk.
For out of office media enquiries ring 07711 153995.

BIKING CHARITIES GET £25,000 BOOST FROM EBIKE INSURANCE

Issued 27th June 2006

Rugby-based MAG Foundation recently received a £2328 boost from eBike Insurance and New Law following a website vote by bikers.

eBike and New Law came together to donate funds to charities helping to prevent motorcycle accidents, or helping riders after an accident. Motorcyclists were able to place their vote on the eBike website – www.ebikeinsurance.co.uk - to determine how the money was split.

The MAG Foundation is an independent organisation that focuses on motorcycle road safety and security. In the past twelve months the Foundation has produced an A-Z Parking Guide listing secure motorcycle parking locations across the UK and supported road safety initiatives including the Gloucestershire ‘Think!’ campaign

Bristol-based eBike Insurance is revolutionising motorcycle insurance as the first website to enable motorcyclists to manage and adjust all aspects of their cover personally online. It offers a range of new special services, including pay-as-you-go, lay up and accelerated bonus cover. In its first year it has attracted more than 35,000 customers.

The New Law solicitor’s practice is based in Cardiff and provides legal advice to eBike customers.

Arron Banks, who founded eBike Insurance (left) presents the cheque for £2328 to Sarah Gardner and Neil Stevenson of MAG Foundation.

New RoSPA "Ride Safe" booklet

RoSPA have produced a new booklet

Ride Safe: How you can avoid the 5 most common motorcycle accidents

More information can be found on their website at: www.rospa.co.uk/roadsafety/ridesafe/index.htm

BIKING CHARITIES TO GET £25,000 BOOST

Issued 16th February 2006

Six motorcycle charities are to share a £25,000 handout from eBike Insurance and New Law – with bikers able to vote for which gets the lion’s share of the cash.

The two companies have come together to donate £25,000 to charities helping to prevent motorcycle accidents, or helping riders after an accident. But motorcyclists are being asked to place their vote on the eBike website – HERE - to determine how the money is split.

Riders have until April 30th 2006 to register their vote.

The Charities!

MAG Foundation

The MAG Foundation's aims and objectives are to promote and protect safe and secure motorcycling for the benefit of all riders, through research and sponsorship.

• Research to represent the opinions of the motorcycling community and to provide sound information to riders.
• Sponsorship of initiatives that raise awareness about the benefits of motorcycling.

Riders for Health

Every year 3 million people die in developing countries because of lack of access to treatment. Riders for Health is helping 10.8 million people across Africa to have the basic health care we take for granted, giving them the chance to fight disease and look forward to a healthier future.

BMF Foundation

The Foundation is the BMF’s own biking charity and was set up with the following aims:

• Improve safety for riders by influencing road design
• Research better treatment for injured riders
• Improve safety for motorcyclists by influencing the design of other vehicles
• Research better protective equipment for riders
• Help prevent vehicle crime
• Support the care and rehabilitation of injured motorcyclists.

County Air Ambulance

Our three helicopters serve an area of 8,000 sq miles and a population of over 7.8million covering the follow counties:

Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Leicestershire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Rutland, Warwickshire, the West Midlands and the Welsh borders.

From our bases at RAF Cosford, Strensham , and The East Midlands Airport the helicopters are available for up to 10 hours a day, seven days a week.

National Association for Bikers with a Disability

The NABD is a Registered Charity, open to anyone with an interest in motorcycling.

Our aim is to help get disabled people to enjoy independent motorcycling, however they came by their disability, whether by accident, through illness, or from birth.

The NABD has several objectives concerning the rights and safety of motorcyclists and in particular disabled riders. These include campaigns for the inclusion of both motorcycles and trikes on the Government sponsored Motability scheme and to instigate legislation outlawing the use of bullbars on public roads.

Motorcycle Outreach

Motorcycle Outreach (MoR) is a new charitable organisation (awaiting full charity status) which seeks to introduce effective motorcycle-delivered healthcare logistics in remote rural areas of developing countries.

Motorcycle Outreach has an established project on the island of Flores in Indonesia. This was founded by Simon Milward and Willy Balawala from Indonesia in 2001.

Press Release

Issued 1st February, 2006

The MAG Foundation announces the publication of the first A to Z of Secure Bike Parking in Great Britain.

The secure parking booklet represents another milestone for the MAG Foundation and aims to provide information not just for riders, but for councils that do not provide secure parking for motorcycles or for those wanting to improve their existing facilities.

This first edition of the A to Z of Secure Bike Parking covers most of the towns and cities in Great Britain. In order to gather this information, each council throughout the country was contacted and further details were provided by numerous other sources including www.motorcycleparking.com

The booklet was compiled with riders in mind, to contribute to the fight against motorcycle theft.

David Short, Chief Superintendent of the North Yorkshire Police and Patron of the MAG Foundation comments:

"Great steps have already been taken in advising local authorities to provide safe and secure parking areas in towns. The provision of CCTV and improved street lighting also adds to security. The more obstacles that are placed in the path of the criminal the more likely he is put off. This "target hardening" together with intelligence-led directed policing is having an impact on criminal gangs who are being brought to justice and their networks disrupted.

I am proud to be a patron of the MAG Foundation and this secure parking handbook is an excellent initiative which will make an impact on motorcycle theft and will reduce your risk of becoming a victim of crime".

From the 1st February 2006, details of the booklet can be viewed on the MAG Foundation website: www.mag-foundation.org. A to Z of Secure Bike Parking booklets are available now from the MAG Foundation (subject to postage and packaging), please contact:

Sarah Gardner
Telephone: 01788 570450
E-mail: info@mag-foundation.org

Notes to editors:

Sponsored by:
Ebike Insurance Ltd: www.ebikeinsurance.co.uk/mag
Bikesafe: www.bikesafe.co.uk
The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK): www.mag-uk.org

MAG Foundation Endorses:
MotorcycleParking.com: www.motorcycleparking.com
KillSpills: www.killspills.org.uk
SMIDSY: www.smidsy.co.uk