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Bob Pickett lobbies for support for our lobbying groups

Open up any bike magazine (and pretty much any bike website or ‘ezine’) and if they cover current news, they’ll almost certainly have gone for a comment from someone at the BMF, MAG, FEMA and/or the MCI. But just who are these people and what do they do for us, apart from providing ‘the media’ with useful quotes?

Who are they and where did they come from?

BMF

In 1960, prompted by some horrendous accidents and tales of leather jacketed hooligans racing around our streets, the tabloid press started a campaign against both motorcycles and the bikers generally. Objecting to this tirade was a group of right-minded enthusiasts, mainly from the big motorcycle clubs. They decided with strength lying in numbers they would form the Federation of National and One Make Clubs (FNOMCC).

Heartened by some early successes, the organisation grew quickly to encompass all motorcyclists and so in 1965 was renamed the British Motorcyclists Federation. Growing in size and stature over the years (their membership now stands at 140,000+), BMF lobbying and other activities have claimed a number of worthy successes.

MAG

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) was formed in 1973 to campaign for voluntary crash helmet use. They lost that one, but since then MAG has broadened the scope of its activities and have become, along with the BMF an extremely effective body campaigning on behalf of motorcyclists in the UK. MAG are very much a grass-roots organisation, keeping their members involved as much as possible.

MAG were also instrumental in the formation of FEMA.

FEMA

FEMA is the only Brussels-based organisation working full-time to ensure that the interests of Europe's road-riding motorcyclists are promoted and protected. Formed on 1st January 1998, resulting from an amalgamation of Europe's two rider organisations, the Federation of European Motorcyclists (FEM) and the European Motorcyclists Association (EMA). Both organisations had existed alongside each other for a number of years. But in 1997, following an International riders' rights conference in Luxembourg hosted by the world sports body (the FIM), the growing need to pool resources and efforts lead to members of both organisations deciding to join forces. FEMA now unites 23 national riders' rights organisations from 18 European countries, and individually represents 400,000 riders.

MCI

The Motor Cycle Industry Association Limited (MCI) is the UK’s only trade association for the non-retail sector of the motorcycle industry. It represents more than 150 members including manufacturers and importers of motorcycles, scooters, mopeds and accessories; factors (wholesalers of motorcycle components and accessories); motorcycle marketing companies; motorcycling organisations and companies allied to the motorcycle industry including motorcycle media and some larger dealers.

What do they do?

Quite simply, they defend our rights and work very, very hard to prevent anti-biking legislation being brought in. All four bodies work hard, lobbying both the UK and European governments to ensure our voice is heard. They also analyse proposed legislation, a vital factor in early recognition of a rule that could seriously imperil our right to ride.

Motorcyclists make up around 1% of the population, making us very much a minority group. Like any minority, our views can be easily overlooked in the Corridors of Power, both in the UK and in Brussels. This is where the above organisations come in. Their lobbying ensures that we get a fair hearing in Parliament.

Here are just some of the victories achieved over the last few years that would have seriously affected bikers:

European proposals for leg protectors: stopped
A proposed 100 bhp for all new motorcycles: stopped
Anti-tampering measures for medium and large bikes (ban on home maintenance, tuning): stopped
Monopoly pricing on replacement tyres: stopped
Noise limits: seriously delayed
Three stage expensive driving licence system: stopped
Exemptions from type approval bureaucracy for small production runs, one-off specials and customs and vintage machines: achieved

Without all four groups working in our defence, these would have all been passed. And these are just a few examples.

So they’ve done well in the past, but do we still need them?

You’d better believe it! As long as there are motorcycles and governments, there will be motorcycling legislation – and often anti-motorcycle legislation at that. Issues such as power limits and leg protectors will reappear. Indeed, the EU are looking at revamping the licence system yet again – with a potential return to the three stage test scenario.

Further reductions to the noise and emission limits are already being discussed and certain national governments are on record as favouring wider anti-tampering measures.

Automatic electronic vehicle control systems keep on rearing their ugly heads. How do you fancy being in the middle of an overtaking manoeuvre, only to find the power suddenly cut out as Mr Truck heads straight towards you?

All four organisations are working hard to convince civil servants that motorcycles are a valuable part of the future transport system and that systems must be designed to allow for their safe and unrestricted use.

A number of governments, notably in Sweden and Holland, are actively promoting the aim of "zero accidents". It is feared that adoption of this policy will lead to motorcycles being banned, a logical conclusion of such an approach.

Without any doubt there will be the need to have an effective organisation representing our interests within the UK and European parliaments for the foreseeable future.

How are they funded?

The MCI is mainly funded by member subscriptions and income generated by the International Motorcycle & Scooter Show held at the Birmingham NEC.

Both the BMF and MAG rely on subscriptions to finance their activities, along with revenue from a number of shows held during the year.

FEMA depends on contributions from national groups such as the BMF and MAG, along with contributions from manufacturers.

So without your help, these groups will no longer be able to function.

But I’m not at all political, what has it got to do with me?

Quite a lot, actually. Without these people defending our corner with the UK and European Parliaments, we would have little or no defence against a wide raft of anti-biking legislation.

The level of activity you take is up to you. On the one hand, you can simply pay your subscription and let them get on with defending your rights. If you want to take more of an active role, then you could either join up with your local branch of either BMF or MAG. MAG also regularly enlist the help of their members in letter-writing campaigns. At the very least, you will be aware of any new proposals that get your blood boiling and be in a position to help defend your rights.

OK, so they’re doing a good job. But what else do I get out of being a member?

Both BMF and MAG arrange a wide range of benefits for their members, such as their own discounted insurance schemes, reduced RAC membership, reduced entry to a number of bike shows, their own regular magazines and a whole lot more.

How do I find out more?

For more information, take a look at the following websites:

BMF

MAG

MCI

Remember, bikers make up 1% of the population. This puts us pretty far down the list when Government thinks about “Who we need to mollycoddle” and makes us an easy target for negative legislation. Unless our rights are defended, then we stand little or no chance of defeating any anti-biking rules and regulations being brought in. Subscription fees are around £20 for both the BMF and MAG, which can be made up very quickly with the various deals in place that membership provides.

It has been said time and time again (and that’s just in this article), but without these people, we could well be forced off the road in the years to come, as the “Safety-Nannies” propose more and more legislation which makes it impossible to ride.

If nothing else, isn’t your right to ride a bike worth shelling out a few quid every year?

For information on how the classic scene is protecting it's rights, click here for Graham W's article in RealClassic

Got a biking story you'd like to pass on? Then click here to find out how

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