Supporting Brussels Protest

On July 13th, 2012 the European Commission announced a proposal for a Regulation Of The European Parliament and Of The Council on periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers.

As a response to this proposal, riders from three European countries that do not have road worthiness testing (RWT) are up in arms and ready to ride to Brussels to show their discontent about this proposal.

MAG Netherlands, MAG Belgium and NMCU (Norway) intend to protest on September 22nd in Brussels.

At Right To Ride, we fully support this protest because we recognise that each European country has its own issues and own way of doing things.

For example countries such as Norway only ride around 6 months of the year and do far lower mileage, consequently there would be less wear = less defects. So not wanting RWT is understandable.

In the Netherlands, we are told that the motorcycle parc (bikes in circulation) is older than in the UK, and generally motorcycles are kept in good condition, so we can understand the logic of not wanting RWT there either. We assume that the situation is similar in Belgium.

Our View

Our view is simply that these are different countries with different situations and require a different solution.

We certainly believe that the EU should not interfere and that this is a national issue which the individual national organisations should lead on.

In Northern Ireland where we are based, the testing stations are run by the government (as a not for profit scheme) and failures for defects are on average 7% per year – the cost of the RWT – which is called the MoT, is £22. (29 euros). The test is carried out annually on motorcycles over three years of age and is considered a useful, valid means of checking for defects.

It would in our opinion, be political suicide for us to support the abolition of the MoT. For that reason, we could not participate in a demo to Brussels, but that does not mean we don’t understand the reasons why our brothers and sisters in other countries are against this proposal.

We have raised our concerns and made our views very clear that the arguments used by the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations (FEMA) were flawed and did no favours to these National Organisations to support their cause.

Our comments and further information regarding the PTI Proposal – Includes What Countries Are Affected can be viewed at Right To Ride EU – Click Here

MAG Netherlands – Protest Ride against MOT

Via Google Translate

MAG Netherlands has organised on Saturday 22 September 2012 a protest ride to Brussels.

The protest ride is organized to take action against a compulsory MOT for motorcycles.

The protest ride is organized in cooperation with MAG Belgium.

On www.motorrijdersactiegroep.nl and www.facebook.com/motorrijderstegenapk we will keep you informed of the latest news and the preparedness of the protest ride.

The Facebook page for English speakers has a handy Bing translator.

Put it in your diary: Saturday 22nd September 2012!
Full Information and details at Right To Ride EU – Click Here

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  1. The demo run will take place on 22nd September 2012.
    Main meeting point is Hazeldonk at the A16 motorway next to the Belgian border at 8.30am.

  2. MAG Ireland Joins Against RWT
    17th August 2012
    Brussels in September?
    MAG Ireland is joining with other riders rights organisations all across the EU on September 22nd to demonstrate against the recent EU proposal to include mopeds, scooters and motorcycles in harmonised roadworthiness testing across the EU.
    There will be a demo in Brussels and if any Irish riders would like to take part our colleagues in MAG Belgium will meet you at your port of entry and ride with you to Brussels. If you are interested in taking part, please e-mail linda@magireland.org with your contact details and a brief outline of your travel plans.
    There will be a national demo also, details of which are currently being finalised, to be run at the same time on the same day – September 22nd.
    Keep an eye on the MAG Web site for the details, and if you’re on twitter, follow @mag_ireland to be notified.
    We’re also on Facebook: Click Here
    Original Source: Click Here

  3. Protest Run to Brussels
    Update on Protest Ride To Brussels from the Dutch Motorcyclist’s Action Group (MAG NL)
    On Facebook – Click Here
    On Saturday 22 september 2012 the Dutch Motorcyclist’ Action Group (MAG NL) will organize a protestrun to Brussels, in order to fight the proposal by the European Commission to have an annual, mandatory technical inspection for motorcycles. The protestrun is organized in close co-operation with MAG Belgium.
    Riders that want to join our protestrun will gather at ‘Hazeldonk’ at the Dutch-Belgian border, near Breda (see Map – Click Here – for the location). The meeting point is open from 08.30h and we are planning the ride to leave for Brussels at 11.00h.
    From Hazeldonk the riders will be escorted to Brussel by MAG Belgium’s road captains. The protestrun will end at the Atomium in Brussels at approximately 13.00h (see Click Here for the location). After the protest at the Atomium, the road captains will guide the riders out of Brussels and every one can go his or her own way again.
    So far MAG NL has received messages from riders from Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom who want to join the protest against mandatory technical inspections for all motorcycles. And of course they are all welcome! If you want to join us on the ride from the Netherlands to Brussels, come along! But of course there is also the possibility to ride directly to the Atomium in Brussels and the join the protest there. Let’s make this a day to remember!
    Motorcyclist from Europe: let’s unite and let ‘Brussels’ know that we will not take this lying down!
    Note:
    – Participants should follow the instructions given by the volunteers of MAG B and MAG NL and by the police.
    – MAG NL and MAG B are not liable for any damages or personal injury incurred while taking part at the protest run.

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