FEMA the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations has announced that the 2013 MEP Ride will be held on June 26th.
FEMA says, “Stay tuned and prepare for the ride of the year!”
Since 1996, the Ride of the Members of the European Parliament, the “MEP Ride”, brings together motorcycling citizens from all over Europe and their elected representatives for an informal and enjoyable event.
Giving MEPs, as well as members of other European Union institutions, the opportunity to experience the pleasure of motorcycling and get in touch with the mode of transportation and passion of millions of Europeans, while at the same time better understand motorcycle related issues.
MEP Ride – 2011
In 2012 FEMA held the International Forum in Cologne Germany, thus the previous MEP ride was held in May 2011.
More than a hundred participants rode from Brussels to Circuit Zolder, the famous racetrack in Flanders.
In Zolder journalists from all over Europe elected the eBike of the Year. An exposition tent showed the latest developments in the field of green mobility and some participants even had the opportunity to test electric models on the race track.
With not only Members of the European Parliament, but also their Assistants, EU Commission officials, representatives of national Permanent Representations, and motorcyclists from all over Europe, the mixed attendance once again ensured the success of the MEP Ride!
Further details on the 2013 MEP Ride to follow.
Original words and text from FEMA – Click Here
FEMA has (apparently) a plethora of staff including native English speakers to ensure
1) That the content of any press release is written in appropriate English
“Bernd Lange is also a bikes’ lover” (oh really O’Reilly?) Can we know the bike’s name….. ? Hildagard? Jasmine?
Of course the connotations in English would certainly raise a few eyebrows… “bike” being a slang name for a lady of loose morals…
The article continues… “The German MEP has a weakness for BMWs and fosters a variety of models ranging from the 1950s to present including one sidecar”. Does he have names for his foster bikes too?
What seems to have happened is that somebody in the FEMA office used Google or Bing translate – is that the case? Because it would explain the poor English used in this article.
2) We presume that the MEP ride will take place this year (2013) and not in 2011 – as per the webpage announcing the MEP ride. But there is nothing on the flyer to indicate that this is the case – there is no year identified (or rather the tweet MEPride2013 is too small to be noticed).
3) Right To Ride picked up the announcement of the MEP ride from ACEM (European Motorcycle Manufacturers Association), which brings me to the next issue. Why is FEMA an organisation which has been very vocal regarding the introduction of roadworthiness testing, having an MEP ride in collaboration with ACEM and FEBIAC (Belgian motorcycle importers and manufacturers)- both of which are in favour of roadworthiness testing?
The MEP ride in the past has always been a window for FEMA to meet informally with MEPs to discuss motorcycling issues – from the riders’ perspective. So what does FEMA hope to achieve with this year’s event by collaborating with two organisations that have opposing views on a topic which appears to be fundamental for the majority of FEMA National Organisations.
In my mind the question that needs asking is whether FEMA (as it is now ) is fit for purpose. With an office full of staff, who can’t even update the website – for example, Philip Vogt is still listed as Campaigns and Communications Manager – he left in February.
Ultimately if these people – the FEMA secretariat – who are paid a significant sum of money to provide representation in Brussels on behalf of motorcyclists throughout Europe (so they say), cannot reflect the views and wishes of the motorcycling community, then it is reasonable to ask – what do they do? More to the point, what is the Board of Directors doing? Ultimately they are responsible for FEMA’s communication to the outside world. When communication breaks down – you might as well shut up shop.
The title “After a sad year of absence, the MEP Ride is back!” – Yep “sad” just about sums it all up.
Further Comments on Riders representation of “our” perspective in Europe.
Why is FEMA an organisation which has been very vocal regarding the introduction of roadworthiness testing, having an MEP ride in collaboration with ACEM and FEBIAC (Belgian motorcycle importers and manufacturers)- both of which are in favour of roadworthiness testing?
The MEP ride in the past has always been a window for FEMA to meet informally with MEPs to discuss motorcycling issues – from the riders’ perspective.
So what does FEMA hope to achieve with this year’s event by collaborating with two organisations that have opposing views on a topic which appears to be fundamental for the majority of FEMA National Organisations?
At Right To Ride we believe that we need a transparent statement from FEMA, a public riders organisation, that gives a clear and precise explanation regarding the aims and objectives of the 2013 MEP Ride.
We’ve been informed that MCC or Motorcycle Community, one of the main organisations listed, is a loose association of ACEM (again!) FEMA (again!), FIM and ETRA (retailers association in Brussels representing 2 wheeled vehicle dealers) so ACEM, Febiac and ETRA all want RWT.
It looks like this will be a very interesting meeting with MEPs…
Further to our last on the MCC on our Facebook page the MCC might be something entirely different.
“MCC is an overarching structure of all Belgian national associations defending the interests of motorcyclists (users, driving schools, instructors, and industry federations). It took about 20 seconds to find this out. Apart from that: the MEP ride isn’t about PTI (or RWT, whatever you like to call it), but about relations between the motorcycle community and MEP’s.”
Right To Ride EU Thanks Dolf for answering the question we posed, we had been informed that the MCC or Motorcycle Community is a loose association of ACEM – FEMA – FIM and ETRA (retailers association in Brussels representing 2 wheeled vehicle dealers)
The MEP ride, as you say is about relations between the motorcycle community and MEPs however surely it is also about FEMA presenting its position on motorcycle related issues to help MEPs understand these issues.
The listed organisation – ACEM – Febiac – as partners of the MEP ride want RWT, which is a different different stance on PTI/RWT, and is a top issue on the agenda of the riding community, both from FEMA and your member organisation MAG Netherlands especially.
Then what should be the opportunity to engage with the politicians, their assistants etc is surely lost or severely diluted with the major presence on the ride by those who “oppose” the stance of the riding community.
Rolf can you point us to the information you have regarding this Belgian national association (users, driving schools, instructors, and industry federations) so we can see what their positions are regarding defending the interests of motorcyclists? Cheers.
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