DEDICATED MOTORCYCLE PARKING BAYS IN EDINBURGH UNDER THREAT

Dedicated motorcycle bays in Edinburgh are under threat, if Council proposals detailed in Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO/09/76) are not modified drastically.

Under these proposals over 100 of the 150 dedicated bike bays in Edinburgh's central Controlled Parking Zones would be reassigned as Permit Holder Parking, Shared Use bays or Pay and Display Bays.

Bikes will be able to use shared use bays free of charge, but these bays are open to other categories of vehicle such as cars and vans who would pay to use the bay as well as permit holders.

While appreciating that planners have to do a delicate balancing act trying to satisfy heavily oversubscribed parking demand in central Edinburgh, simplification and clarification of parking regulations is long overdue. MAG is greatly concerned that the measures proposed will have a very detrimental effect on motorcyclists ability to park safely and securely in central Edinburgh.

Consequently if you ride a motorcycle, moped or scooter and live or work in Edinburgh or use these bike parking bays as a visitor NOW is the time to let the Council know what you think of their proposals if you do not want to lose dedicated motorcycle bays in Edinburgh.

Objections need to be made to the planning department before 2nd March 2010.
Contact details for objections are available on the TRO/09/76 web page.

What can you do?
Get more information on MAGs position here, including the original proposal, a list of our concerns, current contacts and links to interactive zone maps (zipped pdf files).
A map of the parking zones can be found here, to identify which affect you.
Council information on motorcycle parking can be found here.
Council information on TRO's can be found here, TRO/09/76 is the one to look for.
Have a look at this parking bay list and let us know if any of the parking bays listed are incorrect in any way, such as those below:

• We need to know if the addresses obtained from the plans are accurate and of any anomalies or errors associated with the plans.
• We need to know if bays are essential/well used and have security provided e.g railings (security or just fencing) that Motorcycles can be chained to, are well marked or otherwise, or if bays have fallen into disuse/been allocated to other vehicles/uses.
• We need to know if there are other marked Solo M/C bays not shown on the plans or listed in the Coucil web-site.
• We also need evidence from those currently using shared parking outside of the Central Edinburgh CPZ of the approximate frequency and damage caused by other vehicles.

If you have some feedback on these points, or want more information, please drop us a line to parkinedinburgh@live.com and we'll collate and update our information. Please also let us know how your communication with the authorities goes.
We will provide further information, as we get it, including, posters, press releases, a guide or draft letter and contacts for mailing them to.

If you don't like the sounds of some of this, spread the word, and be prepared to write or email your objections to the council.
Thanks for your support.

The 18^th Edinburgh MAG Ag Ol Anns An Achadh Rally was held on 5^th to 7^th June 2009
Click here for much improved Google link to camp site

We are even considering running it again over the weekend of 4-6th June 2010, but this will depend on us having enough support and bodies to run it.

Thanks to all who helped out at last years rally, before, during and after the event. It could not have happened without you.

MAG Scotland would also like to express their thanks to all those who volunteered their time and services over the weekend of the 2008 FEMA Spring Conference.

Apologies for the poor showing of the website, please ignore most of the rest of it other than the Rally and this page (the only ones reasonably up-to-date). It needs some TLC, time and effort, most of which are in short supply just now. Plans are afoot for a general update, though don't expect anything too fancy...

 This is the web site for Edinburgh and District Motorcycle Action Group

We meet at The Meadow Bar, 42 Buccleuch St, Edinburgh EH8 9LP, on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month at about 8.30pm onwards. Except when we are out and about for the 2nd of the two monthly meetings, for which the venue will be listed below. We are fairly flexible about the meeting start time, although there is usually someone there roughly on time.

December's 2nd meeting was held at The Centurion, 243-5 Saint John's Road, Edinburgh, EH12 7XD, Corstorphine. Or at least the Sec managed to make it along, apparently worth a 2nd look, maybe February's 2nd meeting. The January meetings were a bit hit and miss due to the 'inclement' weather.

West Lothian meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of the month at The Dovehill Arms,18-20 West Main Street, Uphall, West Lothian, EH52 5DW. Though due to the low attendance, this may relocate to the above mentioned Centurion, if that works out as a meeting place.

We'll post any future meeting place developments here.

What we're here for:

We are involved in campaigns on local issues (like secure bike parking and access to Green lanes) as well as campaigning on national and European issues.

A video presented by MAG UK President Ian Mutch can be found on YouTube, which gives some background to some of the campaigns that MAG has been involved in.

One of those campaigns concerns the new swerve test, which the aforementioned Mr Mutch attempted recently. A short clip can be seen at Mutch Motorcycle Test.

We are also here to have social nights/drinks and fun with like minded people.

Current National campaigns are listed on the MAG Central website.

Current local issue is access for bikes in bus lanes. Some reluctance on the side of officialdom, so more work needed here. And on that front we hope to arrange a demo later in the year and have a few councillors along (its a local issue, so MP/MSPs less necessary). This has been detached from the rally due to lack of marshal numbers and needing to focus resources for each event, also can't always get access to officials on the Rally dates.

I've added a gallery! Well bits of one, hey its a start. Gallery.

Whats been happening recently:

The biggie:

The Edinburgh MAG Ag Ol Anns An Achadh Rally was held on 5th to 7th June 2009.
Further updates pending once we all recover enough. We're getting there.

The MAG (UK) stand was once again in attendance at the Scottish Motorcycle Show at Ingliston and managed to take in a few memberships, both new and renewals. Thanks to all who dropped by.

Although the MAG Scotland Easter Egg Run did not take place in 2009 a few others did. Hope they all went well, the weather didn't seem that bad for once.
An update to the Egg Run status can be found here. We'll carry any further updates as we get them.

MAG Annual Group Conference took place on Saturday, April 4, 2009, hosted this year by NE Region at Hurworth Grange, Darlington. A few MAG Scotland members went down at the suggestion of Steve (the regional rep), getting caught out when invited up to receive the Steve Tannock Award for Teamwork following the FEMA conference last year!

Followed a couple of weeks later with a run to Darlington MAGs Resprung Spring Thing. A one-nighter held at the Tan Hill Inn at t' top of Yorkshire National Park. Good beer, pub food and a small hall for the band. Also Darlington Steves un-birthday (hence the various Alice in Wonderland costumes...). Camping beside the pub, quite nice when we arrived after a run down via the A7, but heading for baltic at 2AM! The run back included some of the areas fun roads, though fully laden in touristy mode we weren't about to keep up with the locals Then the run alongside Hadrians Wall. See, touristy.

The MAG Scotland Multi Purpose Test Centre (MPTC) Demonstration - A Test Too Far - took place on Saturday 9th May from the Tay Road Bridge,Dundee. Up to 100 bikes took part in what seems to have been well received and reported in the (local) press. Route took us iover the bridge to the city, around the centre and out to Invergowrie where we got a few speeches from the organisers. Thanks to all for organising and attending. No thanks to the weather on the way back South. Photos in our gallery, there's even a video of it on YouTube: MPTC Dundee Demo

The Middlesbrough & District MAG Number One Rally took place over the weekend of 15th to 17th May. Field, marquee, bands, beer etc. A few of us went along to this one. Funnily enough we got another soaking while heading South, though at least it cleared up a bit after Corrbridge. And even after all the rain, the ground was still hard enough to require some tent peg persuasion. No demo this year, due to some local soccer match apparently requiring the NE police force to be in attendance, but a pleasant run out around some of the local roads. Guess what, small automatic scooters have trouble getting up Sutton Bank!

The 3rd NABD by the Trossachs rally was held on the weekend of 31st July - 2nd August 2009 at Ben Ledi Park, Callander, and the MAG tent was in attendance. With some of us in splashing around in the wonderful weather.
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MAG had their stand at the Grampian Motorcycle Convention on Sunday 6th September. Stand was run by Aberdeenshire MAG & MAG Scotland. A good show with a few memberships/renewals taken.

The Saints and Sinners 14th Time Aroond Rally at Luthermuir was held on the weekend of 11th - 13th September 2009. Sunshine and a nice relaxed weekend! Kinda quiet on the MAG stand though, a chance to catch up.

The re-arranged Edinburgh Demo was run on Saturday 19th September 2009. In conjunction with the BMF, the (deep breath)
'A Celebration of Motorcycling wishing to highlight Lack of provision for Motorcyclists in Buslanes.'
had 100+ bikes on it. Photos from various sources are in the Gallery.

The MAG Scotland AGM was held in October. Same venue as last year in Moulin. Reasonable turn out, good discussion and some volunteers to fill vacant positions!

Edinburgh MAG are held their AGM. Re-election of post-holders; re-merging with West Lothian MAG; meeting days, times and formats; suggestions for the way forward etc.
I'll post the outcome when I get a copy of them.

Forthcoming events:

Edinburgh MAG are holding their AGM. Re-election of post-holders; re-merging with West Lothian MAG; meeting days, times and formats; suggestions for the way forward etc.
Members and non-members can attend, though voting is restricted to members only.
12:30 for 13:00 on Sunday 31st Jan 2010, at the The Two Bridges Inn, Newhalls Road, South Queensferry, West Lothian, EH30 9TA.

Changes to CPZ (Controlled Parking Zone?) Traffic Regulations in Edinburgh will provide a good excuse to rant ... write a letter to the appropriate authorities. Suggestion seems to be to amalgamate some of the Solo M/C bays into 'shared' parking bays. Its a bit more complicated than that (some bays will be unaffected). Currently the official line is that it is proposed that formal objections be sought between 2nd February and 5th March with the final report being presented to the Transport Committee in May or July.
We will try to provide further information including a draft letter and contacts for mailing them to.

Access to Edinburgh Bus Lanes rumbles on, sounds like the vote has been delayed until the next council meeting Jan/Feb 2010. By which time a report from the London trial should be out.

MAG are beginning the run up to next years elections with the Riders are Voters campaign. More information here.

Edinburgh MAG Contact Email addresses: edinburghmag@aol.com or embramag@live.com

Web site updated 05/02/2010