From the Chair
MAG's National Chairman
Recently The Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Bill received it's third reading in the House of Commons. This bill, which has been forced on us by powerful lobbying groups and fuelled by misinformation, will effectively ban all motorised transport from using the majority of the country's un-surfaced roads.
A good example of one minority group destroying the rights of another.
Back in the late seventies and early eighties I worked in the Middle East, mainly Saudi Arabia which was a bit of a culture shock to say the least. During my ample time off, I had a great time riding trail bikes and driving an assortment of off road vehicles, including sand yachts, across endless deserts. I came to no harm and hurt no-one, save the odd scorpion or sand bug. The roads however were another matter. There I travelled many tens of thousands of miles, and used up at least three of my nine lives. I was subjected to being the 'car filling' in a Mercedes- lorry sandwich, run off the road by two lorries travelling side by side having a chat, and being T-boned at a set of traffic lights.
This was an interesting accident as I had the green light and was driving legally, while the other car came through red lights and hit me, but it was me who spent the next twenty four hours in gaol. Why? I hear you ask. Well it is all a question of logic, perspective and beliefs.
From my perspective and logic I was the innocent victim of a myopic colour blind idiot who should have been on a camel not behind the wheel of a Toyota.
From the perspective of the police and the other driver, I was at fault because I was the infidel foreigner. I had no right to be in their country and therefore if I had not been there the accident would not have happened, and because Allah was not watching over me, I was the one who had to be at fault. How can you argue against that kind of logic?
From both perspectives there is an element of truth, of course my truth is the real one, is it not?
How often have we heard "Bikes are dangerous and should be banned" or something similar? Well from the perspective of the parent who has lost a child as a result of a motorcycle accident, this may be a logical statement, but from our perspective it is not. Yes, when we ride a bike we are in more danger, but that does not mean that the bike is dangerous.
Recognising danger can actually make you safer.
In this multicultural society we will all have to become more understanding, empathic and tolerant in order to co-exist, this holds true for all aspects of life including road use.
This does not mean that we, as minority road users, should give up our rights. On the contrary, Government and other road users must be taught to understand and accommodate our perspective, logic, and beliefs.
Ian Moore
MAG National Chairman
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