BRAKE CHARITY

[Jaws]

The following has been ,ailed to Heather Brown at the MCIA
( h.brown@mcia.co.uk )

I would urge others to follow suite and also mail her.

The URL of the MCIA is www.mcia.co.uk

Hi Heather,
I am mailing you on behalf of a large group of very angry and concerned motorcyclists ( Approx. 2.5 thousand Honda Blackbird owners )
are you aware of BRAKE's current diatribe ?

Here is a cut and pasted quote:

BRAKE opened Road Safety Week by declaring in a statement to the press
"motorbikers kill kids as well as themselves"
Andrew Hill spokesman for the charity went on to say
If you ride a motorbike the chances are you are going to end up dead on one
one in 20 motorcyclists will die in a crash
its the most dangerous thing you can do
a child hit by a motorcyclist will always come of worst
A kid is a vulnerable road user a motorcyclist is a heap of metal going down the road
a lot of the time motorcyclists dont leave behind proper facilities-eg life insurance-for their spouses



Personally I find that damned insulting.. Further, I consider the fact that not only is the MCIA one of BRAKE's sponsors, but even have their web site at the top of your links page, complete lunacy.
It is said it is better to hug a viper to your breast.. all well and good until the viper becomes so big he can kill you with alacrity no matter how close you keep it.


BRAKE's activities have long been considered belligerent as far as both motorcyclists and lorry drivers are concerned.
Lorry drivers are nothing to do with me and my business but BRAKE's attitude to bike riders needs to be addressed..

According to figures available horse riding is far and away more dangerous than motorcycle riding..
Horse riding is done for sport and pleasure.. motorcycle riding very often from need.

I do not know ( but suspect if the court cases go ahead someone will investigate ) but am willing to bet officers or relatives of the officers of BRAKE have horses and or ride..

When was the last time BRAKE issued a damning statement concerning horse riding ?

There are rumblings on quite a few of the larger forums on the internet from people wanting to raise a fighting fund and take BRAKE and or its executives to court, so strong are the feelings.
At least one group have already taken legal advice.

Could you please advise why the MCIA give any credence to BRAKE ?

I feel it only fair to tell you your answer will be made public as I am writing on behalf of one of the aforementioned groups.

 

[Lebowski]

Nice one, John. :bow:

Happy Birthday for the other day by the way, sorry I missed it! c7u8

 

[Jaws]

Cheers peeps

 

[Duck n Dive]

While getting sorted to also add my complaints to brake/BMF/MCI etc. I went to the two brake sites this evening (main site plus the specific 2005 campaign site) to read the statements for myself.

I was surprised that I actually couldn't find anything along the lines of what was reported in MCN.

There's a reference in the London press release about a specific child death caused by a motorcycle in London and one general item which just says journalist can contact brake if they want to speak directly to the parents of children killed by motocycles.

Other than that it just goes on about wanting 20 MPH limits/cameras etc near schools and drivers to stick to 30 MPH limits. Nothing seeming to single out bikers.

Have they withdrawn the original statement????

Has anyone actually seen/read the statements??

Have I missed something??

I've read the MCN article again and it does quote a brake press release as saying "Motobikers kill kids as well as themselves" - I couldn't find that in anything I've read.

The rest of the MCN article seems (if I've read it correctly) to be saying that the remaining comments were actually made by someone (Andrew Hill) in Brake, talking to MCN. The MCN article doesn't actually say that the extra stuff was in any press release or being stated at the briefings. It seems to be something said in conversation with MCN ('phone call).

I don't like the fact that anyone in such an organisation as Brake approaches "facts" in such a way but equally I'd like to establish if it's "SUN" type reporting or what.

Has anyone seen any press release or found something on their site that I've missed.

I'm ready to blast off my contribution to lambast them and complain to their sponsors and associated companies - just feel I'd like to see some confirmation first.....

:dunno:

 

[Duck n Dive]

Just been checking around some other places including the MCN forum and all I can find is folks saying that they've been to the brake site and can't find anything like what MCN refer to.

As yet MCN hav'nt responded to the questions about their report raised with them on their site.

:dunno:

 

[Jaws]

Its not on the site ( surprisingly ! LOL ) it was in a speach (apparently )