Government is hypocritical says MRA
While welcoming the announcement that the MotoGP would remain at Phillip Island for another five years, the President of the Motorcycle Riders Association in Victoria, Mr Dale Maggs, lashed out at the state government for what he describes as its blatant“The only time that they display any interest in motorcyclists is when they can make money out of us,” said Mr Maggs. “The government has lost no time in announcing the retention of the MotoGP however there has not been a word concerning any of the issues relevant to motorcyclists in Victoria. We have still not heard a word from the Minister for Transport concerning motorcycles place in a Transport Strategy, we still pay an additional levy (including a tax on a tax) and the Government is determined to keep murdering motorcyclists by expanding the use of Wire Rope Barriers.
“It is quite telling that first the Netherlands and now Norway (see below) have banned further use of WRBs (also known as cable barriers). These barriers not only present a danger to riders, but are extraordinarily expensive to maintain and, in fact, are ultimately more expensive than less dangerous barriers,” Maggs added.
“Motorcycles and scooter sales are going through the roof at present, but this Government continues to ignore this (except for continuing to accept the $50+ contribution to the state’s coffers). How long will it take to recognise that we are legitimate road users and that we vote.”
Norway bans wire rope barriers
(FEMA release) On Friday 4 August, the Norwegian Minister of Transport, Mrs Liv Signe Navarsete, announced a ban on the use of cable barriers. She did so after years of lobbying by FEMA's member organisation, the Norwegian Motorcycle Union (NMCU). "Finally, we see an end to the egg slicers", said NMCU chairman Jan-Fredrik Moller.
Since the early nineties, the NMCU has spearheaded the struggle against cable barriers, or wire rope fences, a design not at all developed with motorcyclists' safety in mind. In a press conference outside the Department for Transportation in Oslo, Norway, the Minister of Transport, Mrs. Liv Signe Navarsete, made the following announcement:
"I have, in agreement with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, reviewed the objections from the NMCU, and examined the case more closely. Today I have this message to the NMCU and the Norwegian motorcyclists: The Public Roads Administration shall hereafter use crash barrier types that offer a high level of safety for all groups of road users. This implies that there will be no more road stretches fitted with cable barriers, beyond those already installed".
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration has argued that cable barriers cost a lot less than other barrier designs. While it is true that cable barriers are cheaper to purchase, maintenance costs have proven to be astronomical, and thus the total cost ends up comparable to other designs. "We are very pleased that the Minister of Transport has heard our objections, and we're grateful for the wise decision she has made. This is a victory for road safety, for the NMCU, and for all motorcyclists in Norway", said Jan-Fredrik Moller, facing massive applause from the motorcyclists present.
There's a growing scepticism towards the use of cable barriers throughout Europe. Denmark has removed all theirs, the Dutch Parliament decided last year to ban cable barriers and even prominent members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have now suggested a ban in the European Union. In this respect, Mrs.
Navarsete's wise decision is in accordance with the developments in the rest of Europe.
See: www.fema.kaalium.com/ crashbarrier2005/index.html (Pic: FEMA)
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