Peak bodies call for more equitable road sharing schemes

The Motorcycle Riders Association (MRA), Motorcycling Australia (MA) and the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC) have joined forces to call for improved road sharing arrangements, particularly between powered two wheelers (PTWs) and bicycle riders.

MA believes the restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes should be lifted, a proposal supported by the MRA and the VACC.

“There has been an enormous investment in creating safer lanes for bicycles in capitals and major cities across the country,” said Motorcycling Australia’s Dan Rotman, “but riders of scooters and motorcycles- Powered Two Wheelers (PTWs) - are locked out of them because of legislation and regulation.

“While injury trends for bicycle riders and car occupants are in decline, riders of PTWs remain highly vulnerable, and part of the solution could be extending the use of bicycle lanes in selected locations.

“Not every bicycle lane would be appropriate, but there’s a great opportunity to conduct a trial to establish how, and where the protection of these exclusive lanes could be extended to all vulnerable road users.”

MRA president John Karmouche said:  “We know that road space is often a sensitive issue within the bicycle community, but PTWs also share many of the risks experienced by bicycles.

“Bicycles and PTW share many similarities in terms of the risks posed by other traffic and have very similar on-road footprints. We see it as a sensible proposal that PTW be separated from the same threats by initiating shared on-road… lanes.

“We are not looking at full sharing of every on-road bicycle lane; some are patently unsuitable for sharing. What we want to see is the establishment of safe combined… routes wherever possible.

“We are calling on VicRoads to establish trial routes where the interaction between users can be studied with a view to establishing “best practice” for vulnerable road users.”
 
As Melbourne talk back radio ran hot on the topic this morning, the VACC also reiterated its call to make more substantive provisions for PTWs, particularly scooters, in an integrated transport policy.

“The global economic slowdown has forced many Australians to re-consider their personal transport options,” VACC Executive Director, David Purchase, said. “Many commuters have cut costs by leaving the car at home but some do not like the idea of having to cram onto an already over burdened public transport system. Therefore, Powered Two-Wheeled (PTW) vehicles have become an attractive alternative.

“Scooters are a cheap, efficient and accessible mode of transport. But they deserve the same status and respect as other vehicles on the roads. In the VACC’s opinion, the Victorian Government has failed to recognise this.

“The community and environmental benefits of scooters are clear. Scooters use smaller parking spaces than cars and leave a tiny carbon footprint. However, some people are put off from using them because they feel vulnerable riding on the roads.

“VACC repeats its call for scooter riders to be allowed to share bicycle lanes. VACC is calling for designated and signed “Safe Routes”, safety boxes, access by scooter riders to certain designated bicycle, transit and bus lanes and allowing boxed turns on certain busy intersections."