Protest ride: stop the blame game

A post-MotoGP protest ride in Melbourne has called for an end to unfair discrimination against motorcycle and scooter riders

A protest rally in Melbourne’s CBD on October 29 was told that authorities are “attacking the problem from the wrong end” on the issue of motorcycle and scooter safety.

“We have too many suggestions that are not going to help the roads become a safer place,” said Steve Bardsley from the Victorian Scooter Riders Association.

“Authorities are attacking the problem from the wrong end. What you have to do is talk to the motorcycle and scooters riders and we can tell you the things you need to do. Let’s say no to unfair discrimination, because together we can make a difference.

“And what is being done to stop the blame game? Nothing. Even worse than that, motorcyclists are forced to pay a safety levy. Why is that, when we know in 80 per cent of cases of accidents, it’s the cars that are at fault.”

The protest, called in relation to a number of ‘safety’ proposals on the agenda of Victorian government agencies (the police, Transport Accident Commission and VicRoads), including the adoption of front numberplates, the use of high-visibility vests, and a mandate for the compulsory wearing of protective clothing, attracted hundreds of riders.

“After 10 years of apathy, motorcyclists are saying that enough is enough – we are sick of this,” said protest organiser Damien Codognotto from the Independent Riders Group.

“We don't want front numberplates, we don’t want high-vis vests, we don’t want compulsory protective clothing, and we don’t want laws that prevent us from living our lifestyle and enjoying each other’s company.

“And we don’t want wire fence – it’s not a done deal. Wire rope is dangerous and just because they are putting what they call impact continuators on the posts for the wire rope barriers, it doesn’t mean they are safe. All it means is that they are spending your tax money to make themselves look good.”

Codognotto, a tireless campaigner for riders’ rights, said that “there is a lot wrong with the way motorcycle and scooter riders are being treated by road authorities across the country, particularly in Victoria”.

“There are 1.3 million Australians licenced to ride on our roads and we’ve got a right to defend our right to ride. We pay our taxes – we pay more taxes than most other people – but consultation has obviously failed.

“In Victoria, we’ve got people sitting on government committees, and yet we are still fighting front numberplates – again. How many times have we had to fight for numberplates in the last 25 years?

“We need to get out there and be seen and tell the politicians we are a force, we are organised, and we are going to be at the ballot box in marginal seats. We need to tell people that like TAC and VicRoads that we are watching you.

“People are getting knocked off their bikes – and they could have had been wearing a day-glo vest, flashing lights and rockets and they still wouldn’t have been seen.

“We want motorcycle and scooter laws which are based on evidence. We want them to use our taxes to do the research and generate real laws that will help our safety – and where laws are not necessary don’t generate them!

“Recently we’ve seen the Transport Accident Commission -- the mob we pay a fortune to stay on the road – produce a TV ad that showed a car driver going through a stop sign without looking and killing a motorcyclists. They didn’t consult with anybody over that and it had to be taken off air.

“That’s another reason we are here – we can’t trust these people anymore.”

Heather Ellis, a member of the Victorian Motorcycle Advisory Group, which reports to VicRoads, said that the responsibility for motorcycle safety is skewed too far towards the rider.

“It’s like we are being told to look out for our own safety – the onus is all on us – but car drivers don’t need to look out for motorcyclists.”

John Voyage from Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, who has collaborated with Motorcycling Australia to produce the “ad that TAC should have” (in reference to TAC’s much maligned ‘reconstruction” advertisement) is frustrated with “people making decisions about riders’ rights and trying to change public perceptions that are not based on any particular facts”.

“The statistics say there has never been a safer time to ride,” said Voyage.

“TAC has said that it will refuse to create any make motorcycle awareness ads. They are not going to budge, so that’s why we had to make our own.

“It’s all part of the notion that it’s a shared responsibility on roads and they shouldn’t be pointing the finger at riders and blaming the victim.”

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Protest ride: stop the blame game

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