Safe Routes Scooter Rally

The annual 'Safe Routes' Scooter Rally is one of Australia's biggest gatherings of scooterkind, and scooter riders should clear their diary on November 13.

Organised by the VACC, the Safe Routes Scooter Rally is currently in its sixth year, and is designed to promote the humble scooter as a safe and efficient mode of transport.

The Safe Routes Scooter Rally starts at Luna Park and heads through the city to Argyle Square on Lygon Street.

The rally is also a great opportunity for scooterists to mingle and socialise between riding stints, and see what other people are riding and how they ride. Expect a range of models, from Italian models like Vespa, Piaggio, and Lambretta, to Japanese, Taiwanese and Korean models, such as Honda Kymco and Daelim.

The VACC says the rally is also a powerful tool to inform other motorists and even politicians about the role scooters play in reducing congestion and pollution and easing pressure on parking spaces.

"Scooters are undervalued as a transport solution for Victoria, and Melbourne, in particular," said David Purchase, VACC Executive Director.

"Scooters have a smaller carbon footprint than other vehicles and they take up less space on roads and in car parks. The Government knows this because we have told them repeatedly, however, unfortunately, often transport solutions do not go far enough in their provisions for scooter riders.

"As well as being attractive environmentally, they are also affordable. They are cheap to purchase and run, and faced with the prospect of being stuck in a traffic jam or squashed into public transport, riding a scooter to and from work appeals to commuters."

Mr Purchase noted that while scooters provide several boons for transport infrastructure, safety is still a big issue for riders: "...scooters are vulnerable and afforded little in the way of protection from our road system. If the Government developed more scooter-friendly transport policies then, we believe, more people would consider scooters as an option."

The VACC floated some of its "scooter-friendly transport policies"

• The implementation of designated and signed 'safe routes'
• Access by low-powered scooters to use certain designated bicycle lanes
• Filtering in stationery or slow moving traffic
• Boxed turns at certain busy intersections
• The introduction of six monthly registrations and dedicated scooter training courses
• Car licence holders to be permitted to ride 50cc scooters (provided training is undertaken)

"VACC's 'Safe Routes' Scooter Rally on November 13 is an important occasion and we invite the Victorian government to participate in order to see the true value of scooters. It is also a fun day out and a good opportunity for riders to get together and celebrate this mode of transport," Mr Purchase concluded.

What do you think of the above proposals? Would they work in other states and territories around Australia? Let us know in the comments section below.