VACC slams Vic transport policy

VACC Senior Manager of Government and Public Affairs David Russell said there had been no mention of the presence of motorcycles or scooters on Victorian roads in the Transport Plan, let alone any other form of PTW.

Powered two-wheelers such as electric bicycles and mopeds, as well as the more conventional scooters and motorcycles, hold one part of the solution to congested roads and high fuel prices.

"Commuters are turning to them in droves and it's time the Victorian Government recognised their presence on the roads and acted to make their use safer," Mr Russell said

"Scooter and motorcycle sales are up 40per cent in the past three years. They are now permanent features of city and suburban roads. It is intolerable that there are no new road-sharing initiatives in the Transport Plan to cater for this growing transport alternative."

Mr Russell said a motorcycle forum held in March resulted in the identification of a number of needs for motorcycles and scooters on the roads.

These included: the need to adopt a new licensing system to allow learners to ride at an earlier age with research undertaken to determine the appropriate age PTWs be considered during road and infrastructure design processes.

Improved rider incentives using low-cost or subsidised skill-based training.

The removal of the motorcycle levy, or a non-discriminatory, transparent and accountable levy for all PTWs to ensure registration fees were dedicated to maintaining and improving road conditions and safety training for all riders.

The implementation of PTW safety boxes at traffic lights and intersections and the Great Ocean Road initiative to be used as a model for reporting dangers and hazards for implementing road improvements.

"This is an area which is not going to go away. The Government must start addressing the needs of users of all powered two wheelers to ensure Victoria's roads and infrastructure cater for the growth in use of this economical style of transport," Mr Russell said.

Those comments were echoed by Honda MPE Managing Director and Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries board member Stuart Strickland, who said in a letter to Premier Steve Bracks: "Inner city congestion frustrates anyone who has to deal with it on a daily basis however not all commuters favour public transport and/or bicycling for various reasons.

"Further, personal mobility is an ‘Australian right' and a way of life, so why is the motorcycle/scooter industry continually treated as the ‘poor cousin'? This is particularly frustrating considering motorcyclist and scooter riders are legitimate, taxpaying road users.

"Motorcycling, and the ongoing development of fuel efficient technology, is at least a partial answer to these problems. Relative to cars, motorcycles and scooters conserve fuel, act as an antidote to parking and traffic congestion and, in urban centres, can complete the commute in roughly half the time of cars.

Moreover, at a nominal gross vehicle weight, motorcycles cause no road wear.

"Cars, on the other hand, consume fuel, congest traffic and require extensive infrastructure. Honda - like many other manufacturers - has responded to these obvious advantages by developing a range of smaller motorcycles and scooters that are particularly fuel efficient and environmentally friendly." (Pic: Honda)