Vic Government has lost the plot -- MRAA
Lobby group says bikes are ignoredFrom the MRAA: The President of the Motorcycle Riders Association of Australia (MRAA), Mr Dale Maggs, has expressed disappointment at the Victorian Government's recently released transport and road safety plans.
Maggs stated that the government had lost the plot and passed up the opportunity to promote a real alternative to cars. He stated that, as usual, the most efficient and effective form of road transport has been totally ignored.
Studies have shown that the only commuters really satisfied with their form of commuting are motorcycle and scooter riders. While bicycles are being promoted as an alternative, they are simply not and cannot provide the mobility for commuting quickly over longer distances.
More and more Victorians are turning to scooters and motorcycles as their primary commuting transport. The handling and braking of modern scooters in particular is very good and the carrying capacity makes them suitable for most shopping trips.
The Government needs to look closely at these vehicles as car replacements. During the recent congestion nightmare on the Monash Freeway, the only vehicles that could move freely were motorcycles and scooters. The MRAA again calls on the Government to do the following:
- Immediately introduce a Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme along the lines of NSW, the ACT and SA;
- Review the ludicrously high licensing age for riders (currently the highest in Australia and one of the highest in the world);
- Investigate permitting use of scooters up to 50cc on existing full drivers licences;
- Explicitly permit filtering through stationary or slow moving traffic;
- Permit shared use of on-road bicycle lanes by motorcycles and scooters (with certain limitations); and
- In consultation with riders, develop a sound and sensible motorcycle strategy.
According to the MRAA, the safety strategy again shows up the total unfairness of motorcyclists being the only road users to pay an additional levy. If $72 million can be found for bicycle paths, then surely the few millions raised by the levy could be funded by Government rather than being stolen from motorcyclists. The MRAA again calls on the Government to withdraw this levy and to treat powered two vehicles fairly and reasonably.
(Pic: Leaner-legal versions of bikes such as this Hyosung GT650S are available in some states, but not in Victoria. The MRAA says that should change.)
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