Friday 28 September 2012

PROTEST RUN 4

The PROTEST RALLY against:

1. The flouro vest law proposed by Victoria Police.

2. The compulsory boots, pants, jacket & gloves law proposed by Police.

3. The return of front number plates (and/or stickers or tags) proposed by several officials and Police.

4. Anti-association laws proposed by the Victorian Attorney General.

will go ahead.

WHEN:  from NOON on Monday, October 29, 2012. That is the day after the Phillip Island GP so many    riders will be in the state and a lot of media.

SPEECHES: 12.30 pm to 1 pm. Speeches will be kept short becaus many riders will have to get back to work.

WHERE: A'Beckett Street, Melbourne in the Elizabeth Street motorcycle precinct.

LAPS: After the speeches many riders will have to return to work. Those that don't can do laps of the  city raise awarenress of motorcycles & scooters in traffic and the issues they face. Suggested route. Elizabeth Street, left in Collins, left in Spring past Parliament House, left in Victoria and left back into Elizabeth.

All usual road laws apply. Road safety is the highest priority.

Rides in from key points should be organised. Cranbourne to guide riders from the Phillip Island races is important as is Geelong, Melton, Sunbury, Campbellfield and Lilydale. Maybe Brunswick HOG could organise a ride from Highway 31? Petrol Stations are usually good assembly areas. I'll put the details here as organisers contact me.

The Scooter Association clubs are supporting the PROTEST.

Aussie flags and club banners should be flown proudly. They attract the media and show the public that we are united, well-organised and we care.

Damien Codognotto OAM
Spokesman
Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne
Tel: 03 9846 8621

HI VIZ VEST LAW 26

One of the issues for the Monday, October 29, 2012, PROTEST RALLY in Melbourne is the threat to make flouro vests for motorcycle & scooter riders law in Victoria within 18 months.

Police said that if riders did not like that we could give up motorcycling.

Minister Mulder may say it's not his plan but he won't be in that job forever and the unholy trinity have made it clear hi viz vests are definitely their plan for riders.

Mandatory hi viz clothing is a threat in Europe too. The French appear to be leading the push on this one.

Damien
IRG


You  may  get  some  further  points  of interest from this Motorcycle Action Group (UK) news article

 http://www.mag-uk.org/en/campaignsdetail/a6883

As  mentioned  in  the  first paragraph ... planners to start treating motorcycling  as a serious and relevant alternative to the use of cars and public transport.

Rod
IRG

Wednesday 26 September 2012

"RIDE" ON SUNDAY


ON RIDE  THIS SUNDAY

·         We preview some of the stories on Series 2 of Temporary Australians on NRL Grand Final night and we find out why Cronulla and Blues Captain Paul Gallen is riding a Harley

·         In case you missed it former NRL star Nathan Hindmarsh talks about his first mass motorcycle ride.

·         We catch up with Streak from Oz Honda ST Owners Club and find out how things are travelling in Queensland

·         After the TV series folded we ask the question what is motorcycling like in the Shire and ask Jonesy about life there

·         We talk to Steve  from Caringbah Motorcycles talks about life with a young Jonesy and some great Shire rides

·         And Ken Irvine from Sutherland Ulysses Club talks about growing old disgracefully

·         Plus lots of news, views and music from Australia and beyond

TUNE IN in Sydney live on 90.5 FM and across Australia on www.alive905.comfrom 7pm -9pm EST on Sunday. Please check out Facebook and if you like the programme don't forget to Like this page and
recommend it to you friends.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/RIDE-on-2ccrfm-with-Greg-Hirst/265400733475447
         
Ride                                                                                               

What’s the next best thing to having some motorcycle fun? Listening to others who are having it as well!And you can do that on Sundays for two hours from 7pm EST. on Alive FM 90.5 when national motorcycling identity Greg Hirst will entertain you with

·Humorous stories of a motorcycle nature

·Interviews with well known motorcycle riders

·Stories from Aussie motorcycle clubs about their positive activities

·Update of key some motorcycling issues

·News on local and national motorcycle events (especially for those listening online)

·Studio guests to talk about their personal motorcycling experiences                                                

And lots of great Aussie rock, blues and alternate music, plus a little overseas stuff. So listen in every Sunday for some motorcycle radio fun: on radio in Sydney or online on

www.alive905.com

around Australia.Alive 90.5 FM broadcasts all its programmes online and so Ridecan be heard in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania at 7pm,Qld at 7pm, South Australia and Broken Hill 6.30pm, the Northern Territory at 6.30pm and in Western Australia at 5pm.

·For more information contact Greg on

www.greghirstenterprises.com.au

PROTEST RUN ? 3

Possible site for  a protest rally on October 29, 2012

Sunday 23 September 2012

TEMPORARY AUSTRALIANS - SERIES 2


Latest News on Temporary Australians.

Adelaide's free to air Channel 44 has scheduled a repeat of Series 1 of Temporary Australians

commencing this Thursday, September 20, 2012 at 8:30pm, with a repeat on TuesdayS at 1:00pm.

Following a successful national debut for this motorcycling show in March, filming is well

underway for Series 2 which will include two days of filming in Perth over January 19 and 20, 2013.

It is hoped that filming will also occur in Adelaide later this year.

Greg Hirst


BORDER BIKE FEST



The Border Bike Fest is run by the Wodonga Lions Club this event is  held at the Gateway Lakes
between Wodonga & Albury.

Sunday November 4, 2012.

Bike Registration - 8am to 10am.

Exhibition & Swap Meet - 10am to 2pm.

Judging - 11am to 1pm

Presentations - 1pm to 2 pm

Bike entry $5

Admission - Adults $5. Children under 12, free.

For more details - www.motorbikeshowandshine.com

Money raised is distributed to local charities.

The event has Trade Sites

Motor Cycle only Swap

and a large display area for the Bike Show and Shine display.

Regards
Paul Hare
Motorcycle Only Swap Meet Organiser

Mobile 0438 265 433

PROTEST RUN? 2 - 2012

The theme?

"Give me room
 Let me ride
 Let it slide
 Let it slide"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpX7Sjm405o


Saturday 22 September 2012

PROTEST RUN? 1 - 2012

Would you attend a rally in Melbourne after the Phillip Island GP? 

The rally would protest against: 

1.  a proposed law (Gore's law) to make motorcycle & scooter    riders wear flouro vests when they ride.


Snr Sgt Gore of the Wangaratta Highway Patrol told riders at a road safety forum that flouro vests would be law for all road riders within 18 months and if  riders did not like that they could give up motorcycling!


2.  Police proposals to make approved boots, pants, jackets & gloves compulsory for motorcycle & scooter riders.

3.  Police plans to require motorcycles & scooters to be fitted with a front identifier in the form of a plate, sticker or electronic tag.

4.  Police plans for an anti-association law that could see bike clubs declared criminal organisations with heavy penalties for people who, even unknowingly, associate with a member of a banned organisation.

If your answer is yes, you would attend a protest rally in Melbourne at lunchtime on the Monday after the GP, please email 

d.codognotto.oam@bigpond.com

Road authorities in Victoria have displayed their contempt for the current Parliamentary Inquiry into motorcycle & scooter safety by pushing for restrictive and discriminatory laws/ADRs for riders before the inquiry publishes it's recommendations in December 2012.

www.parliament.vic.gov.au/rsc/inquiries/article/1407

There is no scientific evidence indicating flouro vests will reduce motorcycle & scooter casualties. Any benefit to be gained over a blazing headlight can be gained voluntarily without effecting a crash victim's legal standing or right to full CTP insurance compensation.

Front ID for bikes is a grab for cash from tolls and fines and a way to track riders for police intelligence gathering purposes.

Other issues would include:

4.  the TAC antibike tax. 

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/abolish-tac-antibike-tax.html

5.  banning wire rope barriers.

http://www.banwirebarriers.org/index.php 

6.  road surface neglect by road authorities. Victoria the pothole state.

Friday 21 September 2012

HI VIZ VEST LAW 25


Hi everyone,

Page 12 of the Victorian Police Report 7th Sept 2011.

http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/rsc/motorcycle_safety/Submissions/44-67/52_VictoriaPolice_08092011.pdf

Recommendation   2:  The  minimum  wearing  of  five  high  visability
protective  clothing  items such as helmet,jacket,pants,gloves & boots
manufactured   to   Australian   safety  standard  mandatory  for  all
motorcycle riders & pillions.Vests are not were this would stop!

The push also from Sgt Gore Victoria Police

http://www.news.com.au/national/bikers-blue-over-push-to-wear-flouro-jackets/story-fncynjr2-1226451721963

Over  the last 14 years the number of motorcycle/scooter registrations
in Australia has increased by 5.1% per year, yet our accident rate has
been kept down to 3.1%per year for the same period.10 years ago (1998)
there  were  300,000  motorbike  riders,  by  2008  (MRA figures) over
500,000. A 60% fatalaty reduction in 10 years.This volume continues in
2012 with massive increases in motorbike & scooter registrations.

We  motorcyclists  have  statistically  improved  our safety yet we're
continually  tabled  as  a  problem.  We  need  to prevent this & give
ourselves  freedom  of choice based on our own decisions.Time we spoke
up louder!

I  do  agree  with  protective  clothing  combined  with  the improved
training of all riders & car drivers.

Regards to everyone,

Angus Constable-Townsend

View the petition  |  View and reply to this message online
Unsubscribe from updates about this petition
*************************************************************

You have until Oct 3 to do this survey. I ticked "strongly disagree" to mandatory
high visibity clothing and to having the same vehicle ID as cars, in other words,
front number plates.

roadsafety.vic.gov.au

Please encourage riders and friends to do the survey too.

Damien
IRG

HI VIZ VEST LAW 23


POSTED BY PETER LONERIDER HAWKER

http://mcssac.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/hi-viz-flouro-on-agenda-again.html

HI VIZ VEST LAW 22


A lot of good a Hi – Vis – Vest etc did this police officer, please be aware some may find this a bit disturbing.

Please pass on.

John

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGQFLD6klhU&feature=share



Tuesday 18 September 2012

ROYALAUTO

The Independent Riders' Group uses its' contacts to generate positive publicity for riders. We were trying increase the motorcycling content in the RACV's magazine ROYALAUTO. ROYALAUTO was doing a series on personalities and their sheds.
Heather doing some IRG work.





































Heather Ellis had a shed for her bikes. Read all about it in the October 2012 issue of ROYALAUTO, page 24. www.heather-ellis.com

TRAFFIC FILTERING 1

http://www.news.com.au/national/on-your-bike-motorbike-riders-may-be-allowed-to-ride-in-gap-between-cars/story-fndo4eg9-1226476525422

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/define-and-legitimise-motorcycle-filtering.html

Friday 14 September 2012

FRONT NUMBER PLATES 2


HI VIZ GEAR LAW & FRONT ID FOR MOTORCYCLES & SCOOTERS


Friday, September 14, 2012, 4:09:52 PM, you wrote:

I  think this is a great idea and I ride motor bikes, The straight and
narrow would not be so narrow if more people were on it.

Richard


Saturday, September 15, 2012.

G'day Richard.

I  don't  follow  your  logic. You think a law that may effect riders'
legal  standing  and  reduce compensation payouts is a great idea when
any  small  benefit  gained  from  hi  viz  clothing,  over hard-wired
headlights, is being gained voluntarily?

Front  number plates have no road safety benefit once you consider the
negatives of machines no designed to display them. FNPs are a grab for
cash  and  enabling  legislation so vehicles, eventually all vehicles,
can  be  tracked.  The  devices have already been tested on government
cars in Victoria.

Victoria Police were quoted in the Sunday Herald Sun C2010 saying that
they  wanted  front  ID  on  motorcycles  & scooters in the form of an
electronic tag for "intelligence gathering purposes".





Your reference to "the straight and narrow" implies that a lot of us are not on the straight and narrow. I find that mildly insulting.

As I said. I do not follow your logic.

Damien Codognotto OAM
Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne
----------------------------
[Melb-Moto]
Keep the shiny side up.

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/melb-moto/

Tuesday 11 September 2012

FRONT NUMBER PLATES

PLEASE PASS THIS VMC MEDIA RELEASE ON

Media Release – For Immediate Release
 
Victorian Government agencies front number plate proposal, $29m for no road safety benefit.
 
In response to a call for the introduction of motorcycle front number plates by Victoria Police, the Road Safety Camera Commissioner, Victorian Auditor General and Vicroads, motorcyclists have hit back claiming that the agencies have misrepresented the truth and have misused statistics to mask other agendas. 
 
In a transparent push to plug a 0.4% issue, the call for FNP’s would cost the Victorian community $29m to retro-fit today’s motorcycle fleet. This does not include the cost of developing safe and reliable identification which Vicroads research (conducted between 2000 – 2008) proved was not technically feasible. 
 
Rider representatives believe that the figures used as justification for FNP’s are an attempt to mislead the public and misrepresent motorcyclists. The claims that 60% of allegedly speeding motorcycles have failed identification due to a lack of frontal identification are false. Traffic Camera Office data shows that the actual figure is half what’s claimed and that these failed detections represents a paltry 0.4% of all motorcycle and motorcar speed camera detections.
 
The push for FNP’s for the sole purposes of the camera enforcement system would make Victoria singularly unique in the world and impose a complex Australian Design Rules problem for Australia.
 
Peter Baulch – VMC Chairman said, “Simply turn the cameras around and take the pictures from the rear.” He went on to say, “The logic that frontal identification is required to save lives is elusive. Riders have recorded solid fatality and injury reductions without FNP’s, which flies in the face of the hyperbole around there being more speeding motorcyclists. There’s never been a safer time to ride a motorcycle – clearly there’s some other agenda at play.”
 
Rob Smith of the Australian Rider’s Division cautioned, “Untested retro fitted number plates could lead to safety and stability issues on some motorcycles increasing the risk of injuries and even deaths.” 
 
Rob Salvatore from the VMC said, “Is it the Government’s contention that spending $29m to fix a 0.4% issue is really the best way to improve safety and lower the road toll?” Rob went on to say, “The agencies are trying to blame riders for an inherent camera system flaw that’s been there from day one.” 
 
Like all other road users, motorcycles have experienced a greater number of speeding detections over the last decade. Coupled with the proliferation of speed cameras, motorcycles have also experienced an explosion in kilometres travelled and a massive 70% increase in registrations. 
 
“The apparent increase in failed detections from the front is a numerical artefact from an increased probability of detection. The agencies however, have spun the figures in a negative light to vilify riders.” Rob Salvatore said. “Relatively speaking, it’s no worse than the situation in 2002, where we have our last solid piece of research.”
 
Recent results from the reputable Yellow Flag/Black Flag study showed that motorcyclists were generally law abiding road users and actually recorded a decrease in average speed during the study period, directly contradicting the inferences made by the agencies. In light of these independent findings, the VMC calls for the agencies to retract their misrepresentative statements, drop the misleading campaign and to start talking and working with rider representatives frankly and honestly towards a shared goal of safer roads.
 
“Of course we understand the speed issue and do not condone speeding, but road safety involves more than one dimension. Road safety is a shared responsibility. Our agencies should never be playing fast and loose with the truth in the area of road safety and should be called to account for vilifying motorcyclists, a legitimate road user.”  

Peter Baulch.
Chairman
Victorian Motorcycle Council 
 
- ENDS –

MOTORCYCLE SURVEY DEBATE 2


DO THE SURVEY. PASS THIS INFO ON AND ENCOURAGE OTHER MOTORCYCLE & SCOOTER RIDERS TO DO LIKEWISE.

heraldsun.com.au

In Victoria the Baillieu Government has set up a council of ministers for road safety. This is a good move. In theory it bypasses VicRoads/TAC/Police and asks the public for their opinions via a survey and for submissions.

The survey is loaded to ask questions the establishment wants answered in a certain way BUT, if motorcycle & scooter riders do nothing others will answer the bike questions for us. I don't see anything that says you have to be a Victorian or that you can't do the survey more than once. That might balance the bias a bit.

To September 12 over 8300 people have done the survey. 6400 men and less than 2000 women. That's small numbers for blokes and tiny for women. What's wrong girls?

roadsafety.vic.gov.au

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/abolish-tac-antibike-tax.html

http://www.banwirebarriers.org/index.php

DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT FLOURO VEST LAWS, COMPULSORY PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, FRONT NUMBER PLATES, UNFAIR BIKE TAXES OR ANY OF THE OTHER NASTIES VICROADS/TAC/POLICE HAVE IN STORE FOR US IF YOU WON'T EVEN TAKE THE TIME TO FILL IN A SURVEY OR A PETITION.

Damien Codognotto OAM
Independent Riders' Group

Sunday 9 September 2012

MOTORCYCLE SURVEY DEBATE 1


Do this survey and encourage others to do it. I answered strongly against the questions on compulsory hi visibility clothing and should bikes have the same ID as other vehicles (front number plates)? Do nothing and you give road authorities across OZ the excuse to further restrict you as a road rider.

roadsafety.vic.gov.au

To understand the survey on road safety(?) that appeared in the Melbourne Herald Sun, Weekly Times and elsewhere, watch a couple of episodes of Yes Minister.

Damien
IRG
Melbourne

Saturday, September 8, 2012, 12:07:37 AM, you wrote:

Hi mate,

FYI.
You might find the maths of interest. Frankly, I don't have the time or energy … but might have to make an exception for this.

(In case you ask, feel free to circulate this.)

I hope you're well.

All the best

G

Date: Sat, 08 Sep 2012 00:05:17 +1000
From: G
To:
Cc:
Subject: VicRoads Survey

Hi

Regardless of whether the club takes a united approach and/or individual submissions,  I'd beware falling into the trap of answering VicRoads questions on its own terms. What it has done is seek to narrow the debate.

For example, it asserts that exceeding the speed limit is dangerous and bad. In many cases that is true, but it's also demonstrably untrue in many circumstances.

Another, from the document:

"Do you think that like other vehicles in Victoria, motorcycles should be identifiable to enable enforcement of speeding and other unsafe road use behaviour?"

That's a motherhood question (of course they should), which ignores the reality. They are identifiable, with fines handed out on a daily basis. The real question is, should we spend millions of dollars (which is what it will cost) to add front identifiers? And the next is, what's the benefit?

On that basis alone, the organisation is guilty of deceit and should be reminded of that.

This particular issue is a sensitive one for VicRoads as it wasted a lot of money (several hundred thousand dollars) from the 'safety levy' in its early years on prototyping this.

There is also a lot of half-truth out there. For example, Ray Schuey, then assistant police commissioner, was the greatest proponent of the reintroduction of front plates several years ago. He used to love being interviewed on the subject, because he could rightly say that 3000 motorcyclists a year avoided speeding fines most likely because of a lack of front identifiers. What he failed to add was that another 93,000 motorists did exactly the same for a variety of reasons.

Also, let's analyse the 3000 figure. At the the time, a few fixed camera locations shot front only – most notably in the old part of Citylink (Burnley tunnel).

Let's look at the number of working days per year, which is 48 weeks by five days = 240 working days. Take those 3000 fines and divide them by the number of working days = 12.5. If you go to work, you have to return home again, so divide that by two trips = 6.25. Which means the entire 3000 missed fines from fixed cameras (which sounds shocking) could have been caused by 6.25 motorcyclists who commute and ignore the cameras! Now (hopefully) you see why this is such a fake debate.

Another point: though it's called a survey, it is not. VicRoads is offering a position paper and inviting responses to a set of closed premises. It is in no way a survey (the poor access is a clue), and nor does it invite real debate. It wants you to respond on its terms and those alone.

So, if you feel it's worth a reply, beware replying/debating on their chosen ground. Analyse the issue, and not within VicRoads' set parameters, and then respond.

All the best,

G

From: C
Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2012 22:29:55 +1000
To:
Cc:
Subject: FW: 998 News Flash - VicRoads Survey

Gents,

Should we be doing something about this?

C

From: M
Sent: Thursday, 6 September 2012 7:09 PM
To:
Subject: News Flash - VicRoads Survey

Fellow Victorian Section Members,

If you want to:

1.       Be FORCED to wear high visibility clothing – standards yet to be determined;

2.       Be forced to screw a numberplate onto the front of your bike – simply because VicRoads have their     cameras facing the wrong way;

3.       Be further restricted in riding you motorcycle, under the guise of policing unsafe behaviour;

4.       Have you licence (car and bike) cancelled for LIFE on your 75th birthday; then

DO NOTHING!

BUT if you have ANY objections to the above then PLEASE go to the website www.roadsafety.vic.gov.au   and follow the links to complete the survey on road safety.  In particular, take time to read and complete the sections relating to cyclists and motorcyclists.

Just remember – if you do not agree with the proposals or the “inferred” proposals, say NOTHING that could be taken as agreement.

Regards

M

From: Victorian Motorcycle Council [mailto:victorianmotorcyclecouncil@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, 6 September 2012 10:45 AM
Cc: Victorian Motorcycle Council
Subject: Urgent Vicroads Road Safety Stratergy

Dear VMC Club Member / Delegate,

URGENT        URGENT        URGENT         URGENT       

Re: Road Safety Strategy.

The Vicroads safety strategy, which the Herald Sun is promotng, refers to the Vicroads road safety strategy.

The details of the strategy are at this site:

http://www.roadsafety.vic.gov.au/

which is where you'll find the public comment document:

http://www.roadsafety.vic.gov.au/files/pdf/rss/GDS_09119_HAVE%20YOUR%20SAY_WEB.pdf

that includes the 60% lack of FNP bullshit stat, and it's also where they invite you to answer their highly biased survey found at:

http://www.myviews.justice.vic.gov.au/

Now the interesting thing is that they are taking submissions which are due by Oct 3rd which is NOT much time.

We (VMC) are going to cut and paste elements from the VMC's Inquiry submission and the NTC road rules submission, and include some blistering stuff about FNP's (and will probably include the whole Camera Commissioner letters as an appendix).

We would strongly encourage you folks to encourage your networks to submit stuff or do the survey with your own pro motorcycle biases guiding your answers. Ulysses and BMW club may wish to consider a substantive submission of their own.

United we stand,  ....................

Thank you,

Peter Baulch
Chairman - VMC
0428 246 175

http://www.victorianmotorcyclecouncil.org.au/


Wednesday 5 September 2012

JOIN THE INDEPENDENT RIDERS' GROUP


Good morning Damien

My name is Vicky.  I ride a Le Grande 200.  I've joined the Independant Riders Group to assist in fighting the new proposed laws of compulsory rider clothing and hi viz vests.

I wear a hi viz vest when riding and that has yet to deter ddrivers from not seeing me on a fairly large red bike.  I also wear all the protective gear, but believe that prescribing what constitutes protective gear could force me in to having to purchase new stuff, as well as not allowing me to make my own choice as to what gear to wear on what day.

I look forward to the challenge of challenging this nanny government of ours.

Yours in riding

Vicky

To become an Independent Riders' Group supporter just send us your name, post code and email address and we'll put you on the list. It's free. It doesn't interfere with other memberships and you can withdraw when you like.

Standing up to road authorities who would gladly strip us of our right to ride takes organisation and numbers. The more voters we have in the IRG, the more political muscle we have to defend ourselves.

Damien Codognotto OAM
Spokesman
The Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne

GORE'S LAW & FRONT ID 2 - SEP 6 2012

The Victorian Government / Herald Sun did not consult motorcycle or scooter riding stakeholders when developing its' "raft of road safety options", it did ask the RACV.

The RACV began in 1903 when 3 motorcyclists organised the first run and meeting.

The RACV's first run to Mordialloc. December 6, 1903.  From the James Flood Book of Motorcycling in Australia.


Today the RACV is a car organisation with a few members who ride bikes.

The government's raft of options for riders include Snr Sgt Gore's HI VIZ VEST LAW, compulsory protective clothing and front number plates (read electronic tags) on all road motorcycles & scooters.

Nobody told Victoria's Motorcycle Advisory Group (VMAG), the expert body set up at VicRoads by the Baillieu Government to advise on such matters. Nobody consulted the Independent Riders' Group (IRG) or the Victorian Motorcycle Council (VMC).

































Take the survey.


AUSTRALIAN MOTORCYCLE NEWS
LETTERS

In  Opposition,  the  Baillieu  Government  promised  a  peak  body to represent  Victoria's  325,000  motorcycle  &  scooter licence holders better. The Motorcycle Advisory Group (VMAG) was set up at VicRoads.

The  Herald  Sun  published  (5/9/2012)a  "raft  of options" including mandatory  high visibility vests, compulsory boots, pants, jackets and gloves   and   front  number  plates  on  bikes. Stakeholders were not consulted again.

There  is  no  evidence  hi  viz vests work. If some small road safety
benefit  over  a  bright  headlight  can  be  gained, it can be gained
through voluntary use.

Protective clothing is used by the majority and should be encourged. A protective gear law/adr will mean less choice, higher prices and a lot of  top  quality  and  tailored  bike  gear  not  being  available  in Australia.

Front  ID for motorcycles & scooters does not mean plates or stickers. Police  want  a  tracking  device regulation to fine riders and gather intelligence.  Bikes  are  not  designed to display front ID and very, very few places anywhere require it.

VMAG  was  bypassed  in  developing  this  raft  of  options. RACV was apparently  included.  The motorcycle options are revenue raisers, not effective  road  safety  initiatives. If that was not the case why not consult  VMAG and develop proposals that will really do some good? Why not   wait   for  the  current  Parliamentary  Inquiry  to  make  its' recommendations?

Damien Codognotto OAM
Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne