to go faster than 80 kph in Victoria. Country, two-lane roads where
semis often did 120 kph, were scary. It was dangerous but no one
In the 1970s there was the pillion law. And, motorcycle & scooter
learners had different speed limits to licenced riders. That meant
experienced riders could not easily teach novices on-road which was a
feature of the club scene.
And, bikes had to have front number plates. Bikes could only park in
marked car bays which drivers hated. There were moves to make riders
wear yellow and have all machines painted yellow. Similar laws and
proposals existed across Australia. And there was more planned to get
motorcycles & scooters off our roads. Antibike taxes were called for and
road authorities actively opposed rider training.
In 1978 we started the Motorcycle Riders' Association (MRA) in Melbourne.
Bikers Ltd began in Sydney that year. They were people power organisations
responding to a grass roots need. They encouraged rider involvement.
In 1980 we initiated the 10,000 BIKE RUN and worked with Bikers Ltd
and the Federation of Australian Motorcyclists (ACT) to make it happen.
We rode on Canberra to let all governments know that we were a well-organised
voting block and we were not going to take it anymore.
More than 12,000 bikes from all over Australia rolled into the nation's capital
demanding to be heard.
Big runs demonstrated rider groups organising abilities and political muscle.
Thousands of riders in disciplined columns showed politicians that we would
would remember them at the next election and told car drivers that we have a
right to ride.
There were far fewer registered motorcycles & scooters in the 1980s but
the protest runs were much, much bigger. In the early 1980s there were about
80,000 road-registered motorcycles & scooters in Victoria. In 2012 there are
over 165,000 and 1.3 million plus nationally.
The B&W pictures are from the second pillion law protest run. It went from Melbourne
to Geelong, obeying the law, riding at 80 kph in the left lane. Traffic that usually
travelled at over 100 kph banked up as only one lane was available to pass the
column of more than 4000 bikes stretching an estimated 10 kilometres.
One of the pillions that day was a young back-bench MP named Jeff
Kennett. Kennett was on Chris Swalell's Kawasaki 900. As semis roared
passed in the rain Kennett came to understand why the 80 kph pillion
speed restriction was just plain dangerous (as were the differential
limits for novice riders). He took the message back to state parliament.
The 80 kph pillion law was repealed that year.
Since around 2000 rider representation became the role of the few, not the many.
Moves to bring back front number plates, make flouro gear compulsory, govern
bike motors, bring in anti-association laws, restrict Victoria's footpath parking,
separate motorcycles & scooters from car traffic and more have been made by
various authorities. TAC used our money to make a series of TV ads vilifying riders
and justifying bad/aggressive car driving. These moves are shelved, not gone.
Rider participation in public events dwindled. Even the BLOOD
CHALLENGE ended after 30 years in Victoria when police withdrew with
Red Cross blessing. Again this summer the blood bank is making
desperate appeals for donors as blood stocks dwindle over the
holidays. Call 13 14 95 if you think you can give blood.
The Melbourne TOY RUN is no longer in Melbourne.
Driver Awareness Rides ended.
The MRAV declined and became a social club! Of necessity the
Independent Riders Group (IRG), which began as a think tank around
2006, went formal on July 1, 2012.
In 2012, 400 bikes at the A'Beckett Street Protest on October 29 was considered
a reasonable show of strength. That event grew out of a facebook page. It was a
grass roots response to discrimination against motorcycle & scooter riders.
In December 2012 the Parliamentary Inquiry into motorcycle & scooter safety (PIMS)
delivered it's report. The recommendations are good but they are just that, recommendations.
If you don't want the recommendations brought in, DO NOTHING.
The PIMS recommendations include abolishing the discriminatory TAC antibike tax.
This hidden TAC tax means riders pay over $70 a year on most road bikes. It was indexed by
the last government so it automatically increases every year. It is not charged on any other
vehicle. It is wrong.
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/abolish-tac-antibike-tax.html
If
YOU want the PIMS recommendations to become realities,
YOU have to use political muscle.
That means very public, on-road people power, as in the 1980s. We have to tell our politicians
that we know there's a state election in 2014 and we'll vote according to their actions
implementing the PIMS recommendations.
We also need to send a clear road safety message to car drivers.
Too many of us are having our property smashed, our bodies broken and, too often, our lives
taken because a car driver does the wrong thing. Too often car drivers get a slap on the wrist
for it, like the cup cake killer. Take a moment to think about the last rider you visited in hospital
or the last riders' funeral you attended. We are legitimate road users who pay our way and
we demand a fair go on our roads.
The first FAIR GO RUN will be on Saturday, March 16, 2013.
Riders are invited to assemble at the BP servo on the corner of Cooper Street and Scanlon
Drive in Campbellfield - Melway map 181, reference E 11.
All welcome. The more flags and banners the better. Businesses and organisations are welcome
to attend to show solidarity with their customers.
The column will depart for the marginal seat of Seymour at 10.00 am. It is about an hour's run
up the Hume to the electorate office of Cindy McLeish MP in Wallis Street. Riders from the
north, east and west are invited to join us there. We are all in this together.
About 11.30 am speakers will tell the government, opposition and the media what can be
done to win votes from Victoria's 326,000 strong motorcycle & scooter community.
Members from both sides of parliament will be asked to speak to the assembled riders.
After the speeches riders are invited to lunch at the Flowerdale Pub - Melway map X927,
reference J 2. The Flowerdale is the hub of some of the best riding roads in Australia.
PLEASE use this material as you see fit - put it on webistes and facebook, pin it on notice boards, email it to friends, use it in magazines and newsletters and raise it at club meetings. Get the word out there. Watch this blog for more details.
Join the IRG. It's free. You can withdraw anytime. All we need is a name, post code and email address.
Please pass this on.
Have a safe & happy new year!
Damien Codognotto OAM
Spokesman
Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne
