PUBLIC HEARINGS

The  Victorian Road Safety Committee will hold public hearings for the
Inquiry into Motorcycle Safety in Traralgon and Bairnesdale next week.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the public hearings.

TRARALGON - Tuesday 13 December - 1.45pm - 4.15pm

Business Centre, Seminar Room, 55 Grey Street, Traralgon

1.45pm - 2.30pm                Victoria Police - Traralgon

2.45pm - 3.45pm                VicRoads

4.00pm - 4.15pm                Mr Pete Dowe

BAIRNSDALE - Wednesday 14 December - 9.30am - 12.30pm

Gippsland Shire Council, Council Chambers, 273 Main Street, Bairnsdale

9.30am - 10.30am               Victoria Police - Bairnsdale

10.45am - 11.30am             Eastern Region Motorcycle Working Party

11.45am - 12.30pm             Ride-Tek Motorcycle Training Academy

http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/rsc/article/1407

Damien Codognotto OAM
Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne

Be informed. Join melb-moto:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/melb-moto/join

FROM THE FOLK WHO BROUGHT YOU EUROPE'S FINANCIAL MELTDOWN.

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/content/20111205IPR33211/html/Motorbikes-need-to-be-safer-and-greener-Internal-Market-Committee-MEPs-say

Motorbikes need to be safer and greener, Internal Market Committee MEPs

New rules to make motorbikes safer and more environmentally friendly got the thumbs up from Parliament's Internal Market Committee on Monday, when it adopted a report on a common system of type approval for powered two-wheel vehicles ranging from mopeds to heavy motorcycles.

Cleaner engines

Two, three and four-wheel (L-category) vehicles emit a disproportionally high level of pollutants. MEPs want to bring down these levels by extending the Euro 3 standards to mopeds from 1 January 2016, with the more stringent Euro 4 and Euro 5 standards for heavy motorbikes from 2016 and Euro 6 limits from 2020.

The committee is also calling on the Commission to carry out a comprehensive environmental impact study by 1 January 2016 to evaluate the air quality and share of pollutants contributed by L-category vehicles.

It welcomes the gradual introduction of increasingly advanced On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) systems to monitor malfunctions and hence make information on emissions easily available so that the vehicle can be repaired.

A total of around 30 million vehicles are included in the L-category which covers a wide range of vehicles including motorbikes, scooters, mopeds, electric bicycles, all terrain vehicles and quads.

Mr Van De Camp's draft report was adopted by 28 votes, with none against and three abstentions.

Next Steps

The committee will now decide on whether to open negotiations with the Council with a view to reaching agreement.at first reading on the new regulation harmonising conditions for the approval of L-category vehicles.

In the Chair: Committee Chair Malcolm Harbour (ECR, UK)

The committee points out that Europe's cities would be much less congested and cleaner if more two-wheeled vehicles were used. However, given that motorbikes, scooters and mopeds currently account for 16 per cent of the deaths on Europe's road, even though they only make up two per cent of traffic, they must be made safer.

"From today, riding a motorbike has become greener and safer", said Wim van de Camp (EPP, NL), who is steering the legislation through Parliament. "These vehicles will increase urban mobility, use less space, waste less energy and have a reduced level of emissions."

Safer Vehicles

The committee says that under the new rules to be met by the motorcycle industry, anti-lock braking systems (ABS) must be fitted to all bikes with engines above 51 cc. This is stricter than the Commission's original proposal of mandatory ABS systems for bikes over 125 cc.

MEPs support new anti-tampering measures designed to make it impossible to increase the speed of the vehicles by tampering with their powertrain, while ensuring that these measures will not prevent bikers from modifying their vehicles in other ways.

MEPs also welcome the tougher rules on lighting in order to improve visibility.

MEPs stress that manufacturers must provide unrestricted access to vehicle repair and maintenance information for everyone, including independent dealers and repairers, to ensure that the vehicles are maintained safely.

G'day guys,

Just incase you hadn't caught up with the latest recommendations from Europe, here's the summary: ABS on motorbikes >51cc capacity, non tampering rules so that motorbikes can't be made faster and tighter emission specs.

This is asking for ABS on the equivalent of mopeds. Are these politicians barking mad? The world seems a little nuttier today.

Cheers

Rob Salvatore.

HIRSTY'S BACK ON THE WIRELESS AGAIN.

ON RIDE  THIS WEEK

* We look a bit closer at the Melbourne and Sydney Toy Runs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TUNE IN in Sydney live on 90.5 FM and across Australia on

 

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

Ride

What 2CCR FM 90.5 when national motorcycling identity Greg Hirst will entertain you with

 

 

 

 

 

 www.2ccrfm.com around Australia.2CCR broadcasts all its programmes online so Ride can be heard in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania at 10pm, Qld at 9pm, South Australia and Broken Hill 9.30pm, the Northern Territory at 8.30pm and in Western Australia at 7pm.

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

 

For more information contact Greg on www.greghirstenterprises.com.au

Studio guests to talk about their personal motorcycling experiences.

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

Update of key some motorcycling issues.

Stories from Aussie motorcycle clubs about their positive activities.

Interviews with well known motorcycle riders.

Humorous stories of a motorcycle nature.

Please check out Facebook and if you like the programme don't forget to Like this page and recommend it to you friends.

www.2ccrfm.com from 10pm -Midnight EST on Thursdays.

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

* And, we talk to Johann Kastner from Oztrikes about his business and the future of the Bi-annual Trikefest to Alice Springs.

* Peter Thoeming talks about how he started Road Rider Magazine.

* Damien Codognotto gives us the latest on the Victorian Motorcycle Enquiry.

* Live to Ride Editor Miles Rangeley and Two Wheels Editor Jeremy Bowdler talk about the move to Express Publications and the air bike prototype at the Sydney Motorcycle Show.

* Adam Wright from Harley Davidson and Cameron Cuthill from Victory share their impressions of this Darling Harbour event.

* Mark Petersen from the Sydney Motorcycle Show reflects on the changes, both now and in the future, to this industry gathering.

 

WOMEN'S MOTORCYCLING

Celebration of Women’s Motorcycling

A rally on the Australia Day long weekend in 2012, to be held in Victoria’s picturesque north-east with plenty to see and do

The Australian Riders’ Division, a non-competitive arm of Motorcycling Australia, will be holding a Celebration of Women’s Motorcycling (CWM) Rally from January 27-29, 2012.

The event, to be held in Yackandandah (Vic), will aim to recognise the contribution of women to Australia’s motorcycling history.

It’s anticipated the event will be well subscribed, so attendees are encouraged to book their accommodation in the area as early as possible. Also, attendees are being asked to make contact and register with the Australian Riders’ Division as soon as possible.

There are many great places to stay in the town and surrounding area -- and in the event the hotels, motels and B&Bs book out, the town of Beechworth is only a short ride away.

For riders wishing to explore, there will be long and short guided rides through the local countryside on January 28, followed by a ‘Show and Shine’ competition.

That night, a spit roast dinner will be held at the Yackandandah Hotel, costing $25 per head. Prize giving will also take place from 7:00pm, with local three-piece band Twisted Creek providing the evening’s entertainment.

All attendees are asked to submit in advance, or bring to the event, one or more motorcycle photographs of themselves, their mothers, daughters, grandmothers, friends or just women on motorcycles.

A name or short history with each picture would be a great help. To submit in advance, please send scans to membership@ma.org.au.

The event is also open to partners, relatives and friends of attendees.

For more information and registration contact the Australian Riders’ Division, tel (03) 9684 0500.

Read the latest Bikesales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the Bikesales Network's mobile site. Or download the all-new App.

Published : Tuesday, 29 November 2011

WHY LANE SPLIT / TRAFFIC FILTER?

Two fatalities in front of the Melbourne Coroner's Court in the last ten years. They FAILED to filter and were hit from behind. See a picture via the link below.

In 40% of insurance claims by riders a car hit the bike from behind (Swann Insurance survey 2006).

Almost no cases of injuries due to lane splitting (at speed) exist.

Surely that says it all?

The TAC, police and Vic Roads need to run research based campaigns. Opinion based campaigns waste money that should be spent in areas that do matter.

Michael Czajka
Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne

Full credit to Cheffie for finding the picture. This is why we need filtering. The following image was on netrider.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/309829_172343196193125_102206979873414_306905_1200702444_n.jpg

Rob Salvatore

ITALIAN BIKES - UPDATED NOV 20, 2011.

ITALIANS are leaders in many areas including food, and things that go fast, like Spaghetti Bolognese and Valentino Rossie. Australia has lots of Italian restaurants and many Italian motorcycles & scooters.This said and it's no surprise that there is a Festival of Italian Motorcycling.

Motorcycles & scooters old and new will be on show including MV Augustas from the 1950s & '60s. Awards will be presented for best in various classes.

There will be coffee and pizza and merchandise on sale.

The Festival of Italian Motorcycling is on next Sunday, November 20, 2011 from 9.30 am.

It's in the Russell Street car park on Harding Street in Coburg near Sydney Road. Melway map 29, reference H1. 

http://ottonero.blogspot.com/2011/11/tamburiniopera-prima.html

http://tinyurl.com/83x8zbg

 Italian bikes on display in Faraday Street Carlton for the opening of the Italian Museum.

Sunday, November 20, 2011.

Rod Brown and hid daughter Melinda on her new Vespa.



ELECTRIC BIKES

Thanks Dale.

GreenCarMag (@GreenCarMag)

10/11/11 11:51 PM

#electric#motorcycle Honda to show electric supersports RC-E

motorcycle at Tokyo Motor Show - Gizmag

http://t.co/kbwpV81Y

and

GreenCarMag (@GreenCarMag)
10/11/11 11:51 PM

Electric motorcycle with 100-mile range and improved sp...

http://t.co/fvSjB9Lv

and

Marcus Wigan (@MarcWigan)

14/10/11 4:33 AM

Radar arrives in cars- but how will bicycles motorcycles and

pedestrians fare?(IEEE Spectrum article)

http://t.co/2FKEvdqi

Dale Maggs

Mob 0432 776 458

Independent Riders Group

Victoria

LANE SPLITTING / TRAFFIC FILTERING ON CH 9 - NOV 8, 2011.

As usual non-motorcycling officials have put their opinions to the media on motorcycling matters with a negative bias.

In this case they have an opinion on lane splitting / traffic filtering (LSTF) and channel 9 in Melbourne was happy to run a reasonably balanced report. Although some of the lane splitting footage was suspect. I suspect the speeding scenes may have been a set up and possibly sped up. Dramatic licence?

And, no one mentioned that what looks like a tight spot from the seat of a car looks perfectly safe from the saddle of the bike. Most bike riders own and drive cars. Most car drivers do not ride bikes nor do they know much about operating a motorcycle or scooter safely in traffic but they are ahppy to give you their opinions.

Have a look at the clip and let me have your comments.

LSTF  is not new. It's been going on since there were two cars pointed in the same direction.

The fact is that officials have, over the decades, consistantly failed to come up with hard evidence, based on good science, that there is a road safety problem with traffic filtering. Where is the casualty data showing that TFLS is dangerous? Lane splitting at speed is not supported by any rider group I know of.

Victorian roads are set up to encourage bicyclists to filter. It is therefore inconsistent for mostly non-riding officials to say this activity is good for one group of two wheelers but bad for another.

In heavy traffic, filtering eases congestion making life easier for gridlocked car drivers, and we produce less pollutants.

Comments?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMM2YxMCdBU&feature=player_embedded

Damien Codognotto OAM
Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne

RSC INQUIRY PUBLIC HEARINGS - UPDATED NOV 20, 2011.

Damien Codognotto OAM

GEELONG - TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011.  10.30 am to 5 pm.
At the National Wool Museum in the Auction Room.
26 Moorabool Street, Geelong.

Top: The venue. Middle: Ray Newland, Independent and Rob Smith from Motorcycling Australia. Bottom: Professor John Lambert and David McKenzie from Motorcycle Motion.

BALLARAT - WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2011.  11 am to 4.15 pm. At the Ballarat Town Hall in Committee Room 1 on level 1. Corner  Sturt Street  and  Armstrong Street South,  Ballarat.

Central Highlands Ulyssians

WANGARATTA - TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2011.  Noon to 5.45 pm.

At The Centre in room 2.

Chisholm Street, Wangaratta.

WODONGA - WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2011.  9.30 am to 12.15 pm.

At TAFESpace in the boardroom.

158 Lawrence Street, Wodonga.

Media contact: Chair, Mr Murray Thompson MP, 03 9598 2688.

Enquiries: Kylie Jankins, Executive Officer, 03 8682 2845 or 0429 009 974.



FA LA LA LA LAH LA LAH LAH LAH!

PLEASE BRING A GIFT FOR A NEEDY KID

Please do not wrap your gift as they all have to be health checked before they get to a family this Christmas. Fluffy, stuffed toys are great decorations for bikes but, unless they are brand new and in the manufacturer's packaging, they can't be given to kids. Think about the child you are helping as your own. Maybe you could spend an extra dollar. Better gifts are hard toys, clothing, bedding and even tinned food. It all helps families with less have a happier Christmas.

If you can't make it to the 34th MRA TOY RUN at Calder, try to get to another run. TOY RUNS are held all over Australia.

Be careful out there and have a safe and happy festive season.

Damien Codognotto OAM

Independent Riders' Group

MRA HLM

Melbourne

DONORS NEEDED

Blood donors are needed.

13 14 95 or donateblood.com.au

Old picture, same call, GIVE BLOOD!

Damien Codognotto OAM
Independent Riders' Group
MRA HLM
Melbourne

MC INQUIRY IN REGIONAL CENTRES

This is the latest information on the inquiry into motorcycle & scooter safety regional hearings on the Parliamentary Road Safety Committee website. Last updated November 2, appeared November 9, 2011.

Heather Ellis www.heather-ellis.com (no relation to Tony) makes her submission on expanding the recreational registration system to the Victorian Road Safety Committee (RSC) inquiry on October 19, 2011. The RSC from left to right: Bill Tilley MP, Telmo Languiller MP, Murray Thompson MP, Andrew Elsbury MP and Jude Perera MP.

"The Committee will also be holding hearings in regional areas, including Ballarat, Bendigo, Wangaratta, Wodonga and Bairnesdale, during November and December. Details will be available shortly."

My information is that the first regional hearing is next Tuesday, November 15 in Geelong and then Bendigo on Wednesday, November 16. That is not confirmed. I have no details on times or venues.

However, I can tell you that members of the public are invited to attand.

Government Departments that did not seem to want to be construed as doing anything to encourage motorcycling made their submissions on October 17. You can read their submissions and get details on the regional hearings at:

http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/rsc/article/1681

I've said it before, I say it again, Big Brother is alive and well and has his headquarters in the nanny state.

EMAIL TO VICTORIAN MOTORCYCLE CLUBS, MAGAZINES AND WEBSITES:

The Victorian Parliamentary Road Safety Committee (RSC)Inquiry into motorcycle & scooter safety has great potential for good for the motorcycle & scooter community and benefits for society as a whole. Benefits to car drivers from increased motorcycle & scooter use include less pollution, fewer traffic jams, more car parking, less costly damage to infrastructure and more.

The Victorian Auditor General's report released in February 2011 showed that the number of road registered bikes in this state had increased steadily over the last decade to 165,000 machines. Off road bike sales more than double that figure. Some 325,000 Victorians have road bike licences. Many of them are active, borrowing bikes or hiring them.

Motorcycling contributes to our economy in more ways than just paying registration fees and CTP premiums equal to an urban four-wheel drive. The industry employs Victorians and pays taxes, rents, rates and so on.  And, motorcycle & scooter riders spend money when travelling. That's not just for major events like the Phillip Island Motorcycle Grand Prix, that's every weekend. Motorcycling is less seasonal than bicycling because, among other things, of the quality of protective gear we wear.

Tourism Victoria's Bicycle Tourism Action Plan 2011 - 2015 states: 

"... The total estimated expenditure for the year ending December 2010 ... in Victoria is $362 million."

The Independent Riders' Group (IRG) ran an informal survey of riders on day trips east of Melbourne that indicates motorcycle & scooter riders taking part in recreational activities spend a lot more than $362 million a year, so motorcycle & scooter tourers and off-roaders are a significant market for regional Victoria. Tourism Victoria is developing a motorcycle & scooter action plan and the IRG has contributed to that work.

Details on the IRG informal survey are in an earlier blog.

The point is that this RSC Inquiry has real potential. Motorcycling is growing steadily and is safer than it has ever been.

This graph was part of the Victorian Motorcycle Council submission to the RSC inquiry. It was prepared by Bronwyn Sorenson and Rob Salvatore.

It's a pity that VicRoads, TAC and Police were so negative in their approach to motorcycling in Victoria. VicRoads policy not to do anything that might be construed as encouraging motorcycling seemsto be as real now as it was when it was documented in the last RSC Inquiry nearly 20 years ago.

TAC's justification for spending tens of millions on shock horror ads, discriminatory taxes and premiums is based on small-sample market research, not good science. TAC spin does not reflect real costs of bike safety safety or the value of bikes to the environment. Market research is what you do when you want to sell a biscuit in a new market.

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

The Police call for compulsory electronic ID devices to be fitted to all bikes for intelligence gathering and fines (and tolls) sent shock waves through the motorcycle community. See above press clipping. It's not just riders who are being targeted for "intelligence gathering". The Herald Sun, November 7 reports that police are even using public transport ticketing system to gather personal information on Victorian citizens.

It is also a pity that in spite of the interest in the RSC Inquiry in the motorcycle community and industry few stakeholders will be able to attend the public hearings in regional centres. With just a short time to go the dates, times and venues for hearings are not on the website. How do stakeholders plan for a day off work with such a short notice?

Last updated on Thursday, 06 October 2011."

The next update was on November 2. It took till November 8 to appear with no new details.

Damien Codognotto OAM
Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne
d.codognotto.oam@bigpond.com

"Members of the public are welcome to attend the hearings. ... The Committee will also be holding public hearings in regional areas, including Ballarat, Bendigo, Wangaratta, Wodonga and Bairnesdale, during November and December. Details will be available shortly.

BICYCLE NETWORK & RACV OPPOSE MOTORCYCLES IN BUS LANES

THE AGE

Page 5.

Monday, November 7, 2011.

By City Editor Jason Dowling.

"BIKERS TO TEST SHARING BUS LANE

MOTORCYCLISTS will be able to travel in bus lanes on Hoddle Street for six months under a trial to begin within weeks.

The Bus Association and Bicycle Network Victoria both oppose the plan but Roads Minister Terry Mulder said the trial would assess 'travel times and other benefits for motorcycles and determine if there are any impacts on buses and other road users'.

Under the trial, motorcyclists will be able to ride in the south-bound Hoddle Street bus lane between the Eastern Freeway and Victoria Parade.

VicRoads chose Hoddle Street because of the number of road users, the length of the bus lane and the level of congestion during peak hours. Mr Mulder said information from the trial 'along with community feedback, will be used to make an evidence based decision on whether to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes'.

Victorian Motorcycle Council chairman Peter Baulch welcomed the trial.

'Broadly we are very much supporting the concept because it has been very successful overseas,' he said. Motorcycles using bus lanes 'frees up congestion on the main roads'.

But Bicycle Network Victoria spokesman Garry Brennan said motorcycles should not use bus lanes because of the speed at which they travelled.

Cyclists are permitted to use bus lanes in signposted areas on Hoddle Street and Mr Brennan said they expected more bus lanes to be opened to cyclists.

'It is inevitable,' he said. 'The evidence from around Australia and around the world is that buses and bikes can successfully share bus lanes.' (DC - Maybe, but it defies logic to claim motorcycles & scooters should be banned because they can travel at speeds that keep up with motorised traffic.)

Chris Lowe from the Bus Association said it did not support motorcycles or bicycles using bus lanes.

'The three modes of transport are inherently different and we are very concerned at the prospect of two-wheeled motorised and non-motorised forms of transport sharing the road space with a heavy vehicle,' he said.

RACV general manager public policy Brian Negus said bus lanes should only be used by buses, taxis and commercial hire cars."

INDEPENDENT RIDERS' GROUP

MEDIA RELEASE

THE MANNINGHAM LEADER

Manningham has a lot of bus lanes. In 2010, Templestowe resident  Damien  Codognotto OAM, was concerned that the system was treating one road user group unfairly. Bicycles  were permitted to use bus lanes but motorcycles and scooters were not. Damien praised Roads Minister Terry Mulder for setting up a trial to see if Victorians were getting the most out of their bus lanes.

Damien is a spokesman for the Independent Riders' Group. VicRoads wrote to the IRG on October 25, 2011:

" ... During the 2010 Victorian state election. the Government committed to a range of motorcycle initiatives, including the trial of motorcycle use of one of Melbourne's dedicated bus lanes. VicRoads has been liaising with key stakeholders ... An assessment of the impacts on bus operations, motorcycle travel, intersection operations, enforcement and road safety are some of the issues being considered ..."

VicRoads contact:        Mr Alistair Cumming
                                        Network & Asset Planning.
                                        Tel: 03 9854 2440. 

A six-month trial permitting motorcycles and scooters to use bus lanes in Hoddle Street between the Eastern Freeway and Victoria Street in Abbotsford.

Roads Minister Mulder was quoted in the Age (7/11/2011) saying that the trial would assess

" ... 'travel times and other benefits for motorcycles and determine if there are any impacts on buses and other road users.' ... Vic Roads chose Hoddle Street because of the number of road users, the length of the bus lane and the level of congestion during peak hours. ..."  

Damien was confident the trial would show that permitting motorcycles and scooters to use bus lanes was a sensible move. He said:

"Taxis generally don't delay buses, neither will motorbikes. Using bus lanes will improve safety while reducing pollution and traffic congestion. It works in Sydney, it will here."

If the Hoddle Street trial indicates that permitting motorcycles and scooters to use bus lanes is a good move, the IRG hopes bus lanes across Victoria to open to powered two-wheelers in 2012. Damien said this would have a significant, positive effect on traffic in Manningham.

Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne
Tel: 03 9846 8621

d.codognotto.oam@bigpond.com

THE HIRSTY & JONESY ON THE BOX

TEMPORARY  AUSTRALIANS

A TV series on motorcycle culture in OZ will be launched at the Sydney Motorcycle Show at Darling Harbour on Saturday, November 26 at 2pm.

The community television program has the tongue-in-cheek title, Temporary Australians. The name was inspired by a negative stereotype that motorcycle riders have to live with. The series will give the motorcycle community a chance to tell it's story in the most positive way though the eyes of presenters  Brendan Jones and Greg Hirst. Both have been riding motorcycles for years.

BRENDAN JONES is a radio personality, television presenter, a motorcycle magazine columnist and he rides to work daily.

GREG HIRST has been a national motorcycling identity since the 10,000 bike run to Canberra in 1980. He's

The Hirsty driven Celebration Ride to Canberra on January 24, 1996. Some 15,000 riders assembled on the  Federal Highway before the run to Parliament House. 

been a member of the Brotherhood Christian Motorcycle Club for 34 years. And, Hirsty is well-known for his media and advocacy work for riders and especially for his role in the fight to stop the anti-association laws being pushed around the country. Now he's a producer!

"After decades of often negative exposure, this series presents the Aussie motorcycling community in a positive light. It's a chance to share the passion and good humour that glues motorcycling together with everyone who tunes in." says Hirsty.

Filming is still happening but good footage is already in the can. Items include special celebrity motorcycling  moments with the likes of Ten Sports Daryl Beattie, Olympian Kieran Perkins, Underbelly actor Les Hill, V8 Stars Todd and Rick Kelly as well as politicians such as Bronwyn Bishop and Peter Garrett. 

Hirsty (R) and cameraman Tim filming in Melbourne for Temporary Australians in October 2011.

There will be some impressive motorcycle characters, places, events and rides as well as some very well kept motorcycling secrets.

The launch of Temporary Australians at the Sydney Motorcycle Show will see Jonesy and Hirsty joined by series sponsors Adam Wright from Harley Davidson and Cameron Cuthill from Victory Motorcycles. Master of Ceremonies will be Miles Rangeley, Editor of Live to Ride Magazine, who will also introduce a brief teaser showcasing the positive and quirky aspects of the series as well as announce the airing dates in 2012 around Australia.

Anyone who wishes to come is invited to attend the launch!
 

SINGLE TRACK AMBOS

UPDATED MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2011.

THE HERALD SUN

ROUGH RIDE FOR AMBOS - Page 18.

By Grant McArthur.

Letter to the Editor - hsletters@heraldsun.com.au

ROUGH RIDE FOR BIKER AMBOS (HS 28/11/2011) only if others make it so.

Health Minister David Davis can be proud of his initiative introducing
medics on motor scooters for a four-year trial.

Opposition criticism that they only operate in perfect conditions is
not credible. It's a trial. Restrictions will change as safety is
proved.

The Ambos union says they will only work the CBD where response times
were good. The trial will show bike medics attending in-car
emergencies in traffic jams and saving lives in big crowds at sports
events, festivals and parades where full size ambulances can't respond
quickly.

Paramedics on motorcycles work in NSW, SA, NZ and the UK. They will
work here. In the long run they will make the Victorian ambulance
service more efficient and saving lives and money.

Damien Codognotto OAM
Independent Riders Group
Melbourne


THE SUNDAY HERALD SUN

LETTERS

MEDICS  ON  MOTOR SCOOTERS! (SHS OCT 30, 2011) Brilliant! A better use of resources to help our stretched ambulance service.

The  idea  isn't  new.  The  UK,  US,  Hong  Kong  and  Singapore have paramedics on motorcycles. So do Sydney and Adelaide.

These  riders  carry  a full payload of life-saving gear. They can get safely  through  crowds  at  major  events  and  can penetrate traffic congestion in an emergency as no 4-wheeler can.

Bike  paramedics will assess a scene and let base know how serious the call  is.  This allows full-size ambulance crews to avoid false alarms and  prioritise  cases.  Crews can travel safer and be better prepared when they arrive.

With  our jammed roads and big crowds, paramedics on motor scooters is a very, very good move.

Damien Codognotto OAM
Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne

DEADLY FOUR-WHEEL DRIVES

I  reckon  4WDs  can be a good thing. Like elephants. They are wonderful blundering about the  African  bush. In your living room though, elephants are less attractive, especially when you are trying to watch TV.

Same  with  4WDs.  Working  on a farm or on a rural adventure (even if city  owners  rarely let them off the bitumen) 4WDs are wonderful. But in town they are pests and sometimes dangerous pests.

I  heard the government used to subsidise 4WDs so cockies could afford them. Quite right too. But they subsidised them for townies too. Maybe they  still  do.  As  a result, too many lemming-like townies with more cash than brains got one.

I'm a  motorcyclist. We pay more road taxes and charges than operators of any other registered transport type.

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

In  2011  4WDs  make  up  about  20% of private vehicles. As a rider I resent  4WDing  townies  having  cashed  in on a subsidy meant to help cockies.  I  also  resent  townies  in 4WDs, with wheel arches full of toddlers,  trying  to  kill  me then saying "Sorry mate. I did not see you" as some sort of absolution.

Anyway,  this letter was published in Melbourne's Sunday Herald Sun on November 6, 2011. Page 70.

"DEADLY 4WDs

AND  now  the  owners  of those big tanks, the four-wheel drives, will come  out  defending  their need to own such a vehicle by saying these accidents (DC - crashes) happen with all cars.

Some  of  these  4WDs are so big that toddlers might almost walk under them.  Trucks  are a necessity, 4WDs are not. They hog air space, that is  vision,  crowd  and  intimidate smaller cars, guzzle petrol, shine headlights  into  cars, are downright dangerous when hitting a car and unsafe - rollovers are common.

Many  people  can  barely see over the steering wheel let alone handle one and rear cameras give a false sense of security. And more toddlers are killed from them than from cars. Ban these dangerous vehicles.

Josie, via web."

Goodonya  Josie.  I  don't  know  about  a total ban but I'd certainly support  increasing  road  costs  to reflect the damage 4WDs do to the city  environment,  infrastructure  and safety. And I'd support moving the  TAC  tax  on motorcycles & scooters to private 4WDs registered in urban areas.

Don't know if these kids were injured by a 4WD driver or not but I doubt a motorcycle or scooter rider would have hit htese toddlers in the same situation.

THE HERALD SUN

Monday Novemeber 7, 2011. Page 14.

"CAR HITS TWO GIRLS

Two children have been taken to hospital after being hit by a car at a community show north of Melbourne.

The girls aged three and five, were hit by a car attempting to park at the Whittlesea show about 12.30 pm yesterday.

A spokesman for Ambulance Victoria said both girls suffered leg fractures.

They were admitted to the Royal Children's Hospital. The three-year-old was taken by road ambulance in a stable condition and the five-year-old was flown in a serious but stable condition.

Police are speaking to thew driver of the vehicle.

It is not known if the children were related."

Damien Codognotto OAM
Independent Riders' Group
MRA HLM
Melbourne

d.codognotto.oam@bigpond.com