LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Herald Sun
LETTERS
Page 37
March 24, 2012.

Two letters that may be of interest were published in today's Herald Sun in Melbourne. One from life-long rider and patriot Aussie Sadler on the sale of a war memorial and the other from me in response to a letter on loud bikes.

"MEMORIAL SULLIED BY COUNCIL GREED

WHAT in blazes is the Mornington Peninsula Shire doing in selling Somerville War Memorial ground to Aldi (Herald Sun online, March23)?

The land was donated and is not the shire's to sell. This sacrilegious deal typifies the spiritually bankrupt, decaying political system, which is enslaved to mindless multinationals ruling pour country.

The Australia I grew up in had a solemn, deep respect for those who fought and died in its' name. Such a move would never have been tolerated.

An avenue of honour to be planted in an act of appeasement means nothing and is insulting.

To the councillors who voted for this sale, get out! You don't deserve to hold office.

Austin Sadler, Mornington"

and

"NOISE HARDLY FAIR, NOT ONLY HARLEYS

DAVID Smith ("Keep noise down", March 17) asks how Harley riders are allowed to ride very loud bikes at all hours in residential streets.

There is no doubt that with today's sound-proofed cars and massive stereos, loud pipes save lives [ in traffic ]. That said, extreme noise from bikes is bad for everyone, including [ all motorcycle & scooter ] riders.

And it's not just Harleys that are too loud. Some Harley clones and sports bikes have non-compliant pipes and their riders rev their engines unnecessarily.

Respect for riders [ from drivers and road authorities ] is damaged by [ a ] selfish [ few ] riders who feel the urge to yank their throttles day and night.

Police [ are under-resourced and ] have more important things to do than pull up noisy bikes, so keep the revs at a safe level and reduce bike noise, particularly in residential areas [ or we will all cop a blitz and a safety feature on our bikes will be further restricted ].

Damien Codognotto, Independent Riders' Group, Melbourne."

The original letter on March 17.


"KEEP NOISE DOWN


I AM not sure what others think, bit I am really over the allowances given once again to the snobs of authority, Harley-Davidson motorcycle owners/riders.

Can somebody please explain how these people are allowed on our streets at all hours without conforming mufflers on these bikes? On a regular basis we have Harley riders flogging their throttles to emit the loudest noise possible when travelling on our roads at all hours of the night. We had a Harley on the weekend flying down our road with the exhaust tremble shaking our house.

When will the authorities do something about controlling these bikes and the non-conformance of their exhaust systems?

I suppose it will be another one swept under the carpet as way too hard?

I'm sick of it.

David Smith, Montrose"

GILLARD'S WAR ON BIKIES

THE HERALD SUN
MELBOURNE
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012.
Page 9.  No byline.

"JULIA Gillard will take control of rolling out uniform national anti-bikie laws, ordering the drafting of laws to be an 'urgent priority' at a meeting of justice ministers.

The Herald Sun has seen letters between Ms Gillard and the states dating to july last year, in which it is claimed a stand-off between jurisdictions was to blame for the delay to national laws.

She has ordered Attorney-General Nicola Roxon to expadite the issue."

DUTCH TILDERS' BLUES ON SUNDAY

Keeping the Faith - DUO   
               
Klaus ‘Wombat’ & Kenny NSW  performing Dutch Tilders repertoire

Wombat has been performing in his band ‘Stormfront’ in NSW until his close friend Dutch passed away.

2011 Wombat and Kenny have dedicated their every hour to honouring our favourite blues legend by studying Dutch Tilders style of Blues Songs and believe the audience response is warm and welcoming.

Kenny, on Harmonica took out best solo performer award at Bombala Talent Quest mid February 2012.

2 – 5 pm  CUNNINGHAMS HOTEL     YARRA JUNCTION   18TH MARCH

ENQUIRIES/BOOKINGS/MEALS     PHONE  03  5967 1080

Lynne Wright
Peanuts Promotions/Peanuts Publishing  www.peanutspromotions.com.au
Director of the Late Mathew ‘Dutch’ Tilders Estate  www.dutchtilders.com.au
Email: peanuts@dutchtilders.com.au   lynnewright@bigpond.com
P O Box 5079. HEATHWOOD   VIC   Australia  3134    
Mobile: +613 (0) 419 308 781  

MOTORCYCLES ON TV 3 TIMES A WEEK

"Temporary Australians" asks Damien if it makes sense to ride a scooter in Melbourne traffic?


www.temporaryaustralians.com.au


www.heather-ellis.com


www.vespaclubmelbourne.com.au


www.vicscooterriders.com.au


http://mcssac.blogspot.com


PERTH

* On Temporary Australians we find out if bikers in Sydney’s west have a heart by going on the Bikers Australia Blanket Run.

* Jonesy goes back in time to the 2009 Silverwater Street and Custom Motorcycle Show.

* We find out what motorcycle magic V8 superstars Todd and Rick Kelly get up to in their spare time.

* Jonesy discovers what makes a streetfighter.

* Former Australian Opposition Leader Dr. Brendan Nelson confesses to some bad behaviour and       challenges the negative motorcycling stereotypes.

*  Hirsty talks to MRA Vic’s ‘No Brakes’ about riding with one arm and 

*  We find out why the Lord Mayor of Parramatta says bikies are welcome in his city!

BRISBANE, SYDNEY, MELBOURNE, GEELONG and ADELAIDE

On Temporary Australians we find out if the Pollies in Canberra can really ride.

Jonesy and Hirsty go back to the 2008 opening of the Fraser Motorcycles mega store in Sydney and find out what Peter Garrett thinks of it all.

Animal from Kings Cross Bikers shares some dating tips.

We check out what’s wrong with wire rope barriers.

John Smith updates us on the growth of God’s Squad CMC.Jen Woods outlines her love of riding in the ACT.

We ask Damien Codognotto if it makes sense to ride a scooter in Melbourne traffic.

We look closely at Joe Khoury’s custom Harley-Triumph.Shaun Lennard talks on his favourite Tassie rides.

And we check out new boys, Hunter Motorcycles.

CHECK OUT THE TV GUIDE IN     

 www.temporaryaustralians.com.au

GIVE BLOOD 2

This bloke started a movement that is credited to helping save
thousands of lives over more than 3 decades
No wonder he has been awarded a OAM for his work
Great job Bloodoath

  http://heidelberg-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/public-challenge-to-give-blood/

Regards

Dale Robert Maggs
Mob 0432776458
Independent Riders Group

GIVE BLOOD

 
There is a real need for Blood at the moment can you help?
This bloke did & created a movement

://mobile.twitter.com/convictstock/status/178350847829348352

Dale Robert Maggs
Mob 0432776458
Independent Riders Group

RIDER DIES

 
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/motorcyclist-dies-after-a-collision-with-a-car/story-fn7x8me2-1226295812230

Dale Robert Maggs
Mob 0432776458
Independent Riders Group

BLACK DOG RIDE

You've seen RED DOG. Be thankful if you haven't seen the BLACK DOG.


Ride Invitation


Dear Club President

My name is Steve Andrews and I organise group motorcycle rides to raise community awareness of depression and suicide prevention. Depression is an illness which affects 1 in 5 Australians and it’s a rather shocking fact that more people die from suicide each year than are killed on our roads.

I invite you and your members to join me and fellow riders all around Australia on our National 1 Day Ride which will take place on April 29 this year (Tasmania is on 22 April). A link below will take you to a flyer with details of the Ride in your State or Territory and I would appreciate you circulating it to your members.

           NSW    ACT    VIC    TAS    SA    NT    WA 

As well as raising awareness, our Ride will raise funds for Lifeline which connects people with care by providing services in Suicide Prevention, Crisis Support and Mental Health Support. If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide seek immediate help. Call 13 11 14 for 24hr Crisis Support.

I hope you and your members will join us on our Black Dog Ride which is a great way to combine the fun of riding with the knowledge that you are making a difference by supporting a very worthwhile cause. 

Thank you.

Regards


Steve Andrews – Founder Black Dog Ride


m.0408 868 500

GREENS PROPOSE URBAN BIKE BAN!

                                       
Thousands of motorbikes and scooters banned from French city centres


by UK France bikers

Who would have imagined that someone could possibly come up with the idea of banning motorbikes and scooters from city centres, when the same motorbikes and scooters are the transport solution to ever increasing congestion and pollution issues? 

Well, only one politician has come up with such a ridiculous idea and that is Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet from the French green party, who has successfully submitted proposals to ban all vehicles manufactured prior to 2004 from city centres, including motorcycles.

Riders who commute on bikes that were manufactured before 2004 may not enter French city centres or else see their machines immobilised and issued with a fine of 65 euros payable on the spot. The same rules apply to their car counterparts in an attempt to reduce congestion and pollution in all cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. 

The French government has recently approved Kosciusko-Morizet's proposals although no official date has yet been announced for their implementation.

One could wonder how long it may take a French citizen or organisation to start legal procedures to sue the French government in the European Courts for discrimination against those who cannot afford to buy a new vehicle, especially during the present economic downturn that is causing thousands upon thousands of job losses across the whole of France. We have indeed heard of plans to sue the French government in Europe in an attempt to force Kosciusko-Morizet to scrap, or at least revise, her stupid and possibly discriminatory plans.

Whilst other European countries have taken a series of measures to reduce pollution and congestion in city centres, none has so far taken measures that consists of banning motorcycles. 

The congestion charge in the British capital does not affect motorcycles nor does the low emission zone measures. Whilst London's Westminster Council decided a few years ago to treat bikers like cash cows by introducing a unique pay-by-phone bike parking tax (the method of which is currently being challenged before the European Courts of Human Rights), other councils across London, the rest of the United Kingdom and beyond have thankfully not followed suit, mainly because of the discriminatory aspect of charging bikers by mobile phone in the absence of any other suitable on-street charging method.

Not only may Kosciusko-Morizet's proposals be discriminatory towards those with financial difficulties but they may also be detrimental to the French economy as many car and motorcycle dealers may not be able to sustain their second hand business any longer. Has she thought about the wider implications of her proposals rather than concentrate solely on green issues? We suspect that such proposals have been made by a politician from the comfort of her own office and who has never sat on a motorcycle before.

A series of enormous demonstrations designed to bring the whole of France to a complete standstill by more than 100,000 bikers are scheduled for 24 and 25 March 2012. 

The demonstrations, organised by the most respected Fédération Française des Motards en Colère - FFMC - (French Federation of Angry Bikers), will be to show the bikers' opposition to Kosciusko-Morizet's proposals but also to express their disgust at the French government's attitude to treat motorcyclists like cash cows by imposing measures designed to make riding difficult and expensive (e.g. the continued ban on traffic filtering or lane splitting, obligation to wear a small reflective strap around the arm even during day light when it is not reflective at all). 

Let's hope that the demonstrations, which will take place less than four weeks before the first round of the presidential elections, will be a real slap in the face for a number of presidential candidates for whom road policies and safety are nothing but an opportunity to grab as much money as possible from motorcyclists who are keen to relieve congestion and pollution by using a mode of transport that is greener and less congesting than its four wheel counterparts.

If you're based in France and want to take part of the fight against the Government's proposed introduction of a compulsory annual environmental and road safety test for motorcycles and their continued policy to ban motorcyclists from filtering through traffic, then contact the Fédération Française des Motards en Colère (FFMC - French Federation of Angry Bikers).

Si vous habitez en France et souhaitez participer aux manifestations contre la proposition du gouvernement d’introduire un controle technique pour les 2 roues motorises ansi que de continuer a empecher la circulation inter files pour les motocyclistes dans les embouteillages, contactez la Fédération Française des Motards en Colère (FFMC).

Please join and support the campaign to stop Westminster Council from stealth taxing motorcyclists to park before their scheme spreads all over the UK and the rest of Europe. For further details, visit 

http://www.notobikeparkingtax.com/

Rejoignez le groupe de manifestants contre le stationnement payant des motocyclistes a Westminster avant que cela ne se propage dans le reste du Royaume-Uni et l'Union Europeenne. Pour plus d'informations, consultez http://www.notobikeparkingtax.com/

If you have a story you would like to see published on UK France bikers.com, please contact us here.
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UK France bikers | March 1, 2012 at 22:17 | Tags: banning motorcycles, bike parking, congestion, Fédération Française des Motards en Colère, French green party, Kosciusko-Morizet, lane splitting, low emission zone, pollution, westminster council | Categories: Motorcycling in France | URL: http://wp.me/pyxHV-1LD

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

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

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