WRB MOTION IN FED PARLIAMENT

Wire rope barriers were the subject of a speech by Senator Luke Hartsuyker and a debate in the federal parliament.

Road authorities can claim there is no evidence to suggest WRB is more dangerous to riders than to drivers because the evidence is not collected in a way that you can look up crashes and find out what sort of barrier was hit and what sort of injuries were sustained. Often the officer ticking the boxes on the crash site assessment form has no special training so the form becomes opinion. Then as TAC put to the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into motorcycle & scooter safety on March 7, 2012, data is "cleansed" by a "small team of people" (who probably did not even visit the crash site) at VicRoads. An opinion of an opinion is presented as fact in way too many crashes.

Crash sites in rural araes get far less scrutiny overall than crash sites in metropolitan areas.

But the media and citizens with cameras are gathering the evidence to show how deadly WRB is for riders and that it fails miserably when it comes to stopping larger vehicles. The truckie in the clipping below died when the WRB on a freeway east of Melbourne did not stop his truck.

RIDER RADIO

ON RIDE  THIS WEEK


·         We talk to National MP and Ducati Rider Luke Hartsuyker and find out how his motion over wire-rope barriers went in Federal Parliament and if other MP riders supported him in the debate

·         We catch up with Australian Grand Prix Corporation's Andrew Westacott about this year’s Moto GP at Phillip Island

·         Ten Sports Daryl Beattie updates us on the Moto GP Championship and Stoner's retirement decision

·         And speculate on Stoner’s future and ask the question ‘will he go to V8 racing?’

·         We welcome new Ride Sponsor Victory Motorcycles

·         And we look forward to the move of Sy’s Harley Davidson to new premises in Campbelltown in Sydney’s South West

·         And lots of news, views and music from Australia and beyond
TUNE IN in Sydney live on 90.5 FM and across Australia on www.2ccrfm.comfrom 10pm -Midnight EST on Thursday.                                                                                                                                                        

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 Thursdays for two hours from 10pm EDT. on 2CCR 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 Thursday for some motorcycle radio fun: on radio in Sydney or online on www.2ccrfm.comaround Australia.2CCR broadcasts all its programmes online and so Ridecan be heard in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania at 10pm, Qld at 10pm, South Australia and Broken Hill 9.30pm, the Northern Territory at 9.30pm and in Western Australia at 8pm.

        ·For more information contact Greg on

        www.greghirstenterprises.com.au

BIKE TV ON DVD?

Hello Greg,

Looking forward to the second series.

When can we buy series one on DVD?

Any information on Senator Luke's WRB motion and debate tonight and on the TAC antibike campaign withdrawl will be much appreciated.

Just rang the Assistant Treasurer's electoral office (03 9794 7667)for news on the TAC campaign. They don't know. Niether do staff at the Treasury (03 9651 1044). They will get back to me.

I'll be off line for up to 48 hours.

Damien
IRG

www.damiencodognottooam.blogspot.com

Monday, May 28, 2012, 8:30:14 AM, you wrote:

SERIES 2 Started filming with Jonesy on Saturday May 12 at the Silverwater Motor Festival in Sydney www.greghirstenterprises.com.au


PERTH - Episode 12

On Temporary Australians we go on the amazing Kings Cross Toy Run. Jonesy admits to learning the hard way. CJ Burns from the Motorcycle Council talks about fighting for riders’ rights in NSW. We meet a dainty Harley Sportster called Buttercup. Pendo shares his thought for the day. We discover from MRA’s Grant Delahoy how to spread the message that motorcycling is fun. We hear about the best rides around Bathurst. We learn about a restored Goldwing and how easy it is to build a bolt-on custom. We discover why riding is a good news story and why we must challenge the negative motorcycle stereotypes.


BRISBANE, SYDNEY, MELBOURNE and GEELONG, ADELAIDE - Episode 13

On the final episode of series 1 of Temporary Australians, Jonesy and Hirsty look back on filming and reflect on some of the celebrities and characters that they met at motorcycling events over the last few years. They talk about ideas so far for the second series and then we have a look at the original pilot that was filmed from 2008 to 2010.

TEMPORARY AUSTRALIANS IS NOW ON TVS ON TUESDAY  AT 9PM



DON'T FORGET A NEW REPEAT ON TVS AND ONLINE SUNDAY'S 3PM (SYDNEY TIME) - CHECK OUT THE TV GUIDE IN       www.temporaryaustralians.com.au
           

WRB IN FEDERAL PARLIAMENT

MEDIA AND RIDER ALERT

National MP Luke Hartsuyker is speaking to his motion on motorcycle safety and roadside barriers on Monday night

in Federal Parliament. It can be watched on the Parliament House website as detailed below. Luke will also be interviewed for Ride on 90.5FM (broadcast online as well) next Thursday night.

For any further detail please contact his office.

Regards,

Greg Hirst
Ride

From: Luke.Hartsuyker.MP@aph.gov.au

To: brotherhood_cmc@hotmail.com

Subject: RE: Monday Night Details

Date: Fri, 25 May 2012 05:30:32 +0000

G’day Greg,

 

Luke has asked me to email you back with details for Monday night. Debate on the motion should commence at about 8:20pm in the Federation Chamber. To my knowledge, proceedings in the Federation Chamber are not broadcast on APAC, but they can be seen live through the Parliament House website at www.aph.gov.au. There will be six speakers on the Motion, and the whole debate will last for about 40 minutes.

 

Luke would be happy to do an interview for your radio show. Perhaps you could call Luke’s office in Canberra (02 6277 4447) next week to arrange the exact time for the interview?

 

Regards,

Jesse Young

COP THIS!

The Herald Sun
Letters

Police  on  the  phone (hand held) at the wheel is a common sight. Ask
anyone on two wheels. It's not just that it is illegal for the rest of
us, using a hand held phone while driving is as dangerous as driving a
car with blood alcohol level over .05.

Police  phone  driving  sets  a  very bad example for other road users
especially  when  the  technology  makes  this  sort  of  risk  taking
unnecessary.

Damien Codognotto
Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne

TAC AD DISGRACE 14

HAS THE LATEST TAC MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR ANTIBIKE CAMPAIGN BEEN WITHDRAWN?

Peter Baulch
Victorian Motorcycle Council


Hello Peter,


Thanks for letting me know that TAC may withdraw their disgraceful motorcycle campaign.


Yesterday I was at the electoral office of Brian Tee MLC. I spoke to a staffer and hand-delivered a letter and other material including a copy of the latest AMCN article on the TAC antibike campaign. I requested that Mr Tee MP ask Assistant Treasurer Gordon Rich-Phillips MLC two questions in Parliament.


1. How much will the current TAC motorcycle campaign cost in the 2011/2012 financial year including research, production and the various forms of media placement?


2. Why did TAC not consult stakeholders?


TAC could have saved the government and themselves a lot of embarrassment, credibility and money if they had just listened to people who knew what they were talking about when it came to motorcycles & scooters. People with a vested interest in making riding safer. 


But they didn't listen. It's partly our own fault. About ten years ago the "system" representing riders went soft and conservative. Real action as we have seen in response to these TAC ads has been missing for far too long.


The AMCN letters and article are very good. A credit to Sam Maclachlan and his crew. Great work from Rob Salvatore. Heather Ellis deserves a  lot of credit for her work fighting this TAC antbike campaign too.


Damien Codognotto OAM
Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne

Friday, May 25, 2012, 9:21:41 AM, you wrote:

Hi all,

My "spies" tell me that the TAC AD will be "pulled" from either today or Sunday, on the orders of Treasurer & Asst Treasurer (Kim Wells and Gordon Rich-Phillips). 


Seems it has just become too much of a political "hot potato", with direct VMC letters to the relevant Minister/s (and Premier) and particularly with the weight of very detailed scientific analysis done by VMC's Rob Salvatore, and the subsequent re-enactment by AMCN. (see latest edition)


When added to the sheer volume of letters, emails, blogs, forum comments, motorcycling media, etc............ it just all became too much, or so it seems.....!!!!!!

What a TOTAL waste of time, money, resources and effort on the part of TAC. If only they could have used those same resources constructively. 


Now for some accountability.

UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL.

Well done and a huge thank you to all who have contributed to this outcome.

Peter Baulch
Chairman - VMC
Member - MAG
Member Ulysses #27672

Now just wait for the TAC"spin"...........

RIDE-TO-WORK DAY?

Melbourne has a well-established ride-to-work day for bicyclists.

There have been proposals to organise a ride-to-work day for motorcycle & scooter riders
but the idea never got off the ground.

Father Bob and Heather Ellis talked about supporting a ride-to-work day recently. Heather is
a member of the Victorian Motorcycle Advisory Group (VMAG) at VicRoads.

www.heather-ellis.com

A ride-to-work day showcases the benefits two-wheel commuters bring to traffic flow in our
city. It raises car driver awareness of riders' right to use our roads. It promotes road safety.
It raises road authorities' awareness that we have a right to ride. The recent Transport Accident
Commission (TAC) antibike campaign makes the need for road authorities' awareness &
understanding of motorcycle & scooter riders obvious. It raises politicians' awareness
that we are a well organised voting block. It would help a worthy cause ... and, a ride-to-work
day would be a heap of fun.

TAC would definitely NOT be involved.

The Independent Riders' Group (IRG) is considering organising a ride-to-work day in
Melbourne this summer. The event would feature a "breakfast" at a high-visibility venue in or near
the CBD. The bicyclists use Federation Square but that would not suit a motorcycle & scooter event.
Suggestions have included the BBQs on the Yarra near the Botanical Gardens, Docklands and
A'Beckett Street between Elizabeth & Queen Streets in Melbourne's motorcycle precinct.

The date could be a weekday morning in December or possibly in February or March 2013. That
would mean good weather and we could invite TOY RUN organisers to promote their events at
the ride-to-work day.

We would welcome suggestions as to a date and venue.

Damien Codognotto OAM
Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne

d.codognotto.oam@bigpond.com

VALE PETER JONES

Sent: Monday, 21 May 2012 9:24 PM
Subject: Arrangements for Peter Jones Funeral on Saturday 26th May 1:00pm

Hello All

Please read carefully the following arrangements that have been set for the funeral of Peter Jones this Saturday 26th May 2012.

All riders are welcome regardless of whether you knew Peter or not…………….this is what Pete requested, as many bikes as possible!

As you would expect this will be a massive funeral and your complete support and cooperation is vital if it is to go as planned.

We will be gathering on the Flinders Street side of Federation Square between 11:30am and 12:00 midday, there’s an area to the side of Federation Square opposite Russell Street which will be blocked off to other traffic and you can park your bike in there but please follow directions . The Police have been very supportive and helpful in obtaining permission and permits from all the appropriate authorities.

Patches and Red Ribbons will be distributed to every person. Please wear these as a mark of respect to Peter. Red symbolizes his football teams, Liverpool and Essendon.

The procession will have a full Police escort  & depart at precisely 12:30pm we will be escorted down St Kilda Road through all intersections, once again your consideration and cooperation is vital.

The procession will arrive at Ormond Hall, 557 St Kilda Road. * Please note that entry is from Moubray Street. The service will commence at 1:00pm Following the service only selected riders will accompany Peters casket on his final ride. I expect that the rest of us will probably form a Guard of Honour but those details will be advised in plenty of time.

If you have any questions or special offers of help contact Rus ‘Thumper’ MacDonald on  0407 327 331. Please consider the pressure and load Rus is under before calling, an SMS may be a good idea. You are welcome to contact me at any time and I will ask that the MGCoV website is updated quickly with any further information.

Neil Hornsby  www.motoguzziclubvic.asn.au

HELP KIDS WITH CANCER

This is a great cause. Help if you can.

http://www.everydayhero.com.au/freedomridersvic618

www.everydayhero.com.au

TAC AD DISGRACE 13

The Independent Riders' Group (IRG) has written to the Victorian Minister responsible for the
Transport Accident Commission (TAC), Assistant Treasurer Gordon Rich-Phillips MLC

gordon.rich-phillips@parliament.vic.gov.au

for information on the TAC's latest antibike campaign. See the letter below. The campaign
includes bill boards, print and electronic media. It features a motorcyclist being killed when a
car driver runs a stop sign. The rider breaks his neck. A policeman blames the rider for being
8 kph over the speed limit. Distressing for those who have loved maimed or killed by car driver
error especially when charges have been known to be laid on the basis of the vehicle chosen
by the operator.

The campaign must have taken a long time to put together. Consultation with stakeholders was
virtually non-existant. It must have cost a lot of our money. TAC's money comes from road
users who must have third party insurance to travel legally. TAC is a monopoly. That makes sense.

What makes no sense is to spend road users' premiums on campaigns that
do not work to make riders safer but do work to villify riders' legitimate transport choice which
can create dangerous situations in traffic.

What is utterly non-sensical is for TAC to spend our premiums on a TV show which illustrates
practices that TAC condemns in the interests of road safety, like not wearing protective gear
and drinking then riding.

IRG wrote to find out, if true, how TAC justifies spending our premiums this way.

See letters to the editor in an earlier blog.

We'll let you know what response we get.

We publish these letters because TAC appears to have a culture of sham consultation and
tends to do what its' spin doctors and secretive bureaucrats think is good rather than what
is actually good for motorcycle & scooter riders. Road safety is not national security.

Damien Codognotto OAM
Spokesman
Independent Riders' Group
Melbourne

AJ's CAFE HEALESVILLE

There's a new coffee stop when you go for a ride in the hills east of Melbourne.

AJ's Cafe is at 335 Maroondah Highway, Healesville, Vic. 3777.

Tel: 03 5962 2662.

www.ajsmotocafe.com.au

Your hosts are Joanne and Adam.

Joanne at AJ's.




















There is a write-up in the latest Australian Road Rider.

BIKE TV SHOW STARTS SERIES 2

TEMPORARY AUSTRALIANS

SERIES 2 Started filming with Jonesy on Saturday, May 12 at the Silverwater Motor Festival in Sydney.

www.greghirstenterprises.com.au

PERTH - Episode 11

On Temporary Australians:

1.  Jonesy looks at what goes into saving riders at a crash site.

2. We check out Tracy’s excellent Chopper.

3. The Bear reveals what Road Rider Magazine is all about.

4. Ollie raves about Victory Tourers.

5. We check out the move to Sydney of Victory Motorcycles.

6. Mayor Greg Westman shares some motorcycle racing memories from the Bathurst Motor Racing Museum.

7. Shaun Lennard reflects on kids in racing.

8. We talk to Doddles from CMA NSW.

9. Jonesy explains why we should learn the right stuff and ...

10. We find out what happened to racing great Graeme Crosby.

BRISBANE, SYDNEY, MELBOURNE and GEELONG, ADELAIDE - Episode 12

On Temporary Australians:

1. We go on the amazing Kings Cross Toy Run.

2. Jonesy admits to learning the hard way.

3. CJ Burns from the Motorcycle Council talks about fighting for riders’ rights in NSW.

4. We meet a dainty Harley Sportster called Buttercup.

5. Pendo shares his thought for the day.

6. We discover from MRA’s Grant Delahoy how to spread the message that motorcycling is fun.

7. We hear about the best rides around Bathurst.

8. We learn about a restored Goldwing and how easy it is to build a bolt-on custom.

9. We discover why riding is a good news story and why we must challenge the negative motorcycle stereotypes.

TEMPORARY AUSTRALIANS IS NOW ON TVS ON TUESDAY  AT 9PM

DON'T FORGET A NEW REPEAT ON TVS AND ONLINE SUNDAY'S 3PM (SYDNEY TIME) - CHECK OUT THE TV GUIDE IN      

www.temporaryaustralians.com.au
           
           

WOMAN WITH A MISSION

SUPPORT A WORTHY CAUSE. 
BUY THIS BOOK.  ALL PROCEEDS
GO TO THE BATTEN DISEASE ASSOCIATION.

Batten disease mainly effects kids. It is terminal.

www.battens.org.au/book.html

gayko1@hotmail.com

JUDGE & JURY COP

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/rider-killed-as-car-attempts-highway-uturn-20120516-1ypng.html

Regards

Peter Hawker
PO Box 4062
KOGARAH BAY NSW 2217
Mobile: 0422 923 825
Email: peterhawker5@bigpond.com
http://mcssac.blogspot.com/
http://petesrallyadventures.blogspot.com/

TAC AD DISGRACE 12

TAC AD DISGRACE 11

MISINFORMATION?

Title	Road safety: Transport Accident Commission campaign
House	COUNCIL
Activity	Questions without Notice
Members	O'BRIEN; RICH-PHILLIPS
Date	3 May 2012
Page	27

---

3 May 2012 COUNCIL

 Road safety: Transport Accident Commission campaign

Mr O'BRIEN (Western Victoria) -- My question is to the Assistant Treasurer, Mr Rich-Phillips, and I ask: can the minister inform the house on the latest Transport Accident Commission road safety campaign?

Hon. G. K. RICH-PHILLIPS (Assistant Treasurer) -- I thank Mr O'Brien for his question and for his interest road safety in Victoria. The Victorian government is very committed to working with the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) on its road safety initiatives. We see road safety as one of the key issues for the Victorian government, and it is an area we are keen to make a difference in continuing to drive down Victoria's road toll.

I am particularly pleased that Mr O'Brien has asked this question, because the focus of the latest TAC road safety campaign is on motorcyclists and the issue of the vulnerability of motorcyclists on our roads today. Motorcycle riders in Victoria account for only around 4 per cent of total road users in terms of registration of  motorcycles versus other vehicles, and in terms of the actual use of roads, less than 1 per cent of kilometres on our roads are undertaken by motorcyclists; yet they are vastly overrepresented in accident statistics, particularly significant trauma statistics, and around 20 per cent of total trauma costs which are paid for by the TAC scheme relate to motorcyclists.

Although they are a very small percentage of road users, the types of injuries they suffer when they are involved in road accidents are very significant, so there is a renewed focus from the Transport Accident Commission on addressing concerns around road safety for motorcyclists. Of course the trauma associated with motorcycle accidents is not only felt in the sense of the impact on the TAC scheme; the bigger impact is on the family and friends of those people who are injured and on the people themselves, many of whom suffer injuries which are life changing.

This is an area where the Victorian government is very keen to partner with TAC to address some of the concerns around motorcycle safety. Last week I was delighted to launch the latest TAC campaign in the Reconstruction series. This is a campaign which builds on the work of the previous Reconstruction campaigns. They are designed to show actual accidents and work through the physics of those accidents. It is not based on hyperbole; this campaign actually works through the physics of a motorcycle accident. Detective senior sergeant Peter Bellion, who is from the major collision investigation unit and has participated in these campaigns before, reconstructs a motorcycle accident which involves a motorcyclist who is speeding at 68 kilometres an hour in a 60-kilometres-an-hour-zone and who has a collision with a motor vehicle that fails to give way. It shows a fatality that results as a consequence of that collision and how that fatality could have been avoided had the motorcyclist been travelling at the legal speed limit.

This campaign is a very confronting campaign. It is also a controversial campaign, and the government and TAC make no apologies for 


that. One of the things that is controversial about this campaign is that it shows the party who was wrong in this collision was the 


person driving the car because they failed to give way, but the reality of this scenario is that the person who suffered the 


consequences was the motorcyclist, who was involved in a fatal accident. TAC and the government make no apologies for running a 


controversial campaign which highlights the dangers for motorcyclists and reinforces the need for motorcyclists to be vigilant on the 


roads. They are particularly vulnerable on the roads, and they need to travel at a safe and legal speed. 





I'd like to have been in the  public gallery when this misinformation was put to the members of
Victoria's Upper House.


Rider Reps should  have  had  a real question about the TAC antibike campaign asked in Parliament before TAC got a chance to set this up.


This is a "Dorothy Dix" question/answer set.


When there  is  a bad reaction to something, in this case the TAC antibike campaign, the  department  involved can prime the  MP concerned with supposed answers  to  a  pre-planned question. Their aim is to divert attention from the real issues and reduce the credibility of any
critics.


I think it means TAC is in damage control.


It does not mean the camapaign to get TAC to do the right thing byn the motorcycle & scooter community is over.


There are very real questions to be asked.


1.  Is  the  research/data used to produce this TAC campaign quality or rubbish. In my opinion  TAC  shot  themselves  in  the  foot at the Parliamentary  inquiry  in March 2012 when they admitted that "a small team at VicRoads" "cleanses" police crash data and feeds the subjective
results to TAC. It's in the transcripts, on the PIMS website page. Public Document.


2.  How  much  did  the  TAC antibike campaign cost to a) research? b) produce?  c)  display  &  broadcast?  Could  those millions have been better spent on ambulances and emergency wards?


3.  Is  the  cost  of  this  TAC campaign likely to recoup road users' premiums in the value of reduced rider casualties?


4. Which stakeholders were consulted in producing this TAC campaign.


The Hon David O'Brien MP is a forty-something lawyer with an office in Geelong.  He  likes  football,  music  and  history  according  to his profile.  He  is  a  member  of  the  National  Party  and has been in Parliament just 18 months or so. An inexperienced parliamentarian. Perfect for a Dorothy Dix question.


Now is the time for stakeholders to go see their Member of Parliament. Get your MP to ask counter questions about the money spent on the ads and how  it  would  have  been  better  spent  on  ambulances and hospital emergency  wards. Get them to ask about the research. Look at the PIMS transcripts from March 2012.


Since  May 1 I've been in 4 MPs electoral offices pushing to get these questions asked. 


Go see your local MP. There is a Victorian election in about 18 months.


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

RADIO RIDE THIS WEEK

ON RIDE  THIS WEEK


·         We celebrate a landmark Casey Stoner Victory in Portugal

·         We talk to Animal from Kings Cross Bikers about our morning tea with NSW Governor Marie Bashir and find out what she really thinks of him

·         The UMC’s Wayne Baffsky reflects on some positive media coverage following the recent Kings Cross Protest Ride

·         We join Zac from the Comanchero Motorcycle Club on the ride to Kings Cross last Saturday and find out why it was trouble free

·         We talk to MRA Queensland’s Chairman Chris Mearns and find out what their recent protest ride in Brisbane was all about

·         And we find out what the biker term Gerzurgen means

·         Plus we find out how you can get some Seth Enslow stuff at the Silverwater Motor Festival on May 12
.         And lots of news, views and music from Australia and beyond

TUNE IN in Sydney live on 90.5 FM and across Australia on www.2ccrfm.comfrom 10pm -Midnight EST on Thursday.                                                                                                                                          

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                

TAC AD DISGRACE 10

May 9, 2012.

Hello Shana

Go and get a motorcycle licence, spend six months on a scooter, then write
a one sided story of fiction about motorbikes ... if you can.

I have no doubt you have received a lot of  "interesting" emails on your bike story.

Try putting up with car drivers who never check mirrors or blind spots. You
know, three points to check, rear-view mirror, side mirrors and HEADCHECK over
the shoulder. Seems the last one is unknown to car drivers.

Too many car drivers put on makeup or even shave! They rummage on the back seat
and the floor for things, drink a cups of coffee or eat cereal, placing the bowl on the seat
when not stopped at traffic lights, but their first instinct when braking is not to spill the
milk on the carpet. They talk on a hand held mobile phone or send text messages.
They argue with children or other passengers. They fail to indicate in when changing lanes
or entering traffic. And, my all-time favourite, they jam the brakes on, start turning and
indicate half way through the turn. They read and mark up work files or a
newspaper and input data to a GPS.

Car drivers will cut off motorcycles concentrating more on mouthing obscenities than
controlling their cars. Occasionally, they give the motorcycle or scooter rider the bird
at the same time. Amazing how often you see a larger vehicle, or especially a truck
at the same distance and they are always given their right of way.

They sit in their air-tight, sound-proof, metal bubble, blissfully not giving two
hoots about my fellow road users. "Damn those mongrel bikies, they never do
anything right!!!"

GO DO THE LICENSING COURSE. SPEND SIX MONTHS ON A SCOOTER,
then write your one sided story of TAC fiction.

Peter Hawker
Sydney

May 8, 2012.


The   TAC/VicRoads/Police   policy   to  discourage  motorcycling  was identified  during
the  1993  Parliamentary  Inquiry  into Motorcycle Safety. It survives in 2012. Some riders
don't because of this policy.

"MOTORCYCLE  Riders have been told to take responsibility for their own
safety ......"

FATAL MISTAKES
By SHANA MORGAN
WANGARATTA CHRONICLE

The current TAC antibike campaign promotes disharmony on our roads and
excuses negligent and/or aggressive driving. The message is it is OK to blame the victim if
he or she is on a motorcycle or scooter.

Motorcyclists  and  scooter  riders  are  angry over the latest shock

horror  TAC  antibike  campaign.  The  Wangaratta Chronicle is a good
example  of regional media picking up TAC campaigns with no balancing
comment  from  reliable  rider  experts.  This  kind  of  biased  and
misleading  media  promotes  antibike  feelings  on-road  and  that's
dangerous.

Read Doug Sunderland's letter again.

Doug  has  been  riding motorcycles longer than I've been alive. He's
ridden  through 19 countries, crossed the Himalayas several times and
done  the  Simpson  Desert,  different ways, 9 times. And, that's not all.

Doug was featured on ABC TV's Australian Story.

When  Doug  saw  the  Wangaratta  Chronicle  pushing the TAC's latest
motorcycle  campaign,  based  on  "cleansed"  crash  data, he sent me
copies.   Have  a look at Nieuwesteeg's input on behalf of TAC to the
current Parliamentary Inquiry into bike safety on page 691.

www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/rsc/motorcycle_safety/Transcripts/20120307_TAC_transcripts.pdf

He  asked me to make people aware that regional Victoria suffers the
TAC's promotion of careless, and sometimes aggressive, driving around
motorcycle & scooter riders too. So please pass this on.

Doug and I agree TAC should get out of showbiz and use Victorian Road
Users'  premiums  to  better  care  for crash victims and their loved
ones,  improve  our ambulance & emergency services and encourage safe
driving/riding by introducing no-claim-bonuses like other insurers.

But  TAC is a monopoly with a compulsory product and glossy media and
various  sponsorships  improve a corporate image they like but do not
need.

The  questions the Wangaratta Chronicle should be asking TAC are. How
much did it cost to "research", produce and run this campaign and how
much  will  it  save Victorians in reduced road trauma this financial
year? And, how could this large amount of money be better spent?

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

d.codognotto.oam@bigpond.com

TAC AD DISGRACE 9

Saturday, May 5, 2012, 9:12:39 PM, you wrote:

Hi Damien

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_0Xs3mVUME&feature

Was sent this. It has been voiced over by Spokes (TAC).

Thought you may like to see it

Cheers &  Respect

Prickle


On 5/6/2012 7:36 AM, Damien Cognotto OAM wrote:

Thanks Prickle.

The  TAC  ad is a disgrace and moves are underway to have it taken off

air. The Victorian Motorcycle Council is moving against the ad. I do 

not know of a single motorcycle or scooter organisation that sees 

this ad as a positive move towards improved bike safety.

TAC's  prejudice,  inadequate research and improper use of road users'
premiums  to  create  this  ad  whose  primary  effect  is  to  excuse

careless/dangerous driving and to vilify motorcycle&  scooter riders.

This dangerous antibike propaganda has got to stop.

TAC's  bias  against  riders  is  long-standing  and  obvious  in  the
discriminatory $70 a year antibike tax on most Victorian road bikes.

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

TAC's  antibike  policies  could  be  changed by the TAC Board but the
Board  consists  of  bankers  and  administrators  for  the  most part
detached  from  the  realities  of  riding  in  traffic, the latest ad
demonstrates this.

The   Independent Riders' Group has called on the government to ensure
a  balance  of  skills, including transport and road safety skills, on
the TAC Board.

It  has called on the TAC's crash/injury data to be more available and
its'  research  methods to be explained. Focus groups are not adequate
road safety research.

IRG has asked for the cost of "researching", producing and running this
multi-media,  antibike  campaign in the 2011/2012 financial year to be
made  public.  The  antibike  campaign  money would be better spent on
TAC's reason for being, crash victims.

The  antibike campaign money should be spent on improved rehab, better
ambulance/emergency  services,  encouraging  more efficient travel and
lower premiums for safer road users.

Damien

RIDE TO WORK DAY IN MELBOURNE?

Anyone in favour of a ride-to-work day for Melbourne's motorcycle & scooter riders this summer?

www.geton.co.uk/news-reviews/topics/ride-to-work-day-uk-2012

VALE JOHN THE BAPTIST

Hi Damien,

Could you please circulate this tragic news,

Regards
Dave Lloyd

http://m.smh.com.au/nsw/tragic-end-for-campaigner-called-john-the-baptist-20120504-1y3qa.html