PROTEST/PARLIAMENT/SEMINAR

We  have  3  dates  in  August you may be able to get the word to some
riders for us. Please pass this information on.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 2014.

There  will be a rally at Parliament House in Melbourne, in fact there
will rallies in all capital cities except Sydney who are doing it this
weekend.  The  Melbourne  protest  is  particularly  important because
VicRoads  are  introducing  their  compulsory  conspicuity laws with a
graded  licence  system  (GLS)  and  because the Attorney General will
attempt  to  push  through  a  law  to  declare  various organisations
"criminal". Details will go on facebook and the blog.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2014.

The  Victorian Attorney General will attempt the second reading of his
criminal  organisations  law.  I  will be in the public gallery in the
Legislative  Assembly in Parliament House, Melbourne until the bill is
read. I'll get there at 9 am. I'm inviting other riders to join me.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2014.

There  will  be  a  FREE  seminar  to  hear  speakers on the future of
motorcycling  in  Victoria/Australia  then question & answer sessions.
Everyone  pays  for  their  own  lunch/drinks. The bistro is open from
noon. Speakers and Q & A from 2 pm till 4 pm. We have invited some MPs
and lawyers. The aim is to bring riders up to date on the VicRoads and
Attorney  General  moves  and to prepare a campaign for the lead up to
the Victorian Election on Novemeber 29, 2014.

Damien Codognotto OAM
Spokesman
Independent Riders Group
Melbourne

www.facebook.com/independentridersgroup

THE FUTURE OF THE SUNDAY RIDE

With all the proposed bike laws, you can bet that those that can still afford to ride will get for more attention.

ANTI-ASSOCIATION LAWS IN VIC

Without any need for further evidence!

 

Does this mean motorcycle clubs and organisations

will have to do ID/background checks before accepting

a membership? What mechanism is there to have a

club unlisted once it is put on the "criminal" list?

 

Without further evidence!

 

Damien Codognotto OAM

Spokesman

Independent Riders Group

Melbourne

 

Mr CLARK — The legislation we are introducing 

will also include further measures to tackle criminal
bikie and similar gangs who are involved in drug
trafficking and other crimes. A court will be able to
make an order to ban these gangs or restrict their
operations where a gang or its members are engaged in
any offences punishable by five years or more
imprisonment and an order is necessary or desirable to
protect community safety or prevent a threat to public
order.

These laws will also stop gang members escaping the
law by quitting one gang and patching over to another,
as we have seen happen in Queensland in recent times.
Restrictions will apply to gang members even if they
quit a gang, and if two or more members from a
declared organisation join another gang, their new gang
will automatically be deemed to be involved in serious
criminal activity without need for further evidence.

Individuals subject to control orders will also be banned
from ownership of firearms, and any other members of
declared organisations will be presumed not to be fit
and proper persons able to hold firearms. On top of that,
the legislation will strengthen the powers of the chief
examiner to conduct compulsory examinations of
persons who are believed to have information about
organised crime gang offences.
The coalition government introduced Victoria’s first
anti-bikie gang laws after the previous government
refused to do so. We are now moving to strengthen
those laws even further. We are picking up on a
growing body of experience interstate — in Queensland
and other jurisdictions — as well as drawing on a
growing body of Victoria Police experience in tackling
these crimes. Unlike the Labor government, a coalition
government is not going to allow Victoria to become
the soft underbelly of bikie gang crime in Victoria. The
laws we are going to be introducing to the house are a
further demonstration that this government is
committed to strong action to tackle criminal bikie
gangs, drug traffickers and other purveyors of misery
and death around this state.

http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/daily-hansard/Assembly_2014/Assembly_Feb-Jun_2014_Daily_24_June_2014.pdf

TRAFFIC FILTERING IN VIC PARLIAMENT

Good Afternoon Damien,

Please see the link below to my speech yesterday.

http://tex.parliament.vic.gov.au/bin/texhtmlt?form=jVicHansard.dumpall&db=daily&dodraft=1&speech=7393&activity=Statements+on+Reports&title=Road+Safety+Committee:+motorcycle+safety&date1=25&date2=June&date3=2014&query=true%0a%09and+%28+data+contains+'PERERA'+%29%0a%09and+%28+members+contains+'PERERA'+%29%0a

Kind regards,
Jude Perera MP
State Member for Cranbourne District

 

Jude Perera MP, a member of the Victorian Road Safety Committee, raised traffic filtering in State Parliament on June 25.

 

NB Rob Smith's comments on traffic filtering in the UK.

 

We do not want a filtering law like NSW has just introduced.

 

Filtering can be legitimised in Victoria by including motorcycles & scooters in the bicycle overtaking laws.

And extending the stop lines or "safety boxes" for bicycles across all lanes at intersections to facilitate filtering motorcycles & scooters and protect pedestrian crossings.

Lane splitting is already covered by dangerous riding laws.

 

Please pass the attachment on.

 

Damien Codognotto OAM

Spokesman

Independent Riders Group

Melbourne

NEW VIC ELECTORATES

There are new Upper and Lower House electorates in Victoria so you may not be in the same electorate you were in when you voted at the last state election.

The next Victorian election is on November 29(?), 2014.

You can find the new electorate boundaries at:

http://www.ebc.vic.gov.au/map/

The Victorian Legislative Assembly has green seats. The Legislative Council has red seats. It's your democracy. Your taxes pay for it.

You've seen the sets. Now watch the film. It's free. Just ring this number and ask them to post the DVD to you - 8682 2653.

LABOR VIC POLICIES

GO SEE YOUR MP

www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members


Dear Damien

Thank you for your letter regarding motorcycle and scooter policies in Victoria.

Victorian Labor believes that our roads should be enjoyed by all road users, be they motorists, motorcycle and scooter riders or cyclists. An important aspect of making our roads better for all users is appropriate legislation and adequate roads funding.

Lane Filtering

Victorian Labor supports the introduction of lane filtering on Victorian roads, to reduce congestion and improve safety for motorcycle and scooter riders. This was a recommendation of the cross-party Parliamentary Inquiry into Motorcycle Safety, however the Napthine Government has failed to address the issue and legalise the practice.

A Victorian Labor Government will introduce legislation to make lane filtering legal on Victorian roads, as it is soon to be in New South Wales and other parts of the world.

Motorcycle use of Bus Lanes

Reducing congestion and improving safety on our roads is of paramount importance. The utilization of bus lanes by motorcyclists has the possibility to both improve rider safety and lessen travel times.

VicRoads reported in its submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Motorcycle Safety that the 2011 Hoddle Street bus lane trial was ‘operating satisfactorily’.

A Victorian Labor Government would support the use of bus lanes by motorcyclists if it is proven that their use increases safety for road users and also lessens congestion.

Roads Funding

One of the most important aspects of ensuring safe roads is adequate roads funding. Unfortunately, the Napthine Government is underfunding roads maintenance across the state, allowing Victorian roads to fall into disrepair. Levels of road distress are at their highest for years.

A Victorian Labor Government will improve roads funding, by establishing a $2 billion roads fund for regional and suburban road improvements. This is guaranteed funding which will ensure better quality roads across Victoria.

Further Policies

Further roads and road safety policies will be released in the lead up to the November State Election.


Regards,

Danielle Green MP,
Member for Yan Yean
Shadow Minister for Child Safety
Shadow Minister for Disability Services
Shadow Minister for Health Promotion
Shadow Minister for Women

www.daniellegreen.org.au

PO Box 376, Diamond Creek, 3089
Ph:  9432 9782,  

NEW LAW IN NEW SOUTH

NSW has introduced a law to allow traffic filtering.

I think there are better ways to do this without making lane splitting a demerit point offence. I reckon lane splitting at speed is covered by the dangerous driving rule. The new law does however "legitimise" traffic filtering.

Comments?

Damien

Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Lane Use by Motor Bikes) Regulation 2014 under the
Road Transport Act 2013. Published LW 23 June 2014 (2014 No 383).

Her Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, has made the following
Regulation under the Road Transport Act 2013.

DUNCAN GAY, MLC
Minister for Roads and Freight

Explanatory note

The objects of this Regulation are:

(a) to amend the Road Rules 2008 to make it an offence for a motor bike rider to lane split at a speed
exceeding 30 kilometres per hour and to enable certain motor bike riders to lane filter between
vehicles provided they do not exceed that speed, and

(b) to amend the Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Regulation 2008 to make the new offence of lane
splitting a demerit point offence that attracts 3 demerit points, and

(c) to amend the Road Transport (General) Regulation 2013 to make the new offence of lane splitting
a penalty notice offence.

This Regulation is made under the Road Transport Act 2013, including sections 23 (the general rule-making
power), 24, 26, 32 and 195 and Schedule 1.

ELECTRIC HARLEY?!?

On Tuesday at 7pm  on Ride :

• We talk to the Victorian Motorcycle Council's Rob Salvatore about his trip to the UK and the upcoming meeting with the Victorian Roads Minister
• We review some great news about the future of a motorcycle racetrack at Bathurst
• Harley Davidson reveals development progress of an electric Harley called Project Livewire
• We find out why Streak and Diesel are retiring from the Australian ST Owners Club
• CJ Burns has retired from the Motorcycle Council of NSW and chats about his contribution and the results of the commuter challenge in Sydney and which form of transport won!
• Rod Hadfield is one of the founding members of the Dry Lakes Racers Australia and he  will fill us in on the history of salt lake motorcycle racing in Australia

• Plus lots of news and music

Proudly sponsored by Fraser Motorcycles Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong ,Melbourne and Perth

and Skillmaster Motorcycle Services.

Listen online via www.alive905.com.au

BIKE STOLEN AFTER CRASH

Damien, the stolen bike has turned up!  Posted this after receiving message last night . . . Cate :-)
Good news everyone, and thanks for all your help; message received tonight . . .

From: Eric Mavf 23 June 22:22


It has apparently turned up at a local impound lot, yet the police knew nothing about it!
I just want to say thanks again for all of your help, it was really greatly appreciated, so thank you, 

Eric.

MEETING REPORT

To all Victorian Members of Parliament
Vicroads bungled its' response the Parliamentary Inquiry  (PIMS 2012),
into motorcycle & scooter safety.   Among other things,  the Graduated
Licence System (GLS)  has  been  so  badly handled by VicRoads that it
must  be  redrafted.    Roads  Minister  Terry  Mulder  MP  must  face
motorcycle & scooter rider representatives on the  Motorcycle Advisory
Group (MAG) in early July.

At   9   am   on   Monday,   June   16,   2014,  Michael  Czajka,  the
Independent  Riders Group (IRG) Road Safety & Research Officer,  and I
met  with  Ms  Alexandra  Douglas  adviser to Victorian Roads Minister
Terry Mulder MP. We were not permitted to meet the Minister.

The  message  we  took  from  the  meeting was that Ms Douglas was not
interested  in  logic,  let  alone  real research or  unbiased science
where  changes to laws & taxes effecting Victoria's 326,000 motorcycle
& scooter licence holders are concerned.

Ms  Douglas was poorly prepared for the meeting. She seemed unaware of
the  national  insurance claim data that in 40% of claims the bike was
hit   from   behind by a larger vehicle. That translates into a lot of
injuries. She said in most cases the bike hit  the car from behind. We
pointed  out  this  data  was flawed by by the inadequate tick-the-box
system  police use and that MAG had underspent on motorcycle & scooter
safety   research. Ms Douglas was not aware that traffic filtering was
not taught to novice riders.

Consulting stakeholders  was not an option. The  attached  flow  chart
from  the  STOP  THE  BLAME GAME paper by Steve Bardsley, Chairman  of
the    Victorian   Scooter  Riders  Association  (VSRA)  sums  up  the
situation.

THE PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY
Ms Douglas was very dismissive of PIMS  2012 and its' recommendations.
She said it was "not  being written by experts."

BUT    the   Victorian   Road   Safety   Committee  read   scores   of
submissions   by experts and stakeholders before writing their report.
Of  the  64  recommendations  in  the   PIMS  report,  none  have been
implemented.  The  "whole of government response"  to  PIMS  is  not a
credible document because it was mostly written by VicRoads. Catch 22.
www.parliament.vic.gov.au/rsc/inquiry/293

This  poses  an important  question  for  Victorians and their elected
Members of Parliament.  What  is  the  point  of paying a lot of money
for a Road Safety   Committee   when   it's   work can be dismissed by
non-expert  public  servants  if  the results do not suit departmental
policies?

In   this   case,  probably   the  same  public servants who fed their
Minister  wrong  advice  on  fatal  crashes  involving  motorcycles  &
scooters as a response to the May 26 protest rally at VicRoads.

This link is to a radio interview with VSRA Chairman, Steve Bardsley.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN5wI4CWVsc

The  MAG  at  VicRoads is dominated by public servants  and  political
appointees.  Vicroads controls the membership and  the  minutes. Roads
Minister Mulder sees only what VicRoads wants him to see.

DATA
Ms  Douglas admitted that crash site data and road safety research had
problems  but  was  non-committal  about  recommendation  1.  "That an
independent  office  of  road  safety  data  be created, which will be
responsible   for  collecting,  collating, interpreting and publishing
all data relevant to road safety ..............."

The police crash data collecting system is inadequate. The further the
crash  is  from  Melbourne  the  less  likely  it is to have a trained
officer   attend    in   timely fashion. VicRoads then "cleanses" what
data is collected.

BUS LANES

On  permitting  motorcycle  &  scooter riders to use most bus lanes in
Victoria   as  is done  interstate  and  overseas.   It  seems  riders
will   be  permitted    to    use  a very limited number of bus lanes.
This  will  be  seen  as  a token  gift  to  the  motorcycle & scooter
community   prior to the state election in November 2014.

We  discussed bicycles being permitted to use kilometres of bus lanes,
in  speed  zones  up  to  80 kph, even in very hilly suburbs. A single
cyclist    struggling    up  a  hill  in Doncaster and on other roads,
delays  bus  loads   of 50 + commuters.  Ms  Douglas  was not aware of
the distances or speed zones involved.

Significantly  the  Eastern  Freeway bus lane was excluded except, for
the  last  few  hundred  metres. Ms Douglas looked genuinely surprised
when I pointed  out  the   death   trap  VicRoads  had  created at the
Hoddle  Street  end of the Eastern Freeway with  the need to crossover
from   the   transit   lane to last of the Eastern Freeway bus lane to
access the Hoddle Street bus lane.

Steve     Bardsley  (VSRA)  and     I   met Simon Basic at VicRoads in
Sunshine  in December   2013. I   made   Mr  Basic  well-aware  of the
Eastern  Freeway  hazard approaching Hoddle Street. I drew diagrams. I
also  made  the  danger known to James Holgate at  VicRoads  Kew.  Now
Ministerial  Adviser Douglas has been shown the high risk area created
by VicRoads with diagrams and a witness.

If  there  have been no rider casualties on this part of the freeway I
would   be   very   surprised.   If   there   have   been  casualties,
VicRoads/TAC/police  are not likely to advertise them. When someone is
seriously hurt or killed there, VicRoads can't cry ignorance.

Surprisingly,  the   Victorian   Motorcycle  Council  (VMC)  supported
the   plan to  permit   riders only in the last few hundred metres  of
the    Eastern   Freeway  bus    lane.  The  VMC  rep  said  so  at  a
Motorcycles in Melbourne   (CoM)  meeting. We do not know of any other
motorcycle  or  scooter  organisation   that   supports  only  limited
access  to  bus  lanes, particularly on the Eastern Freeway.

TRAFFIC FILTERING
Traffic   filtering  is  NOT  weaving  through traffic at speed. It is
riding  between  slow-moving or stationary cars in traffic jams and/or
on  the  approaches  to  intersections.  It  is the safest way to ride
in  heavy  traffic.   It has existed as long as there has been traffic
and  happens every day, all over the world. Ms Douglas wants riders to
stop calling for filtering to be legitimised as in NSW and QLD.

Traffic  filtering  improves  traffic flow and safety. It benefits ALL
road users.

Ms  Douglas  was   completely   unaware   of  the need for the bicycle
"safety   boxes"     to    be   extended   across  the  approaches  to
intersections  to  give  pedestrians   unrestricted  access  to  their
crossings.

It  is  easy  and  inexpensive  to  fix/legitimise traffic  filtering.
Change  the filtering regulation for bicycles to include motorcycles &
scooters.  Extend  the stop lines for two wheelers across all lanes at
intersections.   But  the  public  servants    making    decisions for
our MPs  are apparently  ignorant  of  many  real  world requirements.
They consult only with people who fit their policies.

An  education  campaign  to  teach  car  drivers  about  motorcycles &
scooters  in  traffic is long overdue. It should be required knowledge
to get a car licence.

BAD ADVICE
On   May   26 there was an IRG protest rally at VicRoads. Shadow Roads
& TAC  Minister   Luke  Donnellan MP  promised  the  Opposition  would
legitimise traffic  filtering  if  it  won the November election.

Minister Mulder went  to  the  media  opposing  traffic filtering.  He
was given very bad advice  on filtering  and made a fool of himself on
the record. He told journalists that 3 riders died while filtering. It
was not even close to being true true.

THE TAC ANTI-BIKE TAX
Most  riders  are  forced to pay some $75 a year (and rising) as a TAC
"safety   levy".   No   other  vehicle operator suffers a targeted tax
like  this.  This  cash would be better spent by riders on bike safety
gear.

PIMS   recommendation   25.   was   to   abolish  the  TAC  tax.  PIMS
recommendation  24  was  to  audit the way  the  millions  of  dollars
taken    from  riders has been spent. MAG has underspent on motorcycle
& scooter safety research. PIMS recommendations have been ignored.

As our cities become more congested  the number of two-wheel commuters
must  increase. It  behoves our  elected  representatives   to  ensure
that  riding  for  work or pleasure is as safe as possible.

Reducing  costs  for  low-income  riders  so  they  can afford  better
safety   gear  and advanced  training  courses  did  not seem   worthy
of  Ms  Douglas consideration.

That   taxing   the   victims  of  most collisions involving bikes and
cars   was   inherently  unfair  did not appear to trouble Ms Douglas.
Most  riders  already  pay  the same as a driver for their bikes. Most
drivers   do not ride. Most riders have a car and so pay twice as much
to be on our roads. Read STOP THE BLAME GAME.

THE GRADUATED LICENCE SYSTEM
The   graduated  licence  system  (GLS)  cost was similarly dismissed.
The  GLS  was apparently developed with TAC bike tax money. Car driver
GLS  was developed   from  general revenue not a targeted, unfair tax.
The  added  cost   of  at   least $300 extra to get a bike licence was
blamed on the rider training schools.

Ms  Douglas  tried  to sell the compulsory conspicuity laws in the GLS
Trojan  Horse as the government showing its' love and care for learner
riders.  That the push for hi viz vests and lights-on is based on  the
opinions  of  non-experts,  not on any solid evidence that conspicuity
measures work, was water off a duck's back.

Ms  Douglas  did not say how the GLS, due in October 2014, will effect
the  Learner  Approved  Motorcycle Sytem (LAMS) currently operating in
Victoria.  The  motorcycle industry employs Victorians and contributes
to  the  state's economy. Stock has to be ordered well in advance. How
will the GLS effect LAMS and the industry?

The GLS must go back to the drawing board.

HIGH VISIBILITY CLOTHING
PIMS  did  not recommend hi viz gear or compulsory protective gear for
good reasons.

Riders generally are opposed to compulsory clothing, helmets excepted,
because  it  changes our legal standing and because any benefit can be
gained  through  voluntary  use. TAC has already raised the concept of
"contributory negligence".

The  motorcycle   helmet  ADR  is  a mess that prevents safer products
being  sold  in  Australia.  This  kind  of  problem  could arise with
compulsory protective clothing.

I  pointed  out  that   some 20,000 posties across Australia wear very
brightly-coloured  gear and they get hit on their motorcycles by  cars
with  sickening regularity. Ms Douglas made excuses but did NOT commit
to looking at the before and after data related to postie bike crashes
and  the  introduction  of  hi  viz  clothes and bikes. The crash data
exists  but if  it does not fit the agenda it seems the research won't
get done no matter how inexpensive.

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news-videos/first-motorcycle-storage-docks-installed-in-the-uk/25132.html

Secure  motorcycle  &  scooter parking with lockers for gear should be
required  at  park  &  ride  facilities  and  in  new buildings as for
bicycles.

THE LIGHTS-ON LAW
Michael  and  I  were  astounded  that  Ms  Douglas  did not even know
motorcycles  &  scooters are sold with hard wired headlights! There is
no  light switch. How can such ill-informed people be held up to us as
bike safety experts!

She  said  very  clearly that  the lights-on law was to stop learner's
switching  their  headlights off! That was as ill-informed as Minister
Mulder telling the media that 3 died traffic filtering.

I  explained  that  an  ADR  meant  that  for the last 20 years or so,
motorcycles  & scooters  have  been  sold without  light switches. She
did  NOT  know!  This is the level of expertise used when dealing with
our safety and it is not good enough.

People    with    such  a  lack   of   knowledge  of  motorcycling  in
traffic,  are  making  road  safety decisions for us. This is wrong at
every level.

CONSULTATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS
Ms  Douglas claimed  there  had  been  consultation with stakeholders.
We  said  we had not been consulted  and  were  banned  from  MAG even
as observers. There were several PIMS recommendations in Chapter 10 on
consultation   with   stakeholders.  We    told    her   the  "public"
consulting   sessions  were "information  nights" with the information
going  one  way  -  from bureaucrats to riders. And, the sessions were
invitation only. She did not know.

We   pointed out that many of their proposed moves against riders came
from well before the   PIMS  in 2012 so what was the point in spending
tax payers money on the inquiry?

Ms  Douglas  said that the PIMS report was written by non-experts,  in
other  words,   the  Victorian  Road  Safety  Committee, it's 494 page
report,  its'  64  recommendations  and the scores of submissions from
experts  and  stakeholders  did  not   equal  the  opinions  of public
servants  like  Ms  Douglas  and  James  Holgate who demonstrate their
dislike  for riders  daily  and  who do not even know that motorcycles
& scooters have not had light switches for TWO DECADES!

QUESTIONS
This meeting  raises  two  questions.

First,  why  waste  taxpayers dollars on a Parliamentary  Road  Safety
Committee  when they are overruled by the bureaucracy?

Second, who runs this state, our elected representatives in Parliament
or faceless bureaucrats at VicRoads and TAC?

TOURISM
Bicycle tourism is worth $362 million a year to Victoria. Motorcycle &
scooter tourism is worth at least twice that.

Later  on  June  16,   at   a   very   positive   meeting with Tourism
Victoria,  we  got  the  message  that  a  lot  of ideas for promoting
motorcycle  &  scooter  tourism  in  this  state  would  have  to  get
Vic  Roads  approval and should therefore be raised at MAG! Catch 22.

Bring on the 2014 Victorian election.

Damien Codognotto OAM
Spokesman
Independent Riders Group
Melbourne
 

STOP THE BLAME GAME

Take a look at this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN5wI4CWVsc

Regards
Steve

HIT FROM BEHIND

ONE OF THE STRONGEST ARGUMENTS FOR TRAFFIC FILTERING IS IT REDUCES THE RISK OF BEING HIT FROM BEHIND.

C 2006 Swann Insurance did a national survey of bike insurance claims. They found that in 40% of claims the rider was hit from behind.

Have a look at this.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=723776504348659&set=vb.527827413943570&type=2&theatre

"AGAIN, a vehicle driver has failed to concentrate, slow to speed limit, and leave sufficient distance between his vehicle and traffic in front; resulting in rear-ending a Honda Goldwing with two up rider multiple injuries, pillion not so bad. 

Thanks Nat Conroy for the tip off

"This Dash cam is attached to a Honda Goldwing motorbike near the Kempsey bypass. They had come to a stop at a roundabout and hit from behind by a 4WD ute pushing them into the bike in front.

Both were thrown from the bike. Dad has multiple breaks. 3 broken vertebrae, 4 breaks in the pelvis and his right leg was smashed. Mum blacked out on impact and landed soft (not flexed) and only has bruising. Thanks to Christopher Schloithe.

We here at DCOA wish them a speedy recovery."

DAMN TOLLS!

I have just been contacted by Nick Etchells at Channel 7 in Melbourne.

Thanks Dale.

Nick is a motorcyclist who needs our help.

Citilink  began  charging  riders  road  tolls  about  six months ago.
Letters  went out saying that Citilink would add the bike tolls to the
rider's car account. No worries.

BUT,  due to Citilink's incompetence it seems, Nick has now got $700 +
in  fines.  Citilink  did  not  add his bike to his car account so the
unpaid tolls turned into tolls plus fines.

We need other riders who have had difficulty with road tolls to get in
touch with Nick at Channel 7 very quickly indeed.
netchells@seven.com.au

Please pass this email on. Put it on facebook, websites etc.
For  the  record.  The  Independent  Riders Group does not support any
motorcycle or scooter road tolls.

*      Tolls    encourage    riders   to   use   less   safe   routes,
particularly low-income earners.
*      Tolls  discourage  commuters from using more efficient vehicles
which improve traffic flow thereby benefiting ALL road users.
*      Tolls from motorcycles & scooters do not generate enough income
to  cover  the  cost  of  collection,  road  maintenance  and  traffic
congestion.
*      Tolls from motorcycle & scooter riders do not give shareholders
and parent companies (overseas?) any real financial gain.

History.  When  the West Gate Bridge was opened there were bike tolls.
The  original  MRA  protested.  The tolls went. Victoria was bike toll
free  for decades. Eastlink introduced bike tolls a few years ago. Now
Citilink has done so too. The IRG opposes bike tolls.

Damien Codognotto OAM
Spokesman
Independent Riders Group
Melbourne

ON AIR ON TUESDAYS

On Tuesday at 7pm  on Ride :

• Adam Wright from Harley Davidson Australia reflects on the recent National HOG Rally in Cairns and the next one in Tamworth
• Sean Griffiths talk as about the national Ned Kelly makes a Stand Rides on July 5
• Steve Bardsley from the Victorian Scooter Riders Association explains why governments should stop blaming riders
• We catch up with James Taylor  regarding next year's Anti Domestic Violence/Luke Batty Memorial ride
• We report on last weekends Temporary Australians filming in Perth
• And invite everyone to bikers church 6pm this Sunday evening at the Brotherhood CMC Clubhouse

• Plus lots of news and music

Proudly sponsored by Fraser Motorcycles Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong ,Melbourne and Perth

and Skillmaster Motorcycle Services.

Listen online via www.alive905.com.au

FAIR GO SEMINAR

FAIR GO SEMINAR

On Saturday, August 9, 2014, there will be a free seminar on the future of motorcycling in Victoria. It's at Brown's Corner Hotel on Sydney Road at Bell Street in Coburg.

Be there from noon to 4 pm to hear and/or be part of the debate on motorcycle & scooter laws & taxes in Victoria and how we can protect our right to ride.

Every few years governments cook up ways to make it cost more and make it harder to get a bike licence and even harder to keep it. Here's a few examples.

In 1993 a Parliamentary Inquiry (PIMS) came up with many positive recommendations. VicRoads stalled. In 1998 VicRoads academic Alexandra Douglas researched a  PIMS review. Riders paid about three quarters the CTP that cars did. The above CTP increases were justified with propaganda not science. On 2014 prices, riders of bikes over 501cc would pay $1500+ a year! This would have been hard to get through so a few years later, the $50 TAC tax was slipped through with the budget. The rider reps policy of appeasement let it happen.

So what's next? Attacks on free footpath parking again. The return of the push for front ID so they can track, fine and toll all riders remotely? Compulsory flour vests?

Flouro vests become law for novice riders in Victoria in October 2014. VicRoads are doing it by regulation, not legislation so they don't have to take it to Parliament. They can also expand the law to cover all riders without consultation in future ... unless we stop it in the lead up to the state election.

If Victoria gets compulsory flour vests you can bet other state's and territiries will force it on their riders too.

VicRoads has already drafted a regulation to make boots mandatory.

There will be a state election late in November 2014. Go see your MP.
www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members 

The FAIR GO SEMINAR is a direct follow on from the May 26 protest at VicRoads and we plan to generate a lot of media. Hirsty will be down from Sydney to film the action for Temporary Australians.

If you ride, you're invited.

Please pass this on, share it, whatever. We need a lot of riders to attend.

Damien Codognotto OAM
Spokesman
Independent Riders Group
Melbourne

d.codognotto.oam@bigpond.com

TRAFIIC FILTERING

All we need to legitimise traffic filtering in Victoria is to add words identifying motorcycles & scooters to the bicycle regulations. We do not need restrictive regulations generated by VICROADS and fed to Minister Mulder like the lie that 3 riders died traffic filtering. It was implied that these riders died recently and that they were low-speed traffic filtering at the time. It was parroted by Mulder to the media.

Journos do not like being used to manipulate public opinion by overpaid public service spin doctors.

Traffic filtering in heavy traffic is the safest way to ride.

http://motorbikewriter.com/courses-teach-lane-filtering/

YANK COP BLAMES RIDER FOR REAR END CRASH

This clip shows the value of video cameras on motorcycle helmets. It also shows why we should be lobbying hard to legitimise traffic filtering without restrictive regulation.

Thanks Craig.

http://speedsociety.com/cop-rear-ends-motorcycle-blames-rider

Damien
IRG

ANOTHER PROTEST STORY.

Please write a comment. Melanie Gardiner did a great job on this story in the Knox Leader.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/knox-motorcyclists-back-labor-plan-to-allow-riders-to-weave-in-between-traffic/story-fngnvlxu-1226941824301

Go see, or write to your MP. Victorian MPs are in a flap this morning over the actions of a single MP. You vote is of great value in the lead up to the 2014 state election. 

www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members

Go see your local paper too. Why didn't it run a story like the Knox Leader.

Damien

IRG

GLS PROTEST STORIES

PLEASE type your comments on the Victorian Graded Licence System, and the hi viz vest law tacked on to it, in the Leader story.

This link will take you to it.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/central/riders-head-to-kews-vicroads-to-protest-changed-licence-conditions/story-fngnvlpt-1226937487613

The GLS law will put the price of getting a biker licence up by at least $300 to begin with. The very people who are trying to save money and time by riding to work are the ones who will be hurt by this version of the GLS most.

Some will cut spending on safety gear in order to ride to work or school or to look for a job.

A few will ride illegally. Unriders are bad for ALL road users.

Many will ditch the bike idea and buy an old car that will contribute to pollution, traffic congestion and car parking shortages.

The car GLS was paid for out of general revenue. The bike GLS is paid for from the discriminatory TAC tax rip off. The $300 novice riders will have to pay is on top of that!

The VICROADS GLS is a Trojan Horse.

In it is a lights-on law. Bureaucratic duplication. Lights-on is covered by an ADR. VICROADS knows this well but this is not about bike safety it's about making bike licences more difficult & costly to get and harder to keep.

Also in it is a hi viz vest law. It's only for novices in Victoria this year. These add-ons to the GLS are made under regulation so VICROADS does not have to let your elected representatives decide, they can bypass Parliament with compulsory conspicuity and they can expand these laws to cover all riders without consultation. That's what I think they intend to do.

Both these conspicuity laws in the GLS reduce a riders legal standing in court. That's particularly important after a crash when the car driver says he didn't see you.

This is important! Go see you MP. Here's a list of the contacts. Remind them that 2014 is an election year in Victoria.

www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members

Damien Codognotto OAM
Spokesman
Independent Riders Group
Melbourne