FOOTPATH PARKING THREAT IN VICTORIA

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The Melbourne Herald Sun on Thursday, June 21, 2018 published the contents of 2 Melbourne discussion papers. It made three points clear ... to me at least.

1. The City of Melbourne wants motorcycles & scooters off footpaths after 30 years of virtually trouble free footpath parking regardless of the benefits to car drivers interms of parking space and traffic flow.

2. The City of Melbourne developed the anti motorbike policy outlined in the 2 discussion papers without consulting all stakeholders. No motorcycle or scooter group I know of had input as these papers/policies were developed.

3. The RACV is pro bicycle and anti motorcycle.

The Melbourne City Councillor responsible for transport is Nicolas Frances Gilley. Cr Gilley emailed me today.

"As a motor bike rider I care about their role in the transport mix."

Perhaps. .... Perhaps as much as the RACV care about us.

If the City of Melbourne, as a whole, had any good feelings about motorcycle & scooter riders why wasn't the Motorcycles In Melbourne Committee involved in developing these papers? Why were motorcycle organisations not invited to have input?

Maybe because motorcycles & scooters are not recognised by the City of Melbourne as a legitimate form of transport with more in common with pushbikes than with cars in the CBD and inner suburbs.

If you are not happy about this situation email the Herald Sun and Cr Frances Gilley and let them have your opinion.

hsletters@heraldsun.com.au

nicolas.francesgilley@melbourne.vic.gov.au

If the City of Melbourne bans motorbikes from footpaths the ban will go statewide and no other state or territory will introduce free footpath parking for motorcycle & scooter riders.

Damien Codognotto OAM
The Motorcycle Riders Association
Melbourne