From: mccofnsw.org.au On Behalf Of Guy Stanford
Sent: Monday, 3 November 2008 9:09 AM
To: MCC-Delegates
Subject: [Delegates] Greens MP speaks in NSW Parl about motorbike policy


This speaks for itself.

Discussed at last month's general meeting of the MCC of NSW.
As promised, it's been delivered.

The Greens are working with us on the Road Rules (corgi clause) issues
and formation of a Ministerial Advisory Committee on Powered Two
Wheelers

Motorcycle Awareness Week has been used to ensure politicians in NSW are
now more aware of motorcycles.


Guy


--------

Hansard NSW Legislative Council
30 October 2008

MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AND TOLL FEES

Ms LEE RHIANNON [5.01 p.m.]: It is time the New South Wales Government
changed its policy on motorcycles. The Greens support a reduction in
tollway fees for motorcycles relative to cars. Motorcycles and scooters
should be allowed to use on-road bus lanes, obviously with buses
retaining the right of way. Another easy way to provide for the growing
number of motorcyclists and scooter users is to allocate the first and
last parking spaces on each street to motorcycles where kerbside parking
spaces already are provided.

In 2007 motorcycles and scooters made up 3 per cent of registered
vehicles, and their use is growing rapidly, particularly in Sydney. Many
people are attracted to scooters and motorbikes as a fuel-efficient,
low-cost alternative to private cars. The State Government now needs to
include motorcycles and scooters in transport planning. There has been a
failure to accommodate motorcycles in the planning of toll roads. Prior
to the private-public partnership [PPP] toll roads, motorcycle riders
paid one-quarter of the toll rate of a car. When the first PPP toll road
opened, motorcycles were reclassified to pay the same toll as cars. A
car driver does not pay the truck rate for tolls, so why should
motorcyclists have to pay the car rate? The PPP connection suggests that
some deal was done between the Government and tollway operators, and
motorcyclists were the losers.

In Melbourne motorcyclists do not pay tolls on motorways. In London
motorcyclists do not pay the congestion charge. The Roads and Traffic
Authority urgently should give more attention to the use of e-tags on
motorcycles. E-tags remain inconvenient and problematic for many riders
because they are designed for use in enclosed vehicles and remain
vulnerable to theft or rain when they are attached to motorcycles.
Mounting an e-tag that reliably will be detected is impossible on most
motorcycles. A motorcycle rider cannot hear the beep, and a whole number
of issues related to inconvenience are associated with e-tags for
motorcyclists. If riders do not use e-tags at toll gates, they must
remove their gloves to locate coins, so the inconvenience is
considerable.

While motorcycling is a relatively high-risk form of transport, overall
safety could be improved if motorcycles are taken into account in the
road infrastructure planning and road maintenance stages. Road surface
hazards were identified as a contributing factor in 21 per cent of
single vehicle motorcycle crashes in New South Wales from 2001 to 2005.
Motorcycles and bicycles are rarely considered in road maintenance, and
that sometimes exposes riders to unstable road conditions caused by
slippery steel plates that are used as temporary hole covers, slippery
road marking paint, and loose gravel. Crash barriers or guardrails
provide enhanced safety for cars and trucks; however, it is time that we
also thought of other road users when these barriers are designed. They
have been the point of impact for 15 per cent of motorcycle riders who
died in single vehicle crashes in New South Wales from 2001 to 2005.

An important book that has been produced is titled "Positioned for
safety 2010-Motorcycle safety strategic plan 2007-2010". It sets out a
range of recommendations that may reduce accidents and injuries as well
as save lives. The Motorcycle Council of New South Wales was
instrumental in drawing up the book, and I congratulate Guy Stanford and
other members of the council on producing the book. A recent Newspoll
survey that was conducted for Motorcycle Awareness Week revealed that 72
per cent of people in the State believe that motorcycles and scooters
will play a major part in future transport options. Right now 30 per
cent of people in the State are considering the switch from four-wheel
vehicles to two-wheel vehicles, owing to increasing petrol prices.
Clearly there is a need for an advisory board that can provide
motorcyclists with a conduit for direct feedback to the New South Wales
Government. I urge the Government to change its policy in relation to
motorcycles.
_______________________________________________

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