‘We are working it out’: E-scooter giant vows to tackle footpath hazard.
“The Age” By Patrick Hatch
February 22, 2023 — 5.00am
E-scooter rental giant Lime has promised it can stop customers illegally riding its devices on footpaths if permitted to remain operating in Melbourne after a controversial trial finishes next month. Lime’s general manager for Australia, Hugo Burt-Morris, said additional work needed to be done to prevent misuse of the 2500 hire e-scooters deployed across Melbourne, but rider behaviour had improved since they landed on city streets 12 months ago.“We’re only a year into the trial and we’re testing a new mode of mobility. Frankly … [it] takes a very long time for people to get a strong understanding of the rules,” he said. “This is exceptionally early on in understanding how these interact with our existing modes of transport. And we are working it out very quickly.”
Electric scooters are illegal to ride on Victorian roads, but San Francisco-based Lime and competitor Neuron are permitted to operate 2500 hire scooters in the City of Melbourne, Yarra and Port Phillip under a trial launched in February last year. The Department of Transport extended the trial by two months, to March 31, earlier this year so it could collect “the best possible data set” while it decides whether to legalise rental and privately owned e-scooters. The trial has been marred by people frequently riding and parking scooters on busy footpaths, with advocates for the elderly, vision-impaired people and pedestrians saying the vehicles are a menace to public safety.
Burt-Morris said Lime and Neuron, as well as local councils and the state government, had not done enough to educate riders about the road rules, while his company hoped to develop technology to detect when someone was riding on a footpath. “I still have confidence that these incident rates of footpath riding, or even just general misuse, will continue to decline,” he said.
Victoria Walks chief executive Ben Rossiter said the trial had already demonstrated Lime and Neuron could not stop dangerous behaviour. “They haven’t been able to address these issues, so we shouldn’t believe that they think they can,” he said. “Just look at the inner-areas where the trial is – they’re just everywhere.”
NB Open link to article below, and view video . . . “After being seriously injured when hit by an e-scooter, Julia Miller believes there needs to be regulation to make them safer for riders and pedestrians alike.”
Rossiter said the scooters should not be permitted until there was a solution to footpath riding and hazardous parking, plus consistent police enforcement of road rules and a comprehensive insurance scheme. A loophole in Lime and Neuron’s insurance schemes means riders and any third party they injure, such as pedestrians, are not covered if the rider was on a footpath or not wearing a helmet. Burt-Morris said Lime staff monitored rates of footpath riding during the trial through visual surveys, which showed rates of misuse had fallen. Lime declined to share this data with The Age. He said a key reason people rode on footpaths was they did not feel safe on Melbourne’s roads, and the city would need better bike lanes and designated parking zones if e-scooters became part of the transport landscape. In London and Paris, Lime’s customers can park only in designated areas, including converted on-street car parking spots, and the company fines riders who do the wrong thing. Rossiter raised concerns that the Department of Transport was making decisions about the trial based on data collected by Lime and Neuron themselves, which would give “the most rosy picture” possible, while running limited consultation with stakeholder groups and the public. It was also unclear if true rates of injuries and illegal riding were being tracked, with police fines representing only the “tip of the iceberg”, he said.
A spokesperson for the Department of Transport said it was “evaluating key information while working closely with Victoria Police, participating local councils and e-scooter operators” as the trial neared its conclusion. Lime and Neuron say Melbourne has been one of the most successful cities in which they have launched, with 2.8 million rides taken within the City of Melbourne alone in the first 11 months. Burt-Morris said that if they are allowed to stay in Melbourne, the number of hire scooters deployed across the three council areas could easily double to 5000 to meet rider demand, and they could triple to 7500 if allowed to expand to new council areas. Lime is the largest player in a global group of start-ups competing in the new field of “micromobility”. It operates in 250 cities across 30 countries, backed with hundreds of millions of dollars from private investors including Uber, and has been reportedly considering a sharemarket listing since at least 2021.
The hire schemes have proved divisive as cities grapple with how to regulate them. Norway’s capital Oslo recently banned rentals at night in an attempt to reduce drunken crashes, while Paris will hold a vote in April on whether to ban rental scooters.
To MRAA members.
March 9, 2023.‘Morning All.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BZ8XY7L 690 responses to March 9, 2023. We need 2000. This will save money for car drivers as well as motorcycle riders.
We sent an email to all Victorian MPs and many others. Here are three responses. There seems to be too much confusion between unregistered, step-on electric scooters and road registered electric scooters. We are seeking answers to why the Federal Government would specifically exclude new registered electric scooters from subsidy schemes designed to encourage the use of electric vehicles. It defies logic. In my opinion, it is yet more prejudice against the Australian motorcycle community.

Before anyone starts being rude about us backing or not backing your favourite political team, the MRAA is not party political. That means we treat MPs as MPs. If an MP does good for motorcycling, we say so. If he/she does bad, we say so. Unelected officials are paid by the tax payer and therefore not the top of the heap. In my experience, lobbying any other way just does not work. Also, before anyone starts on about registered electric motorcycles & scooters, I’m old and old fashioned. I like gears and some engine noise and vibration. I do not like or trust gizmology BUT gizmology will increase and electric bikes are inevitable so it is the MRAA’s role to get the best deal it can for its’ members. The Feds excluding electric road motorcycles from their subsidy scheme could be the thin edge of a wedge unless someone makes a legitimate, loud noise objecting to this exclusion. No one else seems to be doing it.
MRAA membership is free.
Damien
March 8, 2023
Dear Damien
Thanks so much for calling my Richmond office today and for your email and information you’ve provided.
I appreciate you bringing this issue to my attention. It is certainly a fair and reasonable question to ask government why electric motorcycles would not be included in any subsidy programs that are provided to encourage purchasing of electric vehicles. I’ll keep a close eye on this issue and the Government’s response to it.
If you haven’t already, I’d encourage you to seek a direct response from representatives of the federal government as well.
Yours sincerely
Senator Claire Chandler
Shadow Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs
Liberal Senator for TasmaniaMarch 8, 2023.
Hi Damien,
As the transport portfolio holder Katherine is happy to be your key contact within the Greens state parliament and receive MRAA’s queries.
Thank you for laying out your 7 priority areas of concern for Katherine to look over.
Transport emissions are the largest growing source of climate pollution in Victoria and we need to rapidly reduce these emissions to address climate change. The majority of this pollution comes from petrol cars and trucks and we must provide people with alternatives in order to reduce emissions. Whilst the Greens often communicate a priority to increase spending for active transport (cycling and walking), and make EVs more accessible, we also recognise the role motorcycles play.
Not only do motorcycles have a lighter footprint when manufacturing, they can also be a lower emitting option of transport for many users.
As with cyclists and pedestrians, the Greens are committed to making our roads safer for all users, no matter their mode of transport. We will continue our work of pushing the State Labor Government to improve dangerous road infrastructure to prevent fatalities and injuries.
Katherine is working actively with government and non-government stakeholders to push for improved safety on our roads, and to make climate-friendly transport options more accessible to those who wish to use them.
Kind regards,
Liv Morgan
Electorate Officer
For Katherine Copsey MPMember for Southern Metro (Melbourne)
From: damien codognotto <damienkcodognotto@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, 6 March 2023 10:34 AM
To: Richard Riordan <Richard.Riordan@parliament.vic.gov.au>
Subject: ROAD MOTORCYCLE & SCOOTER RESEARCH IS AN INVESTMENT
Richard Riordan MP
Member for Polwarth
G’day Richard.
The issues in this email may interest you. Please note the Tasmanian Government video for touring motorcyclists encouraging various safety tips including wearing the right gear. It’s a seriously different approach to the seriously expensive TAC’s shock/horror campaign in Victoria. It is a far more effective approach. Click the link for touring motorcyclists. https://www.rsac.tas.gov.au/visitingdrivers/
Also, please note Steve Bardsley’s paper on motorcycle stereotypes.
Damien Codognotto OAM
Spokesperson
The Motorcycle Riders Association Australia
March 8, 2023. Thanks Damien, Appreciate being kept in the loop. I was interested in your letter in support of more electric motorbikes and scooters on our roads. What are your views on the current laws around e-scooters? Probably the big issue is at what point should an e-scooter be registered as a motorbike? Ie top speed/power output considerations. Richard is in support of encouraging more of these for the obvious reasons you outlined in your letter. Regards, Toby Campbell Electorate Officer For Richard Riordan MP. Member for Polwarth in Victoria. Thanks for getting back to us Toby. We are in favour of Australian made, electric, road registered, commuter motorcycles & scooters. These are very different to the imported, electric, unregistered, CTP insured step-on scooters currently being pushed in Australian cities. Australian Governments complain about traffic congestion in our cities. Around 70% of traffic is made up of cars & SUVs carrying just one person. Obviously, one way to reduce traffic congestion in urban areas is to encourage alternatives to single-occupant cars. The Federal Government gives buyers of new electric cars a cash subsidy. This does nothing to reduce congestion or free up parking space for people who must use cars. Electric, road-registered commuter motorcycles & scooters reduce congestion, free up car parking space and do a lot less road damage than cars. So why does the Federal Government specifically exclude buyers of new, Australian made road motorcycles & scooters from the subsidy scheme? How do they justify this exclusion? Making Australian motorcycles & scooters keeps jobs, skills and profits in Australia and reduces our reliance on imports. Re step-on electric “scooters”. Governments scramble to be seen to promote the new gizmology. Step-on riders are subject to few rules and those are difficult to enforce. To even come close to effective enforcement cities and tourist towns will require a permanent on-street enforcement presence, a major drain on police resources. Compare step-ons to road registered commuter scooters. One has real benefits to Australian society, the other does not. Then there are the safety issues for riders hitting cars and pedestrians. The attached Victorian hospital admissions chart says a lot. By banning public use of privately owned step-ons the Andrews Government in Victoria has effectively given a sort of monopoly to two profit seeking companies. I don’t think that is good for either road/footpath safety or for the economy. Why not support a local regulated product over the effectively unregulated import? Damien MRAA |

MRA TAS RALLY

February 25, 2023.
LETTERS – THE HERALD SUN
The Editorial (25/2/2023) says traffic congestion is holding Melbourne and Victoria back. Infrastructure and public transport have failed to keep pace with increasing population and people’s need for mobility. Mismanagement of resources and resistance to improving transport systems has contributed to our traffic woes.
Single-occupant cars are some seventy percent of traffic. Most are big five or more seat vehicles that park for more time than they clog urban arteries. So why don’t road authorities offer real alternatives to car commuting and incentives to make the change? Promote Australian made, road registered, electric motorcycles & scooters. Entry level motorcycles can’t be compared to toy vehicles. Riders must be trained and licensed. Machines must be identifiable. They can’t go on footpaths. 150 plus kilometres range for commuting and a good payload for shopping, works in urban areas. Parking is easy. New road bike price and running costs are a fraction of car costs. Two bonus points. Motorcycling in Victoria is safer than it has ever been. Australian made bikes keep skills, jobs and profits here.
As traffic congestion gets worse and living gets more expensive, government, the RACV and the motorcycle industry should promote entry level motorcycles, especially locally made machines, to reduce the pain of gridlocked streets and rising living costs.
Damien Codognotto OAM
The Motorcycle Riders Association Australia
Attachments from the Melbourne Herald Sun (25/2/2023) and the Hobart Mercury.





February 12, 2023.
Motorcycle road safety audit closes February 28, 2023.

February 10, 2023.

February 2023.
One of Victoria’s top policemen has described the state’s showpiece anti-bikie law as “difficult to enforce” and revealed police have asked the State Government to change it.
As police across the country declare war on bikie gangs, Victoria’s Deputy Commissioner Graham Ashton has told the ABC it has been too difficult for police to prove an outlaw motorcycle gang is a criminal organisation.
A year after the law was announced, police have yet to make a single application to criminalise an organisation.
“We’ve certainly made it clear that these are going to be difficult laws to enforce, but we’re not wringing our hands saying that we’ve been given dud legislation,” Mr Ashton said.
“We understand that the legislation is difficult to draft and it has to strike a balance.
These are going to be difficult laws to enforce, but we’re not wringing our hands saying that we’ve been given dud legislation.
“It’s up to us to try and reach an application that meets that standard, and we just haven’t been able to do that.”
Under the Criminal Organisation Control Act, which the Government introduced last year with great fanfare, police have to convince a Supreme Court judge that an organisation is involved in serious criminal activity.
There are four elements the police have to prove: That are that the alleged crime is systemic, involves substantive planning, involves two or more people and that there has to be a motive.
“It will be a challenge, because we’ve not only got to establish those four points, but we’ve got to establish them to a level of beyond reasonable doubt,” Mr Ashton said.
“In a number of jurisdictions that level is at the balance of probabilities, we’ve got to meet the criminal standard of proof.
“Quite often where we find cases where we’ve met the criminal standard we’ve already put someone before the courts and they’re in our jail system. It’s quite a high test to make.”
Australia’s outlaw motorcycle gangs
Senior police have met with the state’s Attorney-General Robert Clark and officials from the Department of Justice.
They raised the prospect of amending the law to lower the bar for proving serious criminal activity, but Mr Ashton said he was “not aware” of any plans to make amendments.
He also revealed that police have asked the Government for the power to apply for control orders against outlaw motorcycle gangs on the grounds that they have been declared criminal organisations in other Commonwealth countries, such as Canada.
When asked whether the Government was considering changing the legislation, as requested by police, Attorney-General Robert Clark told the ABC he was talking to police about the issue.
“We’ve discussed the full gamut of legislation in terms of how the existing legislation is operating, what other opportunities for new legislation, how we can tackle firearms laws, how we can tackle asset confiscation, unexplained wealth laws,” he said.
“We’re keen to support Victoria Police to ensure they’ve got the tools they need to tackle these gangs.”
Mr Clark also said the Government was watching closely to see whether Queensland’s anti-bikie laws – which make it substantially easier for police to apply for bikie gangs to be criminalised than in Victoria – were successful.
Do you know more? Email investigations@abc.net.au
DON’T JUST SIT THERE!
If you feel strongly about the proposed bans in Victoria, write a letter to Melbourne’s Herald Sun.
hsletters@heraldsun.com.au
I did.
THE HERALD SUN
VicPol wants colours, patches and logos on selected clubs’ motorcycle clothing banned. It made the Herald Sun’s front page and editorial on February 3. The Motorcycle Riders Association Australia does not support the proposed bans. Restricting what a whole group of people can wear because there may be criminals among them is wrong. Laws exist to fight crime. Enforce them. If an individual breaks the law, book him or her.
The MRAA does not support restricting group rides. Licenced motorcyclists riding registered, roadworthy motorcycles or scooters legally have the right to use public roads.
Who decides which organisations will be declared criminal? What are the criteria? What right of appeal will there be? Will your club or union be banned?
Damien Codognotto OAM
Motorcycle Riders Association Australia
Don’t read the herald Sun? Write to The Age. Better still write to both.
letters@theage.com.au


ROADSIDE CRASH BARRIER TESTING by Bruce Corben. 2002.
Another 20 year old “road safety” paper. This one “ROADSIDE CRASH BARRIER TESTING” by Bruce Corben. 2002. In 20 years Victorian roads have changed. Vehicles have changed enormously. So has the mix and amount of traffic. Even the weather has changed. Fires, floods and strong winds seem to have increased. Roads have been neglected, particularly in rural areas. Massive amounts of our taxes have been wasted on wire rope barriers. We were told $4 billion was spent on WRB between 2015 and 2020. In 2023 the Department of Transport cries poor on funds for road surface and edge maintenance.
There has been little real road safety research done since 2000. The Laverton crash tests were more to show what Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) could do than to show what barrier type was safest. The cars crashed, Toyota Echos(?), did not represent the vehicle fleet then and certainly not in 2023. The report and edited video were ready in time for an international conference. MUARC attended. Parliamentary Inquiries recommend changes and document the lack of reliable crash/traffic data. Too many recommendations have been rejected by Victoria’s self-titled Road Safety Partners. Little has been done to improve crash data. This means in casualty crashes involving registered motorcycles & scooters the licensed rider is unfairly blamed for causing the crash in far too many cases.
Papers by Steve Bardsly are current and credible. Read “TWO DECADES OF ANTI-MOTORCYCLE BIAS HAS FAILED RIDER SAFETY” on academia.edu
Damien Codognotto OAM
Spokesperson
The Motorcycle Riders Association Australia

The Weekly Times. Page 9. ROAD MAINTENANCE GOES PRIVATE by Jason Gregory.
The Victorian Transport Department has awarded multi-million dollar contracts to three companies in a move that privatises road maintenance of key regional road networks for the next three years.
The new Victorian “road maintenance contracts” will be more performance based in replacing existing “roads maintenance alliance” contracts.
Sprayline Road Services was awarded contracts for the Grampians and Loddon Mallee regions, Fulton Hogan was awarded Barwon South West and Gippsland regions, while Downer EDI Limited received the Hume region contract.
The contract amounts were not disclosed by government, but Downer revealed that its contract to maintain more than 8500km of road in the Hume region was valued at about $490 million.
The companies will perform larger-scale road repairs, including rebuilding, resurfacing and resealing roads, as opposed to more routine maintenance activities such as minor pothole repairs, repairing damaged signs, cleaning gutters and drains, mowing and clearing litter.
The contracts begin next month for an initial three-and-half-year term, with the option for two-year extensions Department of Transport and Planning officers will work alongside the contracted companies to help plan, deliver and inspect all work delivered under the new contracts.
The department road workers now doing maintenance within the zones will be offered jobs with the awarded parties.
A goverment spokesperson said it was ensuring “value for money” by providing a more performance based road maintenance contract.
“This will help ensure the industry remains competitive and works delivered are more consistent across the state. It also sets out clearer guidelines to help manage risks associated with these projects,” the spokesperson said.
Swally
MRAA

WOMEN in motorcycling.
From Ed.

A class action over brakes is good.
A class action over bad country roads in Victoria would be better. Not too many lawyers will go up against the virtually unlimited, tax-payer-funded resources controlled by VicRoads and the Victorian Department of Transport.
The Melbourne Herald Sun. Friday, January 20, 2023.
The Weekly Times. May 11, 2022.


The Hobart Mercury. Friday, January 20, 2023.
Sympathy and respect to the rider’s loved ones.

Are Australian made, electric, road registered motorcycles & scooters included? Or, even thought about?

The Victorian Election is on November 26, 2022.

If you are part of the Victorian Government in 2023:
1. Will you work to establish an all-party, Parliamentary Road Safety Committee?
2. Will you work to establish a crash/traffic data authority that is independent of the Victorian road safety partners as recommended by the 2012 Parliamentary Inquiry into Motorcycle Safety (PIMS)?
3. Will you work to ensure that Victorian Government responses to recommendations of Parliamentary road safety inquiries are written by elected representatives and experts who are independent of the road safety partners to avoid conflicts of interest?
Damien Codognotto OAM
Spokesperson
The Motorcycle Riders Association Australia
mraa.net.au
Candidate Sophie Paterson.
Hi Damien,
I am a yes to all questions.
I am running in the Upper House Eastern, primarily due to the lack of focus of regional issues in Parliament, and the lack of integrity in decision making. The transfer of decision making to Government controlled bodies is a concern to me.
I’m also across and support many of the issues you raise in terms of regional road safety (increasing potholes and lack of spend to quality road infrastructure repairs) and concerns about the barriers. The Sale to Bairnsdale Road is a real issue.
I’ve attached my card if you want any information, and also the feature that appeared in the South Gippsland Times yesterday. Happy to answer any questions you have about what my priorities would be.
Regards Sophie Paterson

OATLANDS (Tas) MOTORCYCLE SHOW TO BE HELD THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2022, HAD TO BE POSTPONED.
G’day Damian.
After much consideration with the Oatlands Football Club and Vintage MCC of Tasmania Executive, Sponsors and Contractors, the decision to postpone the event has been made. The VMCCT Executive will convene a meeting to come up with a new date ASAP. The decision was not made solely on the weather forecast for the weekend but many other factors.
Please pass on to your friends and contacts.
Howard
0439 481 291

FOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT BASKERVILLE THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2022.
Hi Everyone
Thank you all for supporting the Skills Day for the Full Gear program at Baskerville this coming Saturday Nov 19th.
The weather is looking really good at the moment, with a top of 23 degrees and a late shower likely after we have finished for the day.
We do need 4 volunteers to man the flag points, which we can rotate throughout the day.
At other times, we are hoping that you will support the young people in their own learning, providing advice where you see fit. Remember, that the young people may get differing advice from all of you, but that’s OK, any advice you give just try to make it relevant to their own skill level.
We will place Butchers paper on the wall for each rider to record their own learnings and they will get to take this home at the end of the day. Each rider must put up something after each 10 minute session on the track this is the chance to offer feedback. Most riders will be riding their LAMS approved bike on the day. A few have dirt bikes so won’t be making any record times. The main idea is about promoting road safety and improving their skill level. Each bike has been inspected by horizon motorcycles prior to entering the track, as part of this program, and I paid for that through the funding.
I’m hoping to group together any arrivals on the day, so we are not closing the track too much. People can arrive at 8-9am, 12pm or 3pm.
I have ordered some fuel cards, and if possible, please fuel up on the way there, and I’ll reimburse you with the fuel card. Also, I have extra fuel cards if you need to run out to Gagebrook United petrol station at lunch. We will have 2 emergency jerry cans as well.
We have a photographer there for the day, and we will do some promotion after the event, most likely in the Mercury and elsewhere mentioning the MRA, Sports Riders Club, Horizon Motorcycle, Bikeworks, Bucaan Community House and others. Scott Tilyard from the Road safety Advisory Council, from our funding body will be there on the day, on his motorbike. Mayor Bec Thomas will also make an appearance as well.
Thanks again for your help
Please call me on 0478 777 020 if you need.
Regards
Conrad
So far this is the plan for Saturday:
8 am Arrival
Bike check with scrutineers (Jono and Wade from Sports Riders Club) Throttle snap back Chain tension Footpegs Tyres
Sign on for everyone – IMPORTANT WAIVER
9am Walk the track
9:30am Rider’s Briefing: Track Manager – Peter Woods
Rules: No overtaking in braking zones or on the inside
IF there is a crash, First rider to scene to help – others get off to allow recovery Entering and exit of the track Allocate 4 x Flag point volunteers Pick up radio and take positions Recovery vehicle Ambulance
10:00am – 12:00 pm TRACK SESSION
3 groups of 4 riders. 10 mins per session
Cornering – Selecting lines, entry and exit Braking while cornering Emergency braking and ABS test (if bikes equipped) – Jon will demonstrate
12:00pm LUNCH
Senior riders demonstration
PRESENTATION: Damien Codognotto on history of motorcycling
Discussion: Hydration, sleep, eating well. Mood.
1:00pm – 3:00pm TRACK SESSION
Obstacle Avoidance/Swerving – simulate road kill under vehicle in front – chalk it Counter-steering Understanding survival response/reaction
3:00pm – PRESENTATION FROM TAS POLICE
3:30 – 5:00pm OPEN RIDE in groups (no structured lessons)
CONRAD GILBEY
Community Development Officer – Children, Youth and Families (Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri)
Full Gear Project Officer (Thu)
(03) 6216 6766 | www.gcc.tas.gov.au
conrad.gilbey@gcc.tas.gov.au | 374 Main Road, Glenorchy

HELP WANTED.
With the floods and everything else that’s happened in 2022 lots of families need all the help they can get. Three ways you can help. Get as many people as you can to the MRAT (S) TOY RUN in Tasmania or the TOY RUN for Father BOB (in Central Victoria for the first time) or the Bikers for Kids TOY RUN in Newcastle NSW. Volunteer to help.

TRAFFIC CAMERAS in Tasmania.

In October 2022, Mrs Beverly McArthur, MP for Western Victoria, wrote. “I recently met with local farmer Peter Keays, with James Bennett-Hullin for Geelong, to discuss the dangers of wire rope barriers on the Fyansford-Gheringhap Road. The wire rope barriers on this stretch of road have been hit twenty times now, yet prior to their installation, there were no accidents. This is a total waste of taxpayer money and it’s the opposite to safe.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=FDtXm3J0dDM
A small white car does not take the sweeping left-hand bend. It goes straight ahead towards what could have been a run-off area but for a wrongly placed fence.
Australian road authorities, definitely VicRoads, have known about wire rope barriers “vaulting” cars into the air since about 2011. The manufacturers warned VicRoads not to place wire rope barrier anchor points where they could be hit by cars. VicRoads did not listen.
The crash in this video has similarities to the quadruple fatal at Pyalong in Victoria in 2015.In the Pyalong crash the car ran up the anchor point cables, flew into the air, rolling and hit the tree well above the downward sloping road side roof first. The meant none of the car’s safety features like airbags and crumple zones were effective. Had the holden gone down the slope on its’ wheels the front of the car would have hit the trees. The crash would have been much more survivable. The VicRoads expert told the Coroner’s Court that had the wire rope barrier been placed differently or not been there the outcome would have been different. An eye witness was not called nor a statement given to the court. The crash investigators were official advisors to the Coroner. Conflict of interest? The Coroner found that the deaths occurred when the car hit the tree. No mention of the wire rope barrier or vaulting. As far as we know, no one was ever held to account for the crash. This type of wire rope barrier is still in place all over Australia. See attached. Please watch the youtube video more than once.
Think about this. It could have been you and yours in that little white car.

The Victorian election is on Saturday, November 26, 2022.
The candidates for seats in Parliament will be listed on the Victorian Electoral Commission’s (VEC) website on November 11. You can, and should, go to the VEC for contacts for candidates in your electorate. Tel: 131 832 or visit vec.vic.gov.au .
Think about your vote. Everyone has different interests, health, cost of living, education, transport, defence and so on. Voting is important. The MRAA’s primary interest is road safety so we will be asking candidates the following 3 questions. Feel free to copy them and ask them too.
If you are part of the Victorian Government or Opposition in 2023:
1. Will you work to establish an all-party, Parliamentary Road Safety Committee?
2. Will you work to establish a crash/traffic data authority that is independent of the Victorian road safety partners as recommended by the 2012 Parliamentary Inquiry into Motorcycle Safety (PIMS)?
3. Will you work to ensure that Victorian Government responses to recommendations of Parliamentary road safety inquiries are written by elected representatives and experts who are independent of the road safety partners to avoid conflicts of interest?
Damien Codognotto OAM
Spokesperson
The Motorcycle Riders Association Australia
www.facebook.com/damien.codognotto.9 mraa.net.au

From STEVE BARDSLEY to Ian Royall at the Melbourne Herald Sun. Monday, October 31, 2022.
Dear Ian.
Further to the Herald Sun article on unriders and how they distort motorcycle crash data, please find attached my latest report “Anti-Motorcycle Bias in Victoria”.
The report discusses on page 8 Un-riders and how they distort statistics, importantly the report highlights a much unknown phenomena regarding motorcycle statistics, which is that whenever there is a collision involving a motorcycle and another vehicle, it is usually the driver, not the rider that is at fault and my report uses empirical and undeniable evidence to prove this, unfortunately this is evidence that is not stated by the Victorian road safety partners when quoting how motorcycle riders are over represented in the accident statistics.
The harsh reality is, drivers kill riders, riders do not kill drivers and as the attached report shows, approximately 65% of motorcycle accidents involve another vehicle and 60% of those accidents are the fault of the driver. It can be seen what is needed to reduce motorcycle fatalities is driver education programs, my report shows on page 37 how these could immediately save 5 motorcycle rider lives every year (and perhaps many more).
All of my motorcycle safety reports can be found and downloaded on Academia at the following link.
https://swinburne.academia.edu/SteveBardsley
I remain available to discuss the attached and any of my reports on Academia, because until there is an end to the anti-motorcycle bias that exists in Victoria and this includes the creation of an independent Victorian office of road safety data (as recommended in the 2012 Parliamentary Inquiry into Motorcycle Safety) the truth about the real and major causes of motorcycle accidents and fatalities will not be discussed or made known and therefore cannot be used to create counter-measures to help save the lives of motorcycle riders.
Regards
Stephen Bardsley
Rider Safety Representative
Motorcycle Riders Association of Australia
Attachments from the Herald Sun. October 31, 2022.


IAN ROYALL
THE HERALD SUN
MELBOURNE
Dear Ian.
Please find attached a copy of the RACT report on the FULL GEAR YOUTH MOTORCYCLE SAFETY PROGRAM.
One factor for some unriders is cost. Getting a road motorcycle or scooter licence is very expensive. The MRAA believes this problem will get worse as traffic congestion in cities gets worse and car parking costs more unless road authorities develop workable countermeasures. Students, job seekers and commuters will choose electric motorcycles & scooters to save time and money. Electric motorcycles are being made in Australia.
DAMIEN
MRAA

To CLARENCE CITY COUNCIL in Tasmania
Road registered motorcycle and scooter commuters need secure parking with lockers at park & ride facilities at Glebe Hill and Kangaroo Bay. There has to be an education campaign. People can’t use a facility they do not know about. Notices should be included with licence and registration renewals sent to relevant postcodes and online.
The two new park & ride facilities in Kingborough are worse than useless for motorcycle and scooter riders. The photos are of a Kingborough park & ride facility. Space for over 200 cars, maybe 100 plus bicycles and toy vehicles but just 6 motorcycle bays as an afterthought. No two-wheelers at either park & ride mid week.
Damien Codognotto OAM
Spokesperson
The Motorcycle Riders Association Australia





A motorcyclist died in Wantirna, Victoria. A car driver may have failed to give way
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal collision which claimed the life of a motorcyclist in Wantirna this afternoon. Emergency services were called to the intersection of Mountain Highway and Boronia Road where a car and motorcyclist collided about 2.50pm. The rider of the motorcycle, who is yet to be formally identified, died at the scene. The driver of the car was not injured and is assisting police with their enquiries. Investigations into the exact cause of the collision are ongoing. Anyone with information or dashcam/CCTV footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.auExternal Link. As published in MIRAGE
COMMENTS FROM THE MRAA:
Sincere sympathy to the rider’s loved ones. RIP. All unriders & undrivers should be flagged in crash data so researchers and stakeholders can develop effective countermeasures to reduce road trauma. They are not flagged in available data. Unriders and undrivers are are people using vehicles illegally, no licence, unregistered and/or unroadworthy.
Read Steve Bardsley’s THE BLAME GAME CONTINUES in Academia.
A significant part of the reason unriders exist is that motorcycle training, licencing and CTP insurance is way too expensive. This is directly the fault of road authorities. Instead of spending our money on multi-million dollar TV ads that tend to blame the victims the Transport Accident Commission should follow the lead of the Tasmanian Government and put funds into training and licensing incentives and subsidies for protective clothing using MCAP ratings.
LISTEN TO 3AW DRIVE:
Victoria’s top roads cop lashes out after ‘horror’ day on roads – 20/09/22
Victoria’s top roads cop has vented his frustration after a “horror” day on the roads, revealing half of all people killed on motorcycles on Victorian roads this year weren’t legally allowed to ride. Glenn Weir told 3AW there had been three “really serious” incidents on Victoria’s roads on Tuesday, two of which involved motorcycles. There is serious concern about the number of people being killed on motorcycles on Victorian roads this year. “What is really concerning is that half of the people who have been killed on the roads this year riding motorcycles should not have been riding because they didn’t have a licence – half!” he said. “They’re either disqualified, suspended, or have never had a licence – that is just ridiculous risk-taking behaviour that, as a community, we just cannot tolerate.”
Press PLAY below to hear Glenn Weir’s impassioned plea
VICTORIAN ELECTION 2022.
Make sure your details are up to date.
vec.vic.gov.au
To vote in November’s State election, you’ll need to be correctly enrolled by 8 pm on Tuesday 8 November.
CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE
Steve B spotted this notice on a Transport Accident Commission (TAC) website.
To me it looks like using a past Motorcycle Riders Association Australia activity to do a bit of campaigning for the 2022 Victorian election. There is a Victorian election in November 2022.
“The Victorian Labor Government is urging drivers and riders to look out for each other and share the roads safely, with the number of motorbikes on the roads expected to increase as the weather warms up. Marking the inaugural Motorcyclist Awareness Month, spearheaded by Victoria’s Motorcycling Community Engagement Panel (MCEP{), Minister for roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll said the initiative had been developed in collaboration with the Transport Accident Commission (TAC, Department of Transport and Victoria Police.”
Here is a the link with the claim:
https://www.tac.vic.gov.au/…/motorists-urged-to-share…
They also have a Facebook page here:
https://www.facebook.com/MotorcyclistAwarenessMonth
Here is the letter I wrote to TAC CEO Calafiore cc Minister Carroll.
Dear Sir,
The Motorcycle Riders Association Australia (MRAA) supports the concept of a Motorcycle Awareness Month but it not correct to claim this is the inaugural motorcycle awareness month with Department of Transport and Police support in Victoria.
The MRAA started motorcycle awareness months in October 1980. The launches were in the world famous motorcycle precinct in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. They included Victorian Transport Ministers and Assistant Commissioners of Police. Motorcyclist David Hawker, then Speaker off the House of Representatives from memory, attended more than one launch. The Federal Government supported these motorcycle safety campaigns with a letter from Prime Minister Bob Hawke (1991) and an appearance by Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser at the Old Treasury Building one year.
There’s a lot more material to document this history but I only got the information on the TAC claim today.
Please note the 1985 poster by Don Hatcher from MRA SA, again from memory.
Credit where credit is due.
Damien Codognotto OAM
Spokesperson
The Motorcycle Riders Association Australia
www.facebook.com/damien.codognotto.9





To October 24, 470 people have responded to the compulsory third part insurance survey. We need a lot more. If you have not already done so please do it. It’s only 11 questions. So far respondents are mostly over 45 years old, males. Women and people under 45 ride motorcycles and drive cars too. For balance we need more women and young people to respond. The survey will run to the end of the year. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BZ8XY7L