Re: [St] The Future of Motorcycling

[brettwilson21@xxxxxxx]

You pretty much have it David.



In the late 80's the government was going to ban motorcycles?from our roads as so many?riders were being killed. Something like?three out of four in the first few years of riding. In response to this there was a big effort by a select few and compulsary motorcycle rider training was born. Amazingly the system worked and has been continually refined, reducing motorcycle fatalities?to the point where? 2001 was almost motorcycle fatality free. A provisional licence holder was killed on 31st December of that year.

However, motorcycles are pretty much ignored from our transport policies. During our last population census, motorcycle ownership, registrations and use, was ignored. "How many vehicles do you own?" (Do? not include motorcycles). 
I own a 05 ST and a 06 Scrambler. I havent owned a car for eight years, so I am not counted or included in this part of the?census information.

Wire rope barriers have become very prevalent of late, despite howls of protest from motorcycle groups. They are effective in absorbing energy from an out of control car, but a rider will be sliced into small pieces. We may as well have trees lining the roadways. I can see a big court case coming up. Of course a rider will have to die first.

Whenever motorcycle industry groups are addressed by government transport bodies, they are always reminded that if motorcycles were invented today, they would instantly be banned. Blah, blah, blah. 

I am all for getting as many people onto two wheeled transport, especially those we would consider "mainstream". The type that would not even think about riding bikes were it not for the price of fuel. Its funny how the hip pocket nerve can make people rethink the "danger" aspect. Suddenly these people see what its like from our side of the windscreen,? 'B' pillars and mobile phone usage.

To quote just a few:?
"Now I know why that person on a bike kicked the door and smashed a mirror on that car." 
"I never realised how much I dont check my blind spots." 
"Wow! This is actually really fun!"?


My guess is that if enough of these people ride motorcycles regularly, they will start to pressure governments to include us a user group in?national and state transport policy. Suddenly pollies will have to work for a living. Cops will have to change their attitude. The status quo (great band!!!) will be very upset indeed. Hence the effort to very quietly discourage widespread or mainstream motorcycle patronage.

Brett.

-----Original Message-----
From: David Jonas <kahonas@xxxxxxxxx>
To: ST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sat, 22 Mar 2008 12:02 pm
Subject: Re: [St] The Future of Motorcycling




Perhaps I don't undersatand what the problem is.  Is the state minister ill
informed?  I am assuming he thinks that "motorcycles = irresponsible and
dangerous behaviour".  Am I correct in my assumption?  Or am I missing the
point of your message?

On 3/20/08, BrettWilson21@xxxxxxx <BrettWilson21@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> In a message dated 21/03/2008 11:09:31 AM AUS Eastern Daylight Time,
> matt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
>
> That has been happening here in Oz and there has been a concerted
> government
> effort to stop people getting onto bikes....A state minister went on
> record as saying "due to
> the increasing cost of fuel, more and more people are turning to
> motorcycles as
> a cheaper form of transport. If we dont do something, this trend will
> continue..."
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