Latest News

He's Doohan it for road safety

Oct 31, 2009

FORMER world motorcycle champion Mick Doohan is the new face of safe riding in South Australia.

Mr Doohan said a graphic new TV commercial, which superimposes everyday objects like phone boxes and trees on to a motorcycle track, should leave no doubt about the consequences of a street crash.

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See video here

Two wheels wins in crowded Sydney

Oct 28, 2009

Rising fuel costs, congestion, no parking, poor public transport and environmental concerns are driving up motorcycle use.

Yet, transport policy lags far behind and has failed to create equity for this growing group of road users.

Sydney Council’s move to free motorcycle parking one year ago has been widely applauded and embraced. Yet, the State Government has failed to create road toll and registration equity, and has inadequately invested in safety campaigns, according to the Motorcycle Council of NSW.

“The total spend on safety campaigns since 2003 has been less than four million,’’ Guy Stanford of the Motorcycle Council of NSW said. “But it makes economic sense to move to a scooter or small bike. The average car journey carries 1.1 people, rolling a tonne-and-a-half to shift just one person.

“Motorcycles are less than 200kg. A lot of people are shifting to motorcycles for convenience, initially because of the overstretched public transport system. But as petrol prices start to bite, it makes economic sense. There has been a big growth in 250cc bikes.’’

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Motorcycle Buyers Encourage to Take Advantage of Economic Incentives

Oct 12, 2009

Figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) show 82,601 motorcycles, scooters and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were sold in the nine months to September – a 14.4 per cent decline compared to the same period in 2008.

“The motorcycle market has faced a period of challenging economic circumstances and although down on the record highs of last year has remained resilient,” FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar said.

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Exhausting Stuff

In July 2000 the Environmental Protection Authority introduced a new regulation requiring all motorcycles fitted with an aftermarket exhaust to carry a specific label on it or face a $200 fine.

The EPA made no attempt to inform riders of this new law, and failed to make available, any useful information about it

Fines and defect notices were being issued by EPA inspectors and the Police.

This regulation was retrospective

The Police used Random Breath Test stations as a means of collecting motorcycles from the road for the EPA and the Police to issue fines.

Riders were effectively arrested so the EPA (now DECC) can noise test their machines, and check for stickers causing delays for up to two hours on the roadside.

This enforcement regime has soured relations between Police and riders at a time when it was hoped riders and Police could work together towards real improvements in road safety.

Other agencies of Government have been working with riders to improve safety and these actions initiated by EPA (now DECC) destroyed several years of good work.

The law appeared to be used primarily to raise money, rather than being used to target excessively noisy motorcycles.

A new law to collect a 'sticker tax' - pure revenue raising. Bikes that were at or below the legal noise limit were fined! Clearly it was not related to noise output.

DEC commissioned a survey of community attitudes to noise. A survey will only return a result in accord with how the questions are put to the respondents. This survey was not designed to discover facts, but to re-inforce a political "spin" that was pre determined. As a result, the sham "survey" was waved about, pointing out that the biggest noise problem to reidents in NSW was from motorcycle noise. They forgot to include noisy neighbours and barking dogs amongst many other omissions.

Yet another example of "spin doctors" detouring valid community debates - business as usual for NSW Labour.

The DEC attempted to modify the law, making it even more onerous and a Motion of Disallowance in the Legislative Council was supported.

Clause 19 was repealed.

The EPA had also continued to issue fines for failing to carry a sticker on the fuel tank which says "unleaded fuel only", despite the law requiring this label having been repealed when leaded fuel was phased out.

DECC staff changes have introduced some good people who can actually understand this area.

EDITING NOTE - ADD IN HANSARD, SURVEY, LEGISLATION REFERENCES


The Motor Cycle Council of NSW is made up of unpaid volunteers. This webpage was prepared by the Noise Committee of the MCC of NSW.

The MCC of NSW is in dialog with the NSW government. This webpage and it's content is part of that dialog.