I've been rather slack and couldn't make the last couple. Here's what happened at this month's meeting. (note - as usual, this is Sydneycentric. That's cos most MCC delegates are from Sydney clubs. We'd love to do more regional work, if there are clubs out there who want to affiliate with the MCC and use the MCC's expertise and facilities to lobby their own councils and who have things they want represented at State level then please get in touch! ) I also note that a volunteer to update and maintain the MCC's website is urgently needed. You need to be able to write a bit, have about 3-4 hours a week available, and be comfortable with doing things on computers. You must also be reliable, willing to commit to doing the job every week. If you want to help (especially if you are pissed off the site is so out of date) then please contact the MCC at You don't need to be in Sydney to do this, I think you could probably do it even if you didn't have broadband as it is mostly text based. You'll sometimes get the stuff to put up, sometimes asked to write it based on points given. On to the meeting: Parking -------- Apparently SCC has sortof noticed the massive rise in bikes wanting to park, and aren't all that sure what to do about it. Hence the ticketing of bikes in Kent St and the backflip on same. The RTA is still foot dragging about the proposal to have parallel parking to the kerb near intersections, something SCC and North Sydney are interested in. Vespa have loaned a scooter to the MCC to help with the lobbying of the Sydney City Council on parking matters. The submission to the council will say "motorcycle" but all the pics will be of the scooter. This is because apparently the SCC feels scooters and scooter riders are a bit more cuddly, you'd think the prejudice against nastie bikies had died but no... (never heard of Mods then?) SCC's possible but unconfirmed prejudice aside, this is the first time any manufacturer has come forward to support the MCC. We can hope that others will sponsor things or in other ways help the MCC to get better deals for riders. In other parking news, Ryde is contemplating requiring all new commercial building approvals must have 2% of spaces (or 2 spaces, whichever is more) as motorcycle parking. This doesn't mean 2 car sized spaces of course, it means if they have up to 100 car spaces they must have 2 motorcycle spaces. Taken a fair bit of lobbying to get this far, here's hoping it happens, as it goes a fair way to having bikes considered in transport planning. Marrickville are holding a parking seminar, the MCC will have reps there. THey'll be trying to get Marrickville to actively include motorcycles in any parking plan. The Old Road and National Park ------------------------------ Resurfacing and installation of rub rails on the armco on the Old Road is happening. 7 corners are to be done in total. Alas no radius changes, but good surface is a good thing! This is the money the cops tried to hijack to create turning/pullover bays for speed enforcement. There's been some resurfacing on the Nasho too, but they've put chipseal on it so expect good grip and chewed tyres... Thunderbolt's Way ----------------- recently there was talk of local police and councils "doing something" about crashes on Thunderbolt's Way. So far, nothing's been heard. Prince's Hwy Sylvania --------------------- Work on, I believe, road surfacing just south of Tom Ugly's bridge which should solve the truck-caused corrugations on that nice corner Safer riding through work ------------------------- Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents (UK) have produced a manual designed to encourage riders to form committees at work to promote safer motorcycling. Not those who ride for a living, but other riders - how to lobby employers to help make riding safer for their employees. The MCC should be getting a copy of it soon. A Pillars --------- A report has been released in the UK that shows strong evidence that A pillars (the pillar on either front side of the driver that frames the windscreen) have been responsible for number of motorcycle crashes because the car's driver wasn't able to see the motorcycle as the pillar hid the bike. Can be either pillar, some were hiding bikes on the passenger side. One crash involved a rider invisible for 4 seconds. WHich is a bloody long time! As more and more cars have airbags in these pillars (I think Corrollas do for example) then they are going to have wider pillars, so be careful! Naturally our chances of getting these things forbidden or constrained by ADRs are minimal but I believe the AMC (federation of motorcycle lobby groups) is seeing what can be done. Positioned for Safety V2 ------------------------- The 2nd Road Safety Plan produced by the MCC, successor to "Positioned FOr Safety" which has been quoted and used worldwide and has been a huge factor in the government taking the MCC seriously is close to release. It takes 4-5 years to get results from lobbying so we need to get it out now so that it can take over from PfS as the focus for results. (Positioned for Safety is the basis for the MCC's Road Safety website at http://www.roadsafety.mccofnsw.org.au/ ) Tolling -------- Everyone's presumably seen the Harbour Tunnel is going cashless and that they want to make all toll roads cashless. Transurban who run the M7 have asked the NRMA to feel out the MCC about their solution which is to have every motorcycle on a database so if your bike goes through their toll plaza they know who you are. This would have to be on every toll company's database and the registered owner would be liable for all tolls no matter who was riding. The MCC officially refuses this idea on privacy grounds and because there's no way to pass the toll on to who incurred it. Which is bad for businesses who might have loan bikes out, hire bikes, and owners who might find mechanics on test rides cost them toll money! (and if you don't think the privacy point is important you have never been through a rough divorce!) A source in the RTA says that written complaints of e-tags not working are rising, not just motorcycle riders either. So if yours doesn't then write a formal letter to the RTA to complain, even if the tag isn't one of theirs. My personal belief is that the only way for riders to make it clear the current system isn't working for bikes is to ride tagless. Don't risk an expensive tag that might get damaged by water or heat or vibration or stolen, make them chase you for the money until they get a sensible system. Some riders are reporting over 1/4 of trips are not being chased up. Blitz on riding in cycle lanes ------------------------------ Police have been booking motorcycles for riding in cycle lanes. MARI ---- Motorcyle Accident Rehabilitation Initiative is the baby of 2 BMW riders, George and Charis, who realised that many riders who crash and lose mobility - say a broken leg, never mind paraplegia - are overlooked by the system once discharged. They go home and can't cope and have no idea what's out there to help them. Suicide is horribly high amongst such riders! George and Charis wrote a book about their travels around the world 40 years ago on their 1958 BMW (which they still ride) and donated all proceeds to a fund to help riders get help. St Vincent's Hospital looked at their own records and found that George and Charis were right about the high toll on riders and have appointed a helper whose job it is to follow up all riders who have been through the hospital and make sure they have the information and help they need. The MARI fund is to help fund this position, providing the small things the helper needs. Donations to it are tax-deductible. Remember - if someone you know has come off and is now stuck at home while they heal, go and visit them. Get them out of the house, take them places, help them clean up, keep up with them. I know from personal experience how easy it is to go into deep suicidal depression when you are alone and can't ride. Don't let anyone you know fall through the cracks! Zebee
