MRA ACT Newsletter August 2012 The Inside Line

EXECUTIVE President’s Report I attended the ACT Government Motorcycle Users Group (MUG) last week PRESIDENT as did Peter Major. It was a good meeting with a complete roll up of Jennifer Woods delegates from Roads ACT, ACT Police, Industry representative, NRMA Road [email protected] User Services, and Stay Upright. 0418 215 336 Discussions evolved around standardisation with the other states and territories of the LAMS bikes – maximum of 660cc. This is under discussion Snr VICE PRESIDENT currently. MRA ACT will write to express our views. Confusion is currently Kathleen Parsons caused with cross jurisdiction travel as well as the transient nature of many [email protected] Canberra residents. Helmets – dissatisfaction all around as riders do not understand what is VICE PRESIDENT legal, the retailers can be liable for selling a non-compliant helmet but Major Events Coordinator struggle without clear guidelines, and the Police find it difficult to easily Trish Holdsworth differentiate between a compliant and non-compliant helmet. The helmet [email protected] issue was a continuation of the discussion from the previous MUG meeting. The treatment for registration label / no rego label is still unclear with no SECRETARY decision from ACT Government yet. Public Officer The MRA ACT introduced and expressed support for limited use of cycle Nicky Hussey lanes for other two wheel track vehicles, allowing filtering and the [email protected] introduction of filter boxes at lights. Needless to say, this generated discussion but it will be an ongoing campaign. TREASURER Demerit points for traffic offences are now transferring between states Membership Secretary and territories so do be aware of that. Sylvia Sinfield Motorcycle Awareness Week will be supported with a road safety [email protected] campaign supporting Share the Road / no tailgating. I raised the issue of Committee Reports 1 - 2 tailgating and ACT Police said it can be difficult to police although they do pull drivers over and can issue a ticket.Page 3 Motorcycle Awareness 3 Thanks to a grant from the ACT NRMA Road Safety Trust, the MASTERS Week will be starting again in October. If you are a returning rider, this is the course designed to refresh your skills. Cost of the course is subsidised by Social Ride Report 4 MRA ACT. Please contact Stay Upright to make a booking on 1300 366 640 Lane Splitting / Filtering 5 or www.stayupright.com.au . The MRA ACT will be collating the feedback Questions for Candidates 6 forms after riders have completed the course and analysing the results. Page 9 Nicky Hussey, MRA ACT Secretary will be representing MRA ACT at the Open Letter to Candidates 7 Australian Motorcycle Council Conference at the end of this month. Tips for Safer Roads 8 And last but not least, the MRA ACT Annual General Meeting is being held MASTERS 9 at the September Meeting– a nomination form is included in this newsletter, please consider nominating for a position on this committee. All positions Social Night 10 will be declared vacant and some of the current committee are not renomi- Wall to Wall Ride 11 nating, so we need you. MRA Calendar 12 Ride safe - Jen Woods Events of Interest 13 0418 215 336

Page 1

ExecutiveCommittee Committee Reports Reports

PROJECT Snr Vice President’s Report MANAGERS We’ve survived the Canberra winter and now we’re looking forward to the new Peter Major ride season. Already the calendar is starting to fill up with a plethora of city-wide Black Spot motorcycling events. Besides the flurry of activities in al the individual clubs, and Discovery rides the national events like Moto GP at Phillip Island and the3 Snowy Ride that many Roads and Traffic people are planning toward, locally we have Motorcycle Awareness Week (MAW). Each of the states and territories hold a week or month long series of

activities to raise awareness of motorcycling and motorcyclist within their Robyn Major community. MRA ACT is no exception.Page 3 Ride n Thrive This years events include the launch of MAW with a Remembrance Ride led by Jen Woods Joe Rider, followed by a BBQ; a motorcycle gear fashion parade and trivia night, Bikers Breakfast, Ride to Work Day, and a Moto GP afternoon at the club. Details Masters courses of all the events will be out soon. Communications MRA ACT will be looking for volunteers to be out and about displaying their Trish Holdsworth courteous manner during MAW as Joe Rider. If you’d like to be involved, please Webmaster contact [email protected] or Jen (0418 215 336) or Leen (0409 984 008) to express your interest.

David Ault Quarter Master Leen Parsons

Life is a road; ride it! David Ault Triathlon support

Vice President’s Report Leen Parsons Editor Last month I witnessed a fellow rider have a serious ‘off’ in wet conditions. His bike appears to have slid on the white line, and mounted the footpath causing Submissions for the next him to high side, coming to rest a good 8 feet from his bike…. The visor was torn edition sent to: off his helmet, and the helmet was sheared on the right hand side. His back pack only survived with one strap and the top layer of his jacket and pants were [email protected] ripped. As he was being tended to by the paramedics, I said to him that he was or a testament to the fact that he was wearing good protective gear. It could have been much worse. [email protected] by A timely reminder for all of us… Tips for Safer Roads on page 8 Monday 3 Sept 2012 Trish Holdsworth Never rider faster than your angel can fly!

Page 2

Page 3

Social Ride Report - 15 July 2012 by Trish

Ride to Batemans Bay The sky was clear and the ground still damp when we met up at the BP Waston for the social ride to Batemans Bay for fish ‘n chips. Four bikes headed out along Macs Reef Road to the Park and Wallace Café in Braidwood to thaw out in front of the fire and sip on a delightful tasting, warm coffee. By this time the temperature had gone up two degrees, so the group decided it was well worth continuing on down the hill, taking great care through the damp patches still on the road. And we were well rewarded for our enthusiasm and optimism. The sky was Photoshop blue, not a cloud to be seen. A balmy 18 degrees no less. Just magic! The wharf didn’t have swordfish today, but the oysters were nice, as were the other two kinds of fish that we tried. Sated with scrummy seafood, we hit the track and had a smooth trip up the hill, except for a couple of windy sections where it was a case of … hang on to your helmet.

Malcolm Stewart Honda ST1300 Mark Everingham Suzuki DL 50 V-Strom Chinmay Pande Honda CBR 250R Gordon & Trish Triumph Tiger 1050 Home for a blood warming libation…..

MRA ACT Membership renewals are now due for 2012/2013 financial year. Join and support the organisation that fights for your rights as a rider, promotes motorcycling to the community, and lobbies for better road and safety conditions for all riders. Come along and be involved in the matters that affect you as a rider.

www.mraact.org.au

Page 4

Lane Splitting 2011 Snowy Ride or as we say - Filtering

Australian Motorcycle News (AMCN) article was published by Danielle Mahoney in their July edition to clarify the myths around Filtering or Lane Splitting. Rumours exist that filtering is not illegal, and technically this seems to be true. The term filtering or lane splitting is not mentioned in any of the Australian road rules. However, in every state and territory, the act of filtering or lane splitting contravenes road rules to do with passing on the left of a vehicle, crossing the ‘stop’ line at the lights, not leaving enough room when overtaking, not indicating, and not remaining within the marked lane or line of traffic. Police concerns include the risk of motorcyclists striking the extremities of vehicles that often resulting in assaults or malicious damage and accidents caused by driving being caught off guard with riders moving through traffic in an unexpected manner. Police say, there is no safe way to filter. Last month I included an article on the benefits of filter- ing. MRA ACT continues to represent and advocate for the ACT and the region’s motorcyclists to ACT bureau- crats in an effort to have the practice of filtering legiti- mised and the provision of filtering boxes at traffic lights. Here’s some facts to be aware of, close to home – ACT , NSW and Vic; QLD, SA, Tas, NT and WA are more of the same with the fines and demerit points varying.

New South Wales Australian Capital Territory Road Rule 46 – Not give a left change of Victoria Road Rule 46 – Fail to give signal - $167 + direction signal - $165 + 2 demerit points Road Rule 46 – Fail to give signal - $140.84 2 demerit points Road Rule 48 – Not give a right change of + 2 demerit points direction signal - $165 + 2 demerit points Road Rule 56 – Fail to obey a stop line at Road Rule 56 – Fail to obey a stop line at Road Rule 56 – Not stop before stop line traffic lights - $291 + 3 demerit points traffic lights - $352.10 + 3 demerit points at red light - $397 + 3 demerit points Road Rule 132(1) – Fail to keep left of the Road Rule 68 – Not stop at / before stop Road Rule 132(1) – Fail to keep left of the centre of road - $219 + 2 demerit points line / stop sign - $298 + 3 demerit points centre of road - $176.05 + 2 demerit (+ 3 demerit points if double line) Road Rule 140 – Overtake when unsafe - points Road Rule 141(1) – Overtake vehicle on left - $298 + 2 demerit points Road Rule 141(1) – Overtake vehicle on left - $167 + 2 demerit points Road Rule 141 – Overtake to the left of a $211.26 + 2 demerit points Road Rule 144 – Fail to leave enough room vehicle - $165 + 2 demerit points Road Rule 144 – Fail to leave enough room when overtaking, or cut in too soon - Road Rule 144 – Fail to leave enough room when overtaking, or cut in too soon - $167 + 2 demerit points when overtaking, or cut in too soon - $281.68 + 2 demerit points Road Rule 147 – Cross single continuous line $298 + 2 demerit points Road Rule 147 – Cross single continuous line or fail to stay within marked lane or line Road Rule 146 – Not drive within a single or fail to stay within marked lane or line of traffic - $167 marked lane or line of traffic - $232 + of traffic - $140.84 2 demerit points Road Rule 153(1) – Driving in a bicycle lane Road Rule 153(1) – Riding in a bicycle lane - Road Rule 150 – Riding on or across a - $167 $211.26 continuous white edge line - $232 + 2 demerit points

Page 5

2012 Legislative Assembly Election 2011 Snowy Ride Remember the candidates want to know how to get your vote!

The 20 October 2012 ACT elections will be here before we know it! Here are some questions you might ask the candidates when you see them campaigning.

Talk to them every chance you get. Write to them - there is an open letter on the following page. Please copy, and or edit, the letter and send it to candidates in your electorate.

 What plans are there for remediating the poor standard of road surfaces on the ACT roads?  What do you know about the safety benefits of frangible roadside furniture and the local policies for its installation? There are still a lot of signs etc very close to the roads and more currently being positioned.  Are you aware of alternative road barriers being used in other state and countries? What action can be taken to ensure ALL roadside barriers are installed correctly?  What integrated transport plans are there within your policies? How will those plans achieve a reduction in single-occupant cars in the rush hour? How important are powered two wheel vehicles as part of the solution and in what way will there use be encouraged ?  What is the future for more dedicated motorcycle parking? Do you see this including poles to lock our machines? What other motorcycle parking solutions would be considered - pavements, first/last parking spaces on some blocks?  Would you support added driver and rider Current Members of the education to increase motorcycle Legislative Assembly awareness and reduce SMIDSY accidents. Brindabella (‘Sorry mate, I didn’t see you!’) Mr Brendan Smyth - Liberal Party  Do you support legitimising / legalising lane Mr - Liberal Party filtering and the setting up filter boxes at the Ms Amanda Bresnan - The ACT Greens front of intersections for motorcycles, similar Mr John Hargreaves - Australian Labor Party to that being trialled in other states, and al- Ms Joy Burch - Australian Labor Party ready in place in many countries? Ginninderra Ms Meredith Hunter - The ACT Greens Mr Alistair Coe - Liberal Party Information on Postal address for each Ms Mary Porter - Australian Labor Party other candidate MLA is : Ms Vicki Dunne- Liberal Party Dr Chris Bourke - Australian Labor Party will be provided GPO Box 1020 Molonglo after the close of Canberra ACT 2601 Mr - Liberal Party nominations and Email addresses are: Ms Katy Gallagher - Australian Labor Party Mr - The ACT Greens the ballot order is [surname]@act.gov.au Mr Andrew Barr - Australian Labor Party Mr Jeremy Hanson - Liberal Party complete which is eg [email protected] Mr Simon Corbell - Australian Labor Party on 27 Sept 2012 Ms Caroline Le Couteur - The ACT Greens Page 6

[your name] [your address]

[your local candidates MLA]

[date]

RE: Open letter to ACT Legislative Candidates for the 20 Oct 2012 election.

As the ACT Legislative Assembly election is approaching quickly, I’d like to have your views on the fol- lowing questions to assist me in deciding for whom I will vote. While there are many issues to be considered the following are of importance to me. What plans are there for remediating the poor standard of road surfaces on the ACT roads? What do you know about the safety benefits of frangible roadside furniture and the local policies for its installation? There are still a lot of signs etc very close to the roads and more currently being positioned. Are you aware of alternative road barriers being used in other state and countries? What action can be taken to ensure ALL roadside barriers are installed correctly? What integrated transport plans are there within your policies? How will those plans achieve a reduction in single-occupant cars in the rush hour? How important are powered two wheel vehicles as part of the solution and in what way will there use be encouraged? What is the future for more dedicated motorcycle parking? Do you see this including poles to lock our machines? What other motorcycle parking solutions would be considered - pavements, first/last parking spaces on some blocks? Would you support added driver and rider education to increase motorcycle awareness and reduce SMIDSY accidents. (SMIDSY = ‘Sorry mate, I didn’t see you!’) Do you support legitimising / legalising lane filtering and the setting up filter boxes at the front of intersections for motorcycles, similar to that being trialled in other states, and already in place in many countries? I look forward with interest to your responses and comments regarding these questions. Regards

[your name

Page 7

ExecutiveTips for Committee Safer Roads Reports

Be Aware of Other Road Users – in particular, Motorcyclists

Here are seven common sense safety precautions all road users could follow to make the roads safer for everyone, particularly motorcyclists:

1. Give other road users plenty of space - keep a three second gap. There are hundreds of thousands of rear end crashes each year caused by travelling too close to the vehicle in front. Leave a three second gap to avoid a rear-ender. 2. Check blind spots - look in mirrors and over your shoulder. 3. Use lights in poor visibility; it helps other road users to see you. 4. Change lanes carefully - look and indicate. Look over your shoulder and in your mirrors when changing lanes or in merging traffic - make sure there is not a vehicle next to you. 5. Think bike, look and take an extra moment to see, especially at intersections. 6. Cover your load – debris of trailers and trucks is a hazard for all road users but especially motorcyclists. 7. Maintain your vehicle for the benefit of your safety and everyone else’s – dripping oil and fuel makes the road surface very slippery, tyre condition and pressures, brakes. Extra Strategies for Motorcyclists

The same common sense safety precautions apply to motorcyclists, and in addition, here are some strategies and precautions that motorcyclists could follow to maximise their safety on the road.

1. Give cars plenty of space - keep a three second gap. Increase the gap when road surface and conditions limit braking efficiency. 2. Ride to be seen, not in blind spots. Never assume that you have been seen. 3. Always expect the unexpected. Be prepared to stop or take evasive action - drivers don't always see motorcyclists even if they appear to have looked in your direction. 4. Flash your lights to alert other road users if appropriate, for example, at intersections. 5. Adjust your speed down to suit conditions, especially in fog or on greasy roads. 6. Brief pillions on riding safely. Riders are responsible for their pillion's safety. 7. Wear a well-fitted approved helmet and suitable protective clothing.

Volunteer Riders Needed

Triathlon ACT will be holding the ACT Winter Duathlon Championships on 26 August 2012. MRA ACT supports the event by providing riders to pillion officials during the event. If this interests you – please give David on home 6226 6266. Riders are provided monetary compensation toward the their time and expenses, usually including lunch. The Summer Season should begin in late October 2012 and we’ll be looking for more riders for the new season.

Page 8

Page 9

Social Night Information

Come along for a great meal and conversation and meet new people! You don’t have to be a current member.

Please RSVP to [email protected] by 12 September 2012

December Social Night / Christmas Party is Saturday 8 December following the 2012 Toy Run. Mark down the date now - all are welcome!

Page 10

Page 11

MRA ACT Activities

Discovery Ride - meet at Robbo's Fyshwick at 0930 for a 10:00 departure. The ride is tailored to the needs of the group and is paced at the speed of the slowest rider. It introduces new and returning riders to group riding with no pressure and promotes road craft and rider safety

Social Ride - Please contact Gordon (0438 632 194) or Trish (0418 860 750) to advise your participation. More Info  Dalton / Jerrawa - 188 kms through little townships on little roads ‘out there’ somewhere. Departure 9:30 am from Watson servo at the roundabout  Nerriga - 252 kms covers some rough little known roads (including 3 kms of dirt) Departure 9:30 am from Watson Servo at the roundabout  October - No Social Ride - Motorcycle Awareness Week activities - please join in!

Events of interest on the following page Page 12

Events of Interest

18 August 2012 14 - 16 September 2012 www.blackdogride.com.au wombatrally.com

13 October 2012 Email your Flyer www.vvmcfederal.com.au [email protected]

Does your club have an event to promote?

Have your event included in The Inside Line! 4 November 2012 [email protected]

17 November 2012 28 October 2012 www.bombalabikeshow.com.au www.girlsonthemove.com.au

Page 13