MTF Fairfax Community Network community forums
In preparation for Victorian state election 27 November 2010




Come along and attend these forums to ensure motorcycle and scooter riders are represented!

Chairman’s communiqué from 15 July 2010 meeting

With a busy meeting, and an agenda featuring a number of presentations, VMAC was provided with a considerable amount of material relevant to current motorcycling matters.

Powered two wheeled vehicles, which include motorcycles and scooters are a growing part of Victoria’s transport future. They are becoming more popular as both a mode of transport and as a recreational activity.

However powered two wheeled vehicle riders and pillion passengers are amongst the most vulnerable of road users.

On Victorian roads, they account for 13% of deaths and serious injuries although they comprise only three per cent of registered vehicles and less than one per cent of traffic volume.

Thank you to all those writing in about billing errors for motorcycles on CityLink. The Motorcycle Riders Association of Victoria wrote to TransUrban to clarify the status of motorcycle tolls for CityLink as follows;

The Motorcycle Riders Association of Victoria President Kerry Walton and Vice President Grant Delahoy met with Deputy Commissioner Ken Lay and Acting Sergeant Nicki Peters, an analyst from the Safety Strategic Services Division – Traffic & Transit Safety Department on the 12th July 2010 at the World Trade Centre Police complex.

Chairman’s communiqué from 20 May 2010 meeting

VMAC was pleased to welcome Don Nardella, Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Ports, to the May meeting. Don was briefed on a number of projects currently being delivered under Victoria’s Road Safety and Transport Strategic Action Plan for Powered Two Wheelers 2009-2013. Peter Schofield, Nicola Fotheringham and Chris Brennan from VicRoads were also in attendance to present papers, as was Christine Mulvihill from Monash University Accident Research Centre, Superintendant Kevin Casey from Victoria Police and John Thomson from the TAC.

Winter Rates for June, July and August

TRADE Prices deduct 7% from Rates below.

For the period of June, July and August we are offering our Special Winter Rates.

Collection and or deliver Monday to Friday = 0730 to 1700 hrs.
30 kilometre radius from Melbourne CBD. = $83.00 ( One way ) TRADE = $77.00

Return to collection point = $150.00
All prices are gst inclusive.

John Thompson (TAC) and Kerry Walton

Kerry Walton and Grant Delahoy from MRA(Vic) attended the 2010 Road Safety Round table called by the Minister for Roads and Ports Tim Pallas.

Victorian Road Trauma Memorial - your thoughts are invited.

Most Victorians have been directly or indirectly affected by death or serious injury on the roads.
The impact to families, friends and the community fabric has been, and continues to be profound.

In order to recognise this loss, Road Trauma Support Services Victoria and the Uniting Church Synod of Victoria and Tasmania are exploring the need for a permanent memorial in Victoria.

VICTORIAN MOTORCYCLE ADVISORY COUNCIL


VMAC was pleased to welcome Shane Cowman, from Victoria Police to the March meeting to provide Council with an update on the Community Policing and Education project. John Thomson from TAC also attended the meeting to provide a preview on a research program which involved the TAC surveying 500 of its motorcycle clients. The survey asked riders to describe the circumstances of their crash, what protective clothing they were wearing at the time and what protective clothing they owned, but was not worn, at the time of the crash. TAC will report back to Council with its findings at the May meeting.

The March meeting initiated proceedings for year 2010 for VMAC.

On Friday 14th May a delegation from the MRA(Vic) met with Minister Tim Pallas.

Attending this meeting were:
Tim Pallas - Minister for Roads and Ports.
Don Nardella, MLA - Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Ports.
Catherine Gunn - Director Road User Safety, VicRoads
Nicola Hanrahan - Secretary to Mr. Pallas
Kerry Walton - MRA(Vic) President
Grant Delahoy -MRA(Vic) Vice President

Click read more below for the full report.

From left, Grant Delahoy, Janet Dore, Kerry Walton

On Friday 16th April a delegation from the MRA(Vic) met with the senior management of the Transport Accident Commission at their Geelong Offices. Attending this meeting were:

Janet Dore – Chief Executive Officer, TAC
Phil Reed – Executive Manager Community Relations, TAC
John Thompson – Senior Manager – Road Safety & Marketing, TAC
Kerry Walton – MRA(Vic) President
Grant Delahoy – MRA(Vic) Vice President
John Karmouche – MRA(Vic) member

Picture: Tony Eccleston Source: HWT Image Library

The accident occurred about 3.15pm on the 18th February 2010 on the north-bound section near the Wellington Road Exit. Click here for the news article.

Following this tragedy the MRA(Vic) had a meeting on March 18th 2010 with ConnectEast Group to ask the questions listed below on behalf of MRA(Vic) members. Attending the meeting at the Eastlink Operations Centre were;

James Tonkin General Manager – Corporate Affairs - ConnectEast Group
Kerry Walton MRA(Vic) President
Grant Delahoy MRA(Vic) Vice President
John Karmouche MRA(Vic) member

Click Read more below

It's only two days in to the Easter break and already the newspapers are filled with the terrible details of several motorcyclist deaths in a horrific incident near Shepperton and of riders totally ignoring the road rules. On behalf of it's members the MRA(Vic) pleads for all riders to enjoy the Easter break on their machines but to ride safely. Our heartfelt condolences and sympathies go the families of those involved with this tragedy and offer support for those injured.


Police at the scene of the double fatality near Shepparton. Picture: Stephen Harman Source: HWT Image Library

Do not travel in the left lane under the City Road Bridge, especially with a truck in the centre lane!




Again, as predicted, a woman was almost killed as a truck rolled onto her car after hitting the angled bridge on City Road last night. This bridge is already a killer and yet VicRoads still refuses to do anything about it! Click read more below.

Please welcome the 2010 Board as elected at the AGM last Friday night.

President - Kerry Walton
Vice President - Grant Delahoy
Treasurer/Merchandise Officer - Kim Davies
Secretary/Newsletter Editor - Barry Marks
Membership Secretary - Mick Doedee
Ordinary Board member - Wendy Taylor
Ordinary Board member - Tony Ellis

Resource Committee
4Bs Chairman - Alan Zimmer
Public Officer - Grace Placencio
Constitutional Adviser - Detlef lamp
Club Liaison - Sandra Ramsey
Roadside Safety Expert - Dale Maggs

A MELBOURNE man has been killed in a road accident in Argentina while raising money for prostate cancer on a motorcycle trip around the world.



Simon Buckley, left, and Todd Barry. Picture: Kylie Else Source: Herald Sun

SOUTH AUSTRALIA DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT, ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE
MOTORCYCLE SAFETY FORUM

Wednesday February 24, 2010 8.30 am
PRESENTATION BY
Hon NEIL O’KEEFE
CHAIRMAN - VICTORIAN MOTORCYCLE ADVISORY COUNCIL

“GOOD PROGRESS IN VICTORIA – BASED ON PARTNERSHIPS THAT WORK”

Thank you for the invitation to speak at the Forum today – I consider it a privilege to be involved with you at this level – and hopefully I can bring you some insights into some of the progress in Victoria resulting from a much stronger collaboration and working partnership between government agencies, rider groups and industry.

Dale Maggs notified us of this roundabout in Ballarat.




Here is yet another example of unsafe process installations that may harm a rider if he was to fall at this Ballarat roundabout. The protruding pole support should be flush with the concrete eliminating the risk of harm to a rider, cyclist or pedestrian or even the damage risk to a motorist.

Click here to view the newsletter.

The Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations

Protecting & promoting riders' rights in Europe

The Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations (FEMA) is the European federation of national road rider organisations. FEMA represents, defends and promotes motorcycling and the interests of million powered two-wheeler users across Europe. Through its 23 national organisations from 17 countries, FEMA reaches over 300,000 dedicated motorcyclists representing all social groups.

FEMA's primary objective is to represent European motorcyclists both within the European Union and agencies of the United Nations.

Affiliated to FEMA today are 24 national riders' rights organisations from 19 European countries.