Bikes in bike lanes

Colette · Post by **Colette** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 2:27 pm

Allow motorbikes in bike lanes: MRAA
Friday Jul 7 08:39 AEST

Motorbikes and scooters should be allowed to be ridden slowly in bicycle-only traffic lanes, the nation's peak motorcycle group says.

The Motorcycle Riders Association of Australia (MRAA) says while the practice is technically illegal, it has been generally tolerated in the past.

Making it law would help ease congestion in cities and gridlocked suburban areas, said MRAA president Dale Maggs.

"We again urge government to explicitly legalise the sharing of these lanes with a maximum speed limit of 30kph being places on motorcycles and scooters," Mr Maggs said.

The call comes as Mr Maggs said police in Victoria were cracking down on motorcycle and scooter riders who used the bike lanes to escape gridlocked intersections.

"There has been an upsurge in the pointless policing of this practice," he said.

Mr Maggs said rising petrol prices, and worsening traffic congestion, had resulted in motorists changing over to powered two-wheeled transport at twice the rate of those turning to bicycles.

FrogZ · Post by **FrogZ** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 2:41 pm

I think they should make it compulsary that you can only use the lane if you are on the back wheel, should stop the congestion

(I AM JOKING OK

)

blackninja · Post by **blackninja** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 3:01 pm

[quote="frogzx12r"]I think they should make it compulsary that you can only use the lane if you are on the back wheel, should stop the congestion

that would also save the front tyre wearing out therefore save the rubber plantations too

SenNey · Post by **SenNey** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 4:06 pm

As i said on the MRA forum

Im not against the idea, I doubt i will ever do it. Thats more due to the fact im not in those areas where there is bicycle lanes.

Like lansplitting common sense will play a HUGE part if this is to proceeds.

I dont see why you can't use the lane, then get out pass the pushie, then enter it further a head.

Your always going to get idiots no mater what you ride or drive.
As long as that idiot is not me, i can sleep in peace.

Post by **robracer** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 5:11 pm

Wonder if the MCC of NSW will enter into the debate now that we are getting more of these purpose built motorcycle lanes arr I mean pusshie lanes in NSW.... well the little picture has 2 wheels & a handle bar doesnt it ......close enough IMO

Looks just like my Z750 ossifer

SenNey · Post by **SenNey** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 5:37 pm

My pet hate with push bikes is they pay nothing.

No reg, no hidden tax.
Yet they get bike lanes, bike paths, special parking.

Yet they don't seem to get fined,
For riding 3 abreast
No helmet
Running red lights

There ment to have a bike number plate on there car if towing bike on the bike rack, very few have one.
Im not saying all push bike owners do the above things.
But 8/10 seem to.

Post by **robracer** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 5:50 pm

SenNey wrote:My pet hate with push bikes is they pay nothing.

No reg, no hidden tax.
Yet they get bike lanes, bike paths, special parking.

Yet they don't seem to get fined,
For riding 3 abreast
No helmet
Running red lights

There ment to have a bike number plate on there car if towing bike on the bike rack, very few have one.
Im not saying all push bike owners do the above things.
But 8/10 seem to.

We will always be a minority with little or no say as to what the rules are

I was speaking to ray from the MCC & aparently cycle groups get millions in funding for safety & awareness & we get bugger all... just is not fair considering the benifits that come from more smaller vehicles on the road

SenNey · Post by **SenNey** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 5:54 pm

robracer wrote: We will always be a minority with little or no say as to what the rules are I was speaking to ray from the MCC & aparently cycle groups get millions in funding for safety & awareness & we get bugger all... just is not fair considering the benifits that come from more smaller vehicles on the road

I read somewhere pushies got 70million this year!!

yep we got nothing.

I understand they do save emissions, congestion blah blah but the point is THEY PAY NOTHING!

Post by **robracer** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 6:07 pm

SenNey wrote:
robracer wrote: We will always be a minority with little or no say as to what the rules are I was speaking to ray from the MCC & aparently cycle groups get millions in funding for safety & awareness & we get bugger all... just is not fair considering the benifits that come from more smaller vehicles on the road
I read somewhere pushies got 70million this year!!

yep we got nothing.

I understand they do save emissions, congestion blah blah but the point is THEY PAY NOTHING!

The MCC gets a grant but nothing like 70 big ones its more like 50 k

dont quote me on it! & gets eaten up in promos like the awareness week (in Oct) & such

Cyclists have got it sussed

SenNey · Post by **SenNey** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 6:22 pm

robracer wrote:
SenNey wrote:
robracer wrote: We will always be a minority with little or no say as to what the rules are I was speaking to ray from the MCC & aparently cycle groups get millions in funding for safety & awareness & we get bugger all... just is not fair considering the benifits that come from more smaller vehicles on the road
I read somewhere pushies got 70million this year!!

yep we got nothing.

I understand they do save emissions, congestion blah blah but the point is THEY PAY NOTHING!
The MCC gets a grant but nothing like 70 big ones its more like 50 k dont quote me on it! & gets eaten up in promos like the awareness week (in Oct) & such

Cyclists have got it sussed

Yet the motorcycles and scooters that have gone up 400% get nothing, zip nada.

We all have to fund our own adventures, promos and political battles.

Look at the MRA we run The Toy Run, thats cost 40k a year to set up.
printing, promos, police, park, man power, radios the list is endless.
GP run we supply (members) the man power to marshal this event.
Same as the Blue ribbon ride, and pink ribbon.
We also fight for motorcyclists in anyway we can.

Were is our help?

We all volunteer our time, imagine what we could do with paid board members!!

Were not perfect, but were trying with what little resorces we have.

I-K · Post by **I-K** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 6:52 pm

SenNey wrote:My pet hate with push bikes is they pay nothing.

No reg, no hidden tax.
Yet they get bike lanes, bike paths, special parking.

Yes, I mean, it's not like people who ride pushbikes work or pay tax, or anything...

I-K · Post by **I-K** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 6:57 pm

SenNey wrote:I read somewhere pushies got 70million this year!!

No, the various pushbike lobbies in Victoria have been *promised* $70 million in expenditure on bikepaths and other pushbike-specific measures over the next three years... starting in 2007, ie. the year *after* the state election.

Politicians promising money to lobby groups in an election year. Whatever next?

yep we got nothing.

That might indicate that whoever does the lobbying on behalf of motorcyclists in Victoria is doing a pretty piss-poor job of it...

SenNey · Post by **SenNey** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 7:05 pm

I-K wrote:
SenNey wrote:My pet hate with push bikes is they pay nothing.

No reg, no hidden tax.
Yet they get bike lanes, bike paths, special parking.
Yes, I mean, it's not like people who ride pushbikes work or pay tax, or anything...

we/motorcyclists also work and pay tax. PLUS the extra motorcycle tax.

SenNey · Post by **SenNey** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 7:06 pm

I-K wrote:
SenNey wrote: I read somewhere pushies got 70million this year!!
No, the various pushbike lobbies in Victoria have been *promised* $70 million in expenditure on bikepaths and other pushbike-specific measures over the next three years... starting in 2007, ie. the year *after* the state election.

Politicians promising money to lobby groups in an election year. Whatever next?

yep we got nothing.
That might indicate that whoever does the lobbying on behalf of motorcyclists in Victoria is doing a pretty piss-poor job of it...

SenNey wrote: We all volunteer our time, imagine what we could do with paid board members!!

Were not perfect, but were trying with what little resorces we have.

Neka79 · Post by **Neka79** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 7:51 pm

I-K wrote:
SenNey wrote:My pet hate with push bikes is they pay nothing.

No reg, no hidden tax.
Yet they get bike lanes, bike paths, special parking.
Yes, I mean, it's not like people who ride pushbikes work or pay tax, or anything...

well considering half of em are kids, probably not working...another half are unemployed bums who are on the dole & therefore not only arent they paying taxes, but were paying for them to ride around, and then theres the other half who may or may not pay taxes, but are half decent ppl....

when u consider EVERY biker pays taxes (fuel, rego, GST on tyres etc)...more chance a motorcyclist paying tax than a pushy rider)