MRAA Board Diary

Footpath Parking comes under threat

2007-10-29T10:02:00.000+11:00

This photo was taken back in 1985 and shows just what Melbourne's streets would look like if motorcycles were not allowed to park on the footpath.

Melbourne leads the world and is probably the only city anywhere which allows motorcycles to legally park on the footpath.

Motorcycle riders throughout Victoria were left aghast last week when a Melbourne City Councillor took it upon himself to ban motorcycles from parking in some areas of the Melbourne CBD. This set off a chain of events of which the MRAA Board became involved:

On Wednesday night the Board received an early warning from a jounalist at the Age.

On Thursday the Board contacted local radio 3AW and ABC Radio and gave comment which was widely reported. Also that day a TV interview was done with ABC TV News.

Meanwhile, another member of the motorcycle community (not an MRAA Member) started to spread alarm within the motorcycle community alleging that a "total ban" was on the cards. Surprisingly this went against all the "inside information" possessed by the MRAA Board. As a result the Board issued a Media Release to quell what was in all cosequence - " a storm in a teacup."

The MRAA position is that no ban is required. What is required is an education campaign aimed at riders - from riders.

Footpath parking reduces traffic and parking congestion. To ban it would only create further problems.

Board Activity

2007-10-18T08:39:00.000+10:00

There are may issues which the MRAA Board deals with on a monthly basis, which are rarely documented. Here is a list of things which various members of the Board are dealing with at present and over the last month:

Melbourne Motorcycle Expo - The MRAA stand was set up by Membership Secretary Anton Lange and Vice-President John Karmouche and manned on Sat/Sun of the Expo by members of the Board and several other MRAA volunteers.

TAC Rider's Tips Competition - Vice President John Karmouche and Ordinary Board Member Detlef Lamp spent a day at TAC HQ as part of the judging panel for this competition.

MRAA Oz GP Run - After many long months of concerted meeting with City of Casey, who host the event, Ex MRAA Vice President, supported by Membership Secretary Anton Lange and his team of MRAA Marshalls participated/supported this year's MRAA Oz GP Run. Work started for these people at 5.30am that day! Special mention must be given to volunteer Rose McCarthy who organized this year's Oz GP Run Badges and who with her husband (Ex MRAA Treasurer) DJ manned the MRAA Tent at the Oz GP Run.

VMAC - Vice President John Karmouche attended a VMAC meeting at VicRoads on Thursday 11th November. Most of what takes place at VMAC is confidential and can not be generally discussed here. Needless to say the MRAA view on motorcycle issues and TAC levy expenditure is being heard.

4Bs - Ordinary Board Member Michael Dabbs has taken on the responsibility of organizing the 4Bs.

Marshalls for Pink Ribbon Ride - MRAA will be providing marshalls for the Pink Ribbon Ride which is being held this weekend on Sunday 21st October.

Toy Run - Planning and preparation continues for this year's 30th Annual Toy Run.

Other Issues - President Dale Maggs continues to receive dozens of calls every week from riders and other organizations in relation to matters which concern riders and from organizations who want involvement from MRAA.

Great Ocean Road Motorcycle Hazards

2007-10-03T08:05:00.000+10:00

The Great Ocean Road quite often sees Rider's come to grief, and such was the experience of one rider who brought his accident to the attention of the MRAA recently.

This set the wheels in motion, whereby the MRAA immediately raised this with its contacts at Vic Roads.

From Vic Roads came the following response:

Further to our discussion last week, please find below photographs taken by VicRoads Surveillance Manager Gary McCormack on Thursday last week.
The photos clearly show that this is a slow moving landslip site, that has been regulated in the past. It would seem that with the recent rains on the Great Ocean Road the pavement has slumped causing the ridge.
As we discussed the Great Ocean Road is inspected weekly, and the ridge in the pavement was not evident in the inspection that occurred in the week prior to the accident on 23 September 2007.
We attempted to regulate the pavement last Friday but it was too wet, all we could do was make the site safe with some premix.
I am advised that the regulation work is being carried out this morning (1 Oct 2007).
VicRoads has also been in contact with Mr Harrower and a "Notice of Incident" form has been sent to him.
If you have any questions, or more to the point if you have any other locations in south western Victoria that you are aware of that present a hazard to motorcyclists please do not hesitate to contact me.
Regards
Bryan Sherritt
Manager Program Delivery
South Western Region

Please Look Twice - MCC of NSW Video Competition

2007-10-02T15:27:00.000+10:00

From the Motorcycle Council of NSW:

The MCC of NSW would like to invite all clubs and individuals to enter the 2007 competition "30 Second video for Motorcycle Awareness Week".
{a bottle of red to the person who comes up with the best name for this event}.

Here are the only Rules:
Target audience: The general public.
Content: The message must be Motorcycle Awareness (not necessarily a safety message).
Length: The advert must be no more than 30 seconds
Video Quality: Is of secondary importance to quality of message.
Entries Close: Wednesday 17 October 2007
Submitting: Entries are to be submitted by uploading directly to our YouTube account or by email to mccnsw@gmail.com

Anyone can enter. Multiple entries are allowed.

There are no other Rules. There are no other Rules. There are no other Rules.

Peter Thoeming (the Bear), Editor of Australian Road Rider, has agreed to be Chairman of our judging panel.

More Shame File

2007-07-21T11:47:00.000+10:00

Here is another roadside hazard just waiting to catch another unsuspecting rider.

The star pickets here should not have been left as exposed as they are seen here. It apears that at least one vehicle has already had a "near miss" by striking one of the plastic bollards errected as the only warning to oncoming traffic.

Yet another concern for motorcycle riders is "driver blindspots". The question that the MRAA poses in this instance is - just how much is this drivers rearward vision affected by the signage adhered to the windows on this vehicle.

Further Support for Signs Campaign

2007-06-26T15:51:00.000+10:00

The City of Casey has written to the MRA supporting its aim to have motorcycle friendly signage on Victorian Roads.

The Text of the letter is as follows....

23-1
CB/ch

26 June 2007

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

I fully support the initiative of the Motorcycle Riders Association of Australia for the replacement of non-frangible road signs and furniture at selected high crash rate black spots within the Victorian road system.

This initiative has come about as a result of the number of fatalities and serious injury crashes involving motorcyclists within Victoria, in particular on the South Gippsland Highway in the City of Casey.

The installation of ‘motorcycle friendly’ signs made of plastics and polymers would allow them to be hit or run over with very little damage to people or vehicles.

I hope this initiative by the MRAA will be given considerable consideration.

Yours faithfully
Cr Colin Butler
Mayor
City of Casey

More Shame file stuff

2007-06-25T12:38:00.000+10:00

The Black Holes of Brunswick

The Secretary was out and about in Brunswick last weekend and took some photos of some of the nasty holes along the tram and train tracks.

These holes seem to fall through the cracks (sorry) when it comes to the responsibility for repairing them. As you can see, some of them are almost big enough to swallow our vice-president and his Harley...

Lygon St - just north of Brunswick Road

This one is of the Railway crossing in Albert St close to the Railway Hotel - if anyone is riding to the Noise Bar on the 1st of July to hear Gavin's Band play, watch out. There's actually a series of 3 large ridges there and if you are in a line of traffic you won't see them until it's too late.

Here's some more from various spots on Lygon St Brunswick between Victoria St and Brunswick Road.

And finally, one that looks as if it goes all the way to China...

Shame File

2007-06-24T13:32:00.000+10:00

In his travels around the state MRAA President Dale Maggs has noted some blatantly dangerous practices being intituted by varoius town councils. Consequently, the MRAA Board has decided to establish a "Shame File" to bring attention to various roundabouts where inappriate roadside furniture is being sited - that poses an unacceptable hazard to motorcycles.

In this instance, a roundabout in Ararat has had objects added to its centre. On this particular day the road was wet, making it all too easy for a motorcycle to experience wheel lockup, lose control and hit one of these flagpoles.

Here, jagged rocks have been inserted in the median - an horrific hazard if struck by a motorcycle.

Here is a pole, to protect a pole. One would have thought that it would have been much simpler to have simply stuck the reflector to the lampost...... Note the other sign up ahead without a yellow post in front.

MRAA Receives Accolades for Roadside Furniture Initiative

2007-06-17T13:59:00.000+10:00

The following letter was received recently:

The Ulysses Club hereby endorses the initiative conceived by the Motorcycle Riders Association of Australia ( MRAA) for the replacement of non-frangible road signs and furniture at selected high crash rate black spots within the Victorian road system.
It is the vision of the MRAA that all non-frangible signs will be replaced by more appropriate ‘motorcycle friendly’ ones throughout urban and regional Victoria.
It is further hoped that this program will be taken up by all State Road authorities in the near future.

This initiative was generated as a result of a spate of fatalities and serious injury crashes involving motorcyclists within Victoria involving non-frangible signs and furniture.
The Benefit / Cost ratio of this initiative will be very high as the value of a human life to society is currently at about $1.9M.

As part of the Ulysses Clubs submission to the Parliament of Victoria’s “Inquiry into Crashes Involving Roadside Objects” (results published in March 2005), the Ulysses Club advocated that “‘all roadside furniture is as crashworthy as possible, located as far form the edge of the roadway as possible and surplus items are removed.” (Recommendation 44. page 178)
This initiative further endorses this finding from the inquiry.

Currently, tests for the crashworthiness of poles and road furniture are based on average car and truck crash characteristics which are completely inappropriate for the increasing numbers of motorcycle and scooter riders on our roads.

Through the Ulysses Clubs representative on the Victorian Motorcycle Advisory Council, we will be actively ensuring that funds for the replacement of non-frangible signs and chevrons at selected locations are sourced and that the replacement program will actually occur and as quickly as possible.

We will be backing the MRAA with all our resources as our many thousands of Ulysses Club members, as well as all motorcyclists residing within Victoria, will have their safety enhanced by the progressive and speedy removal of these dangerous roadside objects.

Neville Gray,

National Vice President and Public Liaison Coordinator
Ulysses Club Inc.

Vic Roads to Trial Plastic Signs/Roadside Furniture

2007-06-12T15:15:00.000+10:00

MRAA President Dale Maggs and Vice President John Karmouche met with Vic Roads, where they put the MRAA case for the implementation of plastic signage last Thursday 7th June 2007.

The meeting was attended by eight Vic Roads staff, who are all very interested in what the Director Road Safety and Network Access, George Mavroyeni decribed as "new territory".

In response to material submited by the MRAA to Vic Roads, Richard Bortko of VicRoads Design has sourced three variants which he presented to the meeting and which will be incorporated as part of a trial on the South Gippsland Highway. Interestingly, Richard is himself a motorcycle rider with a keen interest in this matter.

Here is the content of the MRAA case:

As part of our road safety aims, the MRAA has been actively pursuing the issues involved with roadside furniture. Over the past eight months there have been three deaths associated wiht roundabouts. All of these deaths have involved injuries caused by the metal directional signs on the roundabouts.

It is the MRAA's contention that there should be a program of replacement of these signs by more vehicle friendly flexible signage. These signs are purely directional signs and have no barrier protection use. As such, a flexible sign that could absorb some impact and spring back into place would minimise not only injuries to motorcyclists but also damage to other vehicles.

Additionally, it is our contention that appropriate flexible signage would be cost effective in the long term. Not only would it alleviate the significant injury and vehicle damage costs, but our information shows that it is cheaper to install and would generally not require replacement after an impact.

The meeting resulted in all agreeing that this was the start of a very important project, which Vic Roads are keen to implement. Accordingly, a proposal will be submitted to the next VMAC meeting. Following the trial to ascertain which is the best product to utilize, more plastic roadside furniture should start to appear on Victorian Roads in future years.

Director Road Safety and Network Access, George Mavroyeni made an interesting point at the end of the meeting, stating that he hopes that when the wider Industry becomes aware of the plans discussed at this meeting, that other companies may be encouraged to come up with even better solutions to the ones discussed on the 7th June 2007.

Motorcycle Friendly Signage Meeting with VicRoads

2007-06-01T11:39:00.000+10:00

MRAA President Dale Maggs has been invited by VicRoads to attend, a meeting to discuss motorcycle friendly signage products on Thursday 7 June at VicRoads Denmark Street Kew premises. Those attending will include the Director Road Safety and Network Access, a representative fromVicRoads Design, a representative of Vulnerable Road Users and the Manager Vulnerable Road Users VicRoads Road Safety and Network Access Division.

Manningham takes up an MRAA suggestion.

2007-05-31T16:04:00.000+10:00

The following media release was recently posted around the traps.

Subject: MEDIA RELEASE - MANNINGHAM TRAFFIC INITIATIVE.MEDIA RELEASEMay 25, 2007.DONCASTER PARK & RIDE CATERS FOR SCOOTER BOOMWHAT? The Doncaster Park & Ride facility has expanded by four new parking bays and Manningham Mayor Ron Kitchingham will be there this Friday to promote them. The bays are small because they cater for commuters on scooters.

WHERE? The Doncaster Park & Ride is on Doncaster Road by the Eastern Freeway at High Street. Melway map 46, reference K 1.

WHY? Park & ride facilities were built to encourage people onto public transport and to reduce pollution and traffic congestion. There are 200 park & ride facilities on public transport routes around greater Melbourne but only Doncaster is on a bus route by a freeway, and, only Doncaster caters for motorcycles and scooters. It also provides free, secure parking for 400 cars and lockers for 25 bicycles. A City of Melbourne survey in March 2007 showed motorbikes & scooters are about 2% of traffic into the CBD on a weekday morning. Most park & rides are on rail routes. Capacities range from 50 to 1000 cars but they fill fast, mostly with cars carrying just one person. Parking problems have occured in nearby residential streets.At least 6 scooters will fit in a single car bay. A 1% conversion at Doncaster, just 4 car bays, provides space for at least 24 scooters, more if you use dead space. This could free up 20 car bays. Over the network this could mean a significant reduction in exhaust emmissions, traffic stress and pressure on residential streets.
WHO? The new bays are an initiative from the City of Manningham and the Ventura National Bus Company. The idea came from Manningham's Park & Ride Taskforce, Chaired by Cr Geoff Gough. (edit: really??? see below) It was in response to the need to improve parking, promote public transport and to the huge increase in popularity of the cute little commuter scooters. The Taskforce considered advances in two-wheel safety with better equipment and world-class training available in Victoria. The community benefits twice. Riders make safer drivers and VicRoads has registered Australia's first electric scooters. All scooters are fuel & space efficient but electric scooters are about as green as a two-wheel vehicle can get, especially if they are recharged using solar energy.Ventura National's Business Development Manager, Steve O'Callaghan, saw the potential and had the new scooter bays installed.Lobbyist for the motorcycle community and Resident Representative on the Manningham Park & Ride Taskforce, Damien Codognotto OAM, said. "This is part of the solution to our pollution and congestion problems. Commuter scooter parking is very cost-effective. The way of the future is to use dead space & security rails as they do in Melbourne's CBD, lockers for wet weather gear & helmets as for bicyclists and solar charging like in London."...

All very admirable and we commend the City of Manningham's taskforce for their progress in picking up on the recommendations that the MRAA submitted to the Victorian Congestion Inquiry nearly two years ago.

We quote from the original submission written by Secretary Tony Ellis (available at http://www.mraa.org.au/downloads/files/Congestion%20paper%20MRAA.pdf )

Given that from four to six motorcycles can fit into a standard car parking space it would make sense for councils to be encouraged to give up a single car parking space in most shopping areas. Having convenient parking would be a major factor in encouraging use of motorcycles for shopping trips. The carrying capacity of most modern scooters is surprisingly high – particularly with the fitting of a top box or set of panniers – and they often provide a reasonable alternative to using a car for shopping trips.

For outer suburban areas, powered two wheeled vehicles can be combined with public transport. Currently many commuters travel by car to outer suburban stations park and travel by train into the city. Encouraging motorcycle use here would assist in easing parking issues as well as creating less congestion in these local areas. A drawback is that riders need to store protective clothing as most riding gear is bulky and awkward to carry once off the vehicle. Lockers should me made available for storage of riding equipment at a small charge to encourage this mixed mode commuting.

Driver Distractions Endanger Riders

2007-05-21T09:43:00.000+10:00

MRAA President Dale Maggs sent the following email out last week:

More needs to be done to reduce the use of Mobile phones while driving.

I have attached two pictures of people using mobiles while in transit, which were taken while I was was parked on the side of the road.

In the two images I have used as examples here:

a. The Black VW driver was texting nearly the whole length of Victoria parade on Saturday th 12 of May.

b. The Silver Car driver was using a blackberry while travelling along Punt road . At the same time he was sharing the unit with his son . Of concern is that I recognized that this driver was a Senior Vic Roads employee.

In my current job, I travel roads throughout the state daily covering approximately 3500 km per week . I have viewed hundreds of drivers performing these risky tasks over the past month and am dumbfounded as to why we let them get away with it.

These drivers pose an unacceptable risk to motorcycle riders.

I note that a campaign was launched this week to inform the public of the risks associated with mobile phone use etc. However, if it isn't accompanied by rigorourous police enforcement these ads will have little impact. Perhaps another approach should be taken. If I can photograph people using their mobile phones, then surely many other members of the public would be able to do the same.

The MRAA therefore proposes that perhaps the following be underatken:

a. Encourage concerned members of the public to start photographing people using their mobile phones, as I have done.

b. Provide a central location where they can submit those photos, in order that the images can be posted somewhere to "shame" the offenders.

The concept that the MRAA proposes is one which is targeted at making this behaviour "anti-social". Fines, demerit points etc don't seem to work. Therefore, we recommend a more "lateral approach".

Dale's email received several interesting responses. The Herald Sun said that they would be interested if the MRAA decided to persue this idea.

Frangible signs

2007-05-18T14:00:00.000+10:00

Just to keep people informed:

An extract from the minutes of the VMAC meeting on 19th April

FRANGIBLE SIGN SUPPORTS
Dale Maggs spoke of new frangible post products from Queensland that had reportedly been with VicRoads for testing for some months.
It was reported that VicRoads Design Dept. has conducted focus group sessions with motorcyclists about the devices and that it is currently preparing a report.

ACTION:
The report from VicRoads Design Dept. to be presented to VMAC when completed.

Arrive Alive Community Forum

2007-05-17T08:53:00.000+10:00

MRAA Vice President John Karmouche and Ordinary Board Member Mick Dabbs attended a Community forum on road safety in Box Hill last night (16th May 2007). The forum was organized by Vic Roads, and independently facilitated, to gather public input into the new arrive alive! strategy which relplaces the old strategy which expires this year.

The forum started with an excellent and detailed briefing by Vic Roads, which set the stage and gave everyone a point of reference. It included guidance on things/ideas to be considered and explained how Vic Roads approaches road safety issues, and why some things take longer to implement than others.

Surprisingly, those attending were very intererested in the way motorcycles fit into the overall equation. Mick and John were able to cite several examples from their riding experiences which were accepted as being applicable to the stratgey.

The subjects which were chosen by the attendess as the most important was Driver Education/Awareness, followed by Speeding.

The meeting was also attended by a representative from TAC.

If people have missed the forums, they can visit the arrive alive! website http://www.arrivealive.vic.gov.au/ , and have their say.

4B's name

2007-05-08T10:56:00.000+10:00

There's been some speculation around about the official name for the 4B's. It was originally set up as the Bent and Buckled Bikies Bureau. In more recent years with a perception that the work Bikies has some sort of perjorative meaning there have been several motions over the years to change it Bent and Buckled Bikers Bureau.

These motions have all been lost so far and at present - by the wishes of the members - it remains Bikies. The reasons given for opposing the name change have been many - but the main one being an opposition to the Americanisation of the language. Biker only started to come into use in Australia in relatively recent times. An irony of all those pushing for change is that the word Biker in the US can be equally perjorative.

Meanwhile - although the names Bikie and Biker are used interchangably by people (including 4B's workers), it officially remains the Bent and Buckled Bikies Bureau.

4Bs Promotion Boost

2007-05-07T10:42:00.000+10:00

The Bent and Buckled Biker's Bureau, otherwise known as the 4Bs received an unexpected promotion boost, after the tragic death of a 35 year old female rider in Gippsland last week.

The following funeral notice was published last week:

VAN ROSSUM - WESTON.
The Funeral of Kristen Van Rossum-Weston will leave Latrobe Valley Funeral Services Chapel, 260 Princes Hwy, Traralgon after a Service commencing at 2 p.m., on WEDNESDAY (May 9) for the Gippsland Memorial Park Crematorium.
Please, no flowers by request In lieu, donations may be made to the Motorcycle Riders Association Support Group, envelopes available at the Service.TRARALGON 5174-2258

Following a call from the Funeral Director to the MRAA, many members of the motorcycle community assumed that this notice was refering to the 4Bs and as a consequence the 4Bs concept was widely discussed as a result.

As it turns out, the family's intention was to donate to a local motorcycle support group and an error was made in transmission and publication.

The MRAA Board exchanged many phonecalls about this matter over the weekend. We all agree that the family's decision was appropriate.

The MRAA will be represented at the funeral by members who live in Traralgon and who have ridden with Kristen prior to her untimely death.

The MRAA expresses its deepest and sincere condolences to Kristen's family.

Monthly Board meeting

2007-05-04T14:33:00.000+10:00

It's that time of the month again - the MRAA board meeting.
This meeting will be held back at the old MRAA stomping ground -
Bell's Hotel South Melbourne at 6.30 pm
on Tuesday 8th May 2007.

A Roundabout with No Chevron Signs

2007-05-04T10:38:00.000+10:00

During a conversation with Vic Roads recently, MRAA President Dale maggs informed them that he had seen a roundabout that had no chevron signs located on the central island. Vic Roads assurred Dale that he couldn't be correct.

So, Dale took these photos which we publish here to show that the "traffic management issues" involved do not require chevron signs - and are not as important as Vic Roads want us to believe.

MRAA Vice President John Karmouche faxed a formal request to Vic Roads last week requesting that Vic Roads commence an immediate programme to remove all metal chevron signs from roundabouts where the speed limit is 80kph or higher, pending their being replaced by a suitable alternative.

In a telephone conversation prior to faxing Vic Roads, John was told, "We will have to consider in in light of other 'traffic management issues'."

This request was based on the following:

There is a high probability that one of these signs will be struck by either a car or a motorcycle in the future.

In the event that a car strikes and damages a chevron sign it is likely that the car will suffer external damage only. However, if struck by a motorcycle a rider fatality will most likely occur.

MRAA has made Vic Roads aware of several suitable replacements and Vic Roads has acknowledged that the chevron signs need to be replaced.

In MRAA's opinion the risk involved in leaving the signs in situ far outweighs potential traffic management issues.

Vic Roads - Still No Response

2007-05-03T10:15:00.000+10:00

After three days of waiting for an explanation as to why Vic Roads have chosen to install only one roundabout with Plastic Chevron Signs, MRAA President Dale Maggs has still not been contacted by Vic Roads, despite having called them every day since Monday (31 Mar 2007) this week.

During his travels this week, whilst in Geelong, Dale saw a Vic Roads crew repairing several damaged chevron signs. In this case the repair being undertaken was simply to hit the bent signs with a hammer to push them back to a vertical position. They told Dale that they perform this task many times - every week.

The MRAA is aware that Minister Tim Pallas is aware of the Board's concerns. The matter has been raised with VMAC by MRAA and unfortunately, all we can do is wait for Vic Roads to take action. We can only hope that this action takes place before another rider loses control of their motorcycle and hits one of these signs in a similar manner to the previous three accidents.

From this picture taken by Dale, it can be seen that these signs sustain regular impacts. One is left to wonder whether the repairs being made here would still have been required for one of the plastic alternatives that MRAA has identified and submitted to Vic Roads.

Look at the contents of the trailer in this photograph. Full of damaged signs.

Plastic Sign Suppliers

2007-05-02T11:45:00.000+10:00

Following the most recent Roundabout fatality in Braeside, where MRAA President Dale Maggs sugested in a TV interview that the existing metal Chevron Signs should be repleced with Teflon/Plastic alternatives, MRAA has sourced/identified several suppliers.

The first is the Chevroflex sign, which is used in the UK and has been intalled where drivers commonly overrun curves and intersections.

The Chevroflex sign is seen here. As you can see it is designed to flex and bounce back into position after having been struck - saving potential need for replcement and repair.

Another alternative is that provided by local supplier Safe Roads who MRAA believe may already be supplying Vic Roads with plastic poles and signs.

Trip to H.A.R.T.

2007-05-01T15:29:00.000+10:00

Dale Maggs, MRAA President and John Karmouche, MRAA Vice President were invited to accompany Martin Pakula MLC (Parliamentary Secretary for Transport) on a vistit to the Honda Australia Rider Training (H.A.R.T.) facility in Tullamarine on Monday 31st April 2007.

Martin has been appointed by Minister for Ports and Roads Tim Pallas MLC, as the Parliamentary Assistant responsible for motorcycles.

The purpose of the visit to H.A.R.T. was to allow Martin to be briefed on the subject of Rider Training and Simulation. It was a good oppportunity for a group of interested parties, all with a common goal, to teach Martin the important issues about this very important issue.

The briefing was attended by Neil O'Keefe and Ray Newland from VMAC. Martin was very interested in everything that was put to him and even came up with a few sugestions himself on subjects that we wanted to raise with him, even before we got to them.

One of the achievements that Honda has made is to take the lead in the area of Motorcycle Rider Simulation. Subsequently, Martin was shown the latest "state of the art" equipment:

This photo shows Martin Pakula MLC looking on as a member of H.A.R.T. demonstrates the simulator. Standing in the background is Neil O'Keefe VMAC Chaiman.

The simulator has all the controls that would be found on a motorcycle, and can be set for scooter or motorcycle mode. The quality of the graphics is excellent and the student soon learns all they need to know about hazard perception.

This photo shows Martin seated at the simulator, getting a feel for what it is like. Standing to the right and looking on from behind is Stuart Strickland, Managing Director Honda MPE Australia.

One of the Key Issues that was raised was the need for Riders to gain skills experience, which for many is gained from the "school of hard knocks". It was explained that Situational Awareness is critical for motorcycle riders. An analogy was made with the way aircraft pilots are trained - ie riding a motorcycle requires specialized skills and knowledge that can be enhanced through simulation similar to the way pilots are trained.

Vic Roads - Plastic Roundabout Signs

2007-04-30T16:21:00.000+10:00

Last September a rider came to grief and died, when he struck a metal chevron directional sign, early one morning on his way to the Moto GP at Phillip Island in September 2007.

Following this accident the MRAA Board made a sugestion to Vic Roads that these signs were a hazard for riders and that they should be replaced with plastic alternatives.

It appears that the local Regional Vic Roads Manager has acted on that advice and installed plastic signs at the roundabout.

Below are photographs taken recently: