Let Those Who Ride Decide

What we've been up to!!!

Here's news of recent MRA WA activities:

• September 2009:
  

  Dave Wright met with City of Perth to discuss motorcycle parking.
  Click here to read the minutes of the meeting.

   
  

  Front Number Plates?

   
  

• July 2009:

  From: DAVE WRIGHT
  Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 5:41 PM
  Subject: Perth Parking
  
  An update on the latest developments with motorcycle and scooter parking in the CBD.
  
  I was contacted a couple of weeks ago by a group of guys who have been trying to get increased parking in the CBD for motorcycles and scooters to see if I could help as they had struck a bit of a brick wall. The West Australian Government in it's budget in May had a item in their to increse the levy of motorcycle and scooter bays by over 400% this was also reported in the West Australian Newspaper on Tuesday 30-6-2009 The article stated that free roadside parking for motorcyles would end and the Perth City Council will be installing parking meters on all roadside motorcycle bays and the cost of parking in City of Perth and I would assume Wilsons car parks would rise. The motorcycle levy was to raise from $90.50 per year to $460.90 per year. I sent a couple of e-mails to the Minister for Transport Hon.Simon O'Brien and also wrote a letter to the West Australian Newspaper that was published in Letters to the Editor, it read:
  
  

  In response to you article 27-6-09 in the property section. Parking meters for motorbikes. I find it very dosapointing that at a time when governments around the world and in other States are activley encoraging the use of low carbon emmision vehicles the Western Australian Government is raising the levy on motorcycle and scooter bays by over 400%. We are the only state in Australia that imposes any sort of parking levy on motorcycles and scooters and this flies in the face of good reasoning to lower carbon emisions and reducing the already congested road network and parking stations. I would like the minister for Transport Hon Simon O,Brien to review and abolish this levy.
  David Wright
  President Motorcycle Riders Association of WA

  
  Simon O'Brian phoned me on Wednesday to inform me that he had spoken to the Tresurer Hon. Troy Buswell and they agreed that the levy on motorcycles was something that made no sense so in cabinet the increse in the levy on motorcycles and scooters was cancelled and also the entire levy was removed. Simon O'Brien has also spoken to the Perth Lord Mayor to advise her of the abolition of the motorcycle and scooter parking levy.
  
  This is a great result for all motorcycle and scooter riders and I would like to thank Hon. Simon OBrien for his work on our behalf.
  
  The next step for us will be to talk to Perth City Council and Wilsons parking to get extra bays installed and at a reduced cost now that they do not have to pay any levy to the Government.
  
  Regards, Dave Wright
  President Motorcycle Riders Association of W.A.

• Jan 18th - meeting with Joan Doak from the Office of Road Safety regarding addition of Motorcycle Safety microsite to their website.
• Feb 12th - Meeting with John McGrath MLA opposition spokesman on road safety.
• Feb 13th Meeting - Meeting with MRD on Greens Hill Dwellingup (Pinjarra - Williams Road). Following latest accident on Dec 9th involving Anne Collins. (almost lost her leg - collided with old type "W" beam safety rail. Same as death in August 2006) Action by the MRD:
  • Caps to be placed on posts.
  • Option to fit motorcycle rubbing rail on south fuard fail from railway line to right hand curve. Approx 100-200 meters.
  • Option to replace posts with new Ingal post (without sharp edges) on south guard rail from railway line to right hand curve approx 100-200 meters.
  They will be in touch as to which option they are going to use.
• March 24th - Grant Dorrington attended MRA General meeting to discuss the role of the Office of Road Safety, his role and to answer questions from the motorcycling community on their concerns.
• April 10th & 11th - Dave and Karina attended the Motorcycle and Scooter Safety Summit in Canberra (report will be forthcoming).
• Also in April 2008:
  • Interview with GWN regarding motorcycle safety. (we are hoping to get a copy of what went to air).
  • Interview with Curtin Radio regarding motorcycle parking.