Motorcycle and scooter riders in Sydney start a two month ‘filtering’ trial today, which if adopted state-wide could make two-wheelers more attractive to own and use – and boost sales.
From March 1 to April 30, riders of powered two-wheelers will legally be able to ride between stationary vehicles at intersections in the trial zone.
The Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC) has called for a similar filtering trial to be conducted in Victoria.
VACC and members of its Motorcycle Industry Division (MID) will watch with interest Sydney’s two month filtering trial for motorcycle and scooter riders.
The trial will allow riders of powered two-wheeled vehicles to lane filter in the north of Sydney’s CBD, a manoeuver which ordinarily is against the law in New South Wales. The NSW Police Force will oversee the trial to ensure road rules are followed by all road users, and videos will monitor motorcycle and scooter rider behaviour. Video recording commenced on February 1, for comparison purposes.
“Powered two-wheeled vehicles are a convenient and environmentally friendly form of personal transport and should be encouraged,” says VACC executive director, David Purchase.
“If, as we expect, the Sydney trial is a success, a similar trial should be conducted in Victoria. Less than 1% of Melbourne commuters ride a motorcycle or scooter to work compared to more than 60% who drive. Congestion and pressure on city centre parking spaces could be reduced if more was done to promote motorcycles and scooters, and better infrastructure was provided.
“VACC calls for a wide ranging filtering trial. Why be restricted to one area of one city, as they are in Sydney? Victoria accounts for approximately 20% of Australia’s new motorcycle sales annually and with 164, 7783 registered riders in the State, our trial should be across Melbourne, the suburbs and regional centres and on a range of roads.
“Based upon the recent bus lane sharing trial in Hoddle Street, Melbourne, in which motorcycles and scooters were permitted to share the bus lane during peak hour traffic, we are confident a filtering trial would be well supported by VACC members and riders of powered two-wheeled vehicles,” says Purchase.
VACC and MID members support filtering because permitting and scooter riders to move to the front of stationary traffic gets them ahead of traffic flows and removes them from the traffic mix. However, a trial should also be accompanied by an education program to make all road users aware of the changes.
VACC’s support for filtering is consistent with its support of the 2012 Parliament of Victoria, Road Safety Committee, inquiry into motorcycle safety, which recommended filtering be reviewed with the aim of introducing it in Victoria.
VACC also supported the committee’s recommendation that the motorcycle safety levy should be abolished, an independent office of road safety data be created, a Motorcycle Safety Awareness Week be held annually in Victoria and a star-rating system for protective clothing be established.
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