Motorcycle Activist, Damien Codognotto, Waxes Lyrical

This is a letter about motorbike and scooter riders protesting over being charged tolls in Melbourne.

I'm against road tolls. We pay taxes to build our roads. Roads are an essential public service. How did we come to be paying an enterprise that truly benefits few Australians and probably sends much of its profits overseas in one way or another? Regardless, car and truck tolls are here.

Victoria has held out against motorbike and scooter tolling for at least 3 good reasons.

First. It seems the designers of the tollway set their cameras facing drivers to try to get a face as well as the rego plate for fee collection purposes. Obviously, it didn't work for bikes with only a rear number plate. Attempts to make a workable bike etag failed probably due to cost rather than technology. In a 2004 national action paper police forces pushed for compulsory front ID for bikes in 2006. This may be used for tolling, fining and tracking riders. This is another reason to show the government how many votes there are in the motorcycle community with a well-organised protest run. 2006 is a State election year.

Second. Motorbikes and scooters are good for the environment (compared to 4WDs) and their use as commuters in urban areas should be encouraged. This concept works. Examples are Melbourne's free bike parking areas and the lower registration fees for small scooters and commuter cycles. See the FCAI media release quote below.

In spite of occasional, sensational reports of rider offences, powered two wheelers have never been safer. Motorbike and scooter riders have quality training, excellent equipment and first class protective gear. This is especially true when compared to 20 years ago or with bicyclists using the same roads now.

Third. Motorbikes and scooters are road-friendly. Bikes help traffic flow and cause minimal infrastructure wear and tear. Smooth-flowing traffic means more cars under tolling cameras and no maintenance costs from bikes.

Other reasons bikes should travel toll-free:

First. People who might use a motorbike or scooter to commute will be put off by the toll. Motorbike and scooter riders already pay more road tax than Victoria's car drivers. (eg TAC anti-bike tax - $50 per bike per year.)

Would/could-be riders may think "If I have to  pay for the privilege of using our roads then I'll pay a bit more and commute in an armchair with a cuppa, bit a music and a chat on the phone with the climate control on to keep the fumes at bay.” Bike tolls encourage single-occupant cars on an already overcrowded system. The knock-on negative effect on parking is obvious.

Second. Tolling bikes won't make money for toll companies. The more crowded the system, the slower it gets, the more minor crashes, the fewer full-fee vehicles pass tolling points.

Third. People who ride for economy (among other things) will simply follow the example of many car and truck drivers and avoid toll roads and traffic jams. This creates headaches for residents, businesses and councils along alternative routes.

Fourth. Motorbikes and scooters are such a small percentage of Victorian traffic that there's no real profit from riders after the cost of collection. Tolls will decrease the number of bikes using toll roads so less income from bikes.

Fifth. In heavy traffic, motorbike and scooter number plates may be obscured by other vehicles as they pass a tolling camera. The potential number of tolls collected from riders relative to overall revenue makes it doubtful that money is the motive behind attempts to toll Melbourne's motorcycle community.

In the last fifteen years there has been steady growth in the number of road-registered bikes, particularly commuters, on Victorian roads. According to a Federated Chamber of Automotive Industries media release on March 21, 2005, "Within the road bike market the strongest performing segment was scooters, sales (new bike) of which reached 7,893 - almost double the total of 4116 in 2003. The result meant scooters became the single largest segment of the road bike market for the first time, ahead of cruisers and super sports."

Commuters choose powered two-wheelers for economy, convenience and the environment. Tolling bikes is bad for our City and our State. It encourages single-occupant cars. Bad for the air. Bad for overcrowded roads. Bad for traffic stress. Bad for car parking. And the toll money that would have been spent locally will go to a very few who are probably not local at all.

On May 4, 2005, the MRA issued a media release calling "GOVERNMENT TO ENCOURAGE POWERED TWO WHEELER USE AS A MEANS OF ADDRESSING CONGESTION ISSUES."

The MRA issued another media release on May 12, 2005. "The MRAA is disappointed that TransUrban would renege on a deal that encourages the use of Citilink by motorcyclists. MRAA representatives will be meeting with TransUrban in the next week to negotiate this issue. Should this fail, the MRAA invites all motorcycle groups, clubs and riders who are unhappy with being charged tolls, to join them on the steps of Parliament (Spring Street, Melbourne) at 4 pm Friday May 20 for a ride through Citylink as a demonstration of our disapproval of TransUrban's position."

If you can't be at Parliament House on Friday you can send an email to TransUrban to let them know how you feel about road tolls. The address is The Media and Community Relations Adviser at [email protected]. And forward the email to the Minister and Shadow Minister for Transport at:  [email protected] and [email protected].

Damien Codognotto

[email protected]

(This article has been modified to make more readable; the views contained do not necessarily represent those of the Club, or its committee. …Ed.)