Labor infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese has called on councils to consider improved parking options for motorcycles and scooters to encourage their uptake and reduce congestion.
As Queensland and the Northern Territory today mark Labour Day, we can report that motorcycles seem to be on the agenda in the federal election on July 2, 2016.
While Labor has yet to respond to our calls for their motorcycle-specific policies, Anthony has told the National Press Club in Canberra he would promote motorcycling as an answer to traffic congestion.
It’s nothing new from Anthony who has been an advocate of two wheels as a solution, not a problem ever since he travelled through Europe and noticed the “cities are thronged with motorbikes and scooters as people take advantage of this low-cost, low-energy and space-efficient form of transport”.
Before the last federal election he advocated a unified helmet standards approach across all states – which is now a reality after South Australia was the last state to gazette European-approved UNECE22.05 helmet on Friday (April 28, 2016).
He also advocated lane filtering, which is now a elite in the eastern mainland states.
Labor infrastructure spokesman Anthony AlbaneseBack then he gave four policy announcements specific to motorcycles:
- Understand the importance of motorcycles in the transport system and maximise the benefits;
- Include two wheels in infrastructure planning;
- Include riders in road safety strategy discussions; and
- Continue to unify regulations across the country that affect motorcyclists.
2016 FEDERAL ELECTION
- Motorbike Writer does not endorse any one party or candidate.
- We have contacted all the major and many of the minor parties asking them for their polices that affect the more than one million motorcycle riders in Australia.
- We have asked for policies that reference motorcycles, riders, road safety, road rules and road infrastructure?
- We have also asked whether any of their members or candidates are riders?
- If or when we receive responses, we will publish them for our readers’ information.