Australia’s first motorcycle GP world champion Wayne Gardner says he will fly home from Spain to personally deliver a petition to Federal Parliament for a better deal for riders.
“I will do whatever is necessary to give the motorcycle family group a good hearing at State or Federal levels in Government as the motorcyclist is getting a raw deal in this growing environmental conscious society,” he says.
In fact, he would even ride up to Parliament steps in his racing leathers on a moped to press the point with politicians and the public.
“I would love to do this as I am totally 100% behind all motorcyclists in Australia to get a better deal for riders and help the environment,” he says.
Click here to sign the petition which calls for the following:
- Lower the cost of powered two-wheel registration and compulsory third party insurance ($50 – 50cc, $100 – LAMS, $200 – Open standardise across all states);
- 50cc scooters, mopeds, and equivalent electric bikes able to be ridden on a car licence Australia-wide;
- Incentives for commuters to buy electric-powered bikes through green fund rebates (as per current solar rebates) and no stamp duty charges;
- National exemption from motorway, bridge, and tunnel toll charges; and
- Free parking and footpath parking, except in public thoroughfares and walkways.
“Motorcycles are my love and passion as I own many bikes that need management and service regularly,” Wayne says.
“I am appalled by the rising costs that all motorcyclists must endure when motorcycles have zero impact on our roads, highways, and infrastructure and emit considerable less pollution than cars, trucks, and buses in our cities, urban areas, and country.”
Wayne says he “firmly believes” that getting kids on to e-bikes and mopeds will lead to better safety and more future riders.
“In Spain, Italy, and some other countries, you can start riding at 14 years of age which creates huge sales of scooters and mopeds and biking for the younger and middle-aged population as it provides independence and low-cost travel, easy parking with Covid-19 distancing which is safer than public transport,” he says.
“I firmly believe in this system that Europe has adopted many decades ago as it gives the young more responsibility and a sense of independence at an early age but of course they must get some training and pass the road rules test but they can only ride 50cc mopeds, scooters or the equivalent 1500W in electric mopeds all limited to 45km/h.
“These types of mopeds or scooters are permitted in Europe for car drivers to use with current car driver licence as easy and low-cost transport.”
In Australia, only Queensland, Western Australia, South Australiana, and the Northern Territory allow drivers to ride mopeds without getting a motorcycle licence.
Wayne says mopeds and e-bikes are continuing to grow across Europe as a cheap form of transport with no parking issues in cities and urban areas where they can park on the footpaths as long, they are not impeding or blocking pedestrians or traffic flow.
Wayne has appeared in several videos promoting the petition.
More videos will be rolled out over the next four weeks through Facebook and YouTube.
Better Deal: