Landmark agreement on the issue of legitimising filtering

[19andrew59]

Your thoughts? Any hope here in WA?

A memorandum of understanding between the major riders’ groups on a proposal to recognise and legitimise filtering at a national level. In a landmark agreement on the issue of legitimising filtering, the Motorcycle Riders Association Vic (MRAV), Australian Motorcycle Council (AMC), Victorian Motorcycle Council (VMC) and the Australian Riders’ Division (ARD) (of Motorcycling Australia) have co-signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to support the proposal put forward late last year to VicRoads by the ARD.
The proposal calls for the recognition and legitimising of filtering at a national level, but has a larger objective of informing drivers and requiring them to look for motorcycles as part of their shared responsibilities.
“At the moment, official driver safety publications advise drivers on sharing road space with trams, trucks and bicycles, but provide no advice on how to behave with motorcycles,” said Rob Smith, the manager of the ARD. “There is no empirical evidence anywhere that filtering is dangerous and the benefits to the driving community and the wider community are being ignored for no good reason.”
Following the preparation and submission of an initial proposal, the ARD is in the process of preparing a second paper that hopes to address the call for a more compelling case following a recent meeting between interested parties and VicRoads.
“We’ve run an on-line petition to gauge support and the results are overwhelming, riders want something that is practised every day without drama to be recognised and officially sanctioned. With the support of the rider reps, we’re confident that we can present a good case,” Smith said.
Historically rider groups have been fragmented, a situation that has meant a lack of coordination and communication, certainly in the eyes of government and authorities.
“There has never been a safer time to be a rider than today and achieving recognition of filtering can only make things safer.” Peter Baulch, Chairman of the Victorian Motorcycle Council, believes the agreement is a significant step forward. “The Memorandum of Understanding unites us in a common purpose and clearly shows that the ARD can provide vital support for rider representatives.”
The agreement also means that in order to achieve a consistent message on the issue of filtering, the signatories will refer all media inquiries relating to filtering to Smith.

Landmark agreement on filtering issue

[Groz]

Wait..im dumb as shit...does this mean its legal now? And yes I read the whole thing

[Big_Dave]

If it is they'd never tell us

[filbert]

It's already legal in WA but what they're proposing is making it legal and removing grey areas in their states legislation as well as educating motorists on how it works so that it is accepted and to make it safer for riders.

[kooR]

Who cares if its legal we'll do it anyway cos we can, thats the freedom of it all.

Ahhh, the freedom.

[filbert]

Who cares if its legal we'll do it anyway cos we can, thats the freedom of it all.

Ahhh, the freedom.

You know legal means that you can do it? right? You're not being a rebel by doing it

[Mo-Fo]

“There is no empirical evidence anywhere that filtering is dangerous

On the contrary, I think not allowing filtering is dangerous. In my years on the road I've been rear ended 3 times while stopped in stationary traffic, each time by women who obviously were paying more attention to their makeup in the mirror or something rather than the stopped traffic in front of them. All 3 times I was in a car, but what if I was on a bike? I would say that allowing filtering saves lives. Plus there's also the positive aspect of reducing traffic congestion.

[dadwantsafyabl4de2]

Don't like their chances. On Wednesday, I am pretty sure I heard WAPOL on 6PR indicating a move to make it illegal nationally. No other details given.

Probably easier and cheaper to make it illegal here in WA, than to promote its legality and retrain roadusers nationally that already believe it to be illegal (perhaps a majority of them). That is, amended laws that require no promotion - just a potential increase in infringements in WA.

I hope I am wrong.

[kooR]

Yep I know right, Im a rebel.

Hardcore

[R160]

Govt cant even sort out the AS helmets issue, nationwide filtering laws HA!

[Uncle Flash]

Can you imagine how pissed off the other states car drivers would be if they were suddenly told that it's okay to filter? They'll be doing their best to make sure nobody passes!

[shmoo]

maybe i'm reading this incorrectly, but to me it seems that this story is a whole lot of nothing. It is simply a number of groups who claim to represent motorcyclists, agreeing on a common approach. It has nothing to do with any arm of government organisation. It's not like the motorcycling bodies are agreeing with a government proposal, they are simply agreeing with each other!

[darkfibre]

Wait..im dumb as shit...does this mean its legal now? And yes I read the whole thing

It means very little.

The landmark part of the excitement is the fact that more than one biking group can agree on what to ask for.

The're talking about the idea of educating people, when they need to educate the decision makers first.

Anyone else heard the radio advice segments, and the comments from the police when they give advice?
I think its Inspector Royal or some-such as spokesperson, and when asked about filtering gives quite accurate advice, and then gives his 'personal' opinion,
which is it should be banned, and makes comments along the lines of 'when we do ban it, bike riders will scream blue murder and point at some third world country where it is legal'

He neglects to say it is a required skill in the UK and is derogatory in making his point.

If our law enforcers have already decided on policy and use snide comments in public media, they can effect opinion and also give the policy makers the idea its a majority view.

[shmoo]

Inspector Royal

hehe sounds like a limited edition burger at Maccas.

[D'Artagnan]

They won't ever outlaw it as it would mean all those cagers who split past mopeds / pushbikes, i.e. don't completely leave their lane, would get booked. It's just never articulated that way as it gives them room to bash motorcyclists. If you point out that more cars 'split' than bikes, they soon shut up.

[woody_5755]

They won't ever outlaw it as it would mean all those cagers who split past mopeds / pushbikes, i.e. don't completely leave their lane, would get booked. It's just never articulated that way as it gives them room to bash motorcyclists. If you point out that more cars 'split' than bikes, they soon shut up.

This.