last updated 17th December 2006

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The Novocastrian Scooter Riders.

Bike Tests ---- We've got Aprilia, BMW, Honda, Harley and lots more, take a squiz.

Interviews Ex Ulysses President, Ian Rawlings---Formula Xtreme Champ, Kevin Curtain---1993 600cc Super Sport Champ, Graeme Morris---Formula Xtreme's Daniel Stauffer and Jamie Stauffer , 125cc GP ace Casey Stoner plus VTwin racer Geoff Jones .

Two Wheels Magazine December 2006

Rooth’s rantings in his recent column (TW12/06) were incisive and entertaining. We all feel the need to rage against the “powers that be” on occasions and John Rooth pretty much summed it all up.

He did highlight something very important to motorcyclists though, the proliferation of wire rope barriers along our roadways. OK, so yes it is the fault of the RTA that there is so much of it, but, we as motorcyclists and valid registered road users have failed to do something about it.

We have failed to communicate to the decision makers that this type of roadside barrier is a danger to us (the motorcyclist first) and to the majority of the road going public.

To put it into perspective, if I were to be found stringing up a wire cable across or near any thoroughfare (ala the Stone movie), the Police would arrest me and charge me with attempted manslaughter and throw me in gaol! And yet, the Roads and Traffic Authority, who claim to be our protectors, are legally allowed to erect a device which has the potential to kill some 10% of the nation’s road users. I doubt that any motorcyclist has escaped being forced from their lane by a driver who failed to check over their shoulder when they moved over. So, here we have the potential to strike a legally installed wire rope (cheese-cutter) barrier at speeds of up to 110kph.

Furthermore, I have seen photographic evidence of a large prime mover that has gone over the top of a wire rope barrier, PLUS, a small car which has gone under a wire rope barrier, and in both instances the offending vehicle has ended up in the oncoming lane. So, if wire rope barriers don’t protect the ordinary road user from large trucks and small cars (not that the small cars are any better protected themselves), then who do these so called protective wire rope barriers protect? If only half the road users are protected, why aren’t the unprotected being warned about it?

Why are these barriers still being erected? Why haven’t these barriers been properly tested for ALL road users and those findings made available to the public?

I recall a couple of years ago, that a couple of intelligent motorcycle type persons devised a way of encasing the wire ropes in a rubber sheath effectively rendering our concerns null and void, yet has their meritable idea been adopted by the RTA? Not at this stage!

There haven’t been enough questions asked regarding the RTA’s decision to use wire rope barriers. What happened? Did they sign a contract to supply so much of the stuff? I implore you to write to your local State and Federal members of Parliament. Write to the Ulysses Club, Motorcycle Councils, motoring magazines, newspapers, and the RTA, ask the questions and demand answers! Put it on your websites.

We can’t afford to keep failing!

May your lid never skid, Ian Parks

Ian Parks (0414582019)

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