About us

The Motorcycle Riders Association of the ACT

The MRA ACT was formed in the early 70’s to represent motorcycle riders and protect their rights and independence. Such things as mandatory lights on, front number plates, and crash helmets led to motto “Let Those Who Ride Decide”. The MRA ACT worked with other jurisdictions to get rid of the mandatory lights on and front number plates, but unfortunately the hard wired switch had become the norm. The Crash helmet battle was lost, however in hindsight this has saved many thousands of us from debilitating injuries (occasionally losing can be a good thing).

The MRA ACT has evolved over the decades to provide a unified voice to the Territory Government of the day and to join with other state representative bodies (MRA’s and MCC’s) in forming the Australian Motorcycle Council.

The MRA ACT’s Objectives:
Represent all riders irrespective of gender, age, club affiliation, or type of powered two wheeled vehicle they ride;

Raise the profile of motorcycling in the broader community;

Ensure equal rights to the use of the Roads and Regions of the ACT;

Improve road safety for riders but not at the expense of undermining a riders right to choose;

Engender motorcycling as a safe, efficient and greener alternative form of sustainable transport.

The MRA ACT encourages all riders to support our work in achieving the organisation’s objectives and has memberships for individuals and affiliations for clubs to join the cause.
Work the MRA ACT has done and is doing:
Lobbying Government for more and better parking:
We now have new parking facilities in Civic, upgraded parking facilities in Civic, Woden, Gungahlin and Erindale.
The MRA has been instrumental in getting a working group together to review footpath parking initially in Civic.
Improving Road Safety outcomes for riders:
The MRA ACT serves on the Black Spot Committee; Motorcycle User Group and the peak advisory body of the Road User Working Group. We are also represented at the ACT Chief Minister’s Road Safety Round table voicing the concerns of the rider with sub-standard roads and road side furniture;
The MRA ACT is regularly in the media voicing concerns of riders and looking to improve our lot;
We are currently pushing for frangible/flexible poles for signs and push bike grab rails; fitment of under run rails on W-Beam (ARMCO); and fibreglass frangible endplates to cover the ET 2000 (square BBQ plate on the end of the ARMCO);
Editorial comment has been provided on the new Motorcyclist’s Handbook and the Good Gear Guide, and the MRA ACT is regularly called upon to review suggested Road Rule changes;
Rider training with the MASTERS course for returning and mature aged riders which has had a positive impact on the bent and broken born again bikers, and the Ride n Thrive which is a roadcraft course for all riders.
Providing better facilities for all riders:
The MRA ACT was instrumental in getting a $500,000 grant for the establishment of a recreational off-ride riding facility. The MRA ACT is now supporting the experts in this field – the DSMRA, in delivering a riding park and facilities for those of us that choose to recreationally ride and really don’t want to register their ride or get a license, especially true if you are only 5.
Raising the profile of motorcycling:
The MRA ACT organises a number of charity and social events across the ACT:
Blanket Run
Motorcycle Awareness Week;
Toy Run
Participation in the Show n Sticky; and
Capital Rally
The MRA ACT actively support all other clubs when requested in providing their events:
Pink Ribbon Ride
Ride for Difference
Vintage and Veterans Swap Meet
Vietnam Vets Poker and Charity rides
Sustainable and greener alternative:
The MRA ACT is working actively to get motorcycles into the Sustainable Transport Plan for the ACT and is a member of the ACT e-Vehicle council working to get and keep electric motorcycles on the agenda and treated equitably.

The community knows we exist for our charity work which has grown steadily under the stewardship of our many volunteers, with rides of over 1000 riders becoming a bench mark rather than an aspiration. We actively support other organisations in their activities and combine to present successful and popular events – the Ride4Difference, Motorcycle Awareness Week are examples. With this active and proactive support and promotion the MRA ACT is and will position itself as truly representative of the motorcycling community of the ACT.

We have an expanded consulting role with the ACT Government with regards to Motorcycle Safety, social and rider development programs, Motorcycle Awareness Week, Capital Rally and charity events such as the Toy Run, Blanket Run and Show’n'Sticky.
We have embraced the other clubs in the ACT and have been rewarded by having several affiliates join us. We have raised the profile of the MRA with the government, opposition and other parties and actively represented ALL riders irrespective of the vehicle type, gender, age or club affiliation to the bureaucracy of the ACT and federally.

Examples of recent achievements are:

Revamped motorcycle parking which is easily accessible and more importantly offers a level of security
A proposal for footpath parking lodged with the ACT Government, raised enough interest to warrant a review by TAMS.
Working with the ACT Government for support for motorcycling sports in the ACT and in 2009 the MRA ACT, supporting the DSMRA, saw the opening of an off-road recreational riding facility at Fairbairn.
Maintained our commitment to road safety by getting more funds to continue the MASTERS and Ride n Thrive and have built the Discovery rides from 0 to up to 35 riders on the biggest (average and are now running two a month with more wanted.
Our social rides have been great with Rob, Phil, Malcolm and Robyn doing a brilliant job.
We’ve been in the media actively promoting safer conditions and motorcycle awareness
We participated in the first Motorcycle Road Safety Summit
We’re actively involved at two levels of stakeholder committee the first being the Motorcycle User Group (MUG) and the peak stakeholder forum the Road User Working Group as the representatives of motorcycling in the ACT. We have seen an increase in the number of meetings of the Motorcycle User Group with ACT Roads and this is indeed encouraging. Through these meetings we have provided a review of the ACT’s licensing and training and also reviewed the soon to be launched ACT Rider’s Handbook.
The relaunch of the Motorcycle Awareness Week in October 2008 was successful enough to motivate the organising team to do it all again – be there for the launch on 24th October!!
Information about frangible signage was passed by the MRA ACT to ACT Roads, and we continue to encourage riders to come to the Discovery rides, and undertake MASTERS training.
We represented riders at the Road Safety Forum and the Sustainable Transport Forum, both run by the ACT Government.

The MRA ACT meets on the second Tuesday evening of each month, at 7.30 at the Harmonie German Club in Narrabundah – please come along for a meal or a drink beforehand, and then join us for the meeting.

Dates for the diary:

Launch of the Motorcycle Awareness Week – Saturday 24th October at Ainslie Place, Civic near the conical fountain area, banners bikes and you. The Joe Rider “Spot Joe: competition will be relaunched – Joe will take to the streets again to raise awareness of motorcyclists. Following the launch, a BBQ will be held at Black Mountain Peninsula so come along and enjoy the company.
Pink Ribbon Ride – 25th October at Old Parliament House 0830 for 10:00 followed by an afternoon in the park for the family
October 29th – Thursday evening, at the Italo-Australian Club in Forrest, starting at 7.30pm A Gala Fashion Parade of Good Riding Gear for the discerning rider coupled with a great presentation from Southcare Helicopter service and a mystery guest. Gold coin donation entry.
Ride to Work Friday and Bikers Breakfast: 30th October 2009 at 0700 – at Lennox Gardens – enjoy a yummy breakfast supplied by the Vietnam Veterans Federation. The winner of the Spot Joe competition will be drawn.
BIKE FEST 2009 (yes its back being run by riders for riders): 31st October 2009 10:00 to 1700 at Sutton Road Driver Training Area. We need you to have displays, stalls and demonstrations especially Trials and DSMRA. We’ll have dealers, demo rides, specialty stalls, gear for sale, food and great coffee. CUNNING STUNTS are sponsoring the day by donating their services for the amusement of the crowd. Gold coin donation entry.
Toy Run – Saturday 12th December – meet at Old Parliament House for the ride to Garema Place
Friday 8th Jan to Sunday 10th January Capital Rally