News

• GEARS Research Assistant (12th August) - The GEAR Study is a project to investigate the injury reduction benefits of motorcycle protective clothing in road crashes. Riders are recruited through hospitals and motorcycle crash repair services. The aim is to contact every rider who has been involved in a motorcycle or scooter crash within the ACT over a 12 month period. We require a Research Assistant to recruit and interview riders identified through hospital admission records and by referral from motorcycle crash repair shops.
• GEARS UPDATE (11th July 08)
• Participate in the GEAR STUDY - A 12 month study of protective clothing and injuries in crashes. If you or someone you know is involved in a road crash between 1 June 2008 and 31 May 2009, whether they are injured or not, please contact the GEAR study researchers.
• GEARS - GIRLS EDUCATION AND RIDING SAFETY. 20 July & 21 September 2008
• Saturday 7th June - Discovery Ride - Rob Masters will be taking this ride out leaving Robbos at 10:00 with a 09:30 form up and have a chance to have a chat and take in a coffee and some cake.  This is a no pressure ride targeted at the learner and returning rider and anyone who'd like a leisurely ride around Canberra and the nearby environs. All riders are most welcome members or not.
• Tuesday 10th June - MRA ACT General Meeting - the meeting starts at 19:30 at the Harmonie Club on Jerrabomberra Ave at Narrabundah.  We normally get there about 18:30 for dinner and a chat before the meeting. Everyone welcome to attend, become a members and have your say.
• Sunday 15th June - Social Ride - Robyn will be taking the ride down to Ulladulla for some lunch at the Harbour side Restaurant via the Clyde.  Form up at 0830 for a 0900 start at the Caltex Watson (near the large roundabout on the Federal Highway). All riders are most welcome on MRA ACT social rides members or not.
• Saturday 21st June - Discovery Ride - Pete Major will be taking this ride out leaving Robbos at 10:00 with a 09:30 form up and have a chance to have a chat and take in a coffee and some cake.  This is a no pressure ride targeted at the learner and returning rider and anyone who'd like a leisurely ride around Canberra and the nearby environs. Followed up with some low speed riding practice at EPIC. All riders are most welcome members or not.
• Saturday 5th July - Discovery Ride - Rob Masters will be taking this ride out leaving Robbos at 10:00 with a 09:30 form up and have a chance to have a chat and take in a coffee and some cake.  This is a no pressure ride targeted at the learner and returning rider and anyone who'd like a leisurely ride around Canberra and the nearby environs. All riders are most welcome members or not
• Tuesday 8th July - MRA ACT General Meeting - the meeting starts at 19:30 at the Harmonie Club on Jerrabomberra Ave at Narrabundah.  we normally get there about 18:30 for dinner and a chat before the meeting.  Everyone welcome to attend, become a members and have your say.
• Saturday 19th July - Discovery Ride - Pete Major will be taking this ride out leaving Robbos at 10:00 with a 09:30 form up and have a chance to have a chat and take in a coffee and some cake.  This is a no pressure ride targeted at the learner and returning rider and anyone who'd like a leisurely ride around Canberra and the nearby environs. Followed up with some low speed riding practice at EPIC. All riders are most welcome members or not.
• Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th July - Social Ride - Return to Tathra - Malcolm will be taking the ride down to Tathra  via an extended and entertaining route with an overnight stay at Tathra.  Following a sumptuous breakfast he will be bring the ride home via another entertaining route.  Form up at 0830 for a 0900 start at the Ampol Williamsdale.  All riders are most welcome on MRA ACT social rides members or not.  For additional details please contact Malcolm at Malcolm.Stewart @austrade.gov.au.

 

• Ride4Difference 20th April 2008 - Motorcyclist's and Motorcycle Dealers of the ACT and districts, On the 20th of April, Girls on the Move, The MRA ACT, and Ulysses are organising a charity ride to raise funds for the Day of Difference foundation. The event is now in its third year and has been growing rapidly with about 300 riders attending last years event. This year we will be honoured to have in attendance the entire Delizio family including Sophie. The ride consists of meeting up at Acton ferry terminal car park (09:30 for a 10:00 departure) and riding to Gunderoo to coincide with the Gunderoo markets. At Gunderoo the market committee has provided the motorcyclists full access to the Showground to stage any event we wish. Last year we had a Trials riding demonstration and just used the market stalls that were in attendance. This year we would like to make the event bigger and better and turn it into a Motorcyclist's picnic day. We are having a Show n' Shine as well as a Trials demonstration and have sent invitations to all the Motorcycle dealers to display their wares or just have promotional material. It would also be a great opportunity for all the clubs to put on a display to drum up membership. Entry in the Show n Shine will be $10 with half the money raised going to the Day of Difference Foundation, the remainder being returned to 1st and 2nd. Sam McCauley from Kickstart and Robbos will be sponsoring the Trophies for the first 3 places. There will be raffles on the day with great prizes (the ladies from GoT-M and Ulysses are working on those, pity the poor dealers). So mark your diaries and update your calendars, and stay tuned for more exciting updates.


• Club General Meeting 11th March - Harmonie German Club, Jerrabombera Ave, Narrabundah. Start 1930 with dinner and a chat before hand.


• The Long Discovery Ride :-). 15th March - This will be a Fish n Chip run to the Bay and will have no MOST practice afterwards. Meet up at Robbos, Canberra Ave Fyshwick at 09:00 for a 09:30 DEPARTURE. Make sure you have a full tank of fuel when you arrive at Robbos, we will have a break at Braidwood which will allow those that think they need some fuel both for themselves or their steed to fulfil their requirements. I would like some fully licensed riders to ride shotgun as the Kings is not always a nice tree hugging environment for motorcyclists. I will be pacing the ride at around the 80kph once in NSW so it will suit all levels of learner. Please let me know if you are coming e-mail or phone 0419 866 126.


• A weekend away with Malcolm - 15th and 16th of March. March's social ride will be a ride through the alpine region of Southern NSW and northern Victoria. The full details are below. DESTINATION of RIDE: Bright in Northern Victoria via the NSW Alps. Top little spot at the base of the VIC Alps. RIDE TYPE & LENGTH: 2 Dayer (Full Weekend) - Not Suitable for beginners as it involves twisty mountain roads, variable road conditions (all bitumen) and it at least 550Kms on day 1 and 475Kms on day 2. ROUTE of RIDE: Saturday - Williamsdale (start), Cooma, Jindabyne (morning tea), Khancoban, Corryong (lunch), Tallangatta, Mt Beauty, Bright Sunday - Bright, Mt Beauty, Near Tallangatta, Wodonga, Murray Valley River road, Tumbarumba (morning tea or early lunch), Kiandra, Adaminaby, Cooma, Home. ACCOMMODATION: Book your own accommodation - I suggest at: Motel Style $70 per double / twin or $50 single. At Star Motel (older, quieter & slightly larger) - 03-57551277 Or at Alpine Hotel (more modern, can be nosier and slightly smaller) - 03-57551366 These Hotel / Motels are only 100M apart in the centre of the town. Contact myself if you want to get together with another person to share a room. RSVP: To Malcolm Stewart at malcolm.stewart@austrade.gov.au or 0439-303106. No set RSVP date as it is your responsibility to book your own accommodation, would be good to let me know in advance. START TIME & PLACE: AMPOL Williamsdale @ 9.00am Saturday 15th March.


• New Snowy Mountain Saftey Brochure, here.


• Canberra Motorbike Parking can be found down the bottom of the links page.


• Discovery Ride this Saturday (16th Feb) meeting at Robbos in Fyshwick at 0930 leaving at 10:00 (10% discount off Coffee and cake) - Targeted at new and returning riders open to ALL riders.


• Social Ride this Sunday (17th Feb) - Meeting at Ampol Williamsdale at 0830 for a 0900 departure, heading for Tathra for lunch via one route and back via another, under the watchful guidance of my better half. (This ride is open to ALL riders)


• Crookwell Country Festival - 1st March, Crookwell Showground, NSW
  Bike and Car Show N Shine, Street Parade, Bands, Prizes, Bar, Trade Stalls, Trophys, Displays, Camping available. Cars and Bikes of All marques welcome.
  
  Show N Shine – Free for all competitors, assemble for Street Parade or at the showground before 3.00pm. Judging between 4.00pm- 6.00pm at showground, Presentations at 6.30 –7.30pm. Entry fee after 7.30pm ($20)
  Contact 9824 8312 for details


• Toy Run 2007 - The 2007 ToyRun held on the 8th of December was a huge success. Read all about it here.


• Children with Special needs Xmas Party - Show and Sticky :- We currently have 13 riders and machines for the show but a few more wouldn't hurt.  This is a static display where our machines become interactive with some of the loveliest children you will ever meet.  These children suffer from all forms of disabilities , (both mental and physical) and may never get up close and personal with a motorcycle, this is their chance.  Last year we had a ball, this year should be at least as good if not better.  The party is at EPIC and we normally get there at 0830 and leave when its finished.  The riders attending will get full details well before the event.


• 25th November Static Display at Tuggeranong Youth Festival – need 40 to 50 bikes. I’ll be looking for between 40 and 50 bikes and riders for a static display in support of the Tuggeranong Youth festival. The display will start at 11:00 and go to 16:00 on the Sunday. There will be heaps of activities and music happening on the day and it will provide a great venue to promote motorcycling, road safety and clubs. It is hope that a number of clubs will put their hands up as having more marques and ages of bikes would make it great. E-mails advising and requesting participation coming out soon.



• 24th Nov – Social Ride to Bombala M/C Show. Instead of the usual Sunday social ride on the 18th it is planned to head down to Bombala to support the local motorcycle community and make a fun day out of it. I’ll be hanging around the show all day to promote the MRA and the Toy Run but the remainder of the group can use the show as a launching pad for a couple of local rides prior to the ride heading back around 16:00

• Sunday 21st Oct - Eden Social Ride. At this stage the ride will be leaving Williamsdale Ampol at 0900 (arrive at 8.30) and making its way to Eden via Bombala and the Cann River/Imlay roads. Lunch will down at the wharf then heading home via the Brown. Contact Phil Dachs.


• MRA ACT TOY RUN ..................... DECEMBER 8. All Motorcyclists welcome. Meet at Old Parliament House at 9.30am for 10.00am start. Please bring donations of Toys and non-perishable Food for the Salvation Army and Cash Donations for St John's Care.  Prizes for best decorated bike and best dressed riders or pillions.  Trophy for biggest Club attendance.  Welcome to stay for a coffee afterwards. Non-motorcycle riders welcome to line the route along Adelaide / Commonwealth Aves for the parade between 10.00am & 10.30am and or join us at the presentations in Garema Pl commencing 10.30am.  Enquires Malcolm 0439 303106.
  
• Australasian Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference 2007, Melbourne, 17 - 19 October 2007. This is a three day conference which aims to focus on the application of road safety research and at practical and local levels into the future. Please visit http://www.roadsafetyconference2007.com.au/ for more information. (19 May 2007).
   
• First United Nations Global Road Safety Week, 23-29 April 2007. This initiative, which will focus on young road users, is an historic opportunity to raise the issue of road traffic injuries to a higher level and is being promoted by the Australasian College of Road Safety" (ACRS). It is expected that hundreds of initiatives - local, national, regional and global - will take place around the world, organized by governments, non-governmental organizations, United Nations and other international agencies, private sector companies, foundations and others working for safer roads. In Australia, one event will be "Fatality Free Friday", a national safety and awareness campaign, the aim of which is is to promote safe driving to the community via the media. It will start by asking all road users to focus on safe road use practices and highlight what action individuals can take to make real difference. Ultimately the goal would be to have no road deaths recorded on Fatality Free Friday. The date for this first event will be Friday 27th of April 2007 which will coincide with the first United Nations Global Road Safety Week. For more information, see the First United Nations Global Road Safety Week website. (8 March 2007).
   
• Spot a Prang. There are lies, damn lies ... and then there are statistics. This cacophony of numbers are the things that politicians and bureaucrats live on, and without which you will never win an argument - in other words, to assist the MRA help you, we need accurate and meaningful statistics. In the ACT, statistics are compiled at a number of disparate points and then consolidated into annual Road Safety reports; however, there are many crashes that never make the score sheet - eg, minor dents or scrapes, stuff that doesn't involve police, hospitals or insurance. We need to get all the facts we can, so again we need your help. The MRA wants to put together a database of crashes in the ACT, one that can be compared to the official figures and used when talking about road safety with the powers that be. What is needed is for motorcyclists to report any crashes they see to the editor of The Inside Line detailing:
  • Time and Date
  • Vehicles involved (eg, Volvo and Ford)
  • Type of crash (eg, Rear ender Ford up Volvo)
  • Location (eg, corner of Hindmarsh and Melrose Drives, Belconnen Way near GDE overpass, etc)
  • Severity: (trivial, police, ambulance, both, etc.)
  • Comments: anything else pertinent (eg, raining, night time, etc.)
  (8 March 2007).
   
• Road Surface Issues. ACT roads were the best in the nation, but this situation has slowly turned around. As vulnerable and responsible road users we have an opportunity to feed information to Roads ACT on areas where roads are posing a marked safety hazard - eg, the amputation tool kindly erected by the ACT Govt on the ends of Armco barriers and areas where the peeling surface has led to channels and the "tram-track" effect. However to keep Roads ACT (and the Government generally) on their toes, we need to identify all road hazard situations in the ACT. To do this, MRA ACT is calling on motorcyclists to forward information on road surface and other roads issues to the editor of The Inside Line, along with digital images where possible. He will then consolidate the information into a report and provide it to the Legislative Assembly and Roads ACT. Urgent issues will be immediately passed onto Roads ACT and representatives in the Assembly. Your assistance will be greatly appreciated. (8 March 2007).
   
• The Gungahlin Drive Extension and Glenloch Interchange. Work on the Gungahlin Drive Extension (GDE) continues to impact on access to Civic through the Glenloch Interchange, although most commuters will by now have found a regular alternative route. Progress can be followed on the GDE website, while maps and other details of the changed arrangements specific to the Interchange can be found here (8 February 2007).
   

Inquiries about items on this page can be directed to Peter Major, phone (02) 6207 0073.

2006 News