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Lisa Carty, NSW Political Editor SMH They are smaller and lighter than cars, and produce fewer emissions, but their riders pay the same road tolls as the drivers of heavier gas-guzzlers. Now motorcyclists are fighting back with a demand the State Government reward them for making less impact on the roads and the environment.
A proposal by the Greens, backed by the Motorcycle Council of NSW, would give riders lower tolls and better parking in congested areas.
Motorcyclist Colin Dawson, who helped formulate the policy, said a trip to North Sydney from his Bella Vista home near Blacktown cost him $3 in petrol but $14 in tolls for the M2 and the Lane Cove Tunnel.
He said it simply made no sense to charge identical tolls for motorcycles and cars: "It's insane the toll for a 200-kilogram bike is the same as for a three-tonne four-wheel-drive."
Fellow motorcyclist Simon Disney said he would never see his children during the week if he relied on public transport to get between his Hornsby Heights home and work in the city.
"Governments pay a lot of lip service to reducing greenhouse emissions," he said. "If they were serious, they could recognise motorcycles and scooters as low-emission vehicles and make their use more affordable by taxing and tolling them less."
As well as reduced tolls, more parking was needed for motorcycles because most spots were taken by 7.15am, he said. "It's unfair that tolls, which were intended to be based on weight and the damage done to roads, are not lower for bikes.
"There needs to be an audit of nooks and crannies and basements and areas under overpasses, which would be suitable for bike parking."
Motorcycle Council of NSW chairman Guy Stanford said tolls for motorcycles used to be less than for cars but that had changed with the Sydney Harbour Tunnel. A legislative quirk in that construction deal meant that suddenly bikes and cars paid the same toll. "Motorcyclists are happy to pay a toll but it should be fair," Mr Stanford said.
Latest statistics show motorcycle sales are booming as commuters try to cut their petrol bills.
Figures from the Federated Chamber of Automotive Industries show sales rose by 9 per cent last year compared with 2006, up to almost 130,000.
Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said climate change and rocketing petrol prices meant motorcyclists deserved a new deal, with their tolls cut by half. Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal refused to comment on motorcycle tolls, and said parking was a matter for local councils.
published 20/06/2008 |