2011 VACC 'Safe Routes' Scooter Rally Launch

MELBOURNE – June 10, 2011: VACC’s ‘Safe Routes’ Scooter Rally is one of the biggest dates in the scooter calendar and VACC can announce that the date for this year’s event is November 13. Riders will once again meet at Luna Park and head to Argyle Square on Lygon Street.

In its sixth year, VACC’s ‘Safe Routes’ Scooter Rally is an annual opportunity for scooter riders to promote scooters as a mode of transport. It is a social occasion and provides riders with the chance to gather and check out the Vespas, Piaggios, Lambrettas and other makes and models taking part, including electric scooters.

The Rally is also an opportunity to inform politicians, and motorists, about the role scooters play in reducing congestion and pollution and easing pressure on parking spaces.

“Scooters are undervalued as a transport solution for Victoria, and Melbourne, in particular,” VACC Executive Director, David Purchase, said.

“Scooters have a smaller carbon footprint than other vehicles and they take up less space on roads and in car parks. The Government knows this because we have told them repeatedly, however, unfortunately, often transport solutions do not go far enough in their provisions for scooter riders.

“As well as being attractive environmentally, they are also affordable. They are cheap to purchase and run, and faced with the prospect of being stuck in a traffic jam or squashed into public transport, riding a scooter to and from work appeals to commuters.

“But scooters are vulnerable and afforded little in the way of protection from our road system. If the Government developed more scooter-friendly transport policies then, we believe, more people would consider scooters as an option,” Mr Purchase said.

The Scooter Rally will be an opportunity for VACC to promote its ‘Safe Routes’ proposals, which include the following:

The implementation of designated and signed ‘safe routes’;

access by low-powered scooters to use certain designated bicycle lanes;

filtering in stationery or slow moving traffic;

boxed turns at certain busy intersections;

the introduction of six monthly registrations and dedicated scooter training courses;

car licence holders to be permitted to ride 50cc scooters, provided training is undertaken.

“VACC’s ‘Safe Routes’ Scooter Rally on November 13 is an important occasion and we invite the Victorian government to participate in order to see the true value of scooters. It is also a fun day out and a good opportunity for riders to get together and celebrate this mode of transport,” Mr Purchase said.