ROAD NEWS

The proposed registration levy is looking like a steep hike, adding costs and basically deterring folk from either riding or registering their motorcycles. In a country that is so suited to bikes and congestion issues that nobody seems to want to fix, the smaller and more agile mode of transport that is massive around the world is going to get very expensive very soon – unless the rego freeze protest attracts enough attention by those who make such rules. Those decisions are based on modelling and to be brutally honest, we have seen how‘ modelling’ can be twisted, tweaked and some results are so far from the mark that you wonder what game they thought they were playing. Based on assumptions that the figures they get are correct, the trajectory is being questioned and no solid evidence is being supplied in response to requests. MAGNZ is asking for the figures and facts, not to evade paying our way in the world, just to try to unravel things like who causes the accidents and are larger bikes really so much more dangerous? Not unreasonable requests but getting responses is, apparently, a lot harder than it ought to be. Richard Tohu, of Motorcycle Advocacy Group New Zealand( MAGNZ) is asking the questions on behalf of motorcyclists, hoping to avoid a predicted 68 percent rise over the next couple of years, adding $ 378 or so to the cost to register a motorcycle.

The worry is the cost either putting people off the congestion assisting mode of transport altogether, or non-compliance and all that comes with that scenario. Riders will be heading to VTNZ offices around the country on March 28. VTNZ doesn’ t make the rules but they are where the fees are collected. By not registering your bike for a period, the financial reduction may give officials the reality check needed for them to rethink the decision. If less bikes are registered year-round, their take will actually reduce, not increase. Their modelling will fail and maybe, just maybe, they will look at the bigger picture. Worth a shot? Join the ride, use the hold function on registration and deny funds to the beaurocrats. You can literally register your motorcycle for a day, a week, a month, whatever, so you can see how the protest is aimed. Also of concern is the fact that NZTA has taken over control of speed cameras from the police. They have then appointed Acusensus, a private AI traffic enforcement company, to run the cameras in what is a $ 100,000,000 contract. That company has also publicly stated its intention to expand detection and enforcement capabilities. Who are they, you ask? Check out MAGNZ on the web and find out all the details and support their drive to keep the cost of motorcycling reasonable and, well, fair.

70 KIWI RIDER