Three Strikes Protest Run, 5 May

Published on 19th April 2011 10:03

277 Comments

Support the three strikes demonstration ride
Thursday 5th May 12 noon

The government has struck out at us three times now. We will not tolerate this any longer, and it is time we showed them!

What they have done:

1) Used bikers as a smokescreen to mask the introduction of risk based levies, and massive levy increases.
2) Attempted to justify the hike with misleading statistics and unjustified financial model changes.
3) Ramped up roadside 'safety' checks - in reality poorly disguised rego and WOF checks - and now the introduction of demerits for unlicensed vehicles.
What they deliberately overlook:

They tout the risk based system as being fairer for everyone, by arbitrarily creating different road user groups and charging based on the likely treatment cost. Well many of us own multiple vehicles, so appear in those groups and pay more than once. How is it fair we pay multiple levies yet are only eligible for a single treatment? How can they justify a minimum three month on hold period, when that makes it so expensive to be law abiding with infrequently ridden bikes? And to assume all drivers in each class have the same level of risk is at the very least idiotic, if not irresponsible; with the implication that safer vehicles are more important than safer drivers. The myriad of different variables needed to create a truly fair risk based system would create massive administrative overheads to process. This is a system that is not required, not wanted and moves ACC yet further away from the Woodhouse principles towards private insurance.

What we demand they do:

1) Remove the vehicle-based levies, to be replaced with a fuel-based levy collection system as a first step, ultimately returning to the Woodhouse Principles.
2) The minimum on-hold period of three months to be removed.
3) All political parties make their stance known about ACC: whether they are in favour of the no-fault Woodhouse system, if they agree with the move to full future funding, where they stand on risk-based levies and if they would agree to private insurers in the system.

What can you do?

Support the three strikes demonstration ride; this will take place on Thursday 5th May 12 noon. The idea is that you meet up with other protesters, ride together to the local ACC offices, then ride to the National party offices (because we all know who is really behind this crap). At both locations you will arrange yourselves to present a smokescreen of motorcycles: we’ll let them see us and hear us! There will be a letter to noisily deliver to each location stating our grievances and demands. Meeting points to be announced when finalised.

Currently we have ride coordinators for Auckland, Wellington and Tauranga if you would like to organise one in your region let us know!

_{This article was originally published in forum thread:

Three Strikes Protest Run, 5 May
started by
MAG-NZ Inc} _{View original post}

Categories:
Protests

273 Comments

oneofsix - 29th April 2011, 18:27
- Reply
Originally Posted by Mom

How about you get involved? How many times do smart ideas get talked about in the context someoen else should DO IT! FFS! Get involved, dont sit back telling others what they should do and how to do it. No fucking wonder things never get done. The ones that do all the work get pissed off with the talkers, the talkers do nothing.

+1 but you forgot the naysayers and the doom and gloom brigade. I m not an organiser, which I recognise but I can and will ride in support and support those that do organise.

Mom - 29th April 2011, 18:30
- Reply
Originally Posted by oneofsix

+1 but you forgot the naysayers and the doom and gloom brigade. I m not an organiser, which I recognise but I can and will ride in support and support those that do organise.

Which is commendable indeed, but I ask you how can anyone support this protest ride? Why would you target an ACC office anyway? The staff there are simply employees.

I work in Albany now, but my lunch break does not allow for a 2 hour trip away on my bike. This one will be a fail BIG TIME!

Oblivion - 29th April 2011, 18:35
- Reply
Originally Posted by Mom

Which is commendable indeed, but I ask you how can anyone support this protest ride? Why would you target an ACC office anyway? The staff there are simply employees.

I work in Albany now, but my lunch break does not allow for a 2 hour trip away on my bike. This one will be a fail BIG TIME!

Just take a loooong...eh....Toilet break. You can fit through the windows can't you?

nosebleed - 29th April 2011, 18:38
- Reply
Originally Posted by Mom

There were several thousand cyclists prepared to join forces with MAG, opportunity lost yet again.

Who? When? Where? Damn, I missed the post advising us of this opportunity.

MAG-NZ Inc - 29th April 2011, 19:07
- Reply
Due to lack of interest and unforeseen unavailability of some key organisers, the event is canned. This doesn't mean we are letting this crap slide, but we will not undertake protest action without significant numbers. Thanks and apologies to those who were planning to support this action, no doubt we will find other things for you to do in future!

oneofsix - 29th April 2011, 19:15
- Reply
Originally Posted by MAG-NZ Inc

Due to lack of interest and unforeseen unavailability of some key organisers, the event is canned. This doesn't mean we are letting this crap slide, but we will not undertake protest action without significant numbers. Thanks and apologies to those who were planning to support this action, no doubt we will find other things for you to do in future!

Fatt Max - 29th April 2011, 20:10
- Reply
Originally Posted by MAG-NZ Inc

Due to lack of interest and unforeseen unavailability of some key organisers, the event is canned. This doesn't mean we are letting this crap slide, but we will not undertake protest action without significant numbers. Thanks and apologies to those who were planning to support this action, no doubt we will find other things for you to do in future!

Dont apologise for trying to do something guys, you should be at the very least applauded for making an effort. Keep on keeping on I say and fecking good luck to you.

Maha - 29th April 2011, 20:14
- Reply
Perhaps try something with the ''Riders Are Voters''...something new/something that will bring alive the mongrel that once was. Its not difficult...
It is an Election year after all.

Mom - 29th April 2011, 20:37
- Reply
Originally Posted by Oblivion

Just take a loooong...eh....Toilet break. You can fit through the windows can't you?

There is no way I would "sneak" out of work, I owe my employers far better loyalty than that.

Seems this is a no issue anyway, MAG have canned the protest due to lack of support.

Gearup - 29th April 2011, 20:48
- Reply
Originally Posted by Mom

How about you get involved? How many times do smart ideas get talked about in the context someoen else should DO IT! FFS! Get involved, dont sit back telling others what they should do and how to do it. No fucking wonder things never get done. The ones that do all the work get pissed off with the talkers, the talkers do nothing.

So why does MAG promote itself as the Motorcycle Action Group then?

I was asked to give some ideas (Talking) which is better than slagging off. That equates to doing nothing as far as I'm concerned.

Gearup - 29th April 2011, 21:14
- Reply
Originally Posted by chasio

Spot the difference:
- emotive issue for a small number of people (for now) largely ignored by the press: ACC
- emotive issue for a huge number of people stoked up by the press: mining on DoC land

There's your answer. No marketing we can afford is going to motivate 30,000 people to walk down Queen Street over ACC. If you have a cunning plan for a viral approach not suitable for a public forum, please contact MAG-NZ!

Of course, when the deal is done and we kiss ACC goodbye, maybe we could find enough motivated people. But by then it will be too late.

That is not to say there is nothing we can do and smaller (guerilla?) action can be a thorn in National's side and might keep them form charging headlong along their chosen path (or so I can hope). But mass public action is not in our grasp and the pollies will be very careful not to do anything that might get Bikoi numbers going again. Expect gradual chipping away, like at diesels and work trucks.

Who's next?

Sure, there was a bit of emotion involved but from what I gathered people just didn't want the bastards to get away with it.

chasio - 29th April 2011, 21:32
- Reply
Originally Posted by Gearup

...people just didn't want the bastards to get away with it.

I have to agree with you there. And the thing with the emotion was that it was strong enough to get people off their arses and out on the streets.

It's disappointing but given the feedback and the situation for this run, putting it off and re-planning something else makes sense. Try, try again, and all that.

Mom - 30th April 2011, 08:14
- Reply
Originally Posted by Gearup

So why does MAG promote itself as the Motorcycle Action Group then?

I was asked to give some ideas (Talking) which is better than slagging off. That equates to doing nothing as far as I'm concerned.

That is a question you will have to ask of MAG. I am no longer involved with the organisation.

Maha - 30th April 2011, 10:46
- Reply
Originally Posted by Gearup

So why does MAG promote itself as the Motorcycle Action Group then?

I was asked to give some ideas (Talking) which is better than slagging off. That equates to doing nothing as far as I'm concerned.

Talking? there was always too much talking and not enough doing within the committee forum, some even said at one stage it was getting like KB.
I will be very suprised to see any public action from MAG before October rolls around.
This attempt proves/confirms alot to me...
Dissapointing really, small steps and all that. They couldn't even carry this through.
In my opinoin, the was always too many cooks in the kitchen...
MAG needed to be scaled down, and that has happened.
Unfortunately, the ones that left were the ones that needed to stay.
I am still a paid member and have yet to resign from the committee in order with the rules that were set out in the begining.
MAG need to prove thier worth sooner rather than later.
Why did people hand over $20 in the first place?
Because they were lead to believe that MAG was going to get out there kick some arse. That wont happen, talk all you want......its cheap enough.
We tried on a couple of occassions to get members involved with social/charity runs but, to be honest, if it were not for the committee member turning out, things would have been pretty grim.

phill-k - 30th April 2011, 11:12
- Reply
Originally Posted by Maha

With the right people behind an idea, it takes bugger all for it to be a success..

That is only part of the answer - the "idea" has to have the potential of success as well, expecting a large turnout for a protest on a weekday was always going to fail.

Maha - 30th April 2011, 11:20
- Reply
Originally Posted by phill-k

That is only part of the answer - the "idea" has to have the potential of success as well, expecting a large turnout for a protest on a weekday was always going to fail.

My sig applies to what I do, not what MAG or anyone else does.

But you are right.

bogan - 30th April 2011, 11:26
- Reply
Originally Posted by phill-k

That is only part of the answer - the "idea" has to have the potential of success as well, expecting a large turnout for a protest on a weekday was always going to fail.

The bikoi was on a tues, bit more fired up back then though, obviously we underestimated the apathy around. We've learnt from this attempt though, and will make it easier for bikers next time.

phill-k - 30th April 2011, 11:34
- Reply
Originally Posted by bogan

The bikoi was on a tues, bit more fired up back then though, obviously we underestimated the apathy around. We've learnt from this attempt though, and will make it easier for bikers next time.

Not sure you can necessarily put it all down to apathy, week days for most who are employed are always going to be difficult especially in today's economic climate.

Maha - 30th April 2011, 14:02
- Reply
Originally Posted by phill-k

Not sure you can necessarily put it all down to apathy, week days for most who are employed are always going to be difficult especially in today's economic climate.

If people are passionate about something they will make it happen no matter what.
Key now is, to fire up that passion/mongrel attitude (again) and make it happen...
I said earlier, its not difficult, you just have to know which buttons to push.
The ACC bla bla is about as enticing and attractive as horse shit.
A very small percentage may still care and that in itself is just not enough.
Bikers will react, just not to that saga.
Give them something else, and they will back you.

Gearup - 30th April 2011, 17:12
- Reply
Originally Posted by chasio

I have to agree with you there. And the thing with the emotion was that it was strong enough to get people off their arses and out on the streets.

It's disappointing but given the feedback and the situation for this run, putting it off and re-planning something else makes sense. Try, try again, and all that.

Ok, if you say it's not a go with the mass market then perhaps more of a guerilla approach could produce results.

History is full of success stories using this strategy but it's a fine line to "ride" obviously.

What did you have in mind and what would be the objective given that it sounds as if the ACC issue is becoming a bore.