ACC Levies. BRONZ meeting

[Mom]

even the out of towners got a voice or two

Even Katman got the opportunity to speak.

Yeah, big ups to those that travelled to get there last night. I thought it was a good meeting, contructive and very well behaved. I am almost sorry that there was not a bit more would have been interesting to see Mr Chairman in full flight

[James Deuce]

You can argue one way or another that your big bike is not dangerous but the reality is that it is.
If you take all the big bikes off the road and put everyone on 250s or 400s it would no doubt result in less accidents and we are fooling ourselves by trying to say any differently.
Acc doesnt care about whether or not you are more comfortable on a 1000cc and find it more pleasurable to ride. Their interests are in keeping the accident rate down (or so they say)

However just becuase this may be the case it does not mean that we should be discriminated against just because the activity is dangerous.

Acc is fundamentally a no fault, no liability scheme and is a corrupt one at that in that we have always payed higher levies than other modes of transport. There is no increase for drunk drivers who cause massive damage in collisions nor for people who drive their car into a crowd of people.
If big bikes are dangerous then perhaps acc should look at providing further training to make it safer. If it is an issue of wrecklessness then perhaps it needs to be policed more thoroughly.

It's not Acc's problem that we enjoy riding big bikes but it is not OUR problem that they're suffering financial hardship and that they're system is flawed. So this is a fundamental question of legaility. It seems they want the best of both worlds and want no liability for people who break the law and cause accidents but take advantage of people who have ridden for a number of years claim free.

Uh, shouldn't this be the other way around?

Oh shut up.

[nodrog:Me]

.....
If you take all the big bikes off the road and put everyone on 250s or 400s it would no doubt result in less accidents and we are fooling ourselves by trying to say any differently.......

what a crock of shit, i have a 250cc motorcycle that as standard has more horsepower and is faster than a standard 1200cc harley davidson. so how does that work out in your magical world of bubblewrap and common sense?

[Damon]

You can argue one way or another that your big bike is not dangerous but the reality is that it is.
If you take all the big bikes off the road and put everyone on 250s or 400s it would no doubt result in less accidents and we are fooling ourselves by trying to say any differently.

I totally disagree with this statement, if you put my 1300 next to 250 or 400 in the same conditions and ridden with in the law how is my 1300 more dangerous?? the fact that it can go faster?? isn't that governed by my wrist? when I was a learner on my 30hp 250 i was far more dangerous than i am on my 180hp 1300, 6 accidents to zero confirm that, it's the size of the brain on the bike that determines the level of danger not the size of the engine

[jrandom]

The meeting and proposed protest action made the main RNZ National news bulletin at 6am.

Yeah. How about that RNZ chick standing behind me? Phwoarrrr.

Such a pity that she looked more or less appalled by the entire proceedings, not to mention repulsed by the large collection of hairy men in leather jackets. Sniff.

[StoneY]

You can argue one way or another that your big bike is not dangerous but the reality is that it is.
If you take all the big bikes off the road and put everyone on 250s or 400s it would no doubt result in less accidents and we are fooling ourselves by trying to say any differently.

I have 2 big capacity bikes
Havent even ridden anything smaller than a 350 in over 20 years!

Last accident I had that needed any ACC cover was on a 250 cc dirt bike
Over 21 years ago!

Size of the bike has no part in it once a rider is experienced enough, and there is the key to the issue
The stats dont back your viewpoint any more than they back ACC's

[jrandom]

oh man katman was there i missed him lame.

If it hadn't been past my bedtime already when the meeting finished, I would've taken Katman in tow and started introducing him to people. The reaction is always golden.

[StoneY]

I guarantee you that when such a ride takes place, at least one fuckwitt will be caught riding dangerously, thus giving ACC, the politicians and media EXACTLY what they are looking for. Happens every time.

No, the Wellington team have agreed we will shoot on the spot ANYONE who acts out during the protest ride-
I have SAS snipers in support vans to make sure!! SO BEHAVE!

Jokes aside
Seriously this is a very high concern, as the nominated Wellington BIKOI coordinator I am begging attendee's to be on good behaviour, we cant afford one maniac ruining it for us all, riding in AND going home as well

Glad to hear the meeting went well, we hope to have minutes and facts presented at BRONZ for the meeting tonight at Parrot n Jigger

[ital916]

Katman was there! Oh man....

Jrandom was there tooo!..I missed all the A list kb celebrities.

And yes, that RNZ lady was...

I laffed when it was called upon by one irate gentleman that we should take "militant" action.

[Mom]

Here is a link to the Campbell Live show last night.

http://www.3news.co.nz/BRONZ-Preside...4/Default.aspx

[Pixie]

Food for thought. What is an ACC bike claim ? Its not just accidents that add to the stats.

Real Example.
My last bike was a Xt660, when I went to look at it, I wore shorts. The previous owner had just done a warm up ride. I leaned over the bike and burnt my leg on the exhaust. The burn was bad enough to have to go to A&E and have it treated, with several follow up re-dressings.

The incident was put down as a MotorBike related ACC injury. So was added to the stats for Bikes. The bike was parked, I have never turned the key and or even sat on it. But ACC added one more claim to the stats.

The nurse who was treating me informed me this was a common type of burn, and even showed me hers.

At the time everyone laughed at my story.

Go figure, if I have burnt myself on a cigarette, no one would be making me pay $500 a year more and I would still be laughing.

A lesson to be learnt here: you should have said you burnt your leg on a lawn mower,or a satanic sacrifice or a hot skank or something

[DidJit]

I laffed when it was called upon by one irate gentleman that we should take "militant" action.

I think what that "irate gentleman" meant was that we, as a collective, should stand firm for our cause/goals. We should not fold at Key's first signs of, "Oh ok, it is a little exorbitant — how about a $400 increase/token gesture/privatisation instead?" We should not be afraid to make our point — even if it does put a few whingers out. We should not just ride one little protest ride and leave it at that.

Look at the truckees' protest — with enough forewarning and organisation, people were happy enough to let them have their day in the sun. I don't remember a huge uproar decrying their use of a motorway blockade strategy.

So what that gentleman was suggesting was that we should also not be afraid to use such tactics. It goes against our laid-back Kiwi nature to deliberately piss off our fellow Kiwis, but when it is something this important — and there is more at stake here than just the levy hikes — then we really need to make a stand.

If we can educate the greater public and show them how they will also lose out, they will be in full support of our action — hell, they'll probably join our rides!

[Pixie]

I think the most effective protest would be mass refusal to register our bikes.
It wouldn't piss off Joe Public.
It worked in France,but I guess they are made of sterner stuff.

[Okey Dokey]

Yeah. How about that RNZ chick standing behind me? Phwoarrrr.

Such a pity that she looked more or less appalled by the entire proceedings, not to mention repulsed by the large collection of hairy men in leather jackets. Sniff.

Nearly the first thing she said on the report this morning was "...motorcyclists, most of them wearing leather, ..." She seemed to emphasize the fact that the meeting had opted for disruption to the public as being the chosen option. I was dissappointed with that spin. It sort of emphasised the "outlaw" bikers image, more likely to upset people than get them on our side. *sigh*

[DidJit]

She (or her editor) obviously does not like bikers and their stereotypical image. It would be beneficial to us if anyone here with (biker friendly) media contacts/journalists could keep them in the loop and get them onside. The agendas from on high are to play on the "outlaw" image, so as to discredit us as a whole.