Gareth Morgan in the Herald on ACC levies for bikers

[HenryDorsetCase]

Don't forget it is 30 per bike, per year. Maybe we just lack guidance into how best to effect such a change. They should make some organisation to figure this stuff out for us right?

I heard they have lamingtons. They arent cheap.

[flyingcrocodile46]

I think it is you who is confused by the technicalities of the no fault system. While no-fault technically means what you describe, the mandate for no-fault came from the people (I forget the proper word for this), it only works in a socialist system, where people pay more according to their means, than their risk. Obviously, as you have seen, the people will no longer be happy with the 'no fault' aspect if we are charged more for being victims.
I'd also like to add, instead of insulting bikers by inflating the accident stats and telling us to get real, or get a grip. Maybe you should do your job on the MOTONZ, and attempt to reduce the road toll. Failing that, step down and give somebody with the requisite skills a chance, we would like to see value for our money. I mean seriously, your articles read like they were written by 13 year olds, the 'agree with me or you're an idiot' tone only shows you in a bad light.

http://garethsworld.com/park-up-emotion/

Yep, read it and agree whole heartedly that many motorcyclists think that MOTO NZ is an organisation set up "for them".
When patently we know it is NOT.
it is set up to help the ACC's rape of our levies seem fairer by making it look like they care and have given motorcyclists something to do.
Correct me if I'm wrong Gareth.
About the risk assessment being changed years ago to reflect motorcyclists extra risk.
Crap Gareth, it happened in 2009 when they cried ACC is broke and people who cost us more to fix are from now on going to pay more, because that's fair!
The Govt of the day ( Nat's) made it look like they were finally bring bikes into line with other road users, when in fact what they were doing was making us the first target, if they got us dried out over a barrel the rest would be easy.They played on the general public's dislike of a minority of bikers who have always been fools and idiots and sold the whole country a pup!.
Now here we are.
This is KB, a dangerous place at any time, you and Mrkiwi have come here ostensibly to see if you can get us to help you.
In reality you are here bashing us and telling us we need to get our injury rate down.
OK, I can live with that and don't disagree that, that would be a good start.
But don't for one moment think that we are all going to go off spouting that Gareth and the MOtONZ council are right, that the figures are correct because we too have done our homework and we know the lies and mistruths are multiplying and that addition is being aided by you guys.
You mention things that this council of yours is doing, all of it has been started years ago by bike organisations and council engineers and roading officials who gave a damn, nothing that you have come up with , at least to date is new and acceptable.
If there is new and exciting stuff that might make us a happier bunch, please, feel free to tell us.
Give us a spiel about Hi Viz and recommend it be done and God help you Gareth Morgan, it does nothing except add cost to an already expensive mode of transport.
Oh, yes while I'm at it.
Bikes are for you ( your adventures make wonderful reading your charity's aided and funded by riding around the world are duly noted) and I'd wager most if not all of the MOTIO NZ council are a play thing, something to be dragged out of the garage everytime it's not raining and you have nothing else to do except go for a ride.
Well , News Flash, many of us here have and do rely on our bikes for daily transport, every day regardless of weather or traffic conditions.
For most of us a bike is NOT a luxury, for most of us our salary's are not in the 6 figure bracket, yet this seems to be the slant from you and Govt when they speak of us publicly.
Change just that and I'd be a little more inclined to listen.

Make car(oh and Truck drivers who cant see headlights at 75 meters) drivers aware of bikes, make the govt some recommendations that others haven't already done and perhaps we'll tolerate you're being there to spend "our" bloody thieved $30.00 each, on each and every bike we own.
Stop them from making year long rego compulsory as I'm sure they are about to do.
Make a damned difference that we can see works and we'll help.
Stop telling us we're idiots and don't know what to do.
Make govt see that given the right incentives Bikers will clean up their own backyard.
But to do that you guys need to be disbanded and the Govt needs to put the funds and the assistance of each and every roading contractor and council in the hands of a duly elected national group of actual motorcyclists.
People who don't live in glass bowls on mountain tops, who do know what it's like to ride on NZ's shit roads with other motorists who know they can run us off the road and won't get caught.
There you go a reasoned and non derogatory response.

Bloody good posts from both of you. The best I have seen on the subject. Well done

I think you're doing the job for him quite nicely Mark.

No dickwad. You don't think at all. You thought - you made up your mind - then closed it.
You're as much use to your own cause as steam is to shit.

[MrKiwi]

http://garethsworld.com/park-up-emotion/

...
This is KB, a dangerous place at any time, you and Mrkiwi have come here ostensibly to see if you can get us to help you.
In reality you are here bashing us and telling us we need to get our injury rate down.
....

Where is it that I'm bashing you?

[Katman]

You're as much use to your own cause as steam is to shit.

I'm good at attracting flies.

[caseye]

Ain't that the truth! LOL play nice now fella's.

[tri boy]

Ok, it's about time a stoopid ol slow rider explained things real simple to those that "think" they have a handle on this ACC/Rego levy thing.

Fact. I have six bikes that used to get registered all year, every year, because it was a reasonable cost in relation to the amount of use/ pleasure they supplied.

Fact. Idiots down in the nations capital got out of control re charges to rego.

Fact. I stopped paying rego, (but still ride).

Fact. They have missed out on any contribution from myself, and I am picking hundreds, if not thousands of others.

Fact. I will not pay them any rego fees until they correct the mistake they made.

Fact.Being in a govt dept, or on an elected committee does not always mean you have common sense.

[scumdog]

The Gov't don't give a fat rats arse if every motorbike disappeared overnight.

Binning riders cost too much to fix up and it doesn't matter WHO causes the crash - at a given speed a rider normally wrecks himself more than a car-driver does at that speed.

That's the reality folks, enjoy your ride.

[scumdog]

Ok, it's about time a stoopid ol slow rider explained things real simple to those that "think" they have a handle on this ACC/Rego levy thing.

Fact. I have six bikes that used to get registered all year, every year, because it was a reasonable cost in relation to the amount of use/ pleasure they supplied.

Fact. Idiots down in the nations capital got out of control re charges to rego.

Fact. I stopped paying rego, (but still ride).

Fact. They have missed out on any contribution from myself, and I am picking hundreds, if not thousands of others.

Fact. I will not pay them any rego fees until they correct the mistake they made.

Fact.Being in a govt dept, or on an elected committee does not always mean you have common sense.

Fact. I will pay for any hospital bill I incur while arsing off my bike.

[tri boy]

Thats a crock scumdog, and you know it.
Anyway, in thirty odd years of riding, I personally have cost the NZ medical system zilch, narda, nil.
Sheesh, coppa's.

[scumdog]

Thats a crock scumdog, and you know it.
Anyway, in thirty odd years of riding, I personally have cost the NZ medical system zilch, narda, nil.
Sheesh, coppa's.

It's getting it in writing that you'll NEVER cost them anything that's the tricky bit.

And I was a freezing worker for longer than I've been a plod - thar's where i learned my cynicism, tact and subtleness...

[caseye]

"And I was a freezing worker for longer than I've been a plod - thar's where i learned my cynicism, tact and subtleness..."

Yeah Right, Tui's anyone?
The disease doesn't start until ewes becomes one.

[mashman]

The reality, from a half-wit, is simple and it has been said over and over. People do not go out with the specific purpose of crashing. In fact they go out and do exactly the same things they've done for years, riding the same roads at the same speeds, trying to be as careful as they can and believing that they are within their capability... and why wouldn't they? especially if they've 99.9% of their riding time upright and on 2 wheels (in some cases 1, meh). If they're unlucky they'll have an accident. Oh dear, I dropped the A bomb.

Much to the amusement of a half-wit, some people believe that this can be legislated for , some people believe that accidents can be avoided and now we have people "thinking" that because we can save ?$2.00? per week we'll suddenly become better riders? All of these positions fail to address the obvious flaw. If we haven't crashed yet, or even for a while, do you really think that we're going to change our riding "style"? Even us half-wits understand this concept. By all means try to stop people from crashing and I wish you luck, but if accident rates come down, I'm guessing that that'll be an accident or a serious amount of luck given some of the situations we dodge each day.

As for financial penalty. Might I ask how many people haven't paid their regos in the last few years? Do you really believe that hitting the "bad" riders in the pocket is going to do any good? or will they ignore it and keep on riding? As with trying to prevent accidents, it's a noble pursuit, but it's pissing in the wind and calling it funny tasting lemonade.

That's the reality as far as I can see... but I'm a half-wit. However I do agree Gareth on 1 thing. Money doesn't grow on trees, it's plucked out of thin air and sold on at an attractive interest rate.

[scumdog]

. In fact they go out and do exactly the same things they've done for years, riding the same roads at the same speeds, trying to be as careful as they can and believing that they are within their capability...
.

Some make no obvious effort to be safe, some don't even know how.

And at a risk of sounding like Katman, more than a few grossly over-estimate their 'capabilities'

[mashman]

Some make no obvious effort to be safe, some don't even know how.

And at a risk of sounding like Katman, more than a few grossly over-estimate their 'capabilities'

Very true. But how do you stop these people from riding in such a manner when they're not always crashing. Perhaps a bin a year is acceptable. As I said, if 99.9% of our time is being upright on two wheels, where's the need to change anything that we do?

at a given speed a rider normally wrecks himself more than a car-driver does at that speed.

That made me chuckle, cheers. A serious incident is a serious incident.

[Kickaha]

Perhaps a bin a year is acceptable.

A bin a year? put down the crack pipe bro, I'd consider a bin a decade to many