Motorcycle Protest Ride, Labour Weekend Saturday

25th October 2002

Press statement re Motorcycle Protest Ride, Labour Weekend Saturday

The National Committee of the Ulysses Club of New Zealand is well aware of the frustration felt by motorcyclists over the current ACC levy proposals, which are seen by many to be unfair and discriminatory. The Labour Weekend Ride to Wellington is a legitimate form of protest and we defend the right of every motorcyclist to take part. While the club does not officially sanction the ride, we believe that it signifies the level of disappointment and anger that motorcyclists feel at the lack of consultation with the motorcycling community over issues that directly affect them. There has already been a well-supported multi-club protest ride organised in Dunedin during August, which drew very positive publicity and feedback at the time.

The Ulysses Club represents 3000 mature riders who derive great pleasure from their chosen form of recreation. The club is very concerned with rider safety and many branches undertake their own training programmes. The majority of motorcyclists take their own and road safety in general very seriously as can be evidenced from the high usage of protective clothing, well maintained machines and full co-operation with the appropriate authorities in the case of charity rides etc.

The Club is working closely with ACC on a series of community road safety programmes to be run early in 2003. These relate directly to increasing the level of motorcycle awareness among motorists. We are represented on the Motorcycle Safety Reference Group, which is looking at a number of other issues that affect motorcyclists. The Ulysses Club is also involved in a lobby group with the Motor Vehicle Dealers Institute, the New Zealand Motorcycle Distributors Association and the Motorcycle Importers Association. We have made a joint written submission and had an extremely useful meeting this week to discuss the concerns of motorcyclists in person with ACC.

The Ulysses Club has been very proactive in encouraging its members and others to make their feelings known to ACC through the submission process. We understand that there have been over 1100 submissions sent in by the cut-off date. It is our hope that the views put forward in these submissions are taken fully into account when the final levy recommendations are made to the Minister for ACC, Ruth Dyson.

For and on behalf of the National Committee and the members of the Ulysses Club of New Zealand Inc.

(signed) P.J.McIntosh

Peter McIntosh, National President, Ulysses Club of New Zealand.

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