[hokoyo]

Anyone that goes on the ride today can you post how it went?

I am with you in spirit

[hokoyo]

Well to answer my own question from Netrider.org.au it looks like about 200 riders were there, plus channel 10 and 7.

Good work guys

Did you read what the tosser who runs the MRA had to say?? What a tool!

[The Sook]

No, what did he say? Fill us in.

[Will]

The MRA are a bunch of try hard radicul politicians

[matt232]

It was a good day and we seemed to acheive the recognition that we were after, all the TV, radio and print media seemed to be there and there was a story either that night or in the next day about it.

The family of the rider who was killed was at the ride and apparently they we greatful for our support. About 200 people turned out but there were thousands more that posted thier support but couldn't turn up at 4pm on a wednesday after a 4 day weekend which is understandable. Also alot of people from interstate showed thier support on the local forums as well.

I had a person in a van ask me what it was about and he expressed support for the issues, once he knew what was happening. And i think the wider public is starting to get behind it now as well.

The woman who was driving surrendered her licence before the ride.


http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=21539

http://www.vmu.org.au/content/view/31/2/

http://www.vmu.org.au/content/view/30/2/

P.S. Sorry about the photos it was a really overcast day (rain was forcast but thankfully didn't happen), but during the ride through the CBD the sun came out for us. So the first few photos are a bit dark, I'm still sorting out my photography skills.

[matt232]

Originally Posted by Will

The MRA are a bunch of try hard radicul politicians

MRAA is the reason why Victorian riders are able to park on the footpath and ride through city link without having to pay a toll amoung many other things. Will I wouldn't be knocking them if I were you.

The MRAA is more than a political body, they organise or help to organise blood drives, Toy Runs around Xmas, Pink Ribbon rides , Barry Sheene Memorial rides and also take on the powers that be on issues that concern motorcycling. MRAA used to be an enormous organisation, with rider support services and daily rides with a MRAA chapter in almost every town in Victoria. Of late the prior MRAA boards have not done the organisation favours and it has floundered and shrunk to a faint shadow of its former self.

Out of its ashes arose Netrider which sort solace from the political nightmare that was MRAA about 3 years ago. It concentrates on providing a social hub for Australian riders (but melbournians make up the bulk of the membership, the other states are better covered by OCAU.mc). Netrider and OCAU.mc are purely social groups but they discuss many of the polictical issues that MRAA and VMU lobby, in fact Netrider members made up the bulk of the people at the ride for justice.

At the start of this year/late last year, MRAA ejected the board and other MRAA members tried to take up the mantle to repair the damage done by the last few boards. They are making ground but there is a lot of ground to recover and the membership is not as it used to be.

VMU formed out of the ejected board early this year, and unlike MRAA doesn't have any democratic processes to elect leaders. VMU leaders are self appointed and are primarily concerned with political matters. That is not to say that VMU isn't doing a good job or are looking after riders.

With the issue that surrounded the Ride for Justice, MRAA decided to talk directly to the Justice Department to see if the problem could be solved through those channels. While VMU opted to demonstrate first then talk later. Both are positive approaches and with luck they will augment each other.

It is a shame that the under 40 motorcycle lobby groups (The Ulysses Club is only open to 40 years olds and up and is supposed to be non-political but they are used in a political capacity very frequently and are a hugely powerful and stable organisation) have fragmented so much and that many opinions have been formed against MRAA and VMU which seek to bring them down even though they are both doing good things for Riders in Australia or more specifically in Victoria.

I'm a member of the MRAA and Netrider, still waiting to find out the deal with VMU membership.

[matt232]

Originally Posted by hokoyo

Well to answer my own question from Netrider.org.au it looks like about 200 riders were there, plus channel 10 and 7.

Good work guys

Did you read what the tosser who runs the MRA had to say?? What a tool!

Dale Maggs the current MRAA president was appointed (not not elected as per the MRAA consitition) about two weeks ago when Brian Berrdon had a hissy fit and quit. There are a lot of other issues sorrounding Dale as well which has made him a contraversial choice.

Dale sent out a lot of poorly written personal emails to people in regards to the issue of the woman killing the rider and keeping her licence which many took to be the official MRAA stance. I'm not really happy with what he wrote since some of the emails when to people in the press and would expect better from him, but the offical MRAA stance (visible on the front page of thier website) is a bit more flattering.

[Will]

Yes, Dale was the problem, yes they do very good work in the community to increase awareness etc.
Getting rid of Dale will be the best thing they ever did, he had absolutely no standing with the relevent ministery offices, he was a tosser who got tossed

[matt232]

Originally Posted by Will

Yes, Dale was the problem, yes they do very good work in the community to increase awareness etc.
Getting rid of Dale will be the best thing they ever did, he had absolutely no standing with the relevent ministery offices, he was a tosser who got tossed

Dale might not be the most refined person but every man and his dog rings him, Media, celebs and powers that be. For some reason they all ring him. Having that as part of a Pro motorcycle organisation is a pretty big plus. But a position as president might not be the best way to go.

[soon2b954]

Good to see in the land down under you guys get stuff done and stick together when the need arises!!