SCOOTER-rider numbers are soaring in Melbourne and the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce is calling on the Government to allow them access to bicycle lanes on city roads.

Scooter sales have dramatically increased over the last year, with more than 10,242 sales nationally – a 30% increase on last year’s figures. Scooter importer Bolwell Select has been monitoring the sales figures for Melbourne and over the first quarters of 2005 and 2006, there’s been 236 more scooters sold – an increase of 128%.

And for the first quarter of 2006 alone, Victoria has already registered 41% of the total scooters registered in the state for the whole of 2005.

VACC Executive Director David Purchase said scooter riders said they were looking to find a safer way to commute.

“It’s scandalous this growing army of users are being overlooked by the State Government, and exposed to unacceptable risk on the roads through policy inaction,” he said.

“Scooter riders tend to be younger city professionals looking for economical, stylish forms of transport.

“People are turning to these vehicles as a convenient, inexpensive form of transport that can avoid the congestion of the daily commute and are easy to park or store.

“If the Government wants to cut down on the daily gridlock and pollution levels, alternative forms of transport like scooters need to be nurtured.

“If scooter commuters had access to bike lanes with a restricted speed limit, this would give them a safer trip to work.

Among a raft of policy initiatives for improved safety for commuters using two-wheeled transport, VACC called on the Minister to:
•    Allow access by scooter riders to bicycle lanes on roads
•    Establish safety boxes for motorcycle and scooter riders at the head of busy intersections
•    Establish designated “Safe Routes” with improved traffic management features for all users of two-wheeled transport

Mr Purchase said comparison studies have been made by the University of Edinburgh’s Professor of Transport Systems Marcus Wigan, who is also a Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne.

“One of his findings was particularly interesting, with London’s trials of greater access to road space for scooter and motorcycle riders resulting in a reduction of accidents of up to 30% and a reduction of general congestion by up to 30-40%.

“With the Transport Plan released today, this is a simple and relatively inexpensive concept which the Government could adopt to help this city keep moving during its peak hours,” Mr Purchase said.