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[Dazz]

Petition to Queensland State Government & Motorcycling Queensland
3 April 2009

The Honourable Judy Spence
Minister
Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport
PO Box 275
IPSWICH QLD 4305

Mr Lindsay Granger
Motorcycling Queensland
PO Box 2072
NORTH IPSWICH QLD 4305

RE : Discrimination of Trail Bike / Atv Users and Failure to Provide Suitable Riding Area's within reasonable reach of Suburban households in Queensland

We the undersigned wish to express our deep concern that while surfing, jet skiing, Rock climbing, hang gliding, Bmx riding, Skateboards, Bushwalking, shooting and many other adventure sports have been catered for in Queensland with many areas to perform these sports that no effort has been made to provide suitable areas for Trail bike riding in Queensland .
Much Effort has been made to promote Queensland's active outdoors life style yet the sad reality is that we trail bike riders are being discriminated against with no public areas to perform our sport.
We need assistance from the state government open our state forests so we may enjoy our sport without having to pay expensive commercial trail bike parks or ride illegally in state forests and local reserves.
Hundreds of adults and children are having to ride illegally each week in state forestry and bush land reserves in and around populated areas as no legal public places to ride have been provided by local councils.
There have been a few commercial motocross tracks scattered across the state unfortunately these only cater for racers and are not a safe or suitable place for a family with small children to ride.
Currently families’s have no option than to ride illegally or travel far and pay expensive commercially owned trail bike park fees.
In the past the government has been more than willing to take taxes for the sales of our specialized clothing and machines and yet the government has not made available public places for the sport to be performed.
In closing, we are requesting your support to open our state forests for riding and to nominate a body to govern the use of the state forests and lands so trail bike riders and other off-road vehicle enthusiasts can enjoy their sport Legally, safely and without unduly impacting our unique natural environment.

We eagerly await your response.

Sincerely,

Last edited by Dazz on Sat Apr 04, 2009 12:05 pm; edited 3 times in total

[Dazz]

any thing i should add or remove guys before i set up a petition??

[Rio]

In all I think that it is well put together.
The only thing that I would leave out would be the south east Queensland part in the subject. It is not only south east Queensland with this problem it is all of Queensland.
If I was to be sending petition I would want to help the entire state not just Brisbane.

Just my thought.
_________________
Yfz450

[Postie]

There have been a few commercial motocross tracks scattered across the state unfortunately these only cater for racers and are not a safe or suitable place for a family with small children to ride.
Currently families’s have no option than to ride illegally or travel far and pay expensive commercially owned trail bike park fees.

I applaud your effort , though you could research, and adjust the above statement or just leave it out.
Eg; Moto X tracks are 99% volunteer local not for profit , providing safe environment (one way traffic, Ambulance) and educating young riders , they survive on local involvement .
Our trail bike parks are also private entities, striving to float , in a libel society, they are more for the benifit of you and others than there own financial reward, although we all have to eat, IMO.
They will only only deal in truth not emotion !

[Dazz]

Postie wrote:

There have been a few commercial motocross tracks scattered across the state unfortunately these only cater for racers and are not a safe or suitable place for a family with small children to ride. Currently families’s have no option than to ride illegally or travel far and pay expensive commercially owned trail bike park fees. I applaud your effort , though you could research, and adjust the above statement or just leave it out. Eg; Moto X tracks are 99% volunteer local not for profit , providing safe environment (one way traffic, Ambulance) and educating young riders , they survive on local involvement . Our trail bike parks are also private entities, striving to float , in a libel society, they are more for the benifit of you and others than there own financial reward, although we all have to eat, IMO. They will only only deal in truth not emotion !

Thanks for the input ...

i agree with your statement and can aslo say i strongly dissagree

while MotoX tracks providing safe environment (one way traffic, Ambulance) and educating young riders... They dont actualy allow my children to come down and ride there non racing quad Quads arround the circuit, My kids have no interest in racing

I took my children to black duck 1 time only and What i found was 2 very small loops for little kids

what they did have was motorcross circuits where they had very large bikes were Jumping over my kids heads now you might say "how safe and organised is that..."

Black Duck also had a trails that my kids quads couldnt even climb and when they could climb they would find them self comming head to head with 4 wheel drives on blind corners with 100 foot drop offs on the edges t

The whole day was a total nitemare

And as for Other more Organsised Private enterprises striving to stay afloat in a liberal envoriment

i dont think there having to strive all to hard...

My wife and i have attended many parks with our kids and have enjoyed them and there hospitality but most are booked out for months in advance, Thats hardly a sign of striving to make ends meet for the owners now is it ?

and now a little math

2 days riding at easter will cost us for example

4 tanks of LPG ( 2 there 2 Back ) ... $120
2 Nights accomodation ....$132
2 days riding for 4 quads ....$184 2 adults and 2 children
Total $436.00

we dont mind paying out the cash to enjoy our sport and yes those guys have to eat cake and cream just like everyone else.

but on the other hand a Day in the local State forest ...

2 days in the local state forest
1/2 tank of fuel to get there and back $15

Now look at all the cake and cream my kids can eat with the change, I might even buy them a new jap quad cause i would save a fortune.

Perhaps a tempory solution could be for Motor X parks to have "NON RACING OPEN DAYS FOR FAMILYS" each week or fortnite so familys can enjoy there quads in the same protected envoriment you mentioned there would be no racing just a bunch of L Plate Dads n Mums trotting around the track with there kids.

Even if familys had just 1 day a month open to them that would be 1 more than we have now wouldnt it ?

Of course it would involve taking up part of a weekend like a sunday or saturday .. i dont think that would go down to well with the racers & Coaches at the tracks ....

I would love to see reedy creek or the Mx track at Arundel open the doors each month to us


does every one else think i should correct the statment ?

Dazz wrote:

There have been a few commercial motocross tracks scattered across the state unfortunately these only cater for racers and are not a safe or suitable place for a family with small children to ride. Currently families’s have no option than to ride illegally or travel far and pay expensive commercially owned trail bike park fees.

you can message me in private if you dont want to add your name to the post .....

[Postie]

Thanks for the input ...

i agree with your statement and can aslo say i strongly dissagree

while MotoX tracks providing safe environment (one way traffic, Ambulance) and educating young riders... They dont actualy allow my children to come down and ride there non racing quad Quads arround the circuit, My kids have no interest in racing
^^^
Thats ok , machinery requirements are there for our own safety and the safety of others , I understand racing is not for everyone, just to clarify.
------
I took my children to black duck 1 time only and What i found was 2 very small loops for little kids

what they did have was motorcross circuits where they had very large bikes were Jumping over my kids heads now you might say "how safe and organised is that..."

Black Duck also had a trails that my kids quads couldnt even climb and when they could climb they would find them self comming head to head with 4 wheel drives on blind corners with 100 foot drop offs on the edges t

The whole day was a total nitemare
^^^^^^

I hear what you are saying, hence it closed . my concern is the crash rate in the state forrest / local riding spots will increase with the extra traffic,
unless it is somewhat organised.
----------
And as for Other more Organsised Private enterprises striving to stay afloat in a liberal envoriment

i dont think there having to strive all to hard...

My wife and i have attended many parks with our kids and have enjoyed them and there hospitality but most are booked out for months in advance, Thats hardly a sign of striving to make ends meet for the owners now is it ?

and now a little math

2 days riding at easter will cost us for example

4 tanks of LPG ( 2 there 2 Back ) ... $120
2 Nights accomodation ....$132
2 days riding for 4 quads ....$184 2 adults and 2 children
Total $436.00

we dont mind paying out the cash to enjoy our sport and yes those guys have to eat cake and cream just like everyone else.

but on the other hand a Day in the local State forest ...

2 days in the local state forest
1/2 tank of fuel to get there and back $15

Now look at all the cake and cream my kids can eat with the change, I might even buy them a new jap quad cause i would save a fortune.
^^^^^^
Valid point, there is huge variation in the cost / reward @ , and as long as a kids riding they are happy. Just saying if it was easy everyone would be doing it and there would be more to choose from. Truth is, its a dangerous sport insurance is high , and we all have to pay one way or another, wheather combined cost at organised facilities, or through local council public liability via rates/ tax . Either way the more combined the less the cost .
-----------------


Perhaps a tempory solution could be for Motor X parks to have "NON RACING OPEN DAYS FOR FAMILYS" each week or fortnite so familys can enjoy there quads in the same protected envoriment you mentioned there would be no racing just a bunch of L Plate Dads n Mums trotting around the track with there kids.

Even if familys had just 1 day a month open to them that would be 1 more than we have now wouldnt it ?

Of course it would involve taking up part of a weekend like a sunday or saturday .. i dont think that would go down to well with the racers & Coaches at the tracks ....

I would love to see reedy creek or the Mx track at Arundel open the doors each month to us
^^^^^^^^^^^
Thats what practice days are for and I would encourage any family to contact there local club to organize a come and try day , most moto x clubs should have these allocated, you only need a handful of people to hold a practice day, although, same old story you can never have to many volunteers.


does every one else think i should correct the statment ?
^^^^^^
just playing devlis advocate , it is a serious issue that needs to be addressed, just try not to neglect the existing clubs in the process , they are on your side.
-----------

you can message me in private if you dont want to add your name to the post .....[/quote]

sorry to be so rude , names Jon , pleased to meet you Dazz

[Dazz]

The sport is less dangerous than snow skiing and no more dangerous than sailing yet they both have some where to perform their sport in national parks !!!! the old saying it’s a dangerous sport is getting old now its just as dangerous on a bloody golf course
"That’s what practice days are for and I would encourage any family to contact their local club to organize a come and try day , most moto x clubs should have these allocated, you only need a handful of people to hold a practice day, although, same old story you can never have to many volunteers. "

We don’t want to come try nothing we want places to ride on given days with or without the volunteers
"just playing devil’s advocate , it is a serious issue that needs to be addressed, just try not to neglect the existing clubs in the process , they are on your side. "

Well i won’t neglect help in any way that it can be given especially via a club and if you think I’m not serious enough then step up and take over for me ill hand you over the reins right now

i am quickly coming to realize allot of people are ALL TALK NO ACTION in this and i plan to be all action as i intend to stick with it

as soon as i draft this petition with the help of the forum look out Mr. email I’m going to mass mail every politician , council ,paper board, club, committee ect that i think will have any impact in the ,matter

You are obviously not one of those all talk non action people right!

let me also say that with 310 veiws and only 2 people to try and help out you guys a F.... Slack and deserve to cop fines for not helping out here its a problem that invlolves most of you and needs a plan forged by all involved in the sport

[Postie]

Dazz wrote:

The sport is less dangerous than snow skiing and no more dangerous than sailing yet they both have some where to perform their sport in national parks !!!! the old saying it’s a dangerous sport is getting old now its just as dangerous on a bloody golf course ^^^^^^^^^^ I never did agree with that rhetoric either but its hear to stay , somewhere they all have to pay , memberships, liscences ,registration to cover there legal liabilities. _______ "That’s what practice days are for and I would encourage any family to contact their local club to organize a come and try day , most moto x clubs should have these allocated, you only need a handful of people to hold a practice day, although, same old story you can never have to many volunteers. " We don’t want to come try nothing we want places to ride on given days with or without the volunteers ^^^^^^^^^^^^ Just putting it out there , there are also social clubs * Qld Quad Riders, , they are also advocate for family rides, maybe you could pitch them some ideas. There are a few spots like that left , my advice is don't tell the council . Unless you have the solution to who can provide custody for the users of the land. They seem to be more interested in development to solve the situation , even existing clubs arn't sacred , divided we are a minority . __________________ "just playing devil’s advocate , it is a serious issue that needs to be addressed, just try not to neglect the existing clubs in the process , they are on your side. " Well i won’t neglect help in any way that it can be given especially via a club and if you think I’m not serious enough then step up and take over for me ill hand you over the reins right now ^^^^^^ whats that old saying, "old men talk about wars while young men fight them". well I'm happy to talk these days ,,, _______ i am quickly coming to realize allot of people are ALL TALK NO ACTION in this and i plan to be all action as i intend to stick with it as soon as i draft this petition with the help of the forum look out Mr. email I’m going to mass mail every politician , council ,paper board, club, committee ect that i think will have any impact in the ,matter. You are obviously not one of those all talk non action people right! ^^^^^^^ We all have our part to play , but i can't stop progress . let me also say that with 310 veiws and only 2 people to try and help out you guys a F.... Slack and deserve to cop fines for not helping out here its a problem that invlolves most of you and needs a plan forged by all involved in the sport

[Dazz]

im sorry I think i fail to see what help your bringing to my attention so I can take it to the councils, government and govenerning bodys and I agree that problems like this should be left in the hands of serious people (can you please give me there email address ) if im wrong in my plight I totally apologize but in the mean time please point out those serious people so I can ream there ass for not standing up straight and bringing the plight of most of the the people involved in this sport to the attention of those that are controlling it?

[Postie]

Dazz wrote:

im sorry I think i fail to see what help your bringing to my attention so I can take it to the councils, government and govenerning bodys and I agree that problems like this should be left in the hands of serious people (can you please give me there email address ) if im wrong in my plight I totally apologize but in the mean time please point out those serious people so I can ream there ass for not standing up straight and bringing the plight of most of the the people involved in this sport to the attention of those that are controlling it?

no need for apologies , I just outlined hypothetical council standard procedure replies. It is an admirable quest, loosing our riding ground is like a fisherman loosing his favourite spot, to save there water, they formed a political party , to show the government how many voters are in there camp, and to have a voice to get heard. They had to get serious to get results. Trouble is motorsports are not as clearly understood by the general public as fishing . If we all desire the same outcome, now is the time to say so, councils plan years in advance , what is our plan ??? .

[Dazz]

My point exactly...

Here this could be a start:

• Find out who is doing what to help the cause and how we can aid them...
• Find out what action they have taken so far and learn from it...
• Make a list of all governing bodies on the lands we wish to ride
• Collect any environmental impact data from body’s governing the areas we are wanting to ride
• Write to them asking for permission to ride in places where impact will be minimal
• Negotiate their reasons for not wanting us to ride there via petitions
• Ask government to engage a council to police the riding in state forests & public lands

• Suggest incentives like all bikes/quads could be registed to raise revenue to pay the operational costs of staff and make it compulsory at the point of sale on all new/used bikes and atv same as car Rego

Remember even if we got 1 acre at the tip …. Its still a foot hold and were in the door to open up bigger and better things

Another beneficial offshoot of our action would be for some the motocross parks facing closure the fact that council's will have yet another group asking for places to ride and it will force them to rethink closing mx parks

perhaps the administrator could give us our own forum heading so a group can work on each part of the assult

do you have some ideas cause I’m all ears ....

[jackass 450]

Mr Dazz and Postie,

I appluad you ambitions here and really think that your plight is rightly contested. I have over the years been faced with the same problem of not having anywhere to ride my quad legally. This again has raised its head as my four year old received a quad from the big bloke in the red suit and have found it difficult to find somewhere for him to ride in a safe environment - we have just recenlty purchased 150 acres out of town to overcome this problem for me and me mates. Unfortunately not everyone can do this.

I am not sure what the answer is with regards to putting together a petition but do you think that a different tack would be to go down the line of having the recreational rego changed so this allowed for quads to be operated in more places. Would love to be able to take me quad to Fraser each year when we go for holidays. Anyhow this wouldn't solve the problem of the kids needing somewhere to ride.

Now that the QQRC has expanded it horisons and have included the "social" quad bike rider maybe they could be in charge of leading the fight and maybe and attendance at their monthly meeting could stir some emotions.

my 2 c worth

Cheers
Jackass

[Dazz]

Yes that’s a great idea but i can’t see Transport Dropping the age of rec reg but it could be possible to open more zones, better than nothing hey!

I’m having probs hooking up with QQRA socials my family are at manor on Easter and qqra are there in may and the social after may is my wedding ani weekend so that one’s out too as my wife would cut my nads off if i tried to go riding on our ani...

Also in regards to QQRA i can’t seem to find any information on any action they have taken or data they have collected or committee they have appointed to help our cause nor have i got around to ask for it yet either..

so rather than leave it up to someone else ill step up for now until someone allot smarter and with more passion about the problem is prepared to take the reins out of my hands qqra would be a very good choice of course but i really think this cause might need the backing of all off road users .

In the mean time what do you think about the petition anything to add or remove?

[Calberin]

Dazza

Had the same ideas and got the same reaction as you

Try to get a hold of John English the mp for redland bay he is pushing some good ideas with rec rego like having attached plates for kids bikes that fall under the adults master rec rego plate thus making the adult responsable for the young ones.

He is a bike rider that sees things from our side of the fence and he will be able to point you in the right direction of people that are further along than where you are now, Also get in touch with Geoff uddy from Gatton as he is now in MQ and is a quad rider so he may be able to point you in the right direction 2.
_________________
08 700 raptor mine
07 350 raptor wifes
06 250 honda ag backup

[Dazz]

wicked .....
thanks for the people now to find them !!!

[big ken]

most polies use petitions to keep you occupied and off their back for a while.you need huge numbers and media attenion to make them act.rumour has it that the tablelands regional shire council want to use all sport and recreation to bring people to the atherton tableland.they have attendeded dsmra meetings.still tunning in to this.will keep you posted.any links to literature with correct title of road ownership or gazetting would be a huge help. i believe main roads and councils let alone police even have a vague idea.re conditional rego.
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depends on the weather

[big ken]

daz just refreshing your subject keep us updated,lots of good approaches publicised on this subject.
_________________
depends on the weather

[Dazz]

just off subject a little

i was speaking to a couple of police officers the other nite and asked if they knew why quads could not be registered for road use with the thoughy in my head of hey maybe we can ride some dirt roads with the correct rego

they seemed to think that as long as they had road tires /indicators propper functioning headlights and an illuminated number plate they couldnt see any reason for not being able to register a quad for road use

any one know any more about that possibility ?

[mitch41]

dont ya just hate it how the government and parks and wildlife let 4WD's into areas and national park, where they create more damage than a quad or motobike?

[Earthmover]

hey guys i've just read on the forum the problem of places to ride. i notice that this discussion has been goin on since dec last year. lets stop talkin and start doin. i offer my help in anyway possible, i can write well worded letters, am not scared to go to the top and suggest we co-ordinate in getting a petition for names, signatures and area of residential councils. i think if we get signatures on paper(i know i could get heaps)and submit them to local councils/MP's and higher (if necessary)write into our local newspaper forums and get people talking we can force the councils into doing something.
by the way this ain't earthmover it's his mrs. and boys i mean business coz i don't start something i don't finish.
p.s. can someone post as an attachment a petition i can run off the computer to get signed i'm going to do one if i dont receive one in a week thanx heaps

[Dazz]

Hey there and welcome onboard...

The idea of this thread is to correctly word a petition with the general wants of most riders

Please feel free to adjust it and repost it for suggestion and discussion’

by the way what area are you from ?

[yogie]

q0d wrote:

dont ya just hate it how the government and parks and wildlife let 4WD's into areas and national park, where they create more damage than a quad or motobike?

can I suggest that you need these other users as much as they will need you, the old divide and concour will always win in end for those opposed to you and your right to use these state forrest, down here in Vic, trailbike riders and 4wders and all "other registered vechilces that use the Otways have a had a half decent win compared to what we could of lost if we had (as legitimate bush users) not banded together and put in a group and as many individual submissions to parks and gardens in Vic. Its still not over yet but we have done really well, imo.

just somthing to think about.
_________________
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[mitch41]

sorry bout that, i live in north queensland, i reckon its a great idea though for the petition