Hundreds protest against bike tax

MARTIN DE RUYTER/The Nelson Mail

ENGINE ON: Steve Page, left, President of Route 6 Motorcycle Club and organiser of the ACC protest with his 1800cc motorcycle and Peter Barrett with his 50cc motorcycle at Richmond Park before the start of the ride to Nick Smith's offices.

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More than 500 motorcyclists from around the Nelson region and further afield gathered this morning to make a united stand against "abhorrent" increases to ACC levies proposed by the Government.

The mood was charged as the large group of men and women riders on bikes ranging in size from small scooters to large touring bikes gathered at the showgrounds in Richmond before hitting the road in protest.

The convoy, which included teenagers, grandparents and Lost Breed bikers, planned to park up at ACC Minister Nick Smith's Stoke headquarters before presenting him with a letter expressing outrage at the hefty price hikes.

Under the proposed levies, announced last week, owners of bikes over 601cc will see their annual ACC levy increase from $252.69 to $745.77. Levies for medium-sized bikes will increase from $252 to $511 and moped owners would face a $257 levy.

The organiser of the protest, Steve Page, who is president of the Route 6 Motorcycle Club, said motorcyclists taking part in the protest had been told to follow the normal road rules and be calm, professional and responsible.

Mr Page, who rides a Suzuki 1800cc bike said it was likely there would be a traffic jam when the riders tried to fit their bikes into Dr Smith's office car park.

"It's going to be really interesting up at Nick Smith's office. That's when the fun will start and I expect there will be a bit of jeering," Mr Page said before the protest ride left Richmond.

Bruce Stronach of Richmond, who rides a Triumph 900 and thought the proposed changes were "bulls...", said he rode his bike as he drove his car – carefully and at a safe distance from other traffic.

Blenheim rider Ian Clark, who took part this morning on his Kawasaki 650, said he was annoyed at the hypocrisy of the situation.

"On the one hand we're all being asked to lessen our carbon footprint, and then they're zapping people for riding small bikes and mopeds," Mr Clark said.

The protesters set off along Queen St, turned on to Salisbury Rd and cruised to central Nelson. The convoy planned to head back along Rocks Rd to Dr Smith's Stoke headquarters.

Dr Smith had agreed to meet a delegation of motorcyclists and receive the letter.

The letter states that the middle-aged professionals "who use their bikes as an escape" already paid many levies for cars and businesses.

"The Government's proposal to increase the ACC levies to the motorcyclists by the amounts quoted are abhorrent to us. As a show of unity, the riders you have seen today all feel the same," it says. The letter also states that over 98 per cent of the bikes taking part in the protest were over 600cc, the threshold for the proposed $750 fee. "Yet these bikes are very rarely used for commuting, yet get hit the hardest.

This is unbalanced."

Most riders who ride 600cc motorcycles and bigger were aged between 35 and 60 and were male professionals who rode with caution, Mr Page said.

There had been "very little consultation" with the affected groups over the price hike, he said.

"Would it have made a difference if we wanted shellfish from one of the local beaches? We would have way more consultation over that one."

The letter states that a better charging system was needed, perhaps through a user-pays system which sourced revenue from all users.

A "reasonable increase" in petrol tax was a fairer and more viable option, the letter said.

- © Fairfax NZ News