On Your Bike - For Clean Air
Illawarra Mercury
Thursday June 3, 1999
More people should be encouraged to use motorbikes as a mode of transport in the Wollongong CBD, according to Wollongong Councillor Tony Kent.
Cr Kent said he would call for more motorcycle parking spaces in the city and in suburbs such as Dapto.
``I'll be putting a motion forward at Wollongong City Council's next traffic committee meeting," he said. ``We're not encouraging people to use motorbikes at all ... but we should be."
Cr Kent said the motorcycle parking facility next to Grace Bros in Burelli St was the only one he knew of in the city. To make matters worse, cars often parked in the space.
``It's only a short space but there is enough room for three or four bikes," he said.
``For every space there are four to eight people who don't have to bring a car into the city. We should be encouraging more people to ride bikes so there are less cars, less pollution and less congestion."
Cr Kent believes there should be at least two designated motorcycle parking spaces at every suburban shopping centre.
And he said the council could take a leaf out of Wollongong University's book.
``You get free parking if you've got a red university sticker on your bike," he said.
Cr Kent also believes bike owners should lobby the State Government about the high cost of registration and insurance. Riders often were the only people hurt in motorcycle accidents but they weren't covered for injury, he said.
© 1999 Illawarra Mercury