Melbourne’s motorcycle commuters

"Motorbikes, including scooters, are a practical and sensible choice for some commuters,” Dave says. “In metropolitan Melbourne, around 10,000 people ride to work on their motorcycles each day. We would say that all road users need to look out for each other.   

“Motorbike riders, like bicycle riders and pedestrians, are quite vulnerable in traffic. Car, truck and bus drivers need to be constantly alert, and watch out for riders when changing lanes and turning. A little bingle between two vehicles may be nothing if a driver makes a mistake. However, the crash could be fatal if one of them is a rider.” 

Over the past decade, there has been an annual average of 41 deaths among Victorian motorcyclists (2017’s figure of 38 fatalities was seven per cent down on the average). TAC claims data shows that 1316 motorcyclists were admitted to hospital in 2017, a rise of 39 per cent on a decade before, but that needs to be balanced against the 50,000-plus extra riders on our roads today.  

Without airbags, seatbelts, crumple zones or a car around them, motorcyclists are vulnerable, and protective clothing, boots and gloves are essential. Worryingly, Dave Jones says RACV data suggests some scooter riders are opting for fashion ahead of protection. 

All the riders we spoke to were acutely aware of their need to manage their visibility and to be alert for car-driver behaviour, especially distracted drivers.  

“I think I ride sensibly,” Jennifer says. “I work at the Alfred Hospital, so I see the trauma from major accidents every day. People’s lives are radically changed and often through no fault of their own. I bring that knowledge to my approach to riding.” 

Jennifer rarely takes her Vespa out when it’s raining, has decided there will be times where she will leave the scooter overnight if conditions concern her, and is content to creep slowly along, on wet roads and around tram tracks, when required.

As @moto_doll, Jacinta projects an image of a strong, confident rider, and she is, acting as a lead rider for social rides with women’s biker group The Litas, but she also readily recalls her earliest days of riding, when she would spend hours in the evening, in the quiet backstreets of Doncaster, practising gear changes and leans, and getting a feel for the heaviness of her first bike (a Kawasaki 250cc) and different braking strengths.  

“If you take precautions, learn how to ride, train the skills and responses, you can minimise your risk,” she said. “Are you going to live your life in cotton wool? I’m not invincible and it does hurt when you come off, but it’s about not being stupid and riding within your skill set.” 

Jeremy still begins every single ride by practising his emergency braking repeatedly in the first kilometre or so, refreshing muscle memory. He is a huge believer in planning your route, especially as an inexperienced rider, so you don’t encounter difficult intersections or other situations outside your skill set.

As a rookie rider, Jeremy worked out where he could ride onto the Eastern Freeway and off again at the next exit without having to merge lanes, to get used to the speed and the amount of traffic. If you have existing road sense, as a car driver, it transfers to reading traffic ahead and driver behaviour. 

All three riders recommend starting slowly, never riding outside your comfort zone – not trying to keep up with accomplished riders on bigger bikes, on a weekend ride for example – and wearing the correct gear. Like driving a car, motorcycle riding is not totally safe and never will be. But it’s probably not as dangerous as you think if you’re smart about it. And your commute time can be sliced. What’s not to like?  

Freedom awaits – the choice is yours.