Bike fees hike riles dealer | Bay of Plenty News | Local News in Bay of Plenty

The Government can expect a huge  backlash to its proposed hike in ACC levies for motorbikes as the Western Bay motorcycling community  rallies their resources to take protest action.

Wendy and Lindsay Beck owner/ managers of Bayride Motorcycle  in
 Cameron Rd say what has been proposed is "totally shocking" to them, their customers and everyone they talk to.

"We understood  there might  have been somewhat of an increase but this is really going overboard," said Mrs Beck.

Under the current proposal owners of 126cc to 600 cc bikes face an increase in their annual ACC levies from $252.69 to $511.43 and those over 601cc would see their levy jump from $252.69 to $745.77.

The portion for motorcycles under 125cc will increase by $5.

But the nation's 20,000 moped owners each would face a $58.97 jump in the licence portion of their levy to $257.58 in 2010/11- that is on top of the registration which currently stands at $129.98.

In 2008/09 ACC paid more than $62 million for accidents involving motorcycles, but collected only $12.3 million in levies for the same period.

The average motor vehicle levy is set to rise from $287 to $317. 80.

The increase will be collected in increased registration fees and petrol tax.

Non-petrol powered motorcycles also face significant increases.

According to ACC, motorcycle riders are 16 times more likely to be involved in a road crash than any other road users.

But Mr Beck who sits on the Motor Trade Association's motorcycle committee which regularly meets  ACC officials, said the statistics are "skewed" as they include off-road crashes, such as trail bikes and farm crashes, which means the suggested risk is triple what it should be.

Off-road riders also don't have to register or warrant their bikes and therefore don't have to pay ACC levies yet they're in the high risk group for crashes, he said.

Mr Beck said the statistics also don't take account of who was responsible for the crash. If a motorbike is involved then the box gets ticked and some motorcyclists are being blamed for accidents caused by other drivers.

Mr Beck wants to see greater emphasis placed on rider education and up-skilling programmes directed at younger riders who were among the high risk group for off-road crashes.

Mr Beck said he cannot even guess how much the proposed levies would impact on sales as his and his wife's dealership sells everything from 50cc to 2000cc roadbikes and a growing number of people have opted for bikes as their means of transport and leisure activities.

"I think there is going to be quite a backlash, as a lot more riders make up this section of community, than the government appreciates."

Mr Beck said he is also sure if the government is determined to set the levies  at this level, it is only going to encourage more people to opt not to register their bike or other motor vehicle.

ACC Minister Nick Smith, who announced a raft of proposed sweeping changes to the ACC law and regulations on Wednesday, blames predicted cost increases of more than $4 billion between now and 2011 as ACC covers more accidents and pays more for care and compensation.

Dr Smith said the proposed changes would return the corporation to being an insurer, ending its drift under Labour into social welfare.

Motorcyclists were being singled out for massive increases in levies because the crashes caused by motorcyclists cost ACC at least five times more than it collects in levies from owners, according to ACC statistics.