AMTRA.com.au

Hi I'm a new member, I went on the high country comes to the city ride to protest losing our access to high country areas and it seems there are more & more areas we cant go to, we're being forced out further & further for our " on any sunday " fun. at home the council(cardinia) are making it harder for the kids, our future members and consumers( for the bike shops reading), to get out on the 5 acres we purchased just for that reason, to ride about on the paddocks. I'm wondering if any thought or action has been started on getting our selves organised to get a rec licence for the kids so they can come out on the trails to learn from we adults how to behave in the bush. Or do they have to wait til they get to 18 and get a learners permit and make all the mistakes themselves.
my 17yo son is responsible enough to come on all our rides but is not allowed as he is unlicenced. Then he goes off next year to college/tafe/uni and loses the passion for the sport.
any thoughts?
tony

There is a push to get a recreational license for under age riders at the present. It is something we have been unsuccesful in getting in the past but now has the backing of the 4wd association so that may give it more of a push along.
As for your son going on selected AMTRA rides, if he is riding a registered bike and you are prepared to take responsability for him in the unlikely chance that you are stopped by the police for a license check then I see no harm in him attending rides. Plenty have done it in the past. These are my personal views and not the official club position which states all riders must have a license or learners permit.  Best check with the ride leader as to whether a particular ride would be suitable for your son.
regards,
Ian

tony,
further to what ian has said i have had talks with the country alliance re this matter.
they have adopted a policy for the introduction of a junior recreational licence.
this issue seems to be gaining some recognition from the fwd association, country alliance, amtra and other groups etc. further this is an issue that i continually push with dse.
basically i have pushed that junior licence would be for young people from 14yrs to licence age, trail bikes up to 250cc, rec registered and they would be under the supervision of adult fully licenced persons at all times.
peter ellard

THANKS GENTLEMEN I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER ANY TIME OR MOTION TO GET THIS HAPPENING, LIKE LETTERS TO STATE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, OR OTHER SUCH NECESSITIES.
REGARDS TONY

Tony,

My experience riding bikes from 7 years old on a couple of hundred acres of family farm was great for my skills. On reflection this was quite dangerous as I was often riding alone and unsupervised. Not something I would recommend in today world. We were pretty robust way back then...

The temptation is to join the rest of the people with no licences and no reg in the bush but the law is finally starting to take that seriously. The current cost is around $500 each for those offences. With confiscation measures on the drawing board.

One of the best things you could do for kids is get them into MX or some junior club where they can at least learn to ride and maintain their machines.

From the people I talk to the biggest legal hurdles relate to insurance and competence. When setting the age that someone is responsible for their actions the law has to cater worst case scenarios hence legal age requirements for lots of significant activities.

In my view we have enough trouble people who are legally classified as adults. I've nearly been hit twice in the past two months by idiots who driving on the freeways and main roads while sending text messages or talk on mobiles.

Good luck and all the best,

Paul

Go for it, my 9 year old will be 14 by the time we get anywhere. So start now

Thanks for all the replies people,
Paul what I meant was that the kids( young adults)
would be fully supervised lke as in a licence test, not just let loose on the bush, so they can learn to behave with others in mind. So we dont get the complaints about them misbehaving. The idea of an mx club is nice but the kind of riding we enjoy is getting out on the trail & up into the hills. And Paul the issue of mobile phones on freeways is a subject for another forum.
thanks again, Tony.

I raised the issue of phones to highlight that people who are supposedly adults don't seem to understand common sense so I would not expect law makers to hand out a licence to kids when so many adults can't get it right.

The argument as to responsibility for actions will always be the cornerstone for objections - if you want to succeed you'll have to overcome that and convince the TAC to cover that risk.

Until then it's time to get friendly with mates who have farms....

Good luck.