I'm heading down to Melbourne for a training course and after reading through past threads on the EPA and noise testing as well as parking etc have a few questions about what I can expect.   I run S&S slip-ons on my bike and I admit they are a tad loudish!!

Firstly , in relation into noise testing, as far as I can figure out, there are noise cameras, roadside testing as well as getting reported by a cop or the EPA and then sent a letter to get tested.   Does anyone know how this works with interstate registered bikes?  Would I have to get tested in Victoria?  Can they defect me immediately?  In any event what are my chances of getting pinged.

Secondly , with parking, is it OK to park on the footpath all around Melbourne and particularly South Melbourne as long as you comply with basic rules about not interfering with pedestrian traffic etc?  How safe is it to park like that or would i be better to pay for secure parking for a day?

I've never had a problem with the QLD and NSW authorities (so far) but it is probably only a matter of time.

Regards

JD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

i park in the city a fair bit and yes footpath parking is fine. There are designated bike parking areas too but most footpaths are wide enough to park on without any issue. Just dont block doors to buildings or post boxes etc.

 

as far as EPA i havent been pinged (touchwood) so cant help on that info

they will get you if they can....f u get done by EPA at a roadside test, they do the whole test then and there then send you out a fine after they decide if u need one (by the way you always do) from there they send you to a follow up test to make sure u have fixed your bike for noise, if you dont get retested,you can get deregistered and refined. Im not sure what happens if ur bike is registered out of state though maybe ring the dogs up and ask one of them if there not busy counting their money. There arent alot of epa roadside tests around so you "SHOULD" be ok, but hey,.... i got done...if a cop or something says they are too loud he will just have a notice sent to you to be tested (again not sure if out of state) Ive never heard of a noise camera sounds like bullshit to me.. but I wouldnt be surprised..You cant get defected immediately unless you have no pipes on at all as they need the time to post you out a fine and look up a new hi def tv at the office that they will purchase with the money they will get from you
check this thread out http://www.hdforums.com.au/Default.aspx?tabid=71&forumid=59&postid=485984&view=topic

as for parking on the footpath I always just keep the bike to the roadside fo the path so people can get through and have never been done (so far lol)

good luck mate (vic is fukd for this type of crap huh)

Footpath parking is legal throughout Victoria as long as pedestrian access, doorways not blocked

Keep in mind when parking on the footpath to allow for the cage owners doors as well. So long as you do not impede pedestrian flow you should be right. Lots better parking on the footpath, hopefully some old nanna wont hit you there.

 Thanks for the advice.   I know from experience that the pipes have saved me from more than one bad situation with cars.  ( They might not see me but they damn well heard me!!).

Do you have the average speed cameras anywhere?  We've got at least one here just north of Brisbane and I noticed on my last trip in NSW that there are signs on the main coast road indicating that they are using them there.  I also remember on my last trip about speed cameras on bridges etc over the freeways.  I assume that still happens.     At least I will know what I'm up for.

 

 

 

 

speed camers all over the place in vic, they have the point to point ones activated on hume highway again too

I also park in Melbourne CBD a fair bit. It’s a great feeling to park on the footpath very close to where you want to go to. As far as safety goes, it’s a risk you have to take - if your Harley is there when you come back, its there - if you are paranoid about it, do go for secure parking.
Whenever possible, I park my bike in one of the pedestrian only sections of the CBD (the main drag, Swanston Street, is off limits to normal traffic) so that the thieving scum can’t just rock up in a van, throw my bike in the back and get away in 5 seconds. Just to complicate things further, I also try to park on the footpath next to the sections reserved for police vehicles or police stations / security cameras etc! But that’s just me and in my view, it is more of a risk to park in one of the multistorey unmanned parking lots where the lowlife can take their sweet time to steal your bike.

Theoretically, you are supposed to “walk the bike” on the footpath - I have V&H Big Radius pipes and find that switching off and walking it on the footpath creates less strife with pedestrians and consequently less unwanted attention from the noise Nazis. My V&H pipes have not got me an EPA notice so far (fingers crossed and all that...) also possibly because I am very careful with my right hand in the CBD area.

But, do bear in mind that you will be in the deepest heart of the biggest nanny state and ride accordingly, you will not get fined! Unfortunately, the “speed kills” message has become a joke in Victoria due to greedy governments using it as a revenue raising tool. I even once got fined & lost points for doing 62 kmph in a 60 zone (in a car)! That was a day after our greedy nannies decided to boost their coffers by taking away the unofficial 10% allowance on speeding. Now, its more dangerous as we are all reduced to watching our speedo needles all the time (and so less on the road), but there is indeed fun & camaraderie in catching out and outsmarting the private speed camera whores on commission who hide behind corners, at the bottom of hills etc. If you are a cop with a speed camera, ok, you are doing (part of )your job, but if you are a privateer after me to get your commission, then its game on!

 

 All great info.   Thanks a lot.  I guess it won't be too long before QLD goes the same way.  I'm keeping an eye on the hi-viz shit and already signed the petition because history tells me that the powers that be love simple responses because it is cheaper than really solving the issues.

Point to Point speed cameras on dual lane freeways is nothing but revenue raising.  If cameras are going to be used for "safety reasons"  then why not for tailgating which is far more dangerous than a few ks over the limit.   In this digital age, it would be easy to work out if a trailing vehicle is too close.  

It won't be long before we all get microchipped .  Gee I'm glad I'm not paranoid!!!

Yeah them taking it upon themselves to regulate the arsehole out of our passtimes is starting to take much of the fun out of it , ya almost have to be paranoid these days as they`re trying to fuck ya one way or another !
34kms over or $799 and 3 months loss of licence isn`t hard to do concidering if ya going downhill and givin it half a fist full to avade some cager that just pulled straight out into your lane 10-20 km under the limit in front of you when your obviously traveling faster then they are or possibly 10km over the said limit ?
Can`t afford that shit for two long when the fuckers don`t show any leniency at all , riding around in 3rd gear , helmet , safety gear and all hi-vis`d up , just ain`t an option in my eyes !
I can sorta understand all that shit and the use of scooters even , in a city like fuckin Bangkok , but not in a country full of long distance stretches and Hwy`s that scooters arn`t at all suited too and a popultion that pales in comparison to most cities or countryies , it`s plain rediculous the way it`s headin`in the gumbiments pursuite to demorallise the predomanantly black wearin` so called bikie culture and scene ?
Many gangs don`t even ride bikes these days , yet thay still up the anti in this regard under the guise of safety , if ya hit the deck , mostly it`s gonna hurt and no hi vis anything is gonna prevent that so what is their go other than to take the piss ?

Anyway other than that , have a good trip mate hey !