My name is a Tom Carr and I am in a wheelchair. Like many Australians I used to love motorcycling but due to the present vehicle regulations in Australia, I and many others are effectively prevented from motorcycling by the requirement for an LEM (three wheeled motorcycle) to have a 'saddle type seat'. These arbitrary regulations enforce individuals like myself to build constructions resembling three-wheeled cars as opposed to enabling us to create wheelchair accessible trikes. 

The vehicle in the two images below are legal due to the 'saddle type seat' but unsafe and impractical for wheelchair users (vehicle category LEM);

 

 

 

 

 

The below two images are what the regulators want wheelchair users to ride, they mandate a lap and sash seatbelt, headrest, high mounted stop light, collapsible steering column, side impact protection but no helmet! Its a 3 wheeled car. (Vehicle category LEP).

 

 

The two images below are what wheelchair users want to be able to ride - an LEM trike in their wheelchair so they can roll on and off.

 

Why should wheelchair users be excluded from taking an equivalent risk simply because they are in a wheelchair? 

For a wheelchair user being able to stay in their wheelchair is massively beneficial. It's a prescribed seat, many of which have been tested for use as vehicle seats. It eliminates transfers which degrade the users shoulders and the assembly/disassembly of wheelchairs for use in cars. Lastly short social spontaneous trips are made easy and the barrier to accessing the community is removed.

We call on the Federal Transport Minister to recognise the right of the wheelchair user to ride a LEM trike, to minimise their disability and build the solutions to the problems they face. 

Please, sign the petition.