To the honourable Brent Mickleberg, Minister for Transport and Main Roads and the Department of Main Roads. 

I have approached TMR, Queensland Motorcycle Council, Local Police Stations, LTSR and the Minister for Transport and Main Roads. After numerous emails back and forth, this is the next step. I have been pushed  on to varying agencies and have even been advised by officals that these changes will not be considered. As a result, I want to hear the people and give the motorcyling community a chance to advocate for themselves. 

My name is Jamie Richardson. I am a husband, father, brother and son. 

One day while I was out riding my motorcycle, I appraoched an intersection. After visually inspecting the gap between the cars, I reached the conclusion that is was not safe to filter through the middle. I then visually checked the bike lane to my left and realised it was vacant, so I moved into that lane and proceeded to filter. After merging back into stationery traffic, I was pulled over and fined for illegal edge filtering. 

According to the law, it is legal to edge filter on roads over 90km under the condition it is safe to do so. Once the possible hazard has been passed or if the traffic has returned to its normal speed, motorcyclists must merge back into traffic. 

I believe if we apply the same logic to all roads 60km and above, the risks to motorcyclist will be decreased. If bicycle lanes are unoccupied, there is no viable reason why motorcylists cannot use this space to safely filter through traffic. 

Three of the biggest hazards for motorcyclists under the current lane filtering laws are; 

-Narrow gaps between cars/ buses and trucks that prevent safe filtering 

-Single lane congested roads with impatient and / or distracted drivers as well as the inability to safetly filter between the 2 directions of traffic. 

- Line markings prevent proper traction when wet. 

Unless we speak up and create change, we are intentionally putting riders at risk decreasing their odd of getting home safely. Motorcyclists are hit by cars more than people realise.  

Our current motorcycle laws in Queensland are outdated. The safer option is illegal and the lawful option is not the safest.  As a motorcyclist, I want to ensure my fellow riders have the chance to get home. Every motorcylist is a someone that has family, not just the next statistic. 

 I'm petitioning for edge filtering to become legal on roads 60 Km and above with the same conditions as applied to filtering on roads 90km and above. Join me in advocating for the safety of someone's loved one.