Man killed in motorbike crash just outside Canberra border

It’s so sad to hear of these incidents because touring on motor cyclists is a great way to expose the senses to nature on the many bush roads we have in the eastern states of Australia.

Unfortunately, there has been a surge in popularity of “adventure” bikes which are capable of handling unsealed roads better than trail or normal road bikes. At the same time, they give the riders a chance to go a lot faster in the belief that they are “safe” which is not the case.

The roads that are chosen are usually unknown to the riders or they have become hazardous because of weather and stock and farm machinery using the same roads which often run through established farms. There are very few advisory signs and feral animals (especially deer) are increasing in numbers everywhere as well as natural breeding increases with kangaroos and wombats.

I recently was moving a tractor from one property to another across one of these roads and from out of nowhere about twenty of these unseen riders/machines appeared over a crest at speeds I estimate to be over 100km. A straggler then appeared airborne at even greater speed and he had to take evasive action to avoid me and the tractor.

On another occasion a large group of these “adventurists” from Victoria appeared coming from the opposite direction and the leaders went over the crest at speed and encountered an unseen wash-away. One rider lost control and was thrown heavily into a table drain. Because of the remote area there was no mobile phone use available so I had to drive some distance to get reception to get an ambulance. When I returned to the scene a van with a mechanic and a paramedic (part of the organized ride) had arrived and rendered help until the ambulance arrived.

I understand the national organizations who represent the interests of most motorcyclists are aware of this problem and they are alerting their members to the risks. It can’t happen soon enough.