Scooter riders are being called on to turn out in force for the VACC SAFE ROUTES Scooter Rally, this Sunday, 22 October.

The Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC) is organising the rally to call for improvements to road-sharing and traffic infrastructure for scooter riders using Melbourne streets.

VACC Executive Director, David Purchase, said the rally was in the form of a social ride, starting at Luna Park, with participants to assemble at 10am.

It will then travel through the coffee strips of St Kilda, the Esplanade, South Melbourne, the Victoria Markets, and Fitzroy, and finish at Lygon Street's Argyle Square.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for scooter enthusiasts to come along, meet other riders, check out the scooters and have a great time, riding through the breakfast areas of Melbourne," he said.

"Scooter riders need a signed system of SAFE ROUTES and other road-sharing initiatives. The VACC SAFE ROUTES rally is a great opportunity for scooters to be seen on the roads together, with the aim of making car drivers more aware of them and respect them on the roads.

"Scooters have become an incredibly popular alternative to cars and public transport for commuters, as they're inexpensive to run, they're convenient and easy to park," Mr Purchase said.

"The great advantage of these machines is that they can move through peak-hour congestion and get their riders to work faster and cheaper than they would using public transport or a car.

"Scooters are here to stay," he said.

Mr Purchase said VACC would be presenting a scooter to The Lighthouse Foundation to assist its fund-raising activities at the end of the ride.

"As the ride will finish at Argyle Square on Lygon St, we would hope riders would stick around for lucky draw prizes and the presentation before heading into the nearby cafes for a coffee," he said.


For further information contact:

Caroline Page
Senior Media Officer
VACC
Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce
email: cpage@vacc.com.au
phone: (03) 9829 1118
website: www.vacc.com.au