The problem
Rather than inclusive coverage, the TAC only cover people who ride bikes in specific circumstances.
Too often people who ride bikes fall through the cracks of the Victorian Traffic Accident Commission’s (TAC) coverage.
If a person riding a bike hits a vehicle they should be covered by TAC, no matter where they’re going or what part of the vehicle they hit. However, in lots of cases, bike riders are not.
If you’re riding to work or hit by a moving car you may be covered. But if you’re riding to the shops or on the weekend and hit a road sign, you aren’t automatically covered.
Sadly, people like Rory Wilson, have tragically been left paraplegics after bike crashes but received no coverage from the TAC simply because they weren’t going to work and hit the wrong part of the vehicle.
It’s a terrible, illogical and unfair loophole that must be closed.
The solution
Extend coverage to any person riding a bike on Victorian roads and paths, at any time.
If a person riding a bike hits a vehicle they should be covered by TAC. It shouldn’t matter what part of the vehicle they hit. It shouldn’t matter where they were heading.
TAC coverage should be extended to any person injured while riding a bike on Victorian roads and paths.
It is made clear on the TAC website why people riding a bike aren’t covered,
“Put very simply, cyclists do not pay a TAC premium and therefore they aren’t covered.”
This is wrong – the vast majority of people who ride bikes also own a car and do pay a TAC premium. They shouldn’t be penalised because they chose to leave their car at home.
It’s not logical not to cover people when they’re riding a bike, and the TAC have the means to extend coverage.
Latest news
TAC loophole set to close
People who ride bikes in Victoria are set to have an extended right to TAC compensation under new legislation introduced to State Parliament.
Help us get rolling on TAC coverage
Our call in The Age for TAC coverage to extend to bike riders has generated significant interest. We’d now love the help of all our...
Take action
Together we can take action and get TAC coverage extended to anyone riding a bike on Victorian roads and paths at any time, or at the very least to whenever a bike rider has a crash with a parked vehicle.
Make contact
Write to decision makers:
Victorian Minister for Finance, Hon. Robin Scott MP
robin.scott@parliament.vic.gov.au
TAC CEO – Joe Calafiore
Joe_Calafiore@tac.vic.gov.au
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