Melbourne Wheels of Justice - Media Press Release MAY 6, 2005
Today, Melbourne's cycling community gathered at Federation Square and rode to Parliament House to take part in the national Wheels of Justice rides protesting the lenient sentencing handed down to Adelaide lawyer Eugene McGee.
The ride embarked from Federation Square at 9-30 am to Parliament via Swanston and Bourke streets. Simultaneous rides took place in Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane. Cyclists, and non-cyclists supporting them left water bottles with messages for justice written on them upon the steps of Parliament. Black, Red and Blue armbands were worn for remembrance and symbolism, of death, trauma and hit run cycling victims.
This show of support was for Ian Humphreys’ family and friends, and to protest this appalling travesty of justice.
McGee, a lawyer and a former police officer, was convicted of traffic offences surrounding the death of cyclist Ian Humphrey. Ian, a husband and a father of two, was left on the side of the road to die. McGee received a $3100 fine and 12 months suspension of his driver's licence. In the absence of mandatory sentencing, it seems that, if you’re a well-connected lawyer, killing another road user is only a minor misdemeanour.
Around Australia, this travesty of justice has infuriated cyclists with Wheels of Justice rides held in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane supported by thousands of cyclists from all sectors of Cycling together with concerened communities of fed up Australians . Australian cyclists are sick of being continually treated as second-class citizens, being subjected to road rage and inadequate facilities.
In January 2005 a Melbourne cyclist was killed in hauntingly similar circumstances, in a hit-run incident in Plenty Road, Bundoora. The driver too, fled the scene, only to turn up at a police station with lawyer in tow several hours later.
In 2002 James Donnelly, a university student, died when he was struck from behind by a car driven Phillip Josefski, as he walked home from a party on Canterbury Road, Canterbury. The communities’ outrage concerning this hit run incident directly lead the Victorian Government to increase penalties for leaving a scene increased to 10 years.
Enough is enough! These incidents in South Australia and Victoria only serve to reinforce the idea that walking and cycling are the preserve of strange people on the margins of society, and that the act of cycling on the roads is somehow both an excuse for and an incitement to injury or murder. Together we CAN change this despicable attitude and make the roads safer for ALL road users.
STATEMENT FROM THE HUMPHREY FAMILY
Statement by Grahame Humphrey, (brother of killed cyclist Ian Humphrey)
"I would like to thank all of you for coming out today, and the whole
comunity for their supporty. It is important to remember that today is for
everyone who has lost a loved one and has felt left down by the system.
We have all proven that if we band together as a community and let our
outrage be known we can make a difference. We can change the course of
justice and create a better future." STATEMENT ENDS
Grahame Humphrey - Adelaide - Saturday May7, 2005
INTERNATIONALLY :
Internationally, a world wide RIDE of SILENCE will take place on May 18 at 7pm.
50 cities in the USA have organised rides and Australia is adding its suppport to this solemn memorial ride to honor the lives of cyclists taken by hit run and inattentive motorist. All capital cities, many towns and communities will add their voice and hearts to this occasion. Local rides are organised for Melbourne City and Bayside suburbs and cyclists their families and concerned members of the public will attend.
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MELBOURNE WHEELS OF JUSTICE
CYCLISTS FOR MANDATORY SENTENCING FOR HIT & RUN ROAD DEATHS
Email: melbicyclejustice@gmail.com
Webs:
http://www.wheelsofjustice.com.au/
http://bicyclejustice.blogspot.com/
http://www.rideofsilence.org
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