It is certainly a case of two wheeled transport being better than a fuel guzzling Council car for Bertrand Cadart, the French expatriate Mayor of Glamorgan Spring Bay on Tasmania’s east coast. The colourful Mayor, a former journalist and film actor (he appeared as a bikie gang member in Mel Gibson’s classic Mad Max movie), has traded in his official Council car for the latest in motor scooter transport.
The move is costing Council very little, as on hearing of the Mayor and his municipality’s penchant for two wheeled transport, Honda Australia offered Councillor Cadart the latest, top of the line, Silver Wing scooter on a three month trial.
At its December meeting, Council voted to incorporate the scooter into its vehicle fleet, so when the Mayor is away it can be used by any other Councillor or employee who has a motorcycle licence.
Glamorgan Spring Bay takes in much of Tasmania’s east coast and boasts up to 300 days of sunshine each year. The municipality has positioned itself as motorbike and bicycle friendly and attracts scores of two wheeled visitors, as well as thousands of visitors annually.
Mayor Cadart said his new scooter has proved a boon and enables him to easily travel around the long and narrow coastal municipality, visiting constituents and managing Council issues. As well as promoting the municipality’s motorcycle friendly status, the initiative is also designed to save money on fuel and maintenance.
“The scooter uses much less fuel than the Mayoral car,” Councillor Cadart said. “I’m getting more than 100 kilometres for every five litres, compared to around 30 kilometres for the same amount of fuel in the car, so the savings are significant.
“Maintenance costs are also much lower and the scooter produces fewer carbon dioxide emissions, so it is better for the environment.”
Mayor Cadart said initial purchase costs are also much less –
around $10,000 for a scooter compared with up to $50,000 for your average Mayoral vehicle.
“I think it is something all Councils should consider, particularly those that are in sunny climates,” he said. “I think I can suffer 60 less than perfect days to save Council money and help protect our near pristine environment.”
In 2006, in what is believed to be an Australian first, Glamorgan Spring Bay Council declared the municipality motorcycle friendly. Council is now developing a strategy to support this declaration. Initiatives under consideration include regular road condition audit checks, pull off bays for motorcyclists, secure parking and storage in key locations for motorcyclists.
Mayor Cadart is the number one advocate for his region. With his trusty pillion passenger, a very un-French, English bulldog named CB 1300, Mayor Cadart can usually be seen daily, practising what he preaches – travelling the region on his motor scooter. He can’t wait to be joined on the road by other residents, as well as riders and visitors from anywhere around Australia or the world.
“What better way to explore, indulge and enjoy this beautiful part of the world than on a motorcycle, or indeed the mayoral scooter,” Mayor Cadart said.
Bertrand Cadart arrived in Australia in 1972, intending to stay three months before exploring the wilds of Africa. He never crossed the Indian Ocean, deciding to stay in Australia and moving to Tasmania in 2000. He was elected Mayor of Glamorgan Spring Bay in the 2007 Local Government elections.
Mayor Cadart’s pet bulldog, CB 1300, is named after the Honda CB 1300 – a motorcycle that was the focus of Bertrand’s yearnings when he first acquired the young pup. At the time, he could not afford to purchase both the prize puppy and the motorcycle, so the pup carries the name. However, he has since bought a secondhand Honda CB 1300 and to avoid confusion calls his bike ‘Bulldog’.
