There has been a big jump in the number of motorcyclists killed on Victoria's roads Credit:Wayne Taylor Nine of those killed on motorcycles in Victoria so far this year did not hold a valid licence. "It's really disturbing, we're really concerned about what's happening with our motorcycle community, because this is not normal, this is not the normal pattern that we have seen in other years with our motorcyclists," Robyn Seymour, VicRoads director of vehicle and road use policy, said. "If a mate of yours is wanting to ride a bike and doesn't have a licence, please tell them that's not a good idea," Ms Seymour said. Ms Seymour said there is no indication the change to road laws allowing motorcyclists to lane filter - move slowly between traffic that is travelling at 30km/h or less - had contributed to the increase in motorcycle fatalities.

John Eacott, from The Victorian Motorcycle Council questioned if the requirement for police to now patrol in pairs had impacted police visibility and licence checks. He said people riding without a valid licence were "immediate illegal risk takers". But Mr Eacott said it must also be remembered that about a third of motorcycle fatalities this year were likely caused by motorists not seeing motorcyclists and implored motorists to understand road safety is a shared responsibility. Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer said the Solo Unit (on road motorcycles and trail bikes), within Road Policing Command, had the same amount of motorcycles on patrol as it always had. "However these riders are now required to ride two-up (in pairs), rather than alone. Some regional highway patrols with solos have been impacted by this change," he said.

He said the change had been made "to enhance the safety of our members". Assistant Commissioner Fryer said motorcycle safety would be given extra attention during the Easter holiday police blitz. "Operating a motorcycle unlicensed is a danger to not only the rider themselves, but to all other road users," he said. "The number of motorcyclists who have lost their life this year is very alarming, so we will be incorporating several aspects to our upcoming Easter operation, Op Nexus, in an effort to curb this," he said. But he warned "we can't police our way out of this issue. We need help from the community".

The spike in motorcycle fatalities has Victoria's road safety authorities worried just as a more rigorous motorcycle licensing system begins in Melbourne on Saturday. Rhys Griffiths motorcycle manager at the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, said one of the dangers of increasing the difficulty and cost of the motorcycle licence test is more people could choose not to get a licence and still ride. "It is a really fine line," he said. Paul Sweeney is a senior riding instructor with Honda Australia Rider Training and it is his job to make those who do get a motorcycle licence safe on the roads. He said space was critical. "If a rider is able to generate space, even if it's only a couple of metres if might just allow them enough time to respond if another road user was to catch them out by surprise," he said.

He said road safety was about sharing the road and looking out for each other. "Certainly there are some reckless road users, but reckless and poor behaviour on the road transcends vehicle type and gender, it transcends income, there are just a lot people behaving badly on our road system," he said.