10NR17 – MRF News Release – Washington Update

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
24 June 2010

Washington Update

There is the BRC™ as mentioned earlier, with several places offering some version of a pre-BRC™ intro class to see if riding is something the attendee really wants to do. A few places offer a version of an additional riding course for those folks who wish to practice what they’ve learned in the BRC™ to refresh themselves before hitting the roadways. There is an intermediate version of the BRC™ that folks with some experience can take to qualify for a license testing waiver, along with an experienced course done on the students’ own bike (this also may qualify for the testing waiver).

Several of the above courses have been around in some version for many years. What we’re seeing as new is all the other training that is showing up. Basic dirt bike training has been available for a few years now. To compliment that there are now intermediate and advanced trail classes, including several day ‘riding camps’ that help participants refine the skills they have. We have also 3-wheeled training available, in novice and advanced forms to accommodate those who choose to ride trikes or sidecars.

Several companies are now offering more advanced closed course offerings that can take the average street rider as far as they want to go in increasing their skills. There courses are offered in controlled parking lots like the Total Control™ class and the new advanced version of the experienced course is now also being taught at a few sites around the state. You can also find closed private roads (e.g. Maryhill Loops Road), and the tracks (Pacific Raceways and Spokane County Raceway) with advanced training being held. These aren’t racer schools either, but advanced training courses meant to achieve greater proficiency in riding using higher speeds more realistic to the street without having to deal with traffic and still allowing for repetition of exercises.

Now add in the future offerings of on-road training currently in development by several companies and you can see that things have never been better than they are now. To recap, I’ve provided a list of many of the above mentioned classes in no particular order. If you do a search on the web you can find something nearby that may interest you.

Rolf Vitous
Vice President
Washington Road Riders Assn

• JumpStart or KickStart class
• Basic Rider Course™
• Additional Rider Course
• Intermediate Rider Training
• Experienced Rider Course
• Advanced Experienced Rider Course
• Sidecar/Trike Education Program©
• Lee Parks Total Control™ Training
• Advanced Street Skills
• MSF™ DirtBike School
• Basic and Advanced Trail Training
• Maryhill Advanced Rider Training
• Adventure Camp
• On-Street Course
• Basic & Advanced Trail Training
• Beginning street/ performance track schools through 2Fast and Mike Sullivan

Unfortunately, I won’t be at this evening’s meeting.  Sorry, family comes first – in this case, my daughter’s Girl Scout bridging ceremony.  But there’s some important work to finish up, so I hope you will be there.

Firstly: we authorized a fund to sponsor a member to attend MRF Best of the West, happening next month in Boise, Idaho.  This is open to WRRA members who have not attended an MRF conference in the past.  Why the condition?  Those of us who have attended MRF conferences in the past have found that the networking and collaboration with advocates from across the country has kicked up our own involvement to the next level – and we want to share that experience with someone new.  We’re still waiting for that volunteer to drop a note in our mailboxes….

By the way, if you recommend the person we sponsor, we have a “special gift” for you: we will pay your conference registration fee, as sort of a “finder’s fee.”  This is especially helpful since MRF discontinued their ‘organizational’ sign-up (in the past, WRRA paid that and any member could attend under our banner).  I can’t blame them: since we co-sponsored Best of the West, I gained a real appreciation for how much it costs to do this!

The other primary task for the evening is a review of the draft by-laws, a great work product by Pete Chartrand, Rolf Vitous and others.  Pete pointed out a few months ago that we really should have some definition of some of our policies and processes, and he’s right.  I appreciate his willingness to take on this task.

Sorry I won’t be there, but I know the work is in good hands.  I hope to see you soon at a WRRA-called Ride To Eat!  Watch this space for more information, soon….

Ride well, ride long, ride safe — Ian

202-546-0983 (voice) | 202-546-0986 (fax) | http://www.mrf.org

10NR14 – MRF News Release – Washington Update

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
16 May 2010

Contact: Jeff Hennie, Government Relations and Public Affairs

Washington Update

FHWA MOTORCYCLE ADVISORY COUNCIL

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently convened its Motorcycle Advisory Council (MAC) to discuss motorcycles and how they relate to the country’s transportation infrastructure, and make recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) is a member of the MAC and attends all council meetings.  In addition to council members, the MAC invites specialists from the government, industry and universities, with the goal of reducing motorcycle crashes and injuries to motorcyclists. They carefully consider the small road signature of motorcycles and the how they interact with the roads, bridges and barriers of this country. This was the 8th time the council has met over 4 years.

The feds announced that will be doing two “scans” of motorcycle safety to observe best practices and identify alternative solutions for smooth interaction between motorcycles and infrastructure.  They will conduct a domestic scan to study programs throughout the U.S., and will also travel to Europe and Australia for an international scan. The MRF was invited to participate in the international scan, as well as to help craft amplifying questions for international partners in that scan. The sole focus of the scans is improving U.S. infrastructure for motorcyclists.

Much of the discussion at this meeting was focused on how to get the message of the MAC into the right hands across the states. In an earlier meeting of the MAC, a brochure was developed with the mindset that it would provide key recommendations of the MAC to state highway developers. The information is fantastic, but the brochure was met with little fan fare. Oftentimes safety documents are lengthy and dull, and don’t get the attention they deserve. So the goal of this group is to not only create something that will get into the right hands, but will also get their attention. Many ideas were discussed, from video public service announcements to boiling down all current motorcycle safety documents into one simple, bullet-point document.

MOTORCYCLE VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED NUMBERS IMPROVE

For years and for good reason, the MRF has been crying foul regarding the motorcycle vehicle miles traveled (VMT) numbers collected and published by the federal government. One of many glaring examples was that for several years, it was reported that the state of South Dakota, home of the Sturgis motorcycle rally, had zero annual motorcycle VMT. In fact, before the MRF got involved in this issue, motorcycle VMT numbers were optional for the states to report. We at the MRF realize the need for solid VMT numbers to get an accurate view of the country’s safety situation. The motorcycle industry gathers its own VMT numbers, and they are always at least double what the feds bring to the table.

It’s refreshing to see the feds act on the MRF’s demands and at least attempt to improve the accuracy of the motorcycle VMT numbers gathered. They are now going to code the numbers using geographic information system mapping software that will compare travel on types of roads (from highways to rural roads), as well as breaking out the numbers by vehicle types. This does not mean the numbers will be completely trustworthy, but they are headed in the right direction.

TRAVELER OPINION AND PARTICIPATION SURVEY

The feds also announced that they will be doing a Traveler Opinion and Participation Survey (TOPS) during the summer of 2012. They will survey a random sampling of adult Americans over the phone to gage how the general public feels about the roads they use, the traffic they sit in, the purpose of travel and so on.  As a direct result of the MAC’s recommendation to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, the survey will, for the first time, include questions about motorcycles.

This was the last official meeting of the MAC under its current charter. The MRF is working with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, a past recipient of the MRF Champion Award, to extend the MAC’s charter for another two years. This would be the 2nd extension of the original Congressionally-mandated charter.

To read more about the MAC or view the motorcycle safety brochure visit: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/mac/

To read the TOPS findings from the last survey (2005) visit:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/traveleropinions/1.htm

Date: May 13, 2010 10:22:52 AM PDT

To: “Larry Walker” <wrraleg@aol.com>

Subject: AMA News & Notes – June 2010

Reply-To: “American Motorcyclist Association” <sandrews@ama-cycle.org>

June 2010

AMA News & Notes is a monthly publication compiled and edited by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Government Relations Department. Designed to inform motorcyclists of rights-related issues and events around the world, AMA News & Notes welcomes your input. Suggestions and editorial contributions can be sent to AMA Legislative Assistant Sheila Andrews by e-mail at sandrews@ama-cycle.org.

Protect your right to ride! Volunteering is easier than you think. To learn how you can help, visit us online at AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Rights > Get Involved.

Sign up and stay informed: electronic AMA Action Alerts and News & AMA Notes keep you up-to-date on hot topics, news affecting the motorcycling community and opportunities to communicate with your elected officials. By signing up to receive AMA Action Alerts, you will be notified by e-mail when and how you can make a difference on important issues. Click here to see the most recent AMA Action Alerts, and click here to sign up.

In addition to signing up for AMA Action Alerts, you can sign up to receive the monthly electronic edition of AMA News & Notes. AMA News & Notes keeps motorcyclists apprised of rights-related issues and events around the world. Click here and check the “Sign me up for AMA’s Government Relations News & Notes” box at the bottom of the page.

The AMA is calling for full disclosure on current National Monument designations that could affect as many as 13 million acres throughout the West. The call follows the limited release by the Department of Interior of only 383 out of more than 2,000 pages of internal documentation related to the consideration.

Recently, a markup in the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources could have forced H.Res. 1254, which would require full disclosure, to the House floor. However, despite bi-partisan support, a motion to favorably report the measure was not agreed to by a vote of 20 yeas to 22 nays. In a separate motion, a voice vote agreed to report H.Res. 1254 without recommendation. That means the decision to bring the resolution to the House floor rests with Committee Chairman Nick J. Rahall II (D-W.Va.) and House leadership.

At the heart of the issue are numerous potential National Monument designations, which would make it easier to close the affected 13 million acres to responsible off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation. The current effort draws on authority provided by the Antiquities Act of 1906, which allows the President to exercise executive privilege to unilaterally designate national monuments without input from local officials and residents, or their congressional representatives.

Source: http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=1946

Report shows motorcycling deaths dropped sharply in 2009. A just-released report shows that motorcycling fatalities nationwide dropped by at least 10 percent in 2009, which is the first decline in 12 years.

Based on preliminary data, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), which represents the state highway safety offices nationwide, projects that motorcycling deaths declined from 5,290 in 2008 to 4,762 or fewer in 2009. The projection is based on data collected from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The report is based on a survey of GHSA members, which reported fatality numbers for their states. The GHSA notes that while data are still preliminary, most states have final fatality counts for at least nine months of 2009, giving GHSA confidence to predict that the death count will be down by at least 10 percent for the year.

While encouraging, only an in-depth study focusing on the causes of motorcycle crashes can pinpoint the reasons for the reduction. Such an effort is now underway: the Federal Highway Administration is overseeing a four-year, $3 million study at Oklahoma State University through the Oklahoma Transportation Center in Stillwater. The last major study that researched the causes of motorcycle crashes was issued in January 1981. Known as the “Hurt Report” after lead researcher (and AMA Hall of Famer) Harry Hurt of the University of Southern California, that study provided a wealth of data that has been used by organizations and individual motorcyclists to help keep riders safer on the road. But in the decades since, the traffic environment has changed enormously, prompting the AMA to advocate for a new study several years ago.

Full story and further details can be found at: http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=1918

Industry urges U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to avoid a rush to judgment on a pending decision regarding the use of E15 fuel. The Auto Alliance, the American Petroleum Institute and the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute urged EPA to delay action on the agency’s proposal to allow higher levels of ethanol in gasoline. Higher levels of ethanol have not been proven safe or effective according to industry projections based on preliminary results of testing introduced at a meeting of the Mid-Level Ethanol Blends Research Coordination Group.

In addition to government funds, the auto and oil industries have spent more than $6 million over the last two years testing engine performance and durability of higher ethanol fuels, as well as testing storage and dispensation of fuels with 15 percent ethanol (E15). Currently, fuels are allowed by EPA to contain only up to 10 percent ethanol (E10).

Source: http://www.cnbc.com/id/36968599

Annual Motorcyclist Advisory Council survey launched. The Motorcyclist Advisory Council (MAC) to the Federal Highway Administration has made recommendations to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and his predecessors on various topics, including items for the federal highway appropriations bill and encouraging the use of motorcycles as a form of congestion relief. Of special significance was the creation and approval of the yearly Motorcyclist Road Conditions Survey.

The purpose of the survey is to better communicate to the MAC, road construction engineers and transportation safety officials the specific needs of motorcyclists that should be considered when developing new roadways or altering existing routes.

Access the survey at http://tinyurl.com/ykbqsr6

Washington, D.C.: A Congressional hearing on a proposed law that could end the sales ban on youth-model dirtbikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) was conducted on Thursday, April 29, 2010. The hearing on the proposed bill, the “Consumer Product Safety Enhancement Act” (CPSEA), was held by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.

“We are encouraged that Congress seems to be taking the concerns of AMA members and the motorcycling community seriously,” said Ed Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations. “We are seeking answers to questions that we raised earlier in the week about language in the bill, but we remain cautiously optimistic that our concerns will be addressed.”

The AMA identified its concerns in an April 28 letter addressed to Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) and Ranking Member Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.).

Source and full story: AmericanMotorcyclist.com/news/story.asp?id=1926.

Colorado: Detailed maps depicting the controversial Hidden Gems Wilderness Proposal for Eagle and Summit counties are available to the public at local libraries and the Colorado Mountain College Campus in Edwards.

The package of maps includes the overview of the entire proposal, and close-up depictions of the individual proposal areas. Comment sheets and information sheets about the proposal and Wilderness are available with the maps.

The Hidden Gems Wilderness Proposal for Summit and Eagle counties was submitted to Colorado’s congressional delegation on March 31. It seeks Wilderness designation for over 243,000 acres of public lands managed by the White River National Forest and Bureau of Land Management.

Source: http://www.postindependent.com/article/20100430/VALLEYNEWS/100429823&parentprofile=search

Maine: Signed into law April 12 by Governor John Baldacci, House Paper 1170, authored by Rep. Meredith Strang Burgess (R-Cumberland), prohibits a motor vehicle exhaust system from exceeding 62 dB(A) at a distance of 50 feet or greater in an area designated as a quiet zone.

Maryland: House Bill 676, sponsored by Delegates James Malone, Jr., (D-Arbutus) and Benjamin Kramer (D-Montgomery County), authorizes the use of certain auxiliary lighting on motorcycles.  The bill passed both the House and Senate unanimously and was delivered to Governor Martin O’Malley for consideration.

Senate Bill 189, sponsored by Senator Bryan Simonaire (R-Anne Arundel County), authorizes the Motor Vehicle Administration to suspend for up 180 days the license of a person who is convicted of a moving violation that contributed to a fatal motor vehicle crash. Voted unanimously by both the House and Senate, the bill now goes to the Governor for consideration.

Missouri: House Bill 2421, sponsored by Rep. Sally Faith (R-St. Charles), would require every applicant for a motorcycle license or endorsement to show proof of successful completion of a motorcycle training course approved by the Department of Public Safety.

New York: Senate Bill 7302, known as the New York State Consumers’ Right to Repair Act, would require motor vehicle manufacturers to make available to vehicle owners, repair shops and the department of motor vehicles the necessary information to diagnose, service or repair a vehicle. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Jose Peralta (D-Queens).

Senate Bill 7385, sponsored by Sen. William Larkin, Jr. (R-Cornwall-on-Hudson), would require a motorcycle to be operated with both wheels on the ground at all times, except in circumstances beyond the operator’s control.

Pennsylvania: House Bill 590, sponsored by Rep. Joseph Markosek (D-Monroeville), would permit a motorcyclist or bicyclist, after coming to a full and complete stop, to proceed with caution through an intersection controlled by a traffic-actuated signal if the detection system fails to recognize the motorcycle or bicycle.

New Waverly, Texas: Individual trail users and recreation user groups have formed the Sam Houston Trail Coalition. Located within an hour of Houston, the 161,154-acre Sam Houston National Forest is surrounded by Montgomery, Walker, Grimes, and San Jacinto counties. The coalition will work closely with the U.S. Forest Service to plan, develop and maintain a comprehensive and sustainable trail network for diverse outdoor recreation while protecting natural resources and educating the public accordingly. Immediate objectives are development of a Master Trail Plan and working together to secure funding and volunteer support to construct, use, and maintain the trail system.

Those seeking more information are urged to attend the upcoming Sam Houston Trail Coalition meeting on May 22, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the U.S. Forest Service office, 394 FM 1375 West in New Waverly. Progress-to-date on membership applications and by-laws will be discussed and election of the first Board of Directors is anticipated. While a website is being developed, information will be available on Facebook at the Sam Houston Trail Coalition page, through the Yahoo group SHTrails.

Utah: A new eminent domain law authorizes seizure of some of the federal government’s vast land holdings. In March, Gov. Gary Herbert (R) signed a law authorizing the use of eminent domain to capture some of the millions of acres that the federal government owns. The law was tailor-made to provoke a lawsuit, possibly reaching the US Supreme Court, and to inspire other Western states to enact similar legislation.

While it’s unusual for eminent domain to involve the taking of federal lands, this law is a byproduct of many state resident’s frustrations. The federal government controls more than 60 percent of the state’s lands, thus dictating whether land can set aside for preservation or can be accessed for mineral deposits.

What’s more, a recently leaked Interior Department memo suggests that two more sites in Utah could be potential national monuments, which would put them off limits to any development. That set off a firestorm of bipartisan criticism from lawmakers who said the administration was on the verge of orchestrating a massive and secretive federal “land grab.”

Source and full story: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2010/0430/Utah-uses-eminent-domain-to-seize-land-of-Uncle-Sam

AMA Government Relations News & Notes is a monthly service compiled and edited by the AMA Government Relations Staff to keep motorcyclists informed of happenings around the world. We welcome your news & views. Please submit all material to Sheila Andrews, Legislative Assistant, 101 Constitution Ave., NW Suite 800W, Washington, DC 20001; fax (202) 742-4304 or e-mail to sandrews@ama-cycle.org.

Here is the announcement from the Motorcycle Riders Foundation concerning the upcoming Best of the West conference this June.  With the way the American political process is going there is no better time to either get back or become engaged in the process.  Any of the conferences put on by the MRF are an excellent source of the jump start necessary to get you on the road to taking charge of the future of motorcycling.  And to add to the fun, Boise is one days ride from anywhere in Washington, so it  becomes a great excuse for a three day weekend.  Go for a ride, talk motorcycle politics with the folks that do it all over the west, and then take another ride.  What could be better than that?

That is just the beginning of the story though:

The WRRA has decided to sponsor one new activist to attend the conference, conference fees and hotel.  All we ask is that you put your new training and our investment to good use.  Are you good with people?  Perhaps motorcycle community outreach is right up your alley.  Riding around to all sorts of motorcycling events and telling the story of how things really happen in Olympia and Washington DC is a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.  Public relations background?  Ever thought about assisting with media relations and press interaction?  If you love numbers (and who doesn’t?) perhaps you could offer to take over from Lloyd and give him a well deserved break as our treasurer.

These are just some of the possibilities; you can write the story.

There is even the possibility of some sort of reward for the “head hunter” that finds us a likely candidate.  When you find us the candidate we can do some talking.  Just fire me an E-mail.

“Texas” Larry Walker

Government Relations Specialist

Washington Road Riders Association