THUNDER ROADS® MAGAZINE OHIO
THE NATION'S LARGEST REGIONAL FREE Motorcycle Magazine!
THE NATION'S LARGEST REGIONAL FREE Motorcycle Magazine!
Thunder Roads Magazine
The #1 Free Biker Magazine In The USA!
"Where There's Bikes...There's Going To Be Thunder
NCOM NEWS BYTES
compiled and edited by Bill Bish - March 2008
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)
U.S. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY LOBBIES FOR HELMET LAWS
There’s a big difference between promoting helmet usage and advocating helmet laws, and U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters made it clear to Congress that she prefers the latter as her cornerstone to motorcycle safety. In testimony before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Transportation Subcommittee on March 6, Secretary Peters revealed her desire to promulgate nationwide helmet laws; "I support giving the information to states so that they can act on those laws," she told Senators, adding "And I certainly have made myself available to a number of states, and, in fact, have called governors when I see substantial increases in the number of motorcycle deaths in a state, especially a state that has repealed a helmet law." Calling upon the federal government to ease lobbying restrictions imposed at the behest of motorcycle rights organizations across the country, Peters has requested legislation that will allow her to divert motorcycle safety funding to convince states to enact mandatory helmet laws. Peters has sent letters to House and Senate leadership urging legislation to allow states to utilize federal funds intended for motorcycle rider training and awareness programs to promote helmet laws instead.
SIKH SEEKS FREEDOM FROM CANADIAN HELMET LAW
Baljinder Badesha, a 39-year-old father of four who immigrated to Canada in 1989 and had been an avid motorcyclist in his native India, disputed a $110 ticket for riding his 2003 Yamaha Shadow motorcycle without a helmet in 2005 and is now in court fighting Ontario's motorcycle helmet law on religious grounds. With the Ontario Human Rights Commission at his side, Mr. Badesha argued that Ontario's helmet law violates his religious freedom, since Sikhist beliefs prevent him from wearing anything over his turban. But Ontario Court Judge James Blacklock ruled that while the law prohibiting anyone riding a motorcycle without a helmet does violate his right to freedom of religion, it's justifiable in terms of the benefit that society gains in possible reduced health costs and the possible loss of people's loved ones. The Crown’s case centered on increased costs to the health system should helmet-less Sikh motorcycle riders end up suffering head injuries, though Badesha’s attorneys pointed to a study that concluded that, assuming half of all Sikh motorcyclists wear turbans, the increase in serious injuries would be between .43 and 2.83 Sikh riders a year. The study also projected that medical treatment for traumatic brain injuries would increase from $151,700,000 to $151,834,685 — a .00005-per-cent overall increase in the province's annual health-care budget. Badesha has announced that he will appeal the decision, and backed by the local Sikh community he now intends to challenge the constitutionality of the law rather than focusing his fight solely on his ticket. He and his supporters will also lobby politicians to change the law. Following the ruling, the World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) issued a statement expressing disappointment at the court's decision and asserting that wearing a turban doesn't substantially raise the risk either to the rider or to others on the road. The organization pointed to the Sikh motorcyclists in other jurisdictions who have been riding without helmets for many years. India, Hong Kong and Britain exempt Sikhs from wearing motorcycle helmets, as do the Canadian Provinces of Manitoba and British Columbia, where a human-rights challenge precipitated the exemption. Similar challenges have failed in the United States. "We are confident of winning the battle this time," Badesha said. "We don't believe a helmet is safe. Every day riders with helmets die in road accidents. If I'm supposed to die today, I will die, and nothing can save me."
CYCLE SALES SLIDE
Economic pressures, weakening dollar and decreased discretionary spending have contributed to the first downturn in the motorcycle market in 14 years, and according to a recent LA Times article, especially hard-hit are small-displacement dirtbikes and Harley-Davidson. On the up side, motorcycle sales in 2007 were over the 1-million mark for the fifth straight year, and battery and tire sales indicate that ridership and enthusiasm for the sport remain high. According to the Times article, the U.S. Department of Commerce estimates a 2.2% sales drop in 2007, but some manufacturers are estimating a slide of up to 8-10%. In a regulatory filing, Harley-Davidson Inc. said industry wide U.S. sales of large displacement motorcycles (over 650cc) fell 5 percent last year. Harley's large-motorcycle domestic market share dipped to 49.4% from 50%, while their closest competitor Honda had a U.S. market share last year of 14.2%, down from 15.1%. Bloomberg news services reported recently that Yamaha is experiencing its first profit drop in eight years, Kawasaki claims sales are down but less than the industry average, and Honda and Suzuki each admit losses that parallel the industry overall; but there’s also some bright spots including Ducati, KTM, Victory, and overall scooter sales. On another positive note, industry market research group Freedonia has predicted an expanding global demand for motorcycles of 6% annually due primarily to emerging markets such as Asia and South America. And while declining motorcycle sales industry-wide has taken a toll on Harley-Davidson's stock price, one of the country's largest financial institutions, Citigroup, has removed the Milwaukee motorcycle manufacturer's stock from its “recommended to sell' list, citing sales trends that had "stabilized somewhat".
HONDA TO CEASE U.S. MOTORCYCLE PRODUCTION IN OHIO
After nearly 30 years, Honda Motor Co. plans to stop producing motorcycles in the United States next year, ending production at its first U.S. plant and consolidating the Marysville Motorcycle Plant production at a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Kumamoto, Japan which will be capable of producing 600,000 motorcycles a year. "This move allows us to improve the competitiveness and appeal of our products by applying the latest technologies and production systems at one efficient location," Akio Hamada, president & CEO of Honda of America, said in a statement. "Obviously, the motorcycle plant has a lot of historical significance," he said. "It was Honda's first plant in North America. It started producing motorcycles on Nov. 10, 1979. So obviously, there's a lot of emotion involved in this kind of decision. The sprawling plant, in Marysville, Ohio, employs 450 workers. Honda said there will be no layoffs when production ends in spring 2009. "There were a lot of people who felt disappointment," said plant manager Jan Gansheimer, noting that many of the employees are motorcycle enthusiasts who have spent much of their careers at the plant. Mirroring the rest of the industry, Honda's U.S. motorcycle sales fell in 2007, but the company said that its decision to end Ohio motorcycle production was not based on a softening American motorcycle market. Honda's manufacturing venture in America began at the Marysville plant in September, 1979, where its first product was a motocross machine. Over time, a $165 million capital investment was made in the facility, which became the worldwide supplier of some of Honda's most popular models, such as the luxury touring Gold Wing. The motorcycle plant reached its peak production in 1997 when it turned out 174,000 vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles. In 2005, ATV production was moved to South Carolina. Last year, the Ohio factory built nearly 61,000 motorcycles, 44,000 of which were Gold Wings and VTX cruiser motorcycles.
HORSEPOWER VS. HORSESENSE
While speed and power typically dominate two-wheeled trends, a safety movement may be afoot featuring such hot topics as airbags from Honda, inflatable vests from Dainese, and “uncrashable” bike concepts from BMW. So it shouldn't seem surprising that “Motorcycle News” is reporting that Honda and Yamaha are working with twelve car manufacturers to test and develop technology intended to "...reduce rear-end shunts, head-on collisions and drivers who turn right across a road in the face of oncoming traffic, a common cause of motorcycle accidents." The systems, which will begin testing in Japan this month, enable automobiles to communicate speed and road position to other vehicles, and warn of potential accidents via voice alerts and navigation system messages. Fueled by government funded safety campaigns and worldwide legislative initiatives, these tests could signal a gradual revolution in motorcycle safety.
MINNESOTA BIKERS FIGHT TICKETS FOR ROAD BLOCKING
A judge has dismissed charges of obstructing legal process and running a stop sign against one of about 60 bikers stopped last summer near St. Joseph, MN for blocking an intersection during a run. The ruling by Stearns County District Court Judge Frank Kundrat comes after one of the other bikers was found not guilty of a stop sign violation after a trial. Scott Reichert recently took his case to court and was acquitted after the prosecution had presented its case and before Reichert had to put on a defense. Reichert, a member of the club Street Legal, originally considered just paying the fine he told the St. Cloud Times newspaper, but then he saw the police reports that hinted at a possible motive that police wanted to target some of the BPMs. The July 7 run from the BPM clubhouse was intercepted by as many as 19 law enforcement agents, including members of the state Gang Strike Force and an agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The BPMs have been identified as a criminal gang based on criteria established by the Legislature, said Minnesota Gang Strike Force Commander Ron Ryan in defending their actions that day, A report filed in case by the Gang Strike Force cites two examples of criminal activity tied to the BPMs: one incident is from 1971; the other is from 1968. Reichert and attorneys representing the dozens of bikers stopped that day contend that the officers and sheriff's deputies were looking for more. If that's the case, a box-score review of the stop could be considered a lopsided defeat: The nineteen officers wrote about 60 citations for riders failing to stop at a stop sign and two for riders having a small amount of marijuana. They arrested one biker for disorderly conduct, but found no one wanted on warrants and no illegal weapons. About five dozen other cases could be headed for separate trials, according to lawyer Stephen O'Brien, the Minnesota Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) Attorney representing the remaining bikers.
WEIRD NEWS: MOTORCYCLES MAKE WOMEN’S CLOTHES FALL OFF
A new trend is developing: motorcycles and undressing women, reports clutchandchrome.com, citing two recent events that have the mainstream press lending some credence to this possibility. First, Pamela Anderson made celebrity headlines around the world with her sold out Valentines Day show at a famous Parisian Gentlemen's club Cabaret house Le Crazy Horse. A crowd of over 500 fans paid $300 to watch the former Baywatch star give a performance that finished on the back of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. A few weeks after Ms. Anderson's unique Valentines present, pop star Prince threw a post-Oscar party in his Beverly Hills mansion, which featured room after room of exotic dancers dressed in various themes with one featuring a scantily clad woman enthusiastically using a motorcycle as a prop. Many industry experts would agree, if this trend of women shedding clothing at the sight of a motorcycle becomes popular, currently struggling two-wheeled sales could see a marked improvement.
QUOTABLE QUOTE: "For the saddest epitaph which can be carved in memory of a vanished liberty is that it was lost because its possessors failed to stretch forth a saving hand while yet there was time." U.S. Supreme Court Justice George Sutherland (1862-1942)
There’s a big difference between promoting helmet usage and advocating helmet laws, and U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters made it clear to Congress that she prefers the latter as her cornerstone to motorcycle safety. In testimony before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Transportation Subcommittee on March 6, Secretary Peters revealed her desire to promulgate nationwide helmet laws; "I support giving the information to states so that they can act on those laws," she told Senators, adding "And I certainly have made myself available to a number of states, and, in fact, have called governors when I see substantial increases in the number of motorcycle deaths in a state, especially a state that has repealed a helmet law." Calling upon the federal government to ease lobbying restrictions imposed at the behest of motorcycle rights organizations across the country, Peters has requested legislation that will allow her to divert motorcycle safety funding to convince states to enact mandatory helmet laws. Peters has sent letters to House and Senate leadership urging legislation to allow states to utilize federal funds intended for motorcycle rider training and awareness programs to promote helmet laws instead.
SIKH SEEKS FREEDOM FROM CANADIAN HELMET LAW
Baljinder Badesha, a 39-year-old father of four who immigrated to Canada in 1989 and had been an avid motorcyclist in his native India, disputed a $110 ticket for riding his 2003 Yamaha Shadow motorcycle without a helmet in 2005 and is now in court fighting Ontario's motorcycle helmet law on religious grounds. With the Ontario Human Rights Commission at his side, Mr. Badesha argued that Ontario's helmet law violates his religious freedom, since Sikhist beliefs prevent him from wearing anything over his turban. But Ontario Court Judge James Blacklock ruled that while the law prohibiting anyone riding a motorcycle without a helmet does violate his right to freedom of religion, it's justifiable in terms of the benefit that society gains in possible reduced health costs and the possible loss of people's loved ones. The Crown’s case centered on increased costs to the health system should helmet-less Sikh motorcycle riders end up suffering head injuries, though Badesha’s attorneys pointed to a study that concluded that, assuming half of all Sikh motorcyclists wear turbans, the increase in serious injuries would be between .43 and 2.83 Sikh riders a year. The study also projected that medical treatment for traumatic brain injuries would increase from $151,700,000 to $151,834,685 — a .00005-per-cent overall increase in the province's annual health-care budget. Badesha has announced that he will appeal the decision, and backed by the local Sikh community he now intends to challenge the constitutionality of the law rather than focusing his fight solely on his ticket. He and his supporters will also lobby politicians to change the law. Following the ruling, the World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) issued a statement expressing disappointment at the court's decision and asserting that wearing a turban doesn't substantially raise the risk either to the rider or to others on the road. The organization pointed to the Sikh motorcyclists in other jurisdictions who have been riding without helmets for many years. India, Hong Kong and Britain exempt Sikhs from wearing motorcycle helmets, as do the Canadian Provinces of Manitoba and British Columbia, where a human-rights challenge precipitated the exemption. Similar challenges have failed in the United States. "We are confident of winning the battle this time," Badesha said. "We don't believe a helmet is safe. Every day riders with helmets die in road accidents. If I'm supposed to die today, I will die, and nothing can save me."
CYCLE SALES SLIDE
Economic pressures, weakening dollar and decreased discretionary spending have contributed to the first downturn in the motorcycle market in 14 years, and according to a recent LA Times article, especially hard-hit are small-displacement dirtbikes and Harley-Davidson. On the up side, motorcycle sales in 2007 were over the 1-million mark for the fifth straight year, and battery and tire sales indicate that ridership and enthusiasm for the sport remain high. According to the Times article, the U.S. Department of Commerce estimates a 2.2% sales drop in 2007, but some manufacturers are estimating a slide of up to 8-10%. In a regulatory filing, Harley-Davidson Inc. said industry wide U.S. sales of large displacement motorcycles (over 650cc) fell 5 percent last year. Harley's large-motorcycle domestic market share dipped to 49.4% from 50%, while their closest competitor Honda had a U.S. market share last year of 14.2%, down from 15.1%. Bloomberg news services reported recently that Yamaha is experiencing its first profit drop in eight years, Kawasaki claims sales are down but less than the industry average, and Honda and Suzuki each admit losses that parallel the industry overall; but there’s also some bright spots including Ducati, KTM, Victory, and overall scooter sales. On another positive note, industry market research group Freedonia has predicted an expanding global demand for motorcycles of 6% annually due primarily to emerging markets such as Asia and South America. And while declining motorcycle sales industry-wide has taken a toll on Harley-Davidson's stock price, one of the country's largest financial institutions, Citigroup, has removed the Milwaukee motorcycle manufacturer's stock from its “recommended to sell' list, citing sales trends that had "stabilized somewhat".
HONDA TO CEASE U.S. MOTORCYCLE PRODUCTION IN OHIO
After nearly 30 years, Honda Motor Co. plans to stop producing motorcycles in the United States next year, ending production at its first U.S. plant and consolidating the Marysville Motorcycle Plant production at a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Kumamoto, Japan which will be capable of producing 600,000 motorcycles a year. "This move allows us to improve the competitiveness and appeal of our products by applying the latest technologies and production systems at one efficient location," Akio Hamada, president & CEO of Honda of America, said in a statement. "Obviously, the motorcycle plant has a lot of historical significance," he said. "It was Honda's first plant in North America. It started producing motorcycles on Nov. 10, 1979. So obviously, there's a lot of emotion involved in this kind of decision. The sprawling plant, in Marysville, Ohio, employs 450 workers. Honda said there will be no layoffs when production ends in spring 2009. "There were a lot of people who felt disappointment," said plant manager Jan Gansheimer, noting that many of the employees are motorcycle enthusiasts who have spent much of their careers at the plant. Mirroring the rest of the industry, Honda's U.S. motorcycle sales fell in 2007, but the company said that its decision to end Ohio motorcycle production was not based on a softening American motorcycle market. Honda's manufacturing venture in America began at the Marysville plant in September, 1979, where its first product was a motocross machine. Over time, a $165 million capital investment was made in the facility, which became the worldwide supplier of some of Honda's most popular models, such as the luxury touring Gold Wing. The motorcycle plant reached its peak production in 1997 when it turned out 174,000 vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles. In 2005, ATV production was moved to South Carolina. Last year, the Ohio factory built nearly 61,000 motorcycles, 44,000 of which were Gold Wings and VTX cruiser motorcycles.
HORSEPOWER VS. HORSESENSE
While speed and power typically dominate two-wheeled trends, a safety movement may be afoot featuring such hot topics as airbags from Honda, inflatable vests from Dainese, and “uncrashable” bike concepts from BMW. So it shouldn't seem surprising that “Motorcycle News” is reporting that Honda and Yamaha are working with twelve car manufacturers to test and develop technology intended to "...reduce rear-end shunts, head-on collisions and drivers who turn right across a road in the face of oncoming traffic, a common cause of motorcycle accidents." The systems, which will begin testing in Japan this month, enable automobiles to communicate speed and road position to other vehicles, and warn of potential accidents via voice alerts and navigation system messages. Fueled by government funded safety campaigns and worldwide legislative initiatives, these tests could signal a gradual revolution in motorcycle safety.
MINNESOTA BIKERS FIGHT TICKETS FOR ROAD BLOCKING
A judge has dismissed charges of obstructing legal process and running a stop sign against one of about 60 bikers stopped last summer near St. Joseph, MN for blocking an intersection during a run. The ruling by Stearns County District Court Judge Frank Kundrat comes after one of the other bikers was found not guilty of a stop sign violation after a trial. Scott Reichert recently took his case to court and was acquitted after the prosecution had presented its case and before Reichert had to put on a defense. Reichert, a member of the club Street Legal, originally considered just paying the fine he told the St. Cloud Times newspaper, but then he saw the police reports that hinted at a possible motive that police wanted to target some of the BPMs. The July 7 run from the BPM clubhouse was intercepted by as many as 19 law enforcement agents, including members of the state Gang Strike Force and an agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The BPMs have been identified as a criminal gang based on criteria established by the Legislature, said Minnesota Gang Strike Force Commander Ron Ryan in defending their actions that day, A report filed in case by the Gang Strike Force cites two examples of criminal activity tied to the BPMs: one incident is from 1971; the other is from 1968. Reichert and attorneys representing the dozens of bikers stopped that day contend that the officers and sheriff's deputies were looking for more. If that's the case, a box-score review of the stop could be considered a lopsided defeat: The nineteen officers wrote about 60 citations for riders failing to stop at a stop sign and two for riders having a small amount of marijuana. They arrested one biker for disorderly conduct, but found no one wanted on warrants and no illegal weapons. About five dozen other cases could be headed for separate trials, according to lawyer Stephen O'Brien, the Minnesota Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) Attorney representing the remaining bikers.
WEIRD NEWS: MOTORCYCLES MAKE WOMEN’S CLOTHES FALL OFF
A new trend is developing: motorcycles and undressing women, reports clutchandchrome.com, citing two recent events that have the mainstream press lending some credence to this possibility. First, Pamela Anderson made celebrity headlines around the world with her sold out Valentines Day show at a famous Parisian Gentlemen's club Cabaret house Le Crazy Horse. A crowd of over 500 fans paid $300 to watch the former Baywatch star give a performance that finished on the back of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. A few weeks after Ms. Anderson's unique Valentines present, pop star Prince threw a post-Oscar party in his Beverly Hills mansion, which featured room after room of exotic dancers dressed in various themes with one featuring a scantily clad woman enthusiastically using a motorcycle as a prop. Many industry experts would agree, if this trend of women shedding clothing at the sight of a motorcycle becomes popular, currently struggling two-wheeled sales could see a marked improvement.
QUOTABLE QUOTE: "For the saddest epitaph which can be carved in memory of a vanished liberty is that it was lost because its possessors failed to stretch forth a saving hand while yet there was time." U.S. Supreme Court Justice George Sutherland (1862-1942)
NCOM NEWS BYTES
compiled and edited by Bill Bish - February 2008
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)
TRANSPORTATION CHIEF CALLS FOR HELMET USE. At U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters sent legislation to Congress on February 14th seeking to divert funding from rider training and motorcycle awareness funds to promote helmet use. According to the Department of Transportation, the legislation submitted to Congress would allow states to use federal motorcycle safety funding to promote the use of motorcycle helmets. Currently, states are limited to using the funds for motorcycle safety training and awareness programs only. In spite of a Congressional ban on the federal agency lobbying state legislatures in favor of passing helmet laws, Secretary Peters wrote letters to House and Senate leaders “seeking greater flexibility for states to target one of the leading causes of motorcycle deaths across the nation – riding without a helmet.” “Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters is requesting an amendment to allow the SAFETEA-LU Section 2010 Grant funds to be used to promote helmet use in a letter sent to President of Senate Dick Cheney and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi,” explained Sputnik, Chairman of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists Legislative Task Force (NCOM-LTF). “This is nothing more than a raid on a fund that was intended for motorcycle awareness and education. Motorcyclists across the nation fought hard for many years to get this grant money and the outlines for its usage were hammered out and agreed upon.” Consider writing letters to your Senators and Representatives asking them to do the following: 1. Write Secretary Peters and request she withdraw her proposed amendment. 2. Speak with your legislators against this letter in an attempt to gather votes against this amendment if she does not withdraw it and it becomes a written bill.
INCREASED GLOBAL DEMAND FOR MOTORCYCLES FORECAST. Global demand for motorcycles is projected to exceed 59 million unites in 2011. According to a new study from The Fredonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry market research firm, the demand for motorcycles is forecast to advance 6.0 percent annually to 59 million units in 2011, representing $49 billion in manufacturers' sales. “This growth emanates from a mix of developed market incremental improvements and emerging market expansions,” quoted the independent report released February 7th. “Demand for all categories of motorcycles is expected to remain healthy, despite the plateauing of growth in key markets such as China, which is rapidly transitioning away from motorcycles and toward cars for its transportation needs.” These and other trends, including market share and company profiles, are presented in "World Motorcycles", a market research study conducted by The Fredonia Group, an unbiased international business analyst with Fortune 500 clientele. The most rapid growth will occur in developing markets, where rising income levels and the introduction of higher quality machines featuring the latest technologies will fuel demand. “This growth will be tempered in part by the increasing number of restrictions or outright bans on motorcycle use in urban areas in Asia,” according to their research. “In developed markets, fuel prices and increasing restrictions on car use in some regions such as Western Europe are stoking interest in the exceptional fuel economy and cost effectiveness motorcycles offer. While the market for large and expensive high displacement motorcycles will also remain moderately strong, concerns regarding future demand have emerged due to the aging of the customer base, especially in the United States and Western Europe.” Two separate motorcycle markets exist, as broken down in the report. The first centers on the industrialized Triad (the US, Japan and Western Europe), where motorcycles are seen as pleasure vehicles. The other, much larger market in unit terms exists in the emerging economies of Asia, Latin America and the Africa/ Mideast region, where motorcycles are seen as primary family and work vehicles. “While Asia is dominant in terms of unit volume, most key players derive far higher revenues per unit from sales in developed markets such as North America,” says the study.
VISION ZERO. An international conference has been convened to investigate methods of eliminating all risk on the roads, and the possibility of eliminating motorcycles as well. Government transport advisors from across the European Union gathered in Brussels for the three-day conference beginning February 12th, called: “Safe Highways of the Future… exploring technologies and changes required to enable zero deaths on Europe’s roads to become a reality.” Presenters included Swedish transport advisor Claes Tingvall who devised the “Vision Zero” transportation policy. Vision Zero aims to eliminate all deaths on the roads through technology, and Tingvall famously said on TV: “There is no room for motorcycles in Vision Zero.” Rune Elvik, a Norwegian transport advisor, recently said a debate was needed on whether motorcycles should be allowed on the roads in order for Vision Zero to progress. Topics of the conference included “Safer Vehicles By Design”.
BRITISH MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY DEMANDS BETTER TREATMENT FOR BIKERS. United Kingdom motorcycle industry leaders want the British government, legislators, local authorities and transport planners to treat motorcycling as a serious, relevant alternative to cars, buses and trains. David Taylor, chief executive of the UK Motor Cycle Industry Association, made this plain only days after news of an 8.6 percent rise in motorcycle, scooter and moped registrations in 2007 – the biggest jump in seven years. "There are more than 1.2-million powered two-wheelers on UK roads," he told media sources on January 22, 2008. "After several years of flat sales, there are strong indications that people are seeing PTW's as practical, relevant personal transport They are part of the solution to traffic congestion and pollution - it's time motorcyclists were properly considered and treated seriously 'There are more than 1.2-million powered two-wheelers on UK roads'." "All too often car owners, commercial vehicles and public transport take priority while those on two wheels are ignored or an afterthought," Taylor added. "We want equality and the incentives that come with the recognition that PTW's ease traffic and parking congestion, reduce emissions and provide reliable and efficient personal transport." In particular, the MCIA wants: Government transport policies that acknowledge PTW's as a viable alternative to tackle congestion and CO2. Better roads and faster and more efficient road maintenance. An end to an unforgiving road infrastructure clearly designed with not all road users in mind. The promotion of PTW's as a legitimate and relevant congestion-busting means of travel, including their exemption from road pricing, parking and congestion charges, access to bus lanes and secure parking. A lower scale of vehicle excise duty; no motorcycle should be taxed more than the smallest car. The UK government announced a motorcycle strategy in 2005 but little had been done with implementation. PTW's were almost ignored in the government's latest core transport policy paper “Towards a Sustainable Transport Policy”. This, Taylor said, was not good enough. "The industry feels, despite warm words from ministers, 'mainstreaming' of motorcycling in transport policy isn't happening. There should be no barriers to the development of motorcycling, better protection for riders and recognition of motorcycling as a legitimate form of transport."
BIKIES INVITED INTO AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT FOR DEBATE.Members of the Gypsy Jokers, Finks and Hells Angels were among guests at Parliament House for a February 8th briefing on new laws being introduced by the State Government to combat outlaw motorcycle clubs, and Democrats MP Sandra Kanck plunged herself into controversy by inviting the “bikies” to participate in the debate.MP Kanck defended the presence of the outlaw motorcycle club members saying people who are affected by legislation should be consulted before it becomes law. The seminar was organized by Ms Kanck to highlight concerns the legislation will unfairly target people who are not involved in criminal acts, such as bikers who belong to the Longriders Christian Motorcycle Club who’s homes have been raided by police during anti-bikie efforts.Under the laws, scheduled to be debated soon in the House of Assembly, South Australians who have contact with bikies at least six times a year will face a minimum of five years in jail. The Serious and Organized Crime (Control) Bill 2007 also will enable the Police Commissioner, Mal Hyde, to obtain orders from the Attorney-General, Michael Atkinson, declaring bikie gangs illegal.Anyone involved with the gangs, or who has any contact with them, can then be served with orders restricting their movements based on police intelligence, which must remain secret.Prominent criminal defense lawyer Craig Caldicott told the gathering that the new laws were an attempt "to use a sledgehammer to crack a walnut." "They are basically an overkill," Caldicott said. "It is the only piece of legislation in Australia aimed at a group of people who wear leather jackets."
COLORS SOUGHT FOR MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM. The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame is seeking vests with patches to expand an existing exhibit about motorcycle clubs.“I'm looking to reach out to Motorcycle Clubs who might be willing to have their colors on display,” said Christine Paige Diers, Executive Director of the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame in South Dakota.“One of the exhibits we've had on display for the last six to eight months is an exhibit about Motorcycle Clubs,” explained Diers. “As part of the exhibit, we had a number of vests with patches representing a variety of clubs. Unfortunately, the owner of those patches has reclaimed his collection. We're in the process of trying to rebuild the display and are looking for clubs that might be interested.”The idea of this exhibit is to educate the public about the history of motorcycling and present a fair-minded representation of motorcycle clubs in their many forms, she said. “I'd like to rebuild the exhibit with themed sections to display, including women's clubs, family oriented clubs, law enforcement clubs and veterans clubs.”Anyone interested in loaning a jacket, vest or patch, or even a photo, to the museum for a time period of one to two years, along with a brief club description or history, should contact her at christine@sturgismuseum.com or phone 605-347-2001.
WEIRD NEWS: CRASH ABSORBER INVENTED FOR MOTORCYCLES. A new design of crash absorber can combat the type of accident where motorcyclists run into something and are then killed by the bike pivoting over the front wheel and impacting on the rider. Iranian inventor Mohammad Hassan Shorabi has come up with a construction that absorbs some of the impact energy and transfers the residue of the impact reaction force to the back axle. He has incorporated the idea into a child’s bike so it can travel as personal airline baggage. It comprises a strong construction that projects just forward of the front wheel and is able to slide down the main body of the bike as the various parts of it collapse, bend and break. Shorabi has installed it on two different motorcycles, and a friend “without mind” tested it by riding it into a wall – and survived the experience
QUOTABLE QUOTE: “One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man.” Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915) American writer, artist and philosopher
NCOM NEWS BYTES
compiled and edited by Bill Bish - January 2007
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)
HELMET LAWS THREATENED At least three state legislatures are already proposing to enact helmet laws in the early stages of their 2007 sessions: Arkansas, Montana and Pennsylvania. Spurred by a renewed federal enthusiasm in promoting helmet laws, and due to the increased popularity of motorcycle riding, state governments are seeking ways to curb rising motorcyclist fatalities.
New motorcycle sales have topped one million for the fourth straight year, and have experienced 14 consecutive years of record sales, now triple the number of new bikes sold a decade ago. But along with that boon has come a corresponding increase in motorcycle deaths, with the latest figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reflecting a 13 percent increase in rider fatalities from 4,028 in 2004 to 4,553 in 2005.
Currently, 20 states and the District of Columbia require all motorcyclists to wear helmets, while the other 30 states allow freedom of choice for adult riders.
SALT LAKE CITY WITHDRAWS HELMET PROPOSAL Through the combined efforts of bikers across the country who took time to write, call and e-mail Mayor Rocky Anderson to oppose a Salt Lake City, Utah city ordinance requiring helmet use by all motorcyclists and bicyclists within the city, the proposed law has been withdrawn and the mayor's office has responded that they have "Abandoned the proposal, due to the immense amount of calls and e-mails both from local motorcyclists and motorcyclists nationwide. We are now looking into ways to better enforce the helmet law already in existence, (for riders 18 years old and under) and require the same for bicyclists and scooters."
NUMBERS GAME Even if we accepted the government's claim that unhelmeted riders cost U.S. taxpayers $853 million last year, let's put that number in perspective. According to MAG-UK (Motorcycle Action Group of the United Kingdom), citing statistics from the BBC website, the United States spent $1.9 trillion on healthcare in 2004, so unhelmeted motorcyclists accounted for .00004% of the total costs.
For comparison, caring for smoking related health problems cost the government $12.9 billion, or .007%, making it 150 times more costly. Obesity costs the government $7.7 billion in healthcare expenses. Alcohol costs the government $12.2 billion in healthcare expenses. Medicaid fraud costs the government $140 billion in healthcare expenses.
S&S FIRST TO OBTAIN EPA ENGINE CERTIFICATION S&S Cycle, Inc. has successfully procured EPA Certification on all three of its V-Series engine families, becoming the first motorcycle engine manufacturer to produce pre-certified EPA compliant engines for use by individuals and custom bike builders.
By using motors that are pre-certified to meet emissions regulations, individuals and builders can now build EPA compliant motorcycles without having to go through the complicated and costly emissions testing procedures themselves, thus allowing small volume manufacturers to build and sell as many custom motorcycles as they want to, and individuals can now own, ride and sell them without prior restrictions as long as the engine package is not altered in any way that increases exhaust emissions.
Under EPA regulations issued in 2003, custom bike builders are limited to building only 24 non-compliant motorcycles per model year, and individuals are allowed to own only one EPA exempt kit bike in their lifetime. But following a year of successful efforts between the EPA and industry and consumer groups, the "Certification Procedure for Highway Motorcycle Engines" EPA letter of guidance dated July 25, 2006 CISD-06-15 (MC), now allows builders of aftermarket engines to provide EPA-compliant engine packages to individuals, dealers and small volume motorcycle manufacturers (<3,000 annual units, excluding California), thus circumventing the strict regulations applied to non-EPA compliant motorcycles.
Therefore, the new Certification Procedure will permit certified engines installed in new highway motorcycle chassis to be operated or re-sold without onerous construction and ownership restrictions, provided the requirements of the procedure, as well as the federal Clean Air Act anti-tampering requirements, are met.
ALUDE POLICE, FORFEIT YOUR BIKE The Florida Highway Patrol has developed a plan to fight fleeing cyclists without engaging in high speed pursuit or even taking them to trial. Florida police have a policy restricting high-speed chases, and police cars can't keep up with a sport bike's top speed or ability to accelerate.
But all the law requires is that police get the tag number, and then they can go pick up the bike later. Police seized 344 motorcycles last year by accusing their owners of running from police -- a felony -- initiate the seizure proceeding, then drop the charges. This allows police to keep the bike without the effort of a court battle or the danger of a not guilty verdict. Even an innocent motorcyclist will think twice about fighting an unjust seizure since the felony charges carry jail time and a permanent black mark on more than just their driving record.
Although police claim the confiscation policy is done to save the lives of innocent motorists, no automobile driver has been killed by a motorcyclist on the run.
NATIONAL ID ON THE WAY Some state officials are giving the national ID system a cool reception, and hope Congress will reassess -- and perhaps repeal -- legislation it passed that establishes a national ID system by 2008.
The Real ID Act of 2005 is intended to deter terrorism and illegal immigration, but many deem the program unnecessary, costly and annoying.
Among the most alarming dilemmas, aside from privacy issues, is that under the Real ID system it could take weeks to produce a single identification card. Real ID would also put a major dent in states' coffers, costing tens of millions of dollars to implement the new system, including installing new machines in DMV offices to produce the cards, and each state will be responsible for footing its own bill.
Right now, no one's sure how long residents will have before they must convert to the new ID system or what types of documentation they must present, and are awaiting further direction from the Department of Homeland Security.
QUOTABLE QUOTE: "Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make good use of it! If you do not, I shall repent it in Heaven that I ever took half the pains to preserve it!"
John Adams, April 26, 1777
New motorcycle sales have topped one million for the fourth straight year, and have experienced 14 consecutive years of record sales, now triple the number of new bikes sold a decade ago. But along with that boon has come a corresponding increase in motorcycle deaths, with the latest figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reflecting a 13 percent increase in rider fatalities from 4,028 in 2004 to 4,553 in 2005.
Currently, 20 states and the District of Columbia require all motorcyclists to wear helmets, while the other 30 states allow freedom of choice for adult riders.
SALT LAKE CITY WITHDRAWS HELMET PROPOSAL Through the combined efforts of bikers across the country who took time to write, call and e-mail Mayor Rocky Anderson to oppose a Salt Lake City, Utah city ordinance requiring helmet use by all motorcyclists and bicyclists within the city, the proposed law has been withdrawn and the mayor's office has responded that they have "Abandoned the proposal, due to the immense amount of calls and e-mails both from local motorcyclists and motorcyclists nationwide. We are now looking into ways to better enforce the helmet law already in existence, (for riders 18 years old and under) and require the same for bicyclists and scooters."
NUMBERS GAME Even if we accepted the government's claim that unhelmeted riders cost U.S. taxpayers $853 million last year, let's put that number in perspective. According to MAG-UK (Motorcycle Action Group of the United Kingdom), citing statistics from the BBC website, the United States spent $1.9 trillion on healthcare in 2004, so unhelmeted motorcyclists accounted for .00004% of the total costs.
For comparison, caring for smoking related health problems cost the government $12.9 billion, or .007%, making it 150 times more costly. Obesity costs the government $7.7 billion in healthcare expenses. Alcohol costs the government $12.2 billion in healthcare expenses. Medicaid fraud costs the government $140 billion in healthcare expenses.
S&S FIRST TO OBTAIN EPA ENGINE CERTIFICATION S&S Cycle, Inc. has successfully procured EPA Certification on all three of its V-Series engine families, becoming the first motorcycle engine manufacturer to produce pre-certified EPA compliant engines for use by individuals and custom bike builders.
By using motors that are pre-certified to meet emissions regulations, individuals and builders can now build EPA compliant motorcycles without having to go through the complicated and costly emissions testing procedures themselves, thus allowing small volume manufacturers to build and sell as many custom motorcycles as they want to, and individuals can now own, ride and sell them without prior restrictions as long as the engine package is not altered in any way that increases exhaust emissions.
Under EPA regulations issued in 2003, custom bike builders are limited to building only 24 non-compliant motorcycles per model year, and individuals are allowed to own only one EPA exempt kit bike in their lifetime. But following a year of successful efforts between the EPA and industry and consumer groups, the "Certification Procedure for Highway Motorcycle Engines" EPA letter of guidance dated July 25, 2006 CISD-06-15 (MC), now allows builders of aftermarket engines to provide EPA-compliant engine packages to individuals, dealers and small volume motorcycle manufacturers (<3,000 annual units, excluding California), thus circumventing the strict regulations applied to non-EPA compliant motorcycles.
Therefore, the new Certification Procedure will permit certified engines installed in new highway motorcycle chassis to be operated or re-sold without onerous construction and ownership restrictions, provided the requirements of the procedure, as well as the federal Clean Air Act anti-tampering requirements, are met.
ALUDE POLICE, FORFEIT YOUR BIKE The Florida Highway Patrol has developed a plan to fight fleeing cyclists without engaging in high speed pursuit or even taking them to trial. Florida police have a policy restricting high-speed chases, and police cars can't keep up with a sport bike's top speed or ability to accelerate.
But all the law requires is that police get the tag number, and then they can go pick up the bike later. Police seized 344 motorcycles last year by accusing their owners of running from police -- a felony -- initiate the seizure proceeding, then drop the charges. This allows police to keep the bike without the effort of a court battle or the danger of a not guilty verdict. Even an innocent motorcyclist will think twice about fighting an unjust seizure since the felony charges carry jail time and a permanent black mark on more than just their driving record.
Although police claim the confiscation policy is done to save the lives of innocent motorists, no automobile driver has been killed by a motorcyclist on the run.
NATIONAL ID ON THE WAY Some state officials are giving the national ID system a cool reception, and hope Congress will reassess -- and perhaps repeal -- legislation it passed that establishes a national ID system by 2008.
The Real ID Act of 2005 is intended to deter terrorism and illegal immigration, but many deem the program unnecessary, costly and annoying.
Among the most alarming dilemmas, aside from privacy issues, is that under the Real ID system it could take weeks to produce a single identification card. Real ID would also put a major dent in states' coffers, costing tens of millions of dollars to implement the new system, including installing new machines in DMV offices to produce the cards, and each state will be responsible for footing its own bill.
Right now, no one's sure how long residents will have before they must convert to the new ID system or what types of documentation they must present, and are awaiting further direction from the Department of Homeland Security.
QUOTABLE QUOTE: "Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make good use of it! If you do not, I shall repent it in Heaven that I ever took half the pains to preserve it!"
John Adams, April 26, 1777
NCOM NEWS BYTES
compiled and edited by Bill Bish - February 2007
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)
FREEDOM OF CHOICE MAY COME WITH A PRICE TAG Pennsylvania motorcyclists successfully modified their mandatory helmet law in 2003 to allow riders 18 and older the option of wearing a helmet, but now a lawmaker wants bikers who don't wear a helmet to carry at least $10,000 in medical insurance to cover injuries if they crash. State Sen. Constance Williams says the requirement honors bikers' freedom to ride helmetless while making sure they take financial responsibility for their decision.
Governor Ed Rendell, who signed the law that allows bikers to ride without a helmet, has said more Pennsylvanians die from smoking than motorcycle accidents, but Sen. Williams cites a national report being circulated among State Legislatures that says highway fatalities are on the rise for the first time in 20 years, linking the increase to deaths from motorcycle crashes.
NEW TWIST FOR HELMET LAW MODIFICATION Lost revenues from tourism has become a common theme for modifying helmet laws in states that claim motorcyclists are riding around them and spending their vacation money in other states that don't require helmets.
Now Virginia has taken that argument a step further by proposing legislation that would allow motorcyclists to ride without a helmet on state scenic highways. On all other roads, police would not be allowed to stop riders for not wearing helmets unless they are stopped for another driving offense such as speeding, making the helmet violation a secondary offense.
Virginia motorcyclists are requesting help from across the country to pass HB 2585, asking riders to write their Delegates to let them know that you would spend your tourism dollars in Virginia if the state allowed freedom of choice on its beautiful scenic byways.
Bikers in Nebraska also want the right to make their own decisions about helmets, saying the current helmet law is costing the state $2-5 million a year during annual bike festivals in neighboring states because motorcyclists avoid riding through helmet law states.
Motorcyclists are lobbying the Unicameral legislature in Lincoln to support LB 253, a bill that would allow riders 21 and older to ride without a helmet. ABATE of Nebraska is not asking for letters or phone calls to their legislators at this juncture, but they would like for out-of-state riders to visit their website at www.abateofne.com and fill out a simple online poll that will allow them to put together written testimony from motorcyclists from across the nation.
"ABATE of Nebraska has once again filed legislation to establish Freedom Of Choice for adult motorcyclists," said Tiger Mike Revere, state coordinator for ABATE of Oklahoma and member of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) Board of Directors. "They have appealed for our help, and I pledged NCOM's support for their campaign. Unfortunately, I have the additional subject of the Helmet Law assault in Oklahoma to address."
TELEVISION DOESN'T REFLECT REALITY Most people drive safer than television characters, according to a University of Alabama at Birmingham study. The UAB study of 79 prime time TV shows revealed that actors often don't buckle up before they drive and sometimes don't wear helmets when they ride motorcycles and bicycles.
The research study, published in the journal Injury Sciences, found that over four weeks the television characters buckled up only 62 percent of the time. The TV characters used motorcycle helmets only 47 percent of the time and bicycle helmets nine percent of the time. Research shows most Americans are much safer - buckling seat belts 80 percent of time, using motorcycle helmets 60 percent of the time bicycle helmets 40 percent of the time.
"Since Americans watch more than four hours of TV per day, how safety behaviors are depicted on television can have tremendous influence on public perception of seatbelt and helmet use," said Gerald McGwin, Ph.D., associate director for research at the Center for Injury Sciences and one of the study authors. Researchers also studied 21,670 television commercials that McGwin says present a safer depiction, with seatbelt use by 86 percent of individuals, motorcycle helmet use 100 percent and bike helmet use 84 percent.
CONNECTICUT BIKERS WANT TO RAISE THE BAR Connecticut State Reps Wilbur and Zalaski have co-sponsored a bill to repeal their 15-inch handlebar height law. CT statute # 14-80i(b) reads: "No person shall operate a motorcycle on a highway or in any parking area for ten or more motor vehicles if the motorcycle is equipped with handlebars that are more than fifteen inches in height above the uppermost portion of the seat when the seat is depressed by the weight of the operator."
Rep. Wilber, who co-sponsored this bill with Rep Zalazki, had an OLR legislative report done that concluded that high handlebars are not a safety issue. The report also found that there has been a trend across the country to change the height restriction law with 16 states completely repealing the law. HB 6937 is currently under consideration in the Transportation Committee, and would completely repeal the handlebar law 14-80i(b), allowing Connecticut riders to decide for themselves what height their handlebars should be.
VIRGINIA RIDERS BESIDE THEMSELVES Virginia is only one of two states that specifically prohibit two motorcycles to ride two abreast in a traffic lane, but riders there are hoping to change that.
HB 1808 has passed out of Transportation Committee and bikers are urging their Delegates to support the bill when it comes up for a vote. They argue, among other things, that two motorcycles abreast in a traffic lane aids in making the motorcycles more visible to other traffic, and that in larger groups of motorcycles, riding two abreast keeps the overall length of the group shorter, and discourages other vehicles from dangerously cutting into the group - an issue motorcyclists riding in groups often face.
OH DEER! According to transportation officials, nearly 200 people are killed nationwide each year in crashes involving wildlife, mostly deer. The collisions cost drivers almost $1.5 billion each year in property damage, deaths and injuries.
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) says they are trying to cut those numbers down. Flash lights and motion sensors are just a few of many solutions transportation experts are considering, and CDOT has put up a number of wildlife escape ramps on US 550 that allow wildlife to cross the road without getting stuck in traffic. CDOT says animals are getting more used to the ramps, even teaching their young how to use them.
On US 40, CDOT also installed a series of unusual looking reflectors to create flashes of light at 54 angles, horizontally and vertically, when a vehicle's light hits them. According to CDOT, the reflected light bounces back and forth across the road, deterring deer and other wildlife from crossing. Drivers cannot see the light because of the way it's reflected.
CDOT also hopes to install a motion detector system on US 160, that when triggered by a deer or other animal will cause a large light to go on to let an oncoming driver see there's an animal on or near the road. The light may also startle the animal and keep it off of the road.
Meanwhile, an eight state research group met in Minnesota to brainstorm ideas for keeping wildlife off the road, and their leading proposal involves placing canisters of real or synthetic wolf and coyote urine near the roadways, hoping the scent of predators will cause the animals to flee.
INDONESIA INSTITUTES NEW ANTI-MOTORCYCLE LAWS New motorcycle lanes went into effect in Jakarta in January. Motorcyclists are now supposed to use the "slow" left lanes on city streets and police began getting tough on riders by issuing more than a thousand traffic tickets the first day to bikers not riding in the designated lanes. Trials are held on the spot and take about 5 minutes.
The head of traffic at the Jakarta Police, Sr. Comr. Djoko Susilo, said he hoped the rule would increase order in the streets and reduce the number of traffic accidents.
The left-lane rule is not the only new requirement for motorcyclists. They are also being told to keep their headlights on during the day, so that other vehicles can see them more easily.
The city is also considering banning them from entering main thoroughfares during peak hours, recommending that motorcyclists park their bikes and make use of the city's busway instead.
Of 7.23 million vehicles in Jakarta, 64.1 percent, or 4.64 million, are motorcycles. The Jakarta Transportation Board has estimated that more than three million motorbikes are on the city's roads every day, compared to 2.5 million cars. Out of the 4,206 road accidents reported last year, 3,826 involved motorcyclists.
But the government believes emissions tests may be the best way to curb motorcycle growth, so the Jakarta administration has been called upon to enforce stricter emissions testing for motorcycles to control the increasing number of motorbikes, up 15% from the previous year. The State Ministry for the Environment said motorbikes that fail to meet emissions standards could be banned from the city's streets. 60% of the motorcycles tested in spot checks did not meet emissions standards set in 1993, so the ministry predicts that even more would fail the newer, tougher emission standard issued in 2006.
JESSE JAMES FINED BY CARB California air regulators have issued $271,250 in total fines against Jesse James of West Coast Choppers, the co-producer and host of "Monster Garage" and "Motorcycle Mania," saying that 50 of his custom-built choppers ran afoul of California's clean-air rules.
California Air Resources Board officials said their inspectors found that the monster bikes sold between 1998 and 2005 did not have state certified emissions equipment on their exhaust and fuel systems, resulting in these bikes spewing hydrocarbons at up to 10 times the state limits.
The market for custom-built motorcycles has taken off in recent years, and prominent bike builders have achieved celebrity status, but progressively stricter new emissions regulations from the EPA are already impacting the motorcycle industry.
WEIRD NEWS: DRUNKEN DOUGHNUTS A Pontiac, MI motorcyclist gets sued, then sent to prison, for his actions that took place outside a bar earlier this year as he was "doing doughnuts" in the parking lot when he struck and injured a woman who was standing outside the saloon.
Now he'll be riding a prison van to Stateville Correctional Center, where he was sentenced to one year after pleading guilty to failure to report an accident with injury. He was also ordered to pay restitution, and faces a lawsuit from the injured woman who is seeking $50,000 each from the rider, the owner of the motorcycle and the saloon owner.
QUOTABLE QUOTE: "We, too, born to freedom, and believing in freedom, are willing to fight to maintain freedom. We, and all others who believe as deeply as we do, would rather die on our feet than live on our knees."
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882 - 1945), 32nd President of the United States
Governor Ed Rendell, who signed the law that allows bikers to ride without a helmet, has said more Pennsylvanians die from smoking than motorcycle accidents, but Sen. Williams cites a national report being circulated among State Legislatures that says highway fatalities are on the rise for the first time in 20 years, linking the increase to deaths from motorcycle crashes.
NEW TWIST FOR HELMET LAW MODIFICATION Lost revenues from tourism has become a common theme for modifying helmet laws in states that claim motorcyclists are riding around them and spending their vacation money in other states that don't require helmets.
Now Virginia has taken that argument a step further by proposing legislation that would allow motorcyclists to ride without a helmet on state scenic highways. On all other roads, police would not be allowed to stop riders for not wearing helmets unless they are stopped for another driving offense such as speeding, making the helmet violation a secondary offense.
Virginia motorcyclists are requesting help from across the country to pass HB 2585, asking riders to write their Delegates to let them know that you would spend your tourism dollars in Virginia if the state allowed freedom of choice on its beautiful scenic byways.
Bikers in Nebraska also want the right to make their own decisions about helmets, saying the current helmet law is costing the state $2-5 million a year during annual bike festivals in neighboring states because motorcyclists avoid riding through helmet law states.
Motorcyclists are lobbying the Unicameral legislature in Lincoln to support LB 253, a bill that would allow riders 21 and older to ride without a helmet. ABATE of Nebraska is not asking for letters or phone calls to their legislators at this juncture, but they would like for out-of-state riders to visit their website at www.abateofne.com and fill out a simple online poll that will allow them to put together written testimony from motorcyclists from across the nation.
"ABATE of Nebraska has once again filed legislation to establish Freedom Of Choice for adult motorcyclists," said Tiger Mike Revere, state coordinator for ABATE of Oklahoma and member of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) Board of Directors. "They have appealed for our help, and I pledged NCOM's support for their campaign. Unfortunately, I have the additional subject of the Helmet Law assault in Oklahoma to address."
TELEVISION DOESN'T REFLECT REALITY Most people drive safer than television characters, according to a University of Alabama at Birmingham study. The UAB study of 79 prime time TV shows revealed that actors often don't buckle up before they drive and sometimes don't wear helmets when they ride motorcycles and bicycles.
The research study, published in the journal Injury Sciences, found that over four weeks the television characters buckled up only 62 percent of the time. The TV characters used motorcycle helmets only 47 percent of the time and bicycle helmets nine percent of the time. Research shows most Americans are much safer - buckling seat belts 80 percent of time, using motorcycle helmets 60 percent of the time bicycle helmets 40 percent of the time.
"Since Americans watch more than four hours of TV per day, how safety behaviors are depicted on television can have tremendous influence on public perception of seatbelt and helmet use," said Gerald McGwin, Ph.D., associate director for research at the Center for Injury Sciences and one of the study authors. Researchers also studied 21,670 television commercials that McGwin says present a safer depiction, with seatbelt use by 86 percent of individuals, motorcycle helmet use 100 percent and bike helmet use 84 percent.
CONNECTICUT BIKERS WANT TO RAISE THE BAR Connecticut State Reps Wilbur and Zalaski have co-sponsored a bill to repeal their 15-inch handlebar height law. CT statute # 14-80i(b) reads: "No person shall operate a motorcycle on a highway or in any parking area for ten or more motor vehicles if the motorcycle is equipped with handlebars that are more than fifteen inches in height above the uppermost portion of the seat when the seat is depressed by the weight of the operator."
Rep. Wilber, who co-sponsored this bill with Rep Zalazki, had an OLR legislative report done that concluded that high handlebars are not a safety issue. The report also found that there has been a trend across the country to change the height restriction law with 16 states completely repealing the law. HB 6937 is currently under consideration in the Transportation Committee, and would completely repeal the handlebar law 14-80i(b), allowing Connecticut riders to decide for themselves what height their handlebars should be.
VIRGINIA RIDERS BESIDE THEMSELVES Virginia is only one of two states that specifically prohibit two motorcycles to ride two abreast in a traffic lane, but riders there are hoping to change that.
HB 1808 has passed out of Transportation Committee and bikers are urging their Delegates to support the bill when it comes up for a vote. They argue, among other things, that two motorcycles abreast in a traffic lane aids in making the motorcycles more visible to other traffic, and that in larger groups of motorcycles, riding two abreast keeps the overall length of the group shorter, and discourages other vehicles from dangerously cutting into the group - an issue motorcyclists riding in groups often face.
OH DEER! According to transportation officials, nearly 200 people are killed nationwide each year in crashes involving wildlife, mostly deer. The collisions cost drivers almost $1.5 billion each year in property damage, deaths and injuries.
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) says they are trying to cut those numbers down. Flash lights and motion sensors are just a few of many solutions transportation experts are considering, and CDOT has put up a number of wildlife escape ramps on US 550 that allow wildlife to cross the road without getting stuck in traffic. CDOT says animals are getting more used to the ramps, even teaching their young how to use them.
On US 40, CDOT also installed a series of unusual looking reflectors to create flashes of light at 54 angles, horizontally and vertically, when a vehicle's light hits them. According to CDOT, the reflected light bounces back and forth across the road, deterring deer and other wildlife from crossing. Drivers cannot see the light because of the way it's reflected.
CDOT also hopes to install a motion detector system on US 160, that when triggered by a deer or other animal will cause a large light to go on to let an oncoming driver see there's an animal on or near the road. The light may also startle the animal and keep it off of the road.
Meanwhile, an eight state research group met in Minnesota to brainstorm ideas for keeping wildlife off the road, and their leading proposal involves placing canisters of real or synthetic wolf and coyote urine near the roadways, hoping the scent of predators will cause the animals to flee.
INDONESIA INSTITUTES NEW ANTI-MOTORCYCLE LAWS New motorcycle lanes went into effect in Jakarta in January. Motorcyclists are now supposed to use the "slow" left lanes on city streets and police began getting tough on riders by issuing more than a thousand traffic tickets the first day to bikers not riding in the designated lanes. Trials are held on the spot and take about 5 minutes.
The head of traffic at the Jakarta Police, Sr. Comr. Djoko Susilo, said he hoped the rule would increase order in the streets and reduce the number of traffic accidents.
The left-lane rule is not the only new requirement for motorcyclists. They are also being told to keep their headlights on during the day, so that other vehicles can see them more easily.
The city is also considering banning them from entering main thoroughfares during peak hours, recommending that motorcyclists park their bikes and make use of the city's busway instead.
Of 7.23 million vehicles in Jakarta, 64.1 percent, or 4.64 million, are motorcycles. The Jakarta Transportation Board has estimated that more than three million motorbikes are on the city's roads every day, compared to 2.5 million cars. Out of the 4,206 road accidents reported last year, 3,826 involved motorcyclists.
But the government believes emissions tests may be the best way to curb motorcycle growth, so the Jakarta administration has been called upon to enforce stricter emissions testing for motorcycles to control the increasing number of motorbikes, up 15% from the previous year. The State Ministry for the Environment said motorbikes that fail to meet emissions standards could be banned from the city's streets. 60% of the motorcycles tested in spot checks did not meet emissions standards set in 1993, so the ministry predicts that even more would fail the newer, tougher emission standard issued in 2006.
JESSE JAMES FINED BY CARB California air regulators have issued $271,250 in total fines against Jesse James of West Coast Choppers, the co-producer and host of "Monster Garage" and "Motorcycle Mania," saying that 50 of his custom-built choppers ran afoul of California's clean-air rules.
California Air Resources Board officials said their inspectors found that the monster bikes sold between 1998 and 2005 did not have state certified emissions equipment on their exhaust and fuel systems, resulting in these bikes spewing hydrocarbons at up to 10 times the state limits.
The market for custom-built motorcycles has taken off in recent years, and prominent bike builders have achieved celebrity status, but progressively stricter new emissions regulations from the EPA are already impacting the motorcycle industry.
WEIRD NEWS: DRUNKEN DOUGHNUTS A Pontiac, MI motorcyclist gets sued, then sent to prison, for his actions that took place outside a bar earlier this year as he was "doing doughnuts" in the parking lot when he struck and injured a woman who was standing outside the saloon.
Now he'll be riding a prison van to Stateville Correctional Center, where he was sentenced to one year after pleading guilty to failure to report an accident with injury. He was also ordered to pay restitution, and faces a lawsuit from the injured woman who is seeking $50,000 each from the rider, the owner of the motorcycle and the saloon owner.
QUOTABLE QUOTE: "We, too, born to freedom, and believing in freedom, are willing to fight to maintain freedom. We, and all others who believe as deeply as we do, would rather die on our feet than live on our knees."
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882 - 1945), 32nd President of the United States
