October 2009

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, News & Notes welcomes your input. Suggestions and contributions can be sent to AMA Legislative Assistant Sheila Andrews by e-mail at sandrews@ama-cycle.org.

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            National Public Lands Day is Saturday, September 26, 2009. This annual event is the nationā€™s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands every American enjoys. In 2008, 120,000 volunteers built trails and bridges, removed trash and invasive plants, and planted over 1.6 million trees. Visit http://www.publiclandsday.org/ to register a project or volunteer for an existing project in your area.

            The AMA and ATVA express concern over health care debate. Millions of on-highway and off-highway motorcyclists, as well as all-terrain vehicle (ATV) riders, may be adversely impacted by the various heath care bills currently under consideration in Congress. The AMA and the ATVA (All-Terrain Vehicle Association) urge riders to contact their elected officials and ask them to help ensure that motorcyclists and ATV riders will continue to be able to pursue their chosen recreational activities and/or chosen mode of transportation without the addition of unneeded prohibitions, limitations or mandates stemming from any health care legislation under consideration.            

            Source: http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=1245

            Keystone, CO: With the theme "Riding to New Heights," the 2009 AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference, presented by Harley-Davidson and Buell, wrapped up in Keystone, Colorado following four inspired days of riding, learning and networking in one of the best riding areas in the United States. The event, which ran August 19-22, not only honored the contributions of women riders to motorcycling's past and present, it also celebrated the fast-growing role that female motorcyclists are playing in the future of motorcycling. With the breathtaking Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, more than 1,000 enthusiastic motorcyclists gathered at the Keystone Resort & Conference Center for a full slate of activities that included guided tours, seminars, demo rides from multiple manufacturers, inspiring speeches, social functions and training sessions.

            Source: http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=1241

            California: The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has selected the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) to administer the California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP) for the third consecutive time. Under contract with the CHP, the MSF initially assumed the administration of the CMSP in 2004 and was again selected for 2008 and 2009. The new contract calls for the MSF to administer the motorcyclist-funded, state-operated program for a three-year term, from 2010 through 2012, with two additional one-year options, for a total contract of up to five years.

            The new CMSP contract includes a 15 percent reduction in student administrative costs to the state; savings that increase state funding for motorcycle safety made possible by riders through payment of the $2 Motorcycle Safety Fee on California motorcycle registrations and renewals.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation promotes rider safety through rider training systems, operator licensing tests and public information programs.

            Source: http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2009/08/24/4335968.htm

            Tracy, Calif.: Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) reopens after fire. Damage from a recent fire, which lead to a temporary closure of this popular SVRA, has been repaired. Currently all the tracks, the campground, the valley floor, and all of the park west of the Bunkhouse and Los Osos trails are open to riding. The fire, which started on private property adjacent to the SVRA, was initially driven by strong winds and spread quickly, burning onto state property and causing damage to the eastern portion of the park. The fire later turned away from the park, and continued to burn southeast toward Patterson. Approximately 250 acres of the eastern portion of the park were burned, including fence lines and areas of dense vegetation. The entire eastern portion of Kiln Canyon (east of Kiln Road), SRI Road, and the lands above the motocross track were burned.

            Source: http://www.ohv.parks.ca.gov/

            Delaware: House Bill 122, sponsored by Rep. Earl Jaques (D-Wilmington), has been enacted. The bill makes operation and/or use of a plate frame containing or including scrolling, strobe and/or blinking lights around a license plate a violation, except during special organized events such as parades and car shows.  The bill was signed into law July 24 by Governor Jack Markell and takes effect immediately.

            Idaho: A new website that focuses on responsible off-highway vehicle (OHV) use has been recently launched. The Idaho OHV Public Education Campaign is a consortium of public lands agencies that sponsor an ongoing education campaign to help inform OHV users about the

rules of conduct for off-highway vehicles such as motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) and four-wheel-drive vehicles on public lands. The sponsoring agencies include the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Department of Lands, U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. The multi-pronged campaign will involve a mix of paid advertising including radio and outdoor ads, public relations activities and events. The campaign is focused on Idaho riders statewide in hopes of improving compliance with rules and regulations regarding OHV use on public lands.

            Source: http://stayontrails.com/

            North Carolina: Senate Bill 64, sponsored by Sen. Harry Brown (R-Jacksonville), proposed changes to requirements for obtain a motorcycle learner's permit and a motorcycle endorsement, including mandatory rider training for all first-time endorsement applicants. In an amendment offered on the House floor by Rep. Dale Folwell (R-Winston-Salem), the bill was changed to instead make rider education mandatory for those riders less than 18 years of age and make a learner's permit valid for twelve months with one six-month renewal. Governor Mike Easley signed the bill into law on August 26; it takes effect January 1, 2011.

            Louisiana: House Bill 802, sponsored by Rep. James R. Fannin (D-Jonesboro), authorized the transfer by the state treasurer of $6,544 from the Motorcycle Safety and Training Fund to the state general fund.  The transfer was part of a $24,378,056 raid on 75 dedicated funds.  Signed into law by Governor Bobby Jindal on June 30, the transfer is authorized to occur immediately.

            Michigan: House Bill 4205, sponsored by Rep. Tom Pearce (R-Rockford), would prohibit the intentional placement of an item in or across a roadway that is likely to come into contact with a moving vehicle or a person riding in or upon a moving vehicle or the placement of any dangerous item in or across a roadway. Proposed penalties range from not more than 1 year in prison or a fine of not more that $500 (or both) for a violation that results in property damage and up to 15 years in prison or a fine of not more than $10,000 (or both) for a violation causing death.

            Pennsylvania: PennDOT Offers Free Motorcycle Safety Courses. Classes providing the opportunity to learn or improve skill are conducted annually from March through October. The Basic Rider Course (BRC) is a 15-hour course consisting of five hours of in-class instruction and 10 hours of practical riding experience, under the watchful eyes of certified rider coaches. The six-hour Experienced Rider Course (ERC) provides skilled riders the chance to refresh their safety knowledge and hone their on-highway skills. Visit www.pamsp.com for more information on the Motorcycle Safety Program and to enroll in a course. Additional information about motorcycle safety as well as general information on licensing and registration is available at www.dmv.state.pa.us.

            Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: New motorcycle and scooter parking spaces installed. The Philadelphia Parking Authority has begun to install special parking zones for motorcycles and scooters in parts of the downtown business district. Parking Authority officials say the spaces will cost $1 per hour, half the rate for cars. The motorcycle and scooter spaces are part of broader downtown parking changes that were implemented in July and include multi-space meters that accept debit cards and additional truck loading zones. All the parking changes should be finished by February. The parking authority will ticket motorcycles and scooters parked on sidewalks as parking zones are created.

            Source: http://www.philapark.org/permits/permit_info.aspx

            Irving, Texas: Newest MSF Campus Up and Running. Expanded facility offers rider training, education and research opportunities. The MSF Campus at Irving offers the complete system of MSF on- and off-highway rider education and training opportunities available to date including the Basic RiderCourse, the Experienced RiderCourse, the DirtBike School, as well as the ATV Safety Institute's ATV RiderCourse. The MSF Campus is also a research and testing site for new MSF curriculum products currently under development, with the added value that students there are likely to be among the first to benefit from new courses when they are officially released. In addition, the MSF Campus hosts ongoing professional development events for MSF RiderCoaches, DirtBike School Coaches, and ASI Instructors.

            Class schedules and online enrollment are available at www.msf-campus.org.

            Source: http://www.msf-usa.org/

            Officers elected to American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation Board of Directors.  The AMA is pleased to announce the results of officer elections for the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation (AMHF) Board of Directors, which raises money for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. Jack Penton, AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame off-road racer with more than 40 years of industry experience, was elected chairman. Tom White, founder of White Brothers and the Early Years of Motocross Museum in Villa Park, Calif., was elected vice chairman. Jeff Heininger, founder of automotive travel product company Heininger Automotive, was elected secretary/treasurer, an office the Directors also voted to combine at the July 26 meeting. Penton's current term extends through February 2011. White and Heininger's terms expire in February 2012. AMHF Board officers are elected annually.

            Source: http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=1203

            London, England: New helmet safety ratings unveiled. An additional 25 motorcycle helmets have been rated by SHARP, the Department for Transport's Safety Helmet Assessment and Ratings Program, bringing the number of ratings published to 150. Helmets sold in the UK must meet minimum legal safety standards but the SHARP scheme uses a wider range of tests to provide riders with more information on how much protection a helmet can provide in a crash. The objective advice, which includes important guidance on how to select a good fitting helmet, helps riders to choose the safest helmet suitable for them. The SHARP tests - which award ratings of between one and five stars - showed that the safety performance of helmets can vary by as much as 70%. With helmets across a wide price range scoring highly, all riders should be able to find a high performing helmet in a size and style that fits them at a price they can afford.

            Source: http://londonbikers.com/news/12271/new-helmet-safety-ratings-unveiled