COAST TO COAST BIKER NEWS
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)

NEW MOTORCYCLE AND SCOOTER SALES SET

Despite the economy, U.S. sales of new motorcycles in 2008 still topped the one-million mark, and did so for the sixth straight year. That beats the longest run of million-plus sales ever recorded by the Motorcycle Industry Council, during the five years from 1970 to 1974. Also, scooter sales last year reached their highest annual level ever.

The MIC?s preliminary estimate for all motorcycles and scooters sold nationwide in 2008 is 1,087,000, down just 3.3 percent compared to 2007. The MIC is currently estimating 2008 scooter sales at 222,000, a new record. Back in 1992, total motorcycle and scooter sales combined were just 278,000.

?All in all, our industry has not declined as precipitously as many others,? said MIC President Tim Buche. ?Many Americans certainly want motorcycles, both for recreation and transportation. When they aren?t buying now, it?s down to personal economics, not desire.?

While total sales have declined slightly during the past two years, they are following in the tracks of some very big years. There were 1,124,000 new bikes sold in 2007. In 2006, that number was 1,190,000, the biggest year for motorcycle sales in more than three decades. The record for most new bikes sold in a year is 1.5 million, back in 1973.

CONGRESS CONSIDERS MOTORCYCLE SAFETY MONTH

A Congressional committee has passed a bill encouraging all road users to be more aware of motorcyclists and their safety, and encourages motorcyclists to take rider training and practice safe riding skills. House Resolution 269, a bill entitled “Supporting the goals of a motorcycle safety month”, received unanimous approval from members of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

The resolution is co-sponsored by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), an avid rider who is co-chair of the Congressional Motorcycle Safety Caucus, and caucus co-chair Rep. Michael Burgess M.D. (R-TX).

The measure now goes to the House floor for a full vote.

INTERNATIONAL FEMALE RIDE DAY — MAY 1st

Women riders are hitting the road in record numbers, with the latest statistics showing that 12.6% of motorcyclists and scooterists are now women, a 29% increase from 2003. Now, the ladies even have their own day to kickstart the riding season!

Flagged for the first Friday of May each year, International Female Ride Day has become the globally synchronized day for women to — just ride!

Supported by the motorcycle industry around the world, it now encompasses a range of international cultures and locations including Canada, United States, South Africa, Australia, Greece and the UK to name but a few, with Poland joining in this year.

In conjunction with International Female Ride Day, Harley-Davidson Motor Co. has declared May as the first-ever Women Riders Month and has planned a series of events around the world to celebrate the ever-growing numbers of female riders hitting the highway and to encourage more ladies to take life by the handlebars.

Harley-Davidson is also encouraging women to learn to ride via either the Harley-Davidson Rider’s Edge New Rider Course or the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic RiderCourse training program, and is backing a Guinness World Record attempt for the number of women motorcycle riders trained in one weekend during the first weekend of May.

CALIFORNIA SMOG CHECK BILL PASSES COMMITTEE

Most motorcycles would have to pass the same smog inspections as cars and trucks under legislation approved by a California legislative committee. SB 435, introduced by Senator Fran Pavley, passed the Senate Transportation Committee on April 14 and has been referred next to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The measure seeks to include motorcycles in the state?s Smog Check Program beginning in 2012 and would cover about 72%of all motorcycles in the state — year 2000 and newer models with large, class-three engines.

No state currently requires motorcycles to undergo regular emissions testing, since motorcyclists in Arizona and Kentucky successfully lobbied to end such test procedures.

MILITARY REQUESTS MANDATORY TRAINING FOR CIVILIANS

Combat injury or death are always possibilities in a war, but last year more U.S. Marines were killed here at home while off-duty riding motorcycles than from enemy fire in Iraq, prompting all military branches to require completion of rider training courses and mandatory personal safety equipment on and off base.

Now, in a move encouraged by military leaders at different Armed Forces bases, a bill is making its way through the North Carolina legislature that would extend the mandatory training requirement to civilians, making it tougher and more expensive to get a motorcycle license.

The legislation, Senate Bill 64, passed the State Senate on March 11. It would take effect July 1, 2010 and require would-be motorcyclists to pass a safety class before they can get a motorcycle endorsement on their licenses. The bill, which is currently pending in the state House, would also prevent riders from taking advantage of the ?perpetual? learners permit by making it valid for just 6 months with a rider having one year to get a full motorcycle endorsement or quit riding.

It’s estimated there are 48,000 motorcycle riders in the Department of the Navy, many of them choosing sport bikes which are designed for speed. Nationwide, the military lost 41 people to motorcycle crashes in fiscal 2001. That tripled to 124 in 2008.

WASHINGTON STATE BIKERS PROTEST WSP SURVEILLANCE

A motorcycle rights group is demanding answers from the Washington State Patrol. During an annual rally at the Capitol this year in Olympia, a state trooper was seen on video as he recorded the license plates of those visiting their elected officials. The sergeant was seen wandering through the parking lot and using a voice recorder to take down the license plate numbers from motorcycles as their owners were inside the statehouse advocating for issues important to them.

Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) Attorney Martin D. Fox, a Seattle lawyer representing several local motorcycle groups, is spearheading an inquiry into the incident and wrote an angry letter to Governor Chris Gregoire protesting the WSP’s January 22nd surveillance activity, noting; “I may be old school, but I always thought that the Capitol was supposed to be a sanctuary for free speech and assembly, and not an opportunity for clandestine intelligence gathering on citizens trying to be involved in the political process.”

Fox, an attorney for ABATE of Washington and legal counsel for the Washington Confederation of Clubs, distributed his letter to numerous Washington media outlets, along with a DVD with images of a trooper “crawling around the bushes of the Capitol to record license plate numbers of motorcycles into his tape machine,” the letter reads.

“My concern is anyone going to the Legislature to have their views heard are being put on a list and it’s not what we do in America,” said Fox.

ABATE and the COC are awaiting a written reply. “They want to know why it was being done and where this information was going,” said Fox.

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS BAN BIKIE ?GANGS?

banned and their members arrested for associating with one another under new anti-bikie laws passed in response to escalating violence between rival clubs.

The New South Wales government has drawn up emergency legislation that it claims will dismantle the biker gangs and bring the violence to an end. Under the proposals, the police would be able to apply to the courts to have a motorcycle group declared a “criminal organization” and outlawed on the basis of intelligence about its alleged activities.

“The new legislation was about declaring a particular organization a criminal group, and I would say that this is a path that we will now be able to go down,” NSW Assistant Police Commissioner Catherine Burn told reporters.

The Rebels and the Comanchero, clubs that were involved in a widely reported fatal brawl at Sydney airport, are likely to be the first gangs so proscribed. Police could then arrest any member wearing gang colors or associating with other known gang members.

In the meantime, gang legislation enacted in South Australia last June to dismantle the clubs has had the reverse effect – serving to unite rival clubs. Gypsy Jokers, Hells Angels, Rebels, Finks and Descendents bike club members have, for the first time, joined together in protest against the Serious and Organised Crime Control Act, described by the government as being the toughest anti-gang law of its kind in the world.

The alliance, known as the FREE Australia Party, is only a few application process steps away from forming a legitimate political party. The party’s leader, Paul Kuhn – a committee member of the Motorcycle Riders Association of SA and a Justice of the Peace – said the group was formed because of deep concern anyone associated with a member of a club would be found guilty under the law. “The Government is now controlling and dictating relationships,” he said.

WEIRD NEWS: MUSICAL HELMETS

A European recycle program could turn music and movie disks into motorcycle helmets. A recycling plan proposed by the Swiss supermarket chain Migros aims to reduce the number of old CDs and DVDs landing in the regular trash by collecting and using them for an unrelated end product.

The recycling program aims to reduce the number of old CDs and DVDs destined for the dumpster. Collection points will be available across Switzerland, and they plan to shred the disks, using the resulting granular remains to make new products such as motorcycle helmets.

According to a store spokesperson, the discs contain the valuable petroleum product polycarbonate, and far too many of them end up in the normal trash. If the program is successful, an old Madonna CD or Brad Pitt movie could be made into head gear.

MILLION MILE MAN

Congratulations to Dave Zien, former Wisconsin State Senator and longtime champion of bikers? rights, for his unprecedented ride into history on April 4 as the odometer on his 1991 FXRT Harley-Davidson turned 00000 for the tenth time! Zien became the first person to ride the same Harley-Davidson motorcycle 1 million miles, which may be the most mileage on any motorcycle ever!

The feat earned him a world record from the Iron Butt Association, the international organization that oversees and governs safe, long-distance motorcycle riding challenges, which was present at Hal?s Harley-Davidson in New Berlin, WI to witness the achievement.

During his time in the saddle, Zien has collected numerous riding records, including logging 1,616 miles in 24 hours and riding 3,032 miles in 48 hours, and through 48 states in eight days. He also has gone through three engines, a couple of transmissions and too many tires to count.

The Harley-Davidson Motor Co. recognized Dave?s accomplishment by presenting him with a 2009 FLHXR in exchange for his Million Mile Bike, which is reportedly headed to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame. The long-serving legislator is already inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame for not only his riding achievements but for his motorcycle rights advocacy during his 18-year tenure in the state legislature.

During his years as a lawmaker, Zien was known for becoming the state?s first motorcycle-riding legislator. Bikers? rights got Zien involved in politics, as he founded the Wisconsin Better Bikers Association after returning from Vietnam and helped repeal the state?s mandatory helmet law. He has also served for many years on the Legislative Task Force for the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM-LTF), and has lobbied against adult helmet laws in numerous states and on the federal level. In addition to his staunch support of bikers? rights issues, as a Marine combat veteran he dedicated much of his public service to advocating for veteran?s affairs.

At last report, Dave was reluctant to leave his trusty stead behind, but as the first digits roll across his new odometer, a journey of a million miles begins anew.

QUOTABLE QUOTE: “Government can do something for the people only in proportion as it can do something to the people.”Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd US President

Author and publisher of Ride-On magazine Bill Bish.

THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. For more information, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit us on our website at www.ON-A-BIKE.com.

COAST TO COAST BIKER NEWS
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)

CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE APPROVES BILL TO PROTECT HEALTH INSURANCE FOR RIDERSOn March 4, by voice vote, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed bipartisan legislation to strengthen health insurance coverage for injuries incurred while participating in legal recreational and transportation activities, such as motorcycling, riding ATVs, snowmobiling and horseback riding.

“This bill requires health insurance companies to be up front and honest with their policy holders when limitations or restrictions are placed on benefits,” said Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) who introduced the measure with Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX).. “Many Americans are unaware that their health insurance may not cover injuries resulting from certain recreational activities because their policy is unclear or overly broad.”

H.R. 1253, the ?Health Insurance Restrictions and Limitations Clarification Act of 2009?, would establish new disclosure rules requiring health insurance plans to provide a description of limitations and exclusions in their policies. Specifically, the bill requires that coverage exclusions must be ?explicit and clear? and that they must be disclosed to plan sponsors in advance of the point of sale. The bill further requires that plan sponsors and insurers must disclose such coverage exclusions to enrollees ?in a form that is easily understandable? both before enrollment and upon their enrollment at the earliest opportunity that other materials are provided.

In January 2001, a rule was issued that created an inadvertent loophole in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Because of the way the rule was written, it has allowed insurers to deny health benefits for a covered injury resulting from participation in recreational activities such as skiing, horseback riding, ATV riding, snowmobiling and motorcycling.

In many situations the exclusions are unclear or overly broad, creating confusion for individuals who may ride motorcycles, horses, snowmobiles, ATVs or participate in other legal activities that could result in an injury.

“Passing this straight forward legislation would protect those across the country who ride motorcycles, horses, snowmobiles, ATVs or participate in other recreational activities from being caught by surprise,” Stupak said.

Stupak is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over health policy. H.R. 1253 awaits consideration by the full House of Representatives, which previously approved the legislation in September 2008, but the bill was not considered by the Senate in the 110th Congress.

KIDDIE BIKE BAN COULD COST BILLIONSThe new lead-content rules that have banned the sales of many youth motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles could cost the industry over $1 billion in lost economic value this year, predicts the Motorcycle Industry Council. Last year, more than 100,000 of the youth-oriented vehicles were sold. Today, more than 13,000 dealers nationwide are stuck holding onto millions of dollars in inventory as the off-road industry now finds itself crippled and rather confused in the destructive wake of the CPSIA in an already harsh economy.

Motorcycle dealers across the country are fuming, saying the ban couldn?t have come at a worse time, making sluggish sales in a tough economy even tougher. Powersports manufacturers are advising their dealers to pull the banned models off the sales floor or risk heavy fines under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, which went into force February 10th.

Intentionally or otherwise, the CPSIA has effectively banned the production, importing and sale of kids’ motorcycles and ATVs because certain parts of the vehicles unavoidably contain more lead than is deemed allowable on children’s products – for instance, on the battery terminals, brake components and valve stems – and the CPSC has interpreted this to mean that OHVs (off-highway vehicles) present a lead-poisoning threat to children 12 and under. Not only can they not sell the new vehicles, but they’re not even allowed to sell parts for them!

Dealers from every corner of the country and other concerned individuals have flooded the CPSC and Congress with calls, e-mails and more than 100,000 letters complaining about the new law and urging support for exclusions from the act for powersports vehicles, parts and accessories.

They claim in part that the lead present in their products pose no health risk to children because the only interaction would be by hand, not mouth, and that a toxicologist study reveals that exposure is substantially less than the intake of lead from food and water.

UTAH MAY REWARD HELMET WEARERSIn a unique and interesting twist to mandatory helmet laws, the state of Utah is considering a bill that would reward riders who break the law while wearing a helmet.

The House Transportation Committee unanimously approved a proposal from Rep. Ronda Rudd Menlove (R-Garland) that would knock $10 off of the fine for motorcyclists cited for traffic violations if they are wearing a helmet at the time.

“Instead of just punishment, why not give an incentive for people to use a helmet?,” Menlove told the Standard-Examiner newspaper.

The committee also unanimously tabled a bill that would mandate helmet use for all riders in Utah’s largest cities.&nb sp; Additionally, the measure would have increased the age limit at which motorcycle riders in Utah are required to wear helmets from 18 to 21; require anyone riding with a passenger under 21 to wear a helmet; and require riders of any age operating on a learning permit to wear a helmet.

A contingent of bikers came to the committee meeting to voice their opposition to the bill. Eric Stine, education coordinator for ABATE Utah, said the focus of motorcycle safety should be on educating the public about watching for motorcyclists while driving. “We believe in accident prevention, not safer crashes. Many sports and activities are more dangerous than motorcycle riding. We will never be able to legislate the risk out of living.?

SHOW-ME FREEDOMMissouri is the latest state looking to give adult motorcycle riders the choice of wearing a helmet while riding. The Missouri Senate has endorsed legislation that, if signed into law, would repeal their decades-old helmet law and allow motorcyclists 21 and older the option to ride without a helmet.

Many feel the bill stands a good chance of passing because Senators this year tacked the helmet provisions onto a larger bill regarding motorcycle insurance. The bill, sponsored by State Senator Luann Ridgeway of District 17, was approved with little debate and is expected to pass easily in the House, whic h generally has been more receptive to efforts to repeal helmet requirements for adults. According to Freedom of Road Riders (FORR-MO), a non-profit motorcyclists? advocacy group, the change in legislation would be a welcome one.

In the meantime, several other states are reviewing motorcycle helmet laws, including Arkansas where a proposal to require motorcyclists to wear a helmet or carry thousands of dollars in health insurance failed to make it out of committee.

Senate Bill 29 by Sen. Kim Hendren (R-Gravette) would have compelled motorcyclists to provide proof of at least $10,000 in health insu rance coverage if they opted to not wear a helmet, but the proposal failed to get a motion recommending its passage and died in the Senate Transportation, Technology and Legislative Affairs Committee. Legislators were overwhelmed by calls to committee members from motorcycle enthusiasts, lead by ABATE of Arkansas, who argued that the measure would unfairly target them, negatively impact tourism, and would drive business away from the state?s motorcycle dealers.

In Nevada, Assemblyman Don Gustavson (R-Sparks) has introduced AB300 to repeal state law which has mandated helmet usage since 1971. In seeking to modify current law to allow choice for motorcyclists 21 years or older with at least one year experience, Gustavson is citing studies which prove that mandated helmet laws injure the economy while doing little to increase safety. Using California as an example, Gustavson said the death rate was 2% higher after passage of mandated helmet usage, while revenues continually declined due to loss of registration fees and sales taxes from weakened motorcycle sales. ?Our neighbor suffered a 26% drop in new motorcycle sales in 1992-93 after passage of their mandatory helmet law resulting in job loss and costing the state nearly $17 million in lost tax & fee revenue.?

Gustavson said that tourism will increase in Nevada after the law is modified. Using Pennsylvania as an example, Gustavson pointed out that ?Thunder in the Valley? saw attendance jump from 70,000 to over 100,000 the very first year after their law was modified.

Gustavson also emphasized that repeal of current law will add jobs and multiply revenues to Nevada through additional sales and payroll taxes without increasing any new fees or taxes. After Florida reformed their helmet law, motorcycle sales jumped 143% in Florida in five years generating $166 million in sales tax revenue.

Last November, Assemblyman Gustavson was selected by the NCOM Board of Directors to receive the Silver Spoke Award for Government at the upcoming NCOM Convention, May 7-10, 2009 at the Nugget Casino & Resort in Reno, Nevada. For more information, call the National Coalition of Motorcyclists at (800) 525-5355 or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com.

RIDE SMART – MOTORCYCLES IMPROVE BRAIN FUNCTIONRiding motorcycles helps keep drivers young by invigorating their brains, the scientist behind popular “Brain Training” computer software said recently, citing a new scientific study. “The driver’s brain gets activated by riding motorbikes” in part because it requires heightened alertness, Japanese neuroscientist Ryuta Kawashima said after his research team and Yamaha Motor conducted a string of experiments involving middle-aged men.

“In a convenient and easy environment, the human mind and body get used to setting the hurdle low,” he warned. “Our final conclusion is that riding motorcycles can lead to smart ageing.”

Kawashima is the designer of “Brain Training” software, which incorporates quizzes and other games and is available on the Nintendo DS game console under the name “Brain Age”.

A self-professed motorcycle fan, 49-year-old Kawashima cited a new study conducted jointly by Yamaha and Tohoku University, for which he works.

One experiment involved 22 men in their 40s and 50s who held motorcycle licenses but had not operated a cycle for at least a decade. They were randomly split into two groups, with one asked to resume riding motorcycles in everyday life for two months, and another that kept using bicycles or cars. Kawashima says research showed the motorcycle-riding team demonstrated improvements in memory, space recognition and other functions of the prefrontal area. The area covers memory, information processing and concentration functions.

“The group that rode motorbikes posted higher marks in cognitive function tests,” Kawashima said.

In a test requiring the men to remember a set of numbers in reverse order, the riders’ scores jumped by more than 50 percent in two months, while the non-riders’ marks deteriorated slightly, he said.

The riders also said they made fewer mistakes at work and felt happier.

“Mental care is a very big issue in modern society,” said Kawashima. “I think we made an interesting stir here as data showed you can improve your mental condition simply by using motorbikes to commute.”

In 2003, Kawashima authored ?Train Your Brain: 60 Days to a Better Brain?. More recently, he teamed with Toyota to help develop intelligent cars designed to help seniors drive safely.

SMOG CHECKS MAY INCLUDE MOTORCYCLESSB 435, introduced by California State Senator Fran Pavely (D-Beverly Hills), would include motorcycles in the state?s Smog Check Program. In a review of the Smog Check Program, the California Inspection and Maintenance Review Committee?s recommendations included “implement a non-loaded mode biennial Smog Check inspection on motorcycles.”

In a brief explanation of their strategy, the report states:?Inspection of Motorcycles: Include motorcycle inspections as part of Smog Check. Studies indicate that motorcycles are subject to high rates of exhaust system tampering which subsequently increases the vehicle emissions.?

Existing law exempts motorcycles from inspection ?until the department implements test procedures applicable to motorcycles,? which the legislation seeks to accomplish. If passed the new emissions law would require motorcycle owners in California to get Smog checks for their motorcycles once every two years. The law would take effect January 1, 2012 and cover all on-highway motorcycles model year 2000 or newer.

Opponents say the bill is simply a thinly veiled attempt to levy yet another fee to offset the states record budget deficit and point to a recent raid of the OHV trust fund of $90 million dollars for non-OHV related expenditures. The bikes potentially affected are in fact the cleanest in the nation, having already been required to meet the stricter California CARB emissions standards years prior to similar requirements being adopted nationally by the federal EPA.

For a long time the Golden State has been granted special waivers from the Environmental Protection Agency to enact stiffer emissions regulations for autos and motorcycles. During the Bush administration, a dozen other states requested EPA waivers to increase their own regulations to match California?s, but were denied. It is expected that the new Obama administration will reverse this decision, which may lead to variable emissions rules from state to state for automobiles, and potentially for motorcycles.

QUOTABLE QUOTE: ?Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.?

Mark Twain (aka Samuel Clemens,1835-1910), American writer & humorist

THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. For more information, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit us on our website at http://www.ON-A-BIKE.com.

COAST TO COAST BIKER NEWS
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)

NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE CRASH STUDY UNDERWAY,Southern California motorcyclists who crash their bikes may play an unintentional role in improving motorcycle safety nationwide, as the pilot portion of the federal government’s much-anticipated Motorcycle Crash Causation Study kicked off at various locations throughout Los Angeles in December.

Data will be compiled from LAPD accident reports and information recorded by mechanical sensors and cameras placed at intersections until at least 27 accidents have occurred and are documented — a milestone that will likely be reached by March.

According to Doug Hecox, spokesman for the Federal Highway Administration, the Department of Transportation entity managing the pilot study, the pilot is “purely to test the methodology” that will be applied to the broader Motorcycle Crash Causation Study, which is expected to kick off in about a year in a handful of different states. Final results of which won’t be available until at least 2013.

Much has changed since the last such motorcycle accident study, the 1981 Hurt Report; about 11 million street bikes have been sold in the U.S. The average rider’s age has increased from 27 to 41, and the overall rider population has grown to roughly 7 million. Traffic mix, driving/riding laws, and more powerful motorcycles are some other variables.

In 2005 Congress authorized over $2 million to fund a new motorcycle crash causation study under a federal transportation reauthorization bill (a.k.a. SAFETEA-LU), with the caveat that federal funds be matched from a nongovernmental source. Much of the matching funding has come from national motorcycle organizations, some of which hail the report as long overdue and necessary for planning safety countermeasures, while other groups fear yet another typically lopsided anti-motorcycle government report.

FEDS DECLINE TO INCREASE TARRIFS ON EUROPEAN MOTORCYCLES,U.S. trade officials have decided not to include motorcycles on their lengthy list of European products that will soon face increased tariffs in retaliation for a European Union ban on imports of hormone-fed beef from America.

In public comments submitted to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative opposing the possible 100% import duties, many motorcycle organizations, industry groups, manufacturers, dealers and others pointed to the extensive economic impact on businesses and jobs affected by such retaliatory tariffs, as well as a hardship for motorcycle enthusiasts. Also, motorcycle usage should be encouraged for fuel efficiency and easing traffic congestion and parking.

U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab noted her office received approximately 600 comments regarding which of more than 100 European goods should be subjected to the tariffs.

“An interagency committee of trade experts and economists reviewed the public comments and provided recommendations to the USTR with respect to modifications that would result in a more effective action, while taking account of effects on the U.S. economy, including consumers,” she said regarding the list of European Union products slated for tariff increases beginning March 23; but their beef with the EU will no longer threaten to double the price of imported Euro motorcycles and scooters.

MYRTLE BEACH SAYS NO TO BIKERS,Myrtle Beach has launched a website and printed brochures advising visitors that from the city’s perspective, the May motorcycle rallies are over.

The Website bears a message from Mayor John Rhodes stating that the ?Harley-Davidson Dealers Association Spring Rally and the Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Bikefest will not be held in Myrtle Beach?, and lists 15 new laws the City Council has passed to discourage bikers from coming to town. Designed by the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, the top of the site proclaims; “effective 2009, Myrtle Beach, SC will no longer host motorcycle rallies.”

To deter bikers, the city implemented stricter noise and muffler rules, will be enforcing a municipal helmet law, require eye protection while riding and a variety of restrictions on vendors, parties and motorcycle parking. The city passed a property tax increase to fund the anti-rally campaign.

But the Myrtle Beach Bike Week website counters this, saying that the rallies have not been cancelled. The Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson website is still encouraging motorcyclists to come. It states that 90% of the events and most of the businesses that cater to the 500,000 bikers who come to the region during three weeks in May are in Horry County, which has not adopted any new ordinances and welcomes riders to the 69th annual event, scheduled for May 8th – 17th 2009, if the rally goes on.

MAKING NOISE ABOUT NOISENumerous communities around the country are attempting to regulate noise, and specifically loud motorcycle exhausts. Although enforceability is questionable, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is planning a controversial new ordinance to curtail incessant noise.

Town officials haven?t fully explained why the ordinance is necessary, other than to acknowledge that neighboring municipalities have similar regulations, but the borough does not. ?We ought to be regulating our noise pollution,? said one Councilman.

?How do you pull over 50 motorcycles when one is being loud?? said police chief Joe Dougherty. ?It?s violating someone?s constitutional rights.?

When asked if the department owns noise equipment, Dougherty quipped: ?I?m sure we do, but I don?t know where it?s at. If I looked for it, I could find it, but we only have one person trained to use the equipment.?

The ordinance is currently being reviewed for legal sufficiency, including enforceability.

Meanwhile, a bill recently introduced in New Hampshire would prohibit motorcycle exhaust modifications, reduce permissible motorcycle noise levels, increase fines for motorcycle noise violations, and requires all motorcycles to have functioning tachometers.

House Bill 95 authorizes fines of up to $500 for operating a motorcycle that has aftermarket mufflers installed, or does not have a working tach.

A similar law was enacted in Denver that requires motorcycle mufflers to have a factory-issued U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sound-test stamp. But some who have protested the ordinance since it took effect in July 2007 have gone as far as to take the issue to court, arguing that the ordinance is vague and unenforceable.

One ?victim? of the ordinance is Jeffrey Lubbert, who was pulled over on his motorcycle in August 2007 when an officer testified that he heard exhaust pipes that were ?louder based on my training and experience,? according to court documents.

Lubbert fought the citation that he was issued, making it the ?test case? for the ordinance, according to his lawyer, Colorado Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) Attorney Wade H. Eldridge.

Factory-issued pipes come with the EPA stamp and meet the 82-decibel standard. But aftermarket mufflers may not come with the stamp, while still meeting the 82-decibel standard, argues Eldridge. It is nearly impossible to have the pipes certified and officers do not carry decibel readers.

?It?s unreasonable to stop someone and say your pipes are louder than normal when you don?t know what normal is,? argues Eldridge, who specializes in defending bikers. ?That just doesn?t cut it.?

GANGING UP ON BIKERS– In an ongoing effort to reduce crimes committed by criminal street gangs, many states have passed or are considering anti-gang laws that loosely define ?gangs?, violate Constitutional protections and can be used to harass and intimidate motorcycle clubs and mainstream motorcycle groups.

North Carolina recently joined with California and Ohio in enacting tough gang legislation that enhances penalties by adding years onto the sentences for those convicted of a crime who are members of a gang.

The N.C. Street Gang Suppression Act is the state?s first attempt to legally define a street gang, and it makes membership against the law. The law defines gangs as ?any ongoing organization, association, or group of three or more persons? that has a primary activity of committing felony acts, has members involved in gang activity and has a common name, identifying sign or symbol.?

It also gives law enforcement and government the authority to seize property associated with gang activity.

Likewise, the Michigan legislature has enacted a set of ?Gang Bills? and sent Senate Bill 291 to the governor?s desk on January 6th. Based upon a similar definition of a ?gang?, the bill states that ?If a person who is an associate or a member of a gang commits a felony or attempts to commit a felony and the person’s association or membership in the gang provides the motive, means, or opportunity to commit the felony, the PERSON is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 20 years.?

In Utah, a newspaper ad for a Toys For Tots event and flyers distributed by the Vagos Motorcycle Club spurred one Garland, UT citizen to form a Neighborhood Watch and spearhead a grassroots effort to toughen state gang laws, resulting in five bills being introduced to toughen punishment for involvement in gang activity and to make associating with or being a member of a criminal street gang illegal in the Beehive State. The latest in a spate of gang legislation, the sponsor of the bills along with gang investigators spent months researching other states? gang laws to find ideas that may be effective in Utah, such as anti-gang loitering legislation and declaring gang-free zones.

WEIRD NEWS: NIGERIAN RIDERS WEAR FRUIT TO COMPLY WITH NEW HELMET LAW–As many as 98% of Nigeria?s motorcyclists shunned the new national helmet law when it went into effect January 1st, leading to scores of arrests, near-riots and sometimes violent confrontations with traffic police. Professional motorcycle taxi drivers called Okada have now resorted to wearing fruit shells, pots or pieces of rubber tied to their heads with string to avoid arrest and impoundment of their vehicles.

In the state capital of Kaduna, hundreds of motorcyclists staged protests against the crash helmet directive, storming major roads chanting war songs and causing panic and traffic jams. In Lagos, at least 2,500 violators of the directive have so far been arrested as the Federal Road Safety Commission intensified the enforcement campaign for both riders and passengers. In Osun State, the Nigerian Tribune reported that no fewer than 73 motorcycles have been impounded by the FRSC because their operators failed to abide by the use of crash helmet.

The regulations have caused chaos around Africa’s most populous nation, with motorcyclists complaining helmets are scarce, too expensive, dirty and some passengers refuse to wear them fearing they will catch skin disease or be put under a black magic spell.

2009 NCOM CONVENTION IN RENO,The 24th annual NCOM Convention will be held Mother?s Day weekend, May 7-10, 2009 at the Nugget Casino & Resort in Reno, Nevada. This annual gathering will draw bikers rights activists from across the country to discuss topics of concern to all motorcyclists, so reserve your room now for the special NCOM rate of $89.00 by calling (800) 648-1177.

Meetings, seminars and group discussions will focus on safety issues, legal rights, legislative efforts and litigation techniques to benefit our right to ride and Freedom of the Road.

Registration fees for the NCOM Convention are $75 including the Silver Spoke Awards Banquet on Saturday night, or $40 for the Convention only. To pre-register, call the National Coalition of Motorcyclists at (800) 525-5355 or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com.

QUOTABLE QUOTE: “You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away people’s initiative and independence. You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.”

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), sixteenth President of the United States

THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. For more information, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit us on our website at http://www.ON-A-BIKE.com.

NCOM COAST TO COAST BIKER NEWS
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)

MOTORCYCLE OWNERS REPORT HIGH LEVELS OF SATISFACTIONDespite higher prices and fewer sales, motorcycle owners are expressing record-high levels of product satisfaction.

Overall satisfaction with the motorcycle ownership experience has increased for a sixth consecutive year, according to a recently released ?Motorcycle Competitive Information Study? compiled by market analyst J.D. Power and Associates. Now in its 11th year, the study measures owner satisfaction with new motorcycles by examining five major components of the overall ownership experience: product; quality; cost of ownership; sales; and service.

While all five components driving satisfaction improve in 2008, the most=2 0notable increases occur in the areas of cost of ownership and product quality. Overall, satisfaction with cost of ownership has increased steadily over time, with 18% of owners reporting the cost of owning a motorcycle is ?outstanding? compared to only 10% of customers in 2005. Furthermore, 30% of motorcycle owners in 2008 indicate that the value they received for the price paid is ?outstanding,? compared with 21% in 2005.

The study also found that product quality has improved in 2008, primarily due to a decrease in owner-reported problems. In addition, the number of owners who report having a problem-free experience with their motorcycle averaged 42% in 2008, an improvement of 3% compared with 2007. Among motorcycle owners who visit a dealer for repair work, 79% said that the work was performed right the first time–a 4% improvement over last year.

?Despite the fact that owners report paying 14% more for their motorcycles this year, they are also more satisfied with the value received for the money spent,? said Tim Fox, research manager of the powersports practice at J.D. Power and Associates.

The study was based on survey responses from 7,334 owners who purchased new motorcycles between September 2007 and May 2008.

If there’s a problem, it’s that buyers are getting older because the industry is not getting enough younger consumers into riding. J.D. Power says that since 2001, the average=2 0age of motorcycle owners has increased from 40 to 47 years. “This indicates that the current population of motorcycle buyers is aging, and a large proportion of these owners are likely to soon exit the market,” says Fox. The firm says first-time buyers constitute about 22% of all new-motorcycle purchases, and that number has not changed since 2001. “It is critical for manufacturers to focus on attracting first-time and younger buyers–primarily those in the Gen X and Y demographics–in order to ensure continued growth in this market.”

In a separate survey of 3,022 buyers of new 2007 model year motorcycles, J.D. Power analysts identified the top reasons why motorcycle manufacturers miss out on sales. The No. 1 reason motorcy cle buyers select one brand over another, according to the ?2008 Motorcycle Escaped Shopper Study,? is price. The cost of the rejected model is simply too high. An inability to test-ride a bike, a perception that maintenance costs will be high, an uncomfortable riding position and limited availability rounded out the study’s top five reasons for why a specific brand is rejected.

NEW CAR TECHNOLOGIES MAKE ROADS SAFER FOR MOTORCYCLISTSEach year automotive manufacturers unveil their latest vehicles, often touting new technologies designed to make roadways less dangerous. Not only do drivers and their fellow motorists benefit from these advances in safety technology but motorcycle and scooter riders reap rewards as well.

?Driver awareness and riding training are the most crucial components of motorcycle and scooter safety,? said Bill Windsor, associate vice president of safety for Nationwide Insurance. ?However, the latest automotive technologies are also a plus for riders because many make motorists more aware of their presence and location.?

In particular, four advances in automotive technologies help make the roads safer for all riders:

1. Blind Spot Warning Systems that identify vehicles in blind spots. A warning light, sound, or vibration is activated if a lane change is attempted when a vehicle is present in a driver?s blind spot. The system is valuable to riders, who are often ?hidden? in the blind spots of other vehicles, particularly large SUVs or trucks.

2. Lane Departure Warning Systems that activate if a vehicle has inadvertently drifted out of its lane. As with blind spot warning systems, a light, sound, or vibration is employed to warn drivers and prevent them from wandering over the lane line. The lane departure warning system protects riders from inattentive drivers, particularly those who drift lanes while talking on cell phones.

3. Forward Collision Warning Systems that monitor the distance between vehicles. If a driver is too closely following another vehicle, the system activates and, with a light or sound, warns the driver of a potential collision. The forward collision warning system helps prevent rear-end collisions, protecting riders from motorists who have turned their attention from the road to a distraction, like texting.

4. Adaptive Headlights / Night-Vision Assist. A variety of night-vision technologies are available, including infrared headlamps and thermal-imaging cameras to provide drivers with greater recognition of objects, such as animals, people – even motorcycles and scooters – that are obscured by darkness. Adaptive headlights bend the light around corners, compensate for ambient light, and may also be speed sensitive. Each of these developments makes it easier for drivers to spot riders in the dark.

U.S. TRADE OFFICIALS CONSIDER HUGE TARIFFS ON EUROPEAN MOTORCYCLESThe price of European motorcycles would double in America if federal trade authorities move forward with a 100% tariff in retaliation for the European Union?s refusal to lift an ongoing ban on imported American beef. Since EU officials won?t lift the 20-year old ban on U.S. beef from cattle treated with growth hormones, despite a World Trade Organization order to end it, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative recommended to the President that a 100% import duty be imposed on over 100 European goods, including bikes and scooters under 500cc; affecting such popular brands as Aprilia, Beta, BMW, Fantic, Gas Gas, Husaberg, Husqvarna, KTM, Montesa, Piaggio, Scorpa, Sherco, TM and Vespa.

Piaggio Group Americas, Inc. President and CEO Paolo Timoniwhose, whose company will be especially hard-hit as it imports and distributes Vespa and Piaggio scooters, as well as Aprilia and Moto-Guzzi motorcycles under the 500cc displacement cutoff, made the following statement about the proposed changes to the EU-Beef Hormone dispute sanctions: “We urge USTR not to punish the U.S. employees of a healthy and growing personal transportation company, along with the 400+ U.S. dealers and employees that retail our scooters and small displacement motorcycles, when the only focus of this trade dispute is an agricultural product. We also urge USTR not to punish the American consumer who in rapidly increasing numbers is choosing to add these clean-running, fuel-efficient machines to their transportation fleets in order to reduce U.S. fuel consumption, foreign oil dependence and today’s massive congestion and environmental issues. Finally, we urge USTR not to impose measures that would quickly force Piaggio Group Americas and a significant number of its dealers out of business.?

The Bush Administration wants to impose $116.8 million in import duties to equal the amount of money it claims the U.S beef industry loses each year because of the ban.

NEW YORK LEGISLATOR CRITICIZES MOTORCYCLE CHECKPOINTSSuffolk County Legislator Jack Eddington said that Suffolk should turn down a $25,500 motorcycle safety grant unless it can find ways to use it at something other than checkpoints.

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee grant is for Suffolk police to check if motorcyclists are complying with state law. “I would be upset if they told me they’re going to pull over all pickup trucks,” said Eddington (I-Medford), who rides a Honda Shadow motorcycle. “This sounds like harassment to me.”

But Suffolk Police Commissioner Richard Dormer said it’s just one of many state grants the department receives for checkpoints.

Jim Barr, president of Long Island ABATE, said the checkpoints are a hassle for cyclists. “There’s no probable cause to suggest all motorcycles must pull over,” he said.

ABATE of New York has expressed its opposition to the state?s burgeoning tactic of conducting motorcycle-only ?safety checks?, and has pledged support of a class-action initiative by the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) against the NYS Police and the NYS Dept. of Motor Vehicles if such discriminatory road blocks continue.

LAWSUIT PROCEEDS AGAINST MYRTLE BEACH HELMET AND NOISE ORDINANCESAlthough a judge denied an injunction to stop Myrtle Beach, S.C. from enforcing its new municipal motorcycle helmet law and noise ordinance, a local couple’s lawsuit was allowed to move forward. In September, Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (AIM) Attorney Tom McGrath was the first to file a lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of two of 15 new anti-biker ordinances passed by the city to curb motorcycle rallies.

The suit, filed on behalf of resident motorcyclists William and Carol O’Day, questions whether it’s within the city?s ?home rule? authority to supersede state law in both cases.

Horry County Circuit Court Judge Larry B. Hyman ruled against the injunction request, which would have prohibited the city from enforcing the new laws that McGrath contends are unconstitutional because the city doesn’t have the right to pass ordinances that contradict existing state law. South Carolina’s helmet law states that anyone 21 or older may choose whether to wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle, and they already have a muffler statute in state law.

McGrath said he requested the temporary stopgap when the city intended to begin enforcing all the ordinances by Dec. 21, but it has since delayed implementing several of the ordinances to give City Manager Tom Leath more time to set up the city’s administrative court system.

McGrath said he thinks that delay played into the judge’s decision. “The city hasn’t issued any tickets yet because it hasn’t set up the administrative court,” he said. “Since my clients haven’t been adversely affected yet, he had to weigh the equity issues.”

Other causes of action set forth in the lawsuit were allowed to go forward, in accordance with Judge Hyman?s ruling, though no other hearings have been scheduled yet in this case, nor in either of the two cases filed in federal court on behalf of business owners who have stakes in the success of the May motorcycle rallies.

CALIFORNIA HELMET LAWSUIT DISMISSEDA Superior Court judge has ruled on a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of California?s mandatory helmet law, and the case has been dismissed.

The lawsuit, filed November 9, 2006 (Case No. CV 155682), was heard on May 19-20, 2008 in the Santa Cruz Superior Court, and after hearing evidence presented by Wendy Lascher (representing the plaintiff parties) and the Attorney General?s Office (representing the California Highway Patrol), Judge Robert Atack made the following comments:

“It is clear to this court that the policy of the CHP is consistent with the statutory scheme. Although the Statutes under sections 27802 of the vehicle code and 27803 certainly could be clearer as it relates to these provisions, there does not seem to be any showing which would establish that the statutes themselves are unconstitutional for vagueness as applied under the circumstances and under the evidence that has been received during the course of this trial…I do not believe that the statutes found in the Vehicle Code should be declared unconstitutional for vagueness. They would be perhaps cleaned up as some of the other case law has indicated, but they are not vague in this Court’s opinion, and that the injunction directing the CHP prohibiting them from citing anyone for a violation of 27803(b) in particular seems to be unwarranted in this case. And that is the Court’s finding.”

According to ABATE of California, Inc. Executive Director Tim Tennimon, Sr., ?The case was dismissed. There is no further avenue of appeal on this lawsuit. It is finished.?

In 2006 ABATE of California established a Judicial fund for the purposes of raising funds to defray the legal expenses of Richard Quigley, et al, in this action, and donations in excess of $60K were received from individuals and other organizations throughout the country.

?ABATE of California wishes to thank all those individuals and organizations who so generously contributed to the Judicial Fund,? said Tennimon, adding that the attorney for the plaintiffs has been paid in full from the fund and ABATE of California is no longer accepting donations for this lawsuit.

?ABATE of California further wishes to state that it is in no way connected or associated with any other organization that may be collecting funds for a ?Judicial Fund? related to past or future helmet law litigation,? explained Tennimon, concluding that ?ABATE of California remains committed to working on a broad spectrum of issues of concern to all motorcyclists, including those relating to helmet laws, as well as safety issues of concern to all motorcyclists.?

WEIRD NEWS: RIDING MOTORCYCLES COULD CAUSE IMPOTENCESay it ain?t so! As if motorcyclists didn?t already have enough to worry about on the road, new medical studies claim that men who ride motorcycles are at increased risk of impotence and urinary problems, possibly because the vibration of the engine causes nerve damage.

Doctors in Japan, who published studies on the dangers in the International Journal Of Impotence Research, said seats on most motorcycles put undue pressure on the perineal region and restricted blood flow to the penis. It found that out of 234 motorcyclists who rode about three hours every weekend, 69% reported mild to severe erectile dysfunction. Of 178 motorcyclists with hard-padded seats, 70% had erectile dysfunction. Of 32 motorcyclists with soft-padded saddle, 63% had erectile dysfunction.

Approximately 76% of riders aged 40 to 49, and 93% of those aged 50 to 59, reported severe erectile dysfunction, compared with 37% and 42% respectively among those who did not ride motorcycles.

Doctors have also pointed out impotence affects most males during their lives and can be caused by emotional issues, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking or alcohol. The researchers also said more studies are needed to determine the cause of erectile dysfunction in motorcyclists.

QUOTABLE QUOTE: ?Motorcyclist are all bound together by a brotherhood tie through their love of the sport, and what difference does it make what make of machine he rides as long as he belongs to the clan.?

–Walter Davidson, December 1920 edition of Harley-Davidson?s Enthusiast Magazine

THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. For more information, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit us on our website at http://www.ON-A-BIKE.com.

NCOM BIKER NEWS BYTES
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)

GOVERNMENT SEIZES CLUB?S COLORSDozens of Mongols Motorcycle Club members were arrested under a federal racketeering indictment in a multi-state sting operation on October 21, but even before a single case has gone to trial federal prosecutors have succeeded in getting a court order stripping the club of their trademarked logo. Mongols members can no longer wear patches or other items bearing the club?s insignia following what appears to be an unprecedented injunction barring members, their family and associates from wearing, licensing, selling or distributing the logo.

“If a Mongol is wearing a vest or jacket bearing the Mongols patch, that item is pursuant to seizure based on this order,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Welk.

?This was an=2 0ingenious move to try and strip a club of its identity under the guise of civil asset forfeiture,? said Richard M. Lester, founder of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), ?but it sets an extremely dangerous precedent if allowed to stand. All the government would have to do is show that a few members were involved in criminal activity and they could take away your name and logo, and it could affect any organization from ABATE to HOG to the Elks.?

Explaining the implications and ramifications of the federal action, Sam Hochberg, Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (AIM) Attorney for Oregon, said the reasoning behind the court order was ?The government made a showing to the federal judge that they have a substantial likelihood of prevailing on the merits of the criminal case, including the RICO charge, which is required to get this sort of order. If the club loses on the criminal/RICO charges, they could be subject to the civil forfeiture laws — the same laws that allow the government to take away cars and houses from drug dealers as ?instruments of the crime?. Here, the government argued that the patch has value, and since they think they’ll ultimately be entitled to a civil forfeiture, they want to hold on to that asset, the patch. That was the basis for their legal argument, though publicly and to the press the ATF has admitted they’re doing this to break the back of the club.?

According to Lester, who also helped to found the Confederations of Clubs across the U.S. and Canada to help organized patch holder clubs to fight for their legal rights, NCOM will be working with the COCs to help overturn the patch seizure by hiring an expert on trademark and civil liberties law.

FUEL CONSERVATION CONTINUES DESPITE FALLING PRICESPrices at the pump have fallen to half the high watermark of $4 per gallon, begging the question whether the driving and lifestyle changes people made in the past year to conserve gas will stick.

Americans drove 15 billion fewer miles this past August than in August 2007, says the Federal Highway Administration, the largest one-month decline since figures have been collected. An increasing number are using public transportation. Car sales are at their lowest national levels since 1991, and the federal government projects U.S. fuel consumption will decline this year by the largest amount since 1980.

OPEC has cut its output in an attempt to stabilize prices, but the global recession is pushing down worldwide demand even further.

Many drivers have said despite the recent decline in gas prices, they have indefinitely changed their habits such as running fewer errands, combining trips, driving slower?and riding more motorcycles instead of SUVs. Although sales of cruiser models have fallen with the unstable economy, small motorcycles and scooters have posted record sales because of their mileage ratings.

And even though new motorcycle sales have flattened recently, sales have picked up in other areas, including clothing, merchandise and other accessories, parts and service. Bike owners who might have traded in their older motorcycles during better times are opting to keep them and put more money toward service and maintenance, reflecting a national trend.

Whether Americans will continue to be more fuel conscious depends largely on the economy, because despite the price of gasoline there?s still a need to conserve money.

MORE TOLL ROADS COMINGFederal transportation officials are lobbying state governments to convert their freeways into toll roads, and expect the new administration to continue supporting public private partnership (PPP) initiatives. The Federal Highway Administration has announced the creation of a new office to pursue more toll roads in the future, and placed the new Office of Innovative Program Delivery atop their organizational chart to emphasize its primary place within the federal transportation department.

“The Director of Innovative Program Delivery provides advice, guidance, and research support related to tolling and pricing initiatives and administers tolling authorities,” outgoing Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters wrote. “[The office also] promotes the development and use of techniques associated with providing transportation in terms of innovative and non-traditional funding sources, innovative contractual processes, and changing roles and responsibilities involved in designing, constructing, operating, maintaining, financing, obtaining, and procuring highway facilities.”

These innovative and non-traditional funding mechanisms have caused concern among local and federal representatives in the wake of the ongoing financial crisis, but such efforts appear to have the support of President-elect Barack Obama who has supported similar measures.

A key component of Obama?s agenda includes providing $60 billion for infrastructure projects with “a preference for projects which leverage private financing, including public-private partnerships.” Moreover, Senator Obama in March endorsed New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s idea to charge a $9 toll on cars and a $22 toll for trucks that enter downtown Manhattan during working hours.

PUSHING PARKING PROTECTIONSIt used to be bad enough to find someone sitting on your motorcycle, but with more people riding bikes, and parking them, an increasing urban problem appears to be with drivers moving two-wheelers out of their way to make room to park in congested downtown areas. To top it off, they seem to be wheeling them into No Parking zones or onto sidewalks where it?s illegal to park.

Recognizing this troublesome trend, the city of Seattle, Washington recently enacted an ordinance making it illegal to move another person?s vehicle without their knowledge or consent. Ordinance Number 122761 passed unanimously on August 4 to ?prohibit a person from moving a motor vehicle not lawfully under his or her control when the motor vehicle is occupying a parking stall or space on City property.?

In addition to a hefty fine, police also warn that, ?If you damage it, you?d be liable.?

HONDA DEMONSTRATES V2V MOTORCYCLE SAFETY TECHNOLOGYIn its efforts to improve safety for everyone, especially vulnerable road users, Honda’s leading motorcycle to car communication system was recently demonstrated for the first time in Germany at the CAR 2 CAR Communication Consortium. The Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) System generates warnings to riders and drivers of other vehicles by continuous exchange of positioning data from satellite GPS sources. This is particularly relevant as road users approach intersections, alerting them to other vehicles that are potentially on a collision course, allowing avoi dance maneuvers. Research data shows that the majority of accidents involving a motorcycle are caused by perception failures and this system will reduce these failures.

The majority of motorcycle accidents are caused by the simple failure of other motorists to detect the presence of a motorcycle on the road until it is too late, or to correctly assess its distance and speed. V2V communication rapidly relays information in a simple and concise manner, which supports motorists’ and bikers’ recognition processes. Information including position, direction and vehicle dynamics coordinates is exchanged between vehicles.

Motorcycle riders can safely receive warnings about vehicles near them on a Head-up Indicator Display, and can receive information through an in-helmet audio system, neither requiring them to take their eyes off the road. Drivers can view information on the status of cars and motorcycles in their vicinity and receive warnings on, for example, their navigation system display.

Honda?s life-saving V2V System is interoperable and facilitates communication with vehicles from 8 other manufacturers.

TOUGHER NEW MOTORCYCLE LAWS DOWN UNDERFinding the freedom of an open road on two-wheels could be a little more difficult for some would-be Australian motorcycle enthusiasts next year, as Queensland authorities get tougher on new riders. As with Europe, some Australian legislators are looking to tighten restrictions on novice riders of all ages. The changes taking effect next July in Queensland include restricting new riders to less powerful motorcycles and prohibit them from consuming any alcohol while riding.

Queensland’s Premier Anna Bligh told Parliament that novice riders will have to carry “P” plates, there will be a ban on pillion passengers and there will be a zero-alcohol limit for all ages of learners.

In the past only new riders under the age of twenty-five faced zero-alcohol restrictions, with those older allowed to have up to the legal 0.05 limit. Also, the law that restricted new riders to motorcycles of 250cc engine size will be expanded to an approved list that takes power-to-weight ratio into account.

“Given the significant increase in fatalities from motorcycle crashes, it’s clear that we need to rethink our licensing system,” Bligh said, “The evidence that many older people are starting to ride motorcycles and their inexperience is contributing to serious injuries and fatalities, we can’t ignore that.”

New riders face the restrictions for one year before going onto an unrestricted license allowing them to ride any motorcycle and fall under the regular traffic laws.

POLICE ORGANIZATION CALLS FOR BIKE BAN, POWER LIMITSThe Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in the U.K. has called for motorcycling to be banned from certain areas of the country in evidence it submitted to the recent House of Commons Transport Select Committee report, entitled “Ending the Scandal of Complacency: Road Safety beyond 2010”.

The ACPO submission said: “There is a need for radical thinking in respect of motorcycles, including consideration of engine cap ability and the creation of protection zones where all motorcycles other than those specifically permitted, would be prohibited.” This apparent call for power restrictions on motorcycles and their prohibition in some areas of the country flies in the face of substantial independent evidence that there is no correlation between a motorcycle’s power output and its likelihood of being involved in an accident.

A further inaccuracy presented to the committee by ACPO is that, “Production machines are readily available for use on our roads with top speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour.” In fact there are no production bikes capable of more than 200mph, even without the motorcycle industry’s voluntary 186mph speed limitation.

?That ACPO can present such nonsense brings into question its suitability as a source of reliable information for the Transport Committee,? criticized the Telegraph newspaper, adding that the law enforcement organization?s testimony regarding mo torcycles is ?demonstrably unreliable.?

WEIRD NEWS: STUNT VIDEO BUSTS BIKERA biker in England was brought down by the Internet and his own video evidence was sentenced for speeding and performing stunts on his motorcycle. The 28-year old rider became the talk of the British press for being arrested after he posted video footage of himself riding a motorcycle at more than 130 miles per hour as well as performing stunts on the popular video site, YouTube.

Last year similar events took place in Spain when a group of riders videotaped and posted their speeding rides between two small towns. They were also convicted by authorities who used20the footage posted on YouTube.

QUOTABLE QUOTE: “Most change in America doesn’t come from politicians. It comes from people inventing things and creating. The telephone, the telegraph, the computer, all those things didn’t come from government. Our world is going to get better and better, as long as we keep the politicians from screwing it up.”
David Boaz, Cato Institute

THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid toInjured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition ofMotorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of RichardM. Lester. For more information, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visitus on our website at http://www.ON-A-BIKE.com.

NCOM BIKER NEWS BYTES
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)

DEPLETED LICENSE PLATES, OVERBOOKED RIDER ED COURSESAs a sign of the times, with a record number of motorcyclists on theroad and increasing numbers of motorcycle registrations, ridertraining courses in numerous locations across the country have beenbooked solid and now officials in Kansas have reported running out ofmotorcycle license plates.

The Hutchinson News reported that the problem is bad enough thatcounties with plentiful plates are being asked to share with othercounties. “We are out of motorcycle tags, and we don’t know when we’llget more,” said Reno County Treasurer Clark Miller. “We’ve begged andborrowed from other counties,” he told the newspaper, “but we can’tget more.”

When the state made its annual tag order, gas prices hadn’t reachedtheir current levels and officials didn’t anticipate the resultingdemand from motorists switching to more fuel-efficient transportation.

At least one motorcycle owner complained to the newspaper of beingsent away from the DMV office this week and advised not to drive hismotorcycle until it was properly tagged, with no promise of when tagsmight be available.

MYRTLE BEACH APPROVES HELMET LAW AND OTHER ORDINANCES TO DETER BIKERSMyrtle Beach City Council recently gave initial approval to more thana dozen city-wide ordinances specifically aimed to limit bike ralliesand dissuade bikers from coming to town.

On Tuesday, September 9, the council unanimously approved all but oneof 15 proposed new laws pertaining to two back-to-back May motorcyclerallies, though the restrictions would remain in place year round.

The proposed ordinances that were passed on first reading ranged froma ban on the operation of motor vehicles that do not have required EPA(federal) stickers on their mufflers, to prohibiting more than onevehicle parked in a single public parking space, to implementing amandatory helmet law and eye protection requirement for anyone ridinga motorcycle within city limits and authorizing authorities to impoundtheir motorcycles. The helmet ordinance also outlaws the sale or useof any non-DOT compliant helmet in the city.

In June the City Council not only passed a property-tax increasededicated to funding an anti-bike rally campaign, but also started theprocess to enact ordinances aimed at ending motorcycle-related vendingwithin city limits.

Another vote on the approved anti-rally measures is required beforethey can become law, which may take place before riders arrive inMyrtle Beach for the “Pilgrimage” fall bike rally, giving local policeagencies an opportunity to begin enforcing the new ordinances.

Former Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride, who once said he’d like to usehis car to “nudge” a biker who wore an offensive T-shirt, said he’sall for the city strictly enforcing the laws and said the city shouldbring in as many police officers as it needs. “If they enforce thelaws,” McBride told the Sun News “people will not want to come back iftheir good time is curtailed.”

CAN RISING MOTORCYCLIST FATALITIES BE BLAMED ON LACK OF HELMET LAWS?–Author Jacob Sullum begs the question in his article “Hit & Run” inReason magazine’s August 20th online edition, and goes on to answerthose who blame the increase in rider fatalities on the repeal ofhelmet laws in several states.

Citing federal government data that indicate the number of fatalmotorcycle accidents rose in 2007 for the 10th consecutive year,hitting 5,154, 7 percent higher than the 2006 total, Sullum writesthat “the chief culprit recently seems to be higher gas prices, whichhave encouraged people to take advantage of motorcycles’ vastlysuperior fuel efficiency: Motorcycle ridership appears to be risingeven as the total miles for all vehicles drops….The highway safetyauthorities say that about 75 percent more motorcycles are registeredtoday than 10 years ago. They suspect each motorcycle is ridden moremiles, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says itdoes not have a reliable measurement of use. The lack of such datamakes it difficult to tell how much of an increase in fatalitiesfollowing repeal of a helmet law results from less helmet wearing andhow much results from more riding.”

“While wearing a helmet reduces the risk of certain injuries,”continues Sullum, “research suggests the overall impact on fatalitiesis modest. The unimpressive numbers are one reason motorcyclists havebeen so successful at defending their right to decide what, ifanything, to wear on their heads. ‘We are the only industrializedcountry in the world where there is an organized effort to weaken orrepeal motorcycle helmet laws,’ complains Russ Rader of the InsuranceInstitute for Highway Safety. Is that a sign of backwardness or apoint of pride?”

Meanwhile, Forbes Magazine points out that a new study releasedrecently by the U.S. Department of Transportation found that “despitethe relaxation of several state helmet laws, motorcycle helmet use infatal crashes climbed from 55% in 1997 to 57% in 2006.”

In an August 25th article titled “Expensive Gas, Dangerous Roads”,Forbes writer William Pentland says, “Although helmets are undoubtedlydecisive in some motorcycle accidents, the fact remains that thefatality rate for helmeted motorcyclists has risen more rapidly thanit has for unhelmeted motorcyclists in the past three years. Thissuggests that factors other than helmet use have fueled the rise ofmotorcycle fatalities. Enter gas prices.”

Pentland’s research shows that since at least the 1970s, motorcycleregistrations have tracked the rise and fall of gas prices. As pricesrose in the 1970s, registrations followed. Similarly, in the 1980s,as gas prices fell, motorcycle registrations did too. During the1990s, motorcycle registrations remained low and only began rising in2000 and 2001.

“Last year, the number of licensed motorcyclists hit an all time highof 6,227,146,” says Pentland, “While the total number of milestraveled for passenger cars fell in 2007 for the first time since1994, the total number of miles traveled for motorcycles not onlyincreased, but reached a new record high.”

LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES!Silent but deadly, a California lawmaker says electric and hybrid carsand motorcycles may be good for the environment, but they’re bad newsfor the blind.

State Sen. Alan Lowenthal, a Long Beach Democrat, has pushed a billthrough the legislature to ensure that vehicles make enough noise tobe heard by the blind and visually impaired when they’re about tocross a street.

The state Senate approved the bill on August 20 on a 23-12 vote andsent it to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who according to the SanFrancisco Chronicle has not taken a position.

FIGHTER DIES AFTER RUNNING OUT OF GASUFC Star Evan Tanner whose body was found in California’s MojaveDesert appears to have died from heat exhaustion after his off-roadmotorcycle ran out of gas. The 37-year-old former Ultimate Fightingmiddleweight champion was on a “cleansing” excursion and set out onfoot in the scorching heat of the after his bike lost steam.

“What we were told is that (sheriff’s officials who found him) believehis motorcycle had run out of gas, so he went to walk out in, like,115- to 118-degree heat,” said Douglas Vincitorio a member of EvanTanner’s management team at Driving Sports Force. “He was miles awayfrom his camp. That’s where the helicopter found him. Right now, theyjust think that he succumbed to the heat.”

WEIRD NEWS: BIKER KILLED FOR HAULING HAMBURGER ON HIS HOGLuckily, most bikers do not have to worry about being mobbed andkilled over carrying some hamburger on their bike, but in India it isa different story.

An angry mob lynched a man in an Uttar Pradesh village in May onsuspicion that he was transporting cow meat on his motorcycle, apolice officer told Thaindian newspaper.

Riding a motorcycle in different countries carries different risks,but it appears that in India, surviving a bike accident is nothingcompared to residents finding out that you are carrying cow meat,which is sacred. This type of incident shows that you should alwaysresearch the laws or religious practices before you go biking aroundin other countries.

TOUGHER IN ALASKA — JUNEAU BIKER CULTURE SUBJECT OF MUSEUMJuneau has more motorcycles per capita than most places in the UnitedStates even though there are only 91 miles of road in the city sharedby over a thousand motorcyclists, and is the only capital notaccessible by road.

“That’s pretty interesting,” said Sarah Asper-Smith, guest curator ofa museum exhibit on local biker culture, adding there were 1,025registered motorcycles in 2006 in Juneau.

“That’s something that runsthrough the exhibit, is why do we have so many motorcycles in townwhen you can’t drive out of town? I think it’s that sense of freedomthat Alaskans have in common.”

“91 Miles to Ride: Juneau’s Biker Culture” at the Juneau-Douglas CityMuseum highlights Juneau biker culture with memorabilia andphotographs, some of which date to the 1930s, when there were a lotfewer roads. Also on display are four classic motorcycles, includinga 1924 Henderson Inline IV, a 1936 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead, a 1946Indian Chief, and a 9-foot-long 1975 customized chopper, all on loanfrom local bikers.

“The weather never really bothers us,” said Craig “Oz” Rasmussen, whohas ridden his ’36 Harley from Dawson City, Yukon to Tijuana, Mexicoand is a member of the Southeast Alaska Panhandlers Motorcycle Club,which is prominently featured in the exhibit along with the SoutheastAlaska Tongass Chapter of H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group), Juneau AlaskaBikers Advocating Training and Education (ABATE), and other groups.

NEW ZEALAND BARS BIKER PATCHESBiker patches are not welcome in central Timaru and club members willhave to remove their colors before entering some businesses.

“Businesses can now place stickers on their front doors stating thatgang patches and colours are not permitted to be worn on thepremises,” reports the Timaru Herald. Increasing gang activityprompted the joint initiative from Safer Communities and the SouthCanterbury Chamber of Commerce, says the newspaper.

All businesses have the right to refuse entry as long as it is notseen as discrimination, and the stickers are not classed asdiscrimination, say officials.

The Chamber of Commerce designed and paid for the printing of 100stickers and is assisting in the distribution. Chamber manager DaveJack said more stickers will be printed if needed.

Timaru mayor Janie Annear said the stickers were just another tool tostamp out gang activity, adding that they weren’t naive enough tothink the gang problem was over and were always thinking of newinitiatives; “The battle is never totally won.”

QUOTABLE QUOTE: “A government big enough to give you everything youwant, is big enough to take away everything you have.”

–Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) Patriot and 3rd President of the UnitedStates

THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. For more information, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit us on our website at http://www.ON-A-BIKE.com.

COAST TO COAST BIKER NEWS
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)

GAS PRICES FUEL RECORD SCOOTER SALESRising fuel prices and recession fears have spurred nationwide interest in motorcycles and scooters, and a new survey indicates more people are considering two-wheelers due to soaring prices at the pump.

PowerSports Business reported in July that first half scooter sales increased by 65 percent, validating a consumer trend towards more fuel efficient transportation. Other sources published similar reports such as The New York Times’, June 6, 2008 article “As Gas Prices Soar, Scooters Grow in Popularity”; and The Wall Street Journal, May 21, 2008 article, “Fuel Efficient Scooter Use Takes Off.” In an August 1, 2008 article in PowerSports Business, Yamaha Motor Co. reported that its U.S. retail motorcycle new unit sales grew 12.4 percent compared to a year ago.

With most motorcycles averaging from 40 to 60 miles per gallon and many scooters averaging up to 100 or more miles per gallon, a lot of people are now interested in acquiring these vehicles for cost-conscious commuting. A recent PowerSports Business article released the results of a survey conducted by Consumer Reports National Research Center indicating that more than one-quarter of U.S. consumers are considering purchasing a motorcycle or scooter. Eighteen percent are thinking of buying a motorcycle while 14 percent are contemplating buying a scooter.

“The era of smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles is upon us,” commented Anthony Havens, CEO of Sparta financial and management services for the powersports industry. “Until recently, motorcycles and scooters were considered the choice of enthusiasts, or people who were just interested in fun and recreation. But, with gas prices dramatically rising, a growing number of consumers are buying motorcycles and scooters for extremely practical reasons.”

?In 1998, there were about 15,000 scooter sales, which represented about 5 percent of all licensable motorcycle sales,? said Mike Mount, a spokesman for the Motorcycle Industry Council. ?In 2007, there were about 131,000 sales, which represents 15 percent of licensable sales.

It might be easy to think scooters and mopeds are only popular among teenage boys itching to get their first taste of the open road, but sales figures indicate that both scooters and mopeds are increasingly being purchased by a maturing demographic. In 1990, the median age for scooter owners was 26, according to a survey conducted by the MIC, but by 2003 the median age jumped to 46.

AMERICANS DRIVING LESS

American driving has reached its eighth month of steady decline, a trend officials say signals an urgent need for new forms of highway financing to supplement the gas tax. New data released by the U.S. Department of Transportation show that, since last November, Americans have driven 53.2 billion miles less than they did over the same period a year earlier — topping the 1970s? total decline of 49.3 billion miles.

Americans drove 4.7 percent less, or 12.2 billion miles fewer, in June 2008 than June 2007, based on vehicle-miles-traveled data collected by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The decline is most evident in rural travel, which has fallen by 4 percent — compared to the 1.2 percent decline in urban miles traveled — since the trend began last November.

As Americans drive fewer miles, less revenue is generated for the Highway Trust Fund from gasoline and diesel sales — 18.4 cents per gallon and 24.4 cents per gallon, respectively. During the first quarter of 2008, motorists consumed nearly 400 million fewer gallons of gasoline, or about 1.3 percent less than during the same period in 2007, and 7 percent less — or 318 million gallons — of diesel.

?We can?t afford to continue pinning our transportation network?s future to the gas tax,? said U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters. ?Advances in higher fuel-efficiency vehicles and alternative fuels are making the gas tax an even less sustainable support for funding roads, bridges and transit systems.?

In California, a Pay-As-You-Go tax surcharge measure has already cleared its first legislative hurdle.

U.S. TRAFFIC DEATHS DROP TO LOWEST LEVEL IN A DECADETraffic deaths in the United States declined last year, reaching the lowest level since 1994, reported the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Some 41,059 people were killed in highway crashes, down by more than 1,600 from 2006. It was the fewest highway deaths in a year since 1994, when 40,716 people were killed.

The fatality rate of 1.37 deaths for every 100 million miles traveled in 2007 was the lowest on record, NHTSA said in its report.

Motorcycle deaths increased for the 10th straight year. There were 5,154 motorcycle deaths last year, compared with 4,837 in 2006.

The increased deaths have come while the number of registered motorcycles has surpassed 6 million, compared with 3.8 million in 1998, and vehicle miles traveled have risen.

Transportation officials said they plan to target motorcyclists in a $13 million anti-drunken-driving advertising campaign running during the Labor Day holiday. The department also has discussed new safety and training standards for novice riders, increased training for law enforcement and curbing counterfeit safety-labeling of helmets.

INCREASING FATALITIES MAKE MOTORCYCLES A TARGETAs more people turn to two-wheel transportation, tripling the number of new motorcycles hitting the road over the past decade, the corresponding increase in motorcycle accidents and fatalities has made motorcyclists a target for stiffer regulations, stricter safety standards and select enforcement.

State and federal officials fear the problem could grow as higher gas prices push more first-time riders toward motorcycling without proper training and licensing. “With gas prices on the increase, more people are riding motorcycles to work,” said South Carolina trooper Lance Cpl. Bob Beres. “They’re not just using them for leisure.”

Most motorcyclists who died during a recent 18-month period studied by the S.C. Highway Patrol either had a beginner’s license or no license at all, and troopers worry that inexperience could put newer riders at greater risk. Of the 99 fatal motorcycle crashes they investigated from July 2006 to December 2007, 36 riders had beginner’s licenses — the same number as those with a regular license. Twenty-five had no license and two had expired licenses.

Motorcycle riders were at fault in about three-quarters of the fatal crashes. The major causes were speeding, failing to yield the right of way and driving under the influence.

The S.C. Highway Patrol was awarded a $75,000 grant to create a Ride Smart safety campaign aimed at motorcyclists, particularly beginning riders.

Law enforcement agencies nationwide are stepping up efforts to curb rising fatalities by targeting motorcycles. As part of a state funded Saving Lives program, the California Highway Patrol conducted a sweep of the 605 freeway looking for motorcyclists not obeying traffic laws, high handlebars and improper helmets, and will be keeping a closer eye on cyclists in highly concentrated areas through the summer.

They ticketed 62 motorcyclists, 21 of which didn’t have a motorcycle license. Officers impounded the 21 bikes.

In Ohio, the Ohio Highway Patrol will reportedly be targeting motorcycle runs and stopping riders to check for sobriety, motorcycle endorsements and loud pipes.

The National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) has recently taken the New York State Police and NYS Dept. of Motor Vehicles to task for setting up discriminatory ?Safety Check? roadblocks for motorcyclists en route to large rallies, threatening a class-action lawsuit through Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (AIM), but meanwhile other states are taking similar targeted actions toward motorcycle riders under the pretense of safety concerns.

UTAH ENACTS TIERED LICENSING FOR MOTORCYCLISTSEffective July 8, 2008, Utah will begin using a tiered licensing system for motorcycle endorsements.

– If a rider tests on a 90cc or less motorcycle or scooter they will be restricted to 90cc or less.
– If a rider tests on a 249cc or less motorcycle or scooter they will be restricted to 249cc or less.
– If a rider tests on a 649cc or less motorcycle or scooter they will be restricted to 649cc or less.
– If a rider tests on a motorcycle or scooter larger than 650cc they will be allowed to ride any motorcycle or scooter.

If a rider takes a motorcycle safety class on a 250cc, successful completion will waive the riding part of the license test for an up to 649cc endorsement. To get an endorsement for motorcycles above 649cc riders must use a larger motorcycle in the safety class. To use your own bike in a class you must have a permit, registration, and insurance. If a rider currently rides a motorcycle over 649cc they may obtain a skill test waiver by successfully completing a License Waiver Experienced Rider Course (ERC), a 5 hour course that costs $85.

OKLAHOMA MAY OUTLAW GANGSState Rep. Paul Wesselhoft (R-Oklahoma City) told the Tulsa World newspaper that he wants to outlaw gangs by passing a law to enable gang members to be charged with a misdemeanor, even though he admits that such a law might not pass constitutional muster.

Tim Hock, vice president of the Oklahoma Gang Investigators Association, said he strongly endorses Wesselhoft’s efforts, and that allowing gang members to be charged with a misdemeanor would give officers the means to interrogate them about criminal activity in the community.

Tulsa Police Chief Ron Palmer said, “There are various types of gangs — outlaw motorcycle gangs, white supremacy groups, Asian, Hispanic and African American gangs.” They can be identified by gang names, tattoos and, in some cases, the color of clothes they wear, he said.

But Andrew Spiropoulos, a law professor at Oklahoma City University, said lawmakers “have to be very careful when they legislate gang membership as illegal, because under the First Amendment, a person cannot be prosecuted because they are a member of a group.”

He said a person can be prosecuted only for conduct. “Generally, what states and cities have done is that they usually attack some activity in addition to being a gang member,” he said.

?This is very disturbing news,? relayed Tiger Mike Revere, State Coordinator of ABATE of Oklahoma and member of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) board of directors, ?We’ll have to keep a very close eye on this one in Oklahoma, as this type of legislation passed in other states, as in California and Ohio, has been used to directly discriminate against and harass Motorcycle Clubs, and not just 1%ers.?

BAR OWNER ACCUSES POLICE OF DISCRIMINATING AGAINST HER PATRONSA Green Bay, Wisconsin bar owner says the police department is discriminating against her because of her clientele. Kim VandenBusch says 75 percent of the regulars at Kimmers Bar & Grill are members of a motorcycle club.

Last week the city granted the owner a liquor license with a unique stipulation. The police department asked her to hang a sign in the bar that says “No club colors,” referring to the back patches worn by motorcycle club members.

“I was very much under duress on signing that because they said if I didn’t sign it I wouldn’t get my license,” VandenBusch told WBAY-TV, adding that it’s unfair because the bar has a good track record with the police department. “I felt it was very wrong. I felt it was discriminating. It should be up to the owner of the establishment to decide what clientele they want.”

But the police department has every right to do this. Last year the city passed an ordinance that says every establishment wanting a liquor license must first have its business plan approved by the police department.

Police Captain Bill Galvin said, ?There can be fights, shootings, drug dealing, drug usage, things like that occurring at places where these gang members hang out.”

Galvin says putting up a simple sign will eliminate potential problems, but VandenBusch hasn’t put one up yet. Instead, she’s appealing to the Protection and Welfare Committee.

QUOTABLE QUOTE: “I think legislative assaults on motorcyclists are totally emotional, disproportionate and totally unfair… They are instigated and implemented by people who know nothing about motorcycling, but have a prejudice. It’s easy to curb the freedoms of others when you see no immediate impact on your own.”

–Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990), publisher & avid motorcyclist

THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. For more information, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit us on our website at http://www.ON-A-BIKE.com.

NCOM COAST TO COAST BIKER NEWS
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)

INTEREST IN MOTORCYCLES SOARS WITH FUEL PRICESMotorcycle and scooter sales across the nation are booming as drivers look for ways to trim the cost of soaring gas prices, but the rush of inexperienced riders hitting the road has had deadly consequences.

NADA Guides, which publishes a well known book of used vehicle prices, reported that the number of people researching motorcycle purchases has increased nearly 50% over last year.

Scooter sales jumped 24 percent nationwide in the year’s first quarter, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council. While new motorcycle sales were lagging on the whole, those with smaller engines that get better gas mileage saw an upturn, according to MIC spokesman Mike Mount, adding that used motorcycle sales also are climbing.

The small fuel-efficient vehicles are easy on the mileage and the pocketbook, which has made them wildly popular with gasoline prices surpassing $4 a gallon. Depending on engine size, motorcycles can get between 40 and 60 miles per gallon of gas. Scooters, which tend to be smaller and easier to drive, can reach 100 miles per gallon or more. That’s attracting newbies, dealers say, with many new buyers citing the price at the pump as their primary motivation for turning to two-wheel transportation.

According to a recent report by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), motorcycle sales have tripled from 1997 to 2006, from 356,000 to almost 1.1 million, while motorcycle fatalities more than doubled from 2,110 in 1997 to 4,810 in 2006.

Last year, the GHSA asked state highway safety agencies to complete a survey on motorcycle safety activities designed to curb the annual increase in motorcycle crashes.

The surveys revealed “a patchwork of helmet laws,? with only nine states and Puerto Rico indicating special efforts to help law enforcement identify helmets that don?t meet federal safety standards. Rider training courses have been overly strained due to the influx of new=2 0motorcyclists and, as a result, 29 states “indicated they have capacity problems with delays ranging from one day to 12 weeks for training classes. Only three states, Florida, Maine, and Rhode Island require rider education for all riders, regardless of age,” according to the association. The report also says many motorcyclists drive without valid licenses: In 2006, 25 percent of operators in fatal motorcycle crashes did not have a valid motorcycle license, compared to 13 percent of drivers of passenger vehicles.

GEORGIA TURNS SPEEDERS INTO FUEL PUMPS It?s a ridiculous concept, reports the National Motorists Association (NMA), but somehow it seemed inevitable. Check out this st ory from USA Today: The surging price of gasoline has come to this: a “fuel surcharge” on your next speeding ticket.

Drivers caught speeding in the north Atlanta suburb of Holly Springs soon will have to pay an extra $12 — to cover $4-a-gallon gas costs for the police officers who stop them.

Is your police cruiser running low on fuel? No problem, just pull over someone driving home from work, ticket them, and you?ll have a full tank of gas in no time.

Need to balance your budget? Maybe you should look to Pizza Hut for inspiration: Police Chief Ken Ball says he was seeking ways to maintain patrols despite record high gas prices. “I was hearing that Delta (Air Lines), pizza deliverers, florists were adding fuel charges to their services, and I thought, why not police departments?” he says.

Unfortunately it looks like this isn?t going to be an isolated case. As with any situation where money is available to be taken from citizens, local government is on the case immediately: Ball says he?s being “inundated” by calls from police chiefs and city managers. “I?ve heard from at least a dozen police chiefs and half a dozen city managers,” he says of their municipality?s recently-passed measure. “They want to know how we did it, and could=2 0we send them a copy of the ordinance.”

MARYLAND RIDERS LIGHT IT UPMotorcycle riders in Maryland hope to get more attention from car drivers with a new state law that allows the use of specified auxiliary lighting, which can only be used after dark, thus increasing their visibility to other road users at night.

Senate Bill 713, the “Night-time Awareness – Auxiliary Lighting” bill, passed unanimously through the House and Senate, and was signed into law April 8th by Governor Martin O’Malley.

The new law, which went into effect June 1st, addresses the use of LED lights that illuminate the sides of the motorcycle, thus allowing other drivers to see motorcyclists from the side as well as front and rear. The lights cannot be blue or red and cannot blink, flash or oscillate. They can only be directed toward the engine and drive train and are specifically prohibited from being on wheels.

Pat Corcoran, spokesman for ABATE of Maryland, said “Most motorcycle accidents involving another vehicle, are almost always the fault of the other vehicle, and usually the comment of the other driver is, we just didn’t see him.”

The law also allows the use of blue-dot tail lights, which also increases conspicuity in traffic.

STATES GREEN-LIGHT NEW RED-LIGHT LAWS FOR MOTORCYCLESMotorcyclists in a growing number of states are being allowed to go through red lights when sensors aren’t able to detect they are there.

In May, South Carolina became the seventh state to give motorcyclists license to proceed with caution after stopping when the device that causes the light to change from red to green doesn’t activate, according to a recent article in USA Today.

North Carolina passed a similar law in 2007. Wisconsin (2006), Idaho (2006) Arkansas (2005), Tennessee (2003) and Minnesota (2002), all have passed laws the past six years, while similar legislation has been introduced in Georgia, Missouri and Oklahoma.

The traffic lights in question are controlled by devices buried under the road that operate similar to metal detectors, according to Doug Hecox, a spokesman for the Federal Highway Administration. Their sensitivity can be set to detect motorcycles, but the proper balance is difficult to adjust, he said.

California has chosen a technological solution. A law adopted last year requires that when new traffic-activated signals are installed, they be capable of detecting motorcycles and bicycles.

?In Texas, we took a different approach,? said Sputnik, President of the Texas Motorcycle Rights Association (TMRA-II) and Chairman of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists? Legislative Task Force (NCOM-LTF). He told a gathering at the recent NCOM Convention in Houston about a law passed there last year: ?When a traffic light doesn?t detect motorcycles, they have to fix them so they do.?

EU MOTORCYCLES TO GET ONBOARD WARNING SYSTEMSMotorcycles will get new onboard warning systems to tell the rider when he’s going too fast under proposals unveiled recently at a motorcycle safety conference in Brussels, Belgium. The technology will tell the rider when he’s going into a bend too fast or exceeding the speed limit. A ?frontal collision warning? system will detect when the bike is too close to an obstacle.

On-road trials of the In-Vehicle Information System technology will begin by 2010 under the European Commission’s plans, which are backed by the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations (FEMA).

The project, called SAFERIDER, ?aims to develop devices to improve the comfort and safety of riders through technology such as warning devices to alert the rider of a potential crash or provide information about black (blind) spots or traffic design,? according to a FEMA press release, adding that ?The decision by FEMA to participate in the SAFERIDER project is because we need to find out if technology can assist a rider to make decisions to avoid collisions or crashes. We need to ensure that the technology being developed can benefit riders – but if doesn’t, then we need to be in a position to make our point of view clear.?

More information on the SAFERIDER project can be found at www.saferider-eu.org.

BIKER FUNERALS ILLEGAL DOWN UNDERGypsy Jokers from across Australia gathered in Adelaide for a funeral which would be illegal under new ?anti-bikie? laws enacted by the South Australia State Government.

The bikers were farewelling club president Wayne “Chiller” McGrath, 42, a father of four and part-owner of four tattoo parlors, who suffered a fatal heart attack while exercising on a treadmill at his Virginia home. More than 300 people – including more than 100 Gypsy Jokers motorcycle club members nationally and abroad from Germany, Norway and the US attended his funeral. The mourners – who included wives, girlfriends and children – then went to the Gypsy Jokers clubhouse for a wake to honor their fallen brother.

Legal sources said under the new anti-biker laws passed by the government and now taking effect, the funeral and wake would have been declared prohibited events as ?bikies? will be prohibited from associating with each other once their so-called ?gangs? have been declared illegal organizations by the Attorney-General.

The new laws – the first of their kind in Australia apart from the federal anti-terror legislation – have been attacked by lawyers and civil libertarians as “draconian” and an erosion of individual rights, particularly freedom of association.

The laws contain provisions that members of outlaw motorcycle clubs can only associate with direct family members such as their parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents and children. They are not permitted to gather together or have contact with their uncles, aunts or cousins – or neighbors and other friends or acquaintances.

Anyone who breaches the laws – whether they are bikers or individuals having contact with bikers at least six times a year – can be jailed for up to five years.

Control orders restraining the movements of individual bikers can also be issued by magistrates and judges on the application of SA Police. Criminal intelligence or any other information used by police to obtain the control orders must remain secret and anyone issued with an order cannot seek to have it independently reviewed by a judge.

WEIRD NEWS: DIRTY20DEEDSMore than 600 emergency workers participated in a mock disaster drill simulating an attack on Long Island by a fake biker gang detonating a ?dirty bomb” at a federal courthouse, testing the abilities of authorities to handle such a radioactive attack.

Police, firefighters, medical workers and other personnel from 60 agencies converged on the fire academy in Yaphank, NY, which also involved 10 area hospitals.

The exercise was dubbed ?S.C.R.U.B,” or ?Suffolk=2 County Response to an Unknown Bomb,” and the scenario involved a local biker gang called ?El Diablo,” which would attack the courthouse with a deadly dirty bomb after federal officials arrested their leaders.

More than 100 people were injured or killed in the fake attack, and the injured had to be cleansed and decontaminated before they were actually sent to local hospitals for treatment. Police had to determine the cause of the blast. Other participants practiced decontamination, detecting radiation exposure and coordinating responses with multiple agencies.

Authorities called it the largest emergency drill in Suffolk County’s history. It was funded by the Suffolk County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency services with a $175,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security.

QUOTABLE QUOTE: “These are days when many are discouraged. In the 93 years of my life, depressions have come and gone. Prosperity has always returned and will again.?

John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937), American industrialist

THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. For more information, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit us on our website at http://www.ON-A-BIKE.com.

COAST TO COAST BIKER NEWS
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)

NCOM CONVENTION RAISES THE BAR
?Large & In Charge? was the theme of the 23rd annual NCOM Convention in Houston, Texas, and in living up to the hype it drew 1,640 attendees from across the country making it the largest gathering of bikers? rights activists in the world! Held Mother?s Day weekend, May 8-11, 2008, this annual gathering featured meetings, seminars and group discussions focusing on safety issues, legal rights, legislative efforts and litigation techniques to benefit our right to ride and Freedom of the Road.

Following the AIM Chief of Staffs meetings on Wednesday and an NCOM Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, the Convention kicked off Friday morning with the NCOM Legislative Task Force meeting and the AIM Attorney Conference. Afternoon seminars included ?Lobbying 101? and ?New and Successful Programs in Bikerland?. Special Meetings were convened for “SMRO Presidents,” “Christian Unity Conference,” “Women in Motorcycling,” “Black Clubs and Minority Outreach,” and “Clean and Sober Roundtable.”

The Confederation of Clubs General Patch Holder Meeting on Friday evening was the best attended to date, and featured representatives of over 50 COC’s from throughout North America.

This year’s agenda was packed with interesting and thought-provoking sessions, including ?Global Changes in the Laws Affecting Motorcyclists?, ?Brothers Behind Bars?, ?Defenders – A New Political Action Group?, a meeting of the American Biker Party and Slider Gilmore’s always informative and entertaining ?The Golden Hour? seminar teaching bikers how to save each others’ lives.

Topping off the weekend’s festivities was the traditional Silver Spoke Awards Banquet, recognizing the achievements and accomplishments of our fellow riders. South Dakota State Senator Jim “Putt” Putnam entertained the crowd as the dinner speaker during the Silver Spoke Awards ceremony on Saturday evening with his homespun humor. This year’s Silver Spokes were awarded to:
GOVERNMENT: Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Seamus McCaffery
MEDIA: Bill & Darlene Bish, publishers of Ridin? On Motorcycle Magazine
LEGAL: Texas A.I.M. Attorney William Smith
ENTERTAINMENT: Musician Jimmy Vaughn, who ignited the crowd with his new song about Freedom
SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Laura Reid, NCOM Board Secretary
RON ROLOFF LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD was presented to longtime freedom fighter Dave Breakiron of ABATE of Delaware.

Many thanks to ABATE of Texas, the Texas Motorcycle Rights Association (TMRA-II) and the Texas Confederations of Clubs for hosting this record-setting event. Thanks also go out to the Texas Confederations of Clubs and Soldiers for Jesus M/C for hosting Hospitality Suites during non-meeting times throughout the weekend.

The 2008 NCOM Convention was dedicated to the memory of Waldo Stuart, Longview Tom and Michael ?Twanger? Hays.

Make plans now to attend next year’s 24th Annual NCOM Convention next Mother?s Day weekend, May 7-10, 2009, in Reno, Nevada. For further information, contact NCOM at (800) 525-5355.

STUDY CLAIMS HELMET LAWS MAY SAVE LIVES, BUT NOT VERY MANY
A new study reported in the American Journal of Public Health finds that the repeal of motorcycle helmet requirements for adults has been associated with an increase in motorcycle fatalities, beyond the general increase that has been seen throughout the country in the last decade or so, although the impact they found looks pretty modest:

On average, when compared to state experience with no helmet mandate, universal helmet laws were associated with an 11.1% reduction in motorcyclist fatality rates, whereas rates in states with partial coverage statutes (applying only to riders younger than 21) were not statistically different from those with no helmet law. Furthermore, in the states in which recent repeals of universal coverage have been instituted, the motorcyclist fatality rate increased by an average of 12.2% over what would have been projected had universal coverage been maintained.

In terms of fatalities prevented each year, the effect estimated by this study is not very impressive. In 2004, for example, “an estimated 135 (or 5.8%) fewer fatalities would have occurred” in the 31 states without universal helmet laws had those states forced adult motorcyclists to wear head protection. That’s just a handful of fatalities per state each year.

?Even the undramatic results of this study may over-estimate the impact of helmet laws,? wrote Jacob Sullum in the April 1, 2008 online edition of ?reason? magazine, citing in particular that researchers did not take into consideration miles traveled.

Some anti-helmet-law activists argue that helmets, on balance, decrease motorcycle safety by making riders more reckless, making their heads heavier, or impairing their hearing and peripheral vision. According to this study, helmet laws reduce fatalities to some extent, but as Sullum points out; ?It just does not seem to be a very big effect, which is one reason opponents of these laws have been so successful at rolling them back and preventing legislators from re-imposing them.?

WORLD?S FIRST VISION ZERO MOTORCYCLE ROAD OPENS IN EUROPE
?A milestone for motorcycle safety,? said FEMA President Hans Petter Strifeldt as he officially opened the World?s First Vision Zero Road for motorcycles along RV 32 in Norway on May 7, 2008.

The motorcycle community has long expressed concerns over ?Vision Zero?, the strategy in which road authorities have envisioned how to achieve zero deaths and zero serious injuries on the roads. These concerns are due to the vision depending primarily on bans and regulations instead of adaptation of the road environment to suit all road users – motorcyclists included.

Viewed by European government officials as high-risk road users, motorcycles have been all but excluded from the Vision Zero document. The Vision Zero document has first and foremost given anti-motorcycle campaigners an opening to propose a ban on motorcycles as these, they claim, are not compatible with a Vision Zero. But today, with the opening of this motorcycle friendly road, these claims have been effectively quashed, stated the President of the Federation of European Motorcycle Associations (FEMA).

The Vision Zero Motorcycle Road is the brainchild of two passionate engineers at the regional Road Authorities, Jan Petter Lyng and Bj?rn R. Kirste, who have successfully designed the road exactly as the motorcyclists themselves recommend. It is not much that is needed to make a motorcycle-friendly road with regard to preventing injuries in case of accidents: Crash barriers fitted with a sub-rail, forgiving side terrain, well thought out placing of signposts, cutting down sight-hindering vegetation – all in all small modifications and investments that are beneficial for all road users, including bicycles and cars. The price tag for modifying these 15 kilometres of road is estimated to 630,000 euros.

?The importance of this stretch of road in the middle of Norway cannot be overrated,? said FEMA in announcing the opening. ?It is the first Vision Zero Motorcycle road, not only in Norway, not only in Europe, but in the world.? As the representative for Europe?s road riding motorcyclists, FEMA will do what it can to promote this road to other nation?s road authorities as an example of what is possible to achieve with relatively small means, FEMA President Hans Petter Strifeldt concluded.

CAR AIRBAGS CAN PROTECT MOTORCYCLISTS
Ask any motorcyclist what the most dangerous part of riding is and most of them will tell you; “People in cars that aren’t paying attention.” Not too long ago, an airbag suit was developed in an effort to help reduce the number of deaths and injuries to motorcycle riders. Now, Autoliv Inc., out of Sweden has developed a new airbag system for automobiles that could impact fatality numbers by reducing the impact on riders.
The system uses an airbag mounted in the A-Pillar of the car. When a front end impact is detected, the airbag will inflate, covering most of the car?s hood and some of the windshield. Studies show that many injuries and fatalities could be avoided if this simple measure was taken. In fact, the Dutch Cycling Federation estimates that over 60 lives could be saved and over 1500 serious injuries could be avoided every year by using these airbags.

The system won’t only serve motorcycle riders however, it will cover pedal bikes and pedestrians as well. Obviously these accidents will be at a much lower speed, but the impact on the hood will still be reduced by a significant amount.

No official word on where or when the system will be installed, but with so much potential, it shouldn’t take long.

ROW LEGISLATION PASSED IN MARYLANDLeather jackets mingled with pin-striped suits as motorcyclists arrived at the State House to see their driving-safety bill signed into law by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley.

?The bill will impose a six-month suspension, a $1,000 fine or both on drivers who injure or kill somebody by violating road right-of-way laws,? reported the Washington Post.

Members of ABATE of Maryland have fought for the past five years to pass the legislation, but the fight became personal in 2006 after the driver of a sport utility vehicle was involved in an accident that killed their state director, Marty Schultz.

“As things would have it, we proceeded on with the bill,” said Gary R. “Pappy” Boward, chairman of ABATE of Maryland Inc. “Everyone was getting very involved legislatively, this was [Mr. Schultz’s] assignment.”

?Pappy? told the Post that many bikers were disappointed when the person who struck Mr. Schultz received a minimal fine – less than $100 – and no other penalty.

The right-of-way bill passed the House and Senate unanimously this year, and had the support of Maryland?s Motor Vehicle Administration. The bill applies to all vehicles, but the motorcyclists advocated for it because bikes are tough to see at intersections.

The MVA reported 17,312 “failure-to-yield” accidents in 2006, resulting in 81 deaths and 8,015 injuries.

BIKERS BANNED FROM ATLANTA HOT SPOT
Metro Atlanta motorcyclists have been banned from Atlantic Station, a popular dining and retail district that no longer allows riders to drive through or park there.

Atlantic Station officials say they took action after facing ongoing problems. “They continually don’t abide by the code of conduct down here, continually rev their engines really loud,” said Brian Leary of Atlantic Station in a television interview with Fox 5.

Atlantic Station started telling motorcyclists about the change last month and will soon post signs and start ticketing violators. “I know it’s tough. We do definitely apologize to the motorcycle owners and riders but in the meantime we are making the change,” said Leary.

AUSTRALIA TO OUTLAW ?BIKIES?
Police soon will have the power to “squash” bikie gangs and force them to move elsewhere after the Government’s controversial anti-bikie legislation recently passed through Parliament.

Police Minister Paul Holloway said SA (South Australia) was on the verge of having the nation’s and perhaps the world’s toughest anti-bikie laws. “These are the laws that police have asked for and, finally, we are able to ensure police have exactly what they need to take on these criminal bikie gangs,” he said.

When the laws are gazetted, it will be illegal for anyone to associate with known bikies six or more times a year. Bikies also will be banned from specific locations. The Serious and Organised Crime (Control) Bill 2007 also will enable Police Commissioner Mal Hyde to obtain orders from the Attorney-General, Michael Atkinson, declaring bikie gangs illegal.

The Government “hoped” to have the laws in place by July 1. The legislation was criticized as draconian by other states at a March meeting of State and Federal Government ministers.

The legislation now goes back to the Lower House for final approval.

WEIRD NEWS: LAWMAKERS GO NUTS OVER FAKE TESTICLES
With hot-button issues like immigration, the environment, and the failing real estate market crowding the “national conversation” these days, it’s nice to see a few ballsy Floridians with the cojones to take on important issues like fake testicles.

The brave Florida state Senate passed an amendment to a transportation bill that would levy a $60 fine against anyone with TruckNutz or generic-made fake testicles dangling from their rear bumpers.

Of course, some naysayers are arguing that there are more important things to legislate against than fake balls, which are harmless decorations for your truck or motorcycle for those who suffer a genital inferiority complex.

Sen. Carey Baker, who proposed the amendment, acknowledged his critics’ concerns and said that “I do have more important things to do this session. But I think this is important, too.”

QUOTABLE QUOTE: “Life is a grindstone… whether it grinds you down, or polishes you up… depends on what you’re made of.”

–Jacob Braude

THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. For more information, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit us on our website at http://www.ON-A-BIKE.com.

COAST TO COAST BIKER NEWS
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish
National Coalition of Motorcyclists

TRANSPORTATION CHIEF CALLS FOR HELMET USEU.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 FORECASTGlobal demand for motorcycles is projected to exceed 59 million unites in 2011. According to a new study from The Freedonia 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 Feedonia 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 ZEROAn 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 BIKERSUnited 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 AUSTRIALIAN PARLIAMENT FOR DEBATEMembers 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 Organised 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 MUSEUMThe 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 MOTORCYCLESA 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