What a weekend
. I am sorry I am late with the Sunday Post. But this weekend has been out of control. 
I’m not sure if Bikernet readers know but I am not a rider. I have uncles, cousins, neighbors and friends that ride but I do not. I have tremors in my arms and other debilitating symptoms from MS (diagnosed half my life, since I was 17).
This would make riding motorcycles even more expensive and difficult (I can’t even ride a bicycle anymore) than it already is and my extra money is needed for medication, MRIs, doctor visits, physical therapy etc. ad nauseam.
Bandit will cease his fiddle-footed ways in New Zealand and will be back to join us soon. The Thursday News should be on time, less dramatic, not as devastating, lengthy or verbose.
DETROIT — Under pressure from U.S. safety regulators, Harley-Davidson is recalling nearly 175,000 motorcycles because the brakes might fail.
The U.S. recall covers more than 30 models from the 2008 through 2011 model years. Harley says deposits can form on brake parts if the fluid isn’t changed every two years as specified in the owner’s manual. That can cause a valve in the anti-lock brake control unit to stick.
The U.S. government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating problems in July of 2016 after getting 43 complaints including three reports of crashes and two injuries.
Documents show Harley wanted to do a field service campaign instead of a recall, but the government refused. Messages were left Wednesday for company spokesmen.
Dealers will flush and replace brake fluid starting on Feb. 12.
AP Wire Service
–Rogue
BIKERNET RESOUNDING THE CALL TO FREEDOM ON THE ROAD–Increasingly, motorcyclists in Arizona and across the nation report feeling singled out by law enforcement officials because of their appearance, apparel, or just because they ride a motorcycle. According to a recently conducted national study, over 50% of respondents felt they had been profiled by law enforcement despite not committing any crimes or traffic violations.
To address these concerns and lay the groundwork in working toward a positive solution to address motorcycle profiling, House Memorial 2001 was introduced and sponsored by Representative David Stringer and co-sponsored by Representative Noel Campbell.
This memorial needs to be heard in the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee next week. We need an all-out effort to encourage Committee Chairman Representative Eddie Farnsworth to schedule it on the agenda.
Help get your elected official on the bill by asking your legislators in the House to co-sponsor!
Click on FIND MY LEGISLATOR and make the phone call.
You can also use the RTS system to record your support of this bill.
RTS Activism Needed
Note: These are time critical. Your RTS “vote” on each bill must be entered before the hearing.
The Request to Speak (RTS) system is the preferred method to register your position on bills scheduled for committee hearings. RTS “votes” and comments are transmitted to the committee members and recorded into the committee meeting record. While it is called “Request to Speak,” registering your support or opposition on a bill does not require you to attend a hearing to testify. However, if you are able to testify at any of these hearings, we encourage it. Please contact Mike Infanzon, ABATE of Arizona State Lobbyist, at lobbyist@abateofaz.org if you would like to testify at a hearing.
Your search results will appear below the “Search” button.
After voting, click on the blue “Submit” button. You’ll need to click on the “New Request” icon to start the process for each bill.
We cannot emphasize enough how important it is to use RTS to contact committee members. Those who want to limit your freedom are very effective at getting their followers to use RTS to register opposition against the same bills we support. Without your activism, these bills may not have survived a committee vote.
The status of key bills that ABATE is monitoring can be found on our Legislative page. The final deadline for filing new bills was Friday, February 2. As this was being written, over 1,000 bills have been filed. In order to proceed bills must be heard in committees in their originating chamber (House or Senate) by Friday, February 16, just two weeks away. Many bills will not survive this critical deadline.
As important bills are scheduled for committee hearings we will notify you via these alerts. It only takes a few mouse clicks to make a big difference.
Freedom is a team sport.
Man shot, killed by female motorcyclist in road rage incident– on I-5, State Patrol says
FIFE, Wash. — A road rage incident between a woman on a motorcycle and a man in a car on I-5 at the King-Pierce county border led to a physical fight between the two, at which point the woman pulled out a gun and shot the man, the Washington State Patrol said.
He died of his injuries.
Trooper Brooke Bova said the woman motorcyclist called 911 after the shooting and waited for authorities. She was being detained while the investigation was underway.
On Friday, it was disclosed that the motorcyclist had been released pending further investigation. The State Patrol offered no other details.
Bova said the road rage incident occurred just before 5 p.m. as both drivers were traveling southbound on I-5, right by the King-Pierce county line. Both vehicles pulled over into the left lane, and that’s when the physical fight occurred between the man and woman, with both of them fighting on the ground, Bova said. The woman then drew a weapon and fired, hitting the man, Bova said.
The man was treated by medics at the scene, but he did not survive, the State Patrol.
Bova said there were “many witnesses” to the fight and shooting. She also confirmed that there was a female passenger in the man’s car who witnessed his killing and was “visibly shaken.”
New Bikernet Reader Comment!—
First time I had a chance to see this article. Brother ya did a really nice job on this one.
Gerald Gregory
Whitergold@gmail.com
Less than 30 days until Daytona Bike Week!–
Time is running out to plan your trip.Celebrate the freedom of the road and the warm
Florida sunshine with 10 days of food, music and scenic cruising.
You’ll enjoy high-octane street festivals, concerts, motorcycle races, bike shows, rallies, manufacturer showcases, and much more. Join us for a ride down historic Main Street and Beach Street, along U.S. Highway 1, scenic A1A, and the ever impressive Ormond Beach Loop. You’ll also want to check out motorcycle races at Daytona International Speedway.
This year marks the 77th anniversary of Daytona Bike Week, which means there is another opportunity for one lucky rider to win a custom Harley-Davidson, bought, built, and presented by American Iron Magazine. Only 4,500 tickets available, so the odds of winning are great!
ENTER HERE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THE OFFICIAL BIKE WEEK MOTORCYCLE FOR 2018.
Start planning now.
Copyright © 2018 Daytona Beach Area CVB, All rights reserved.
Thank you for your interest in Daytona Beach!
Our mailing address is:
Daytona Beach Area CVB 126 East Orange Ave Daytona Beach, FL 32114 USA
Lawmakers & Staff Gather to Discuss Self-Driving Cars & Motorcyclists’ Concerns–
WASHINGTON, DC – On Thursday, at a briefing put on by the Senate Motorcycle Caucus, the subject of automated vehicles or self-driving cars was examined through a different lens; the viewpoint of a motorcyclist.
Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) opened the briefing as the Chairs of the Caucus. Both avid riders, they discussed the need to be inclusive of all roadway users when advancing legislation and regulations related to the emerging technology. Both agreed that the Senate Bill – the AV START Act – and which Peters helped to author, would achieve this. Specifically, they addressed a section of the legislation that required automakers and technology developers to include motorcycle recognition, identification and responsiveness in a required safety report that would be reviewed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Panelists chosen to address the audience (packed with Congressional and Administration staff from the Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Highway Administration along with motorcycle industry representatives including Harley-Davidson, and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation) discussed that while automated driving technology could yield tremendous benefits for riders by helping to eliminate driver error, motorcyclists were wary of how they fit into this new driving environment.
At one point, the discussion turned to detection by other road users as a constant challenge for the nearly 8.5 million registered motorcycles in the U.S. Distracted driving is on the rise according the latest reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the failure by some motorists to “see” motorcycles with their smaller profile can end in disastrous – and often fatal – consequences. But whether self-driving vehicles would actually improve this problem remains up for debate.
Panelists recognized the obvious need to make sure that automated vehicles would appropriately detect and respond to motorcyclists. However, some feared that this message has been diluted. The recent NHTSA guidance on driverless vehicles failed to mention motorcycles in this context whatsoever. Further reinforcing this concern was an incident last year involving a Tesla vehicle operating on autopilot. The vehicle struck a police officer on a motorcycle in Phoenix, AZ. Even recently, news reports surfaced about Chevy Bolt which allegedly veered into a motorcyclist while traveling on a San Francisco freeway while on autopilot.
Panelist John Lenekit from Dynamic Research discussed his preliminary research which reviewed a driver assist technology that was currently on the road; forward collision warning systems. Designed to alert the driver if they were too rapidly approaching the vehicle in front of them, this technology is widely-used in the current market, even coming standard on some makes and models. Dynamic Research’s project looked at the reliability of this warning system and found that between car to car, the warning system worked over 90% of the time. However, with a car approaching a stopped motorcycle, the warning system failed 40% of the time either warning the driver too late, or failing to warn the driver at all.
This research lead into the discussion about what was needed to ensure motorcyclists’ safety and the entire panel agreed that more motorcycle specific research was needed – and fast.
The panel concluded by musing on a question raised by the audience. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation’s chief advocacy officer pressed the panel on how motorcycles fit into a world with truly autonomous vehicles. Citing potential disincentives to drive as a way to achieve market penetration for self driving cars, she asked panelists how motorcycles could co-exist, if at all. Harley-Davidson’s Director of Government Affairs Ed Moreland responded, “We need to continue to tell the story of motorcycles – they omit less emissions into the atmosphere, cause less stress, wear and tear on our nation’s infrastructure, decrease traffic congestion and improve travel times – there is a world for motorcycles. As long as there are riders, there will be motorcycles.”
And as for self-driving motorcycles? “I will NEVER ride a self-driving motorcycle,” stated Sen. Peters. “Doesn’t that defeat the entire purpose?” The riders in the audience responded with rousing applause.
About Motorcycle Riders Foundation
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond.
fiddle-footed [fid-l-foo t-id]
adjective
1. Informal. restlessly wandering.
QUOTES
Instead, they just kept moving, a pair of fiddle-footed ramblers, following the wind, until that drifting brought them out here.
ORIGIN
Fiddle-footed was first recorded in 1945-50.
Senior Drivers in Transition: NMA Issue #474–
Driving is not just about mobility—fundamentally it is about independence. None of us want to lose that freedom. Age is not the only factor in the decision to drive or not to drive anymore. Studies show that giving up this lifeline increases with age a person’s likelihood of suffering from depression and eventually ending up in a dependent care facility.
As people grow older, driving can sometimes become more difficult due to the body’s response to aging. Changes in vision, reflexes and physical fitness may cause safety concerns. Driving is a complex task that requires healthy cognition, appropriate responsiveness and good physical flexibility.
Making the decision to no longer drive has to be one of the toughest to make especially since three-quarters of all seniors live in areas with few or no transportation alternatives. Children discussing this issue with their parents cannot be easy for either party, especially if the adult child lives far away and cannot help out with driving chores. After a certain age, older drivers also have additional obstacles placed on them by states in order to renew a driver’s license.
Despite all this hand wringing, there are more older drivers now on the road than ever before, an artifact of the baby boomer generation. Did you know that over one-fifth of American drivers are now over the age of 65? In 2016, drivers in the 75-79 age group increased by five percent which was the highest increase followed closely by the 85 and older age group with an increase of just over four and a half percent.
What does this mean for American driving habits? Consumer Reports stated in June 2017 that their research indicated seniors are driving safer and driving longer. University of Colorado medical researcher on senior-driving safety Dr. Emmy Betz says that older adults do not get enough credit for safe driving habits. She added:
“Older drivers are more likely to use seat belts and follow speed limits. They are less likely to drive at night or while intoxicated, or to text while they drive. Many seniors also regulate their driving behavior, limiting their trips at night, on highways, or during rush hour.”
In contrast, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released a study in December 2017 stating that drivers 65 and older are more than twice as likely as younger drivers to die in a car accident.
The Foundation’s Executive Director David Yang said, “While many seniors are considered to be safe drivers, they are also the most vulnerable.” Not only that, older drivers are also more inclined to have physical problems that prevent them from driving like they used to when younger. More than seven in ten of the drivers surveyed indicated they had health conditions that affect muscles and bones, including conditions such as arthritis, hip/knee replacements and joint pain.
Older drivers could easily make their cars safer to drive but only 10 percent in the AAA Foundation survey said they have done so, and only 90 percent of those who had indicated said they did not follow recommendations to work with a trained professional to install the safety devices.
Elin Schold-Davis of the older driver initiative with the American Occupational Therapy Association recently said, “When an ache or pain begins hindering driving ability, many older drivers are able to continue driving safely after making a few adjustments.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has information on driving with certain medical conditions that might be useful.
The NHTSA also has an online brochure for adapting motor vehicles for older drivers. Here are a number of device adaptions that older drivers could utilize to keep themselves mobile and driving:
· Mirrors that boost visibility and minimize blind spots.
· Seat cushions: Helps again with visibility and reduces back and hip pain while driving.
· Steering wheel covers: help improve overall grip.
In recent months, a number of articles have come out proclaiming that seniors will be a primary demographic for the use of self-driving cars and for ride share services in general. A number of automakers have recently announced plans to test driverless cars in retirement villages of Florida and California. The challenge for seniors (and everyone else) will be whether or not driverless cars will truly be available on demand. Independence means going where you want, when you want.
Whether seniors are at the vanguard of the autonomous car movement or not, those with competent mental and physical abilities should have the choice to drive or be driven.
Gettysburg Bike Week Gears Up For 17th Year, Books Jackyl as Musical Headliner at Allstar Events Complex–
Rock ‘n’ Roll Goes South, Down and Dirty at Gettysburg Bike Week 2018
Gettysburg, PA (February 8, 2018) – Gettysburg Bike Week is back in style at the Allstar Events Complex for 2018, and it’ll be celebrating its 17th year with top-flight musical act Jackyl.
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Musical festivities kick off on the Budweiser Stage on Thursday night and will continue through the weekend with national headliners each night. Hailing from the great state of Georgia Jackyl will brings its brand of musical mayhem to GBW: Is it hard rock? Heavy metal? Southern rock? It’s all three, so get ready to get down!
Gettysburg Bike Week is held at the Allstar Events Complex, and GBW’s official lodging sponsor, the Eisenhower Hotel and Conference Center, is conveniently located right next door. Additional acts and shows are being booked as you read this, and patrons can look forward to a wide array of music and motorcycle-related activities, shows and demos. And, of course, no rally would be complete without great riding, and Gettysburg has some of the best. Whether riders want to see historic battlegrounds or just hit the road for a great cruise, hundreds of miles of the best riding in the East surrounds Gettysburg.
New and returning riders are encouraged to check www.gettysburgbikeweek.com frequently for the latest info on event scheduling, lodging information and anything they ever needed to know about Gettysburg Bike Week.
About Gettysburg Bike Week
Gettysburg Bike Week is Eastern Pennsylvania’s definitive motorcycle rally, featuring great national music acts, historic riding and hospitality that you can only find in a city with this much history. For more information on the Rally, including scheduling, lodging options, and more, visit www.gettysburgbikeweek.com. Follow them on Twitter: @GburgBikeWk and follow them on Facebook. To contact Gettysburg Bike Week, e-mail gbwvendor@yahoo.com.
ALL-NEW TRAILER RELEASED TODAY
The following day, Sunday March 4, Top Gear will air its second episode in its regular weekly time slot, Sundays at 8/7c on BBC AMERICA.
Top Gear joins BBCA’s current programming slate which includes: Planet Earth: Blue Planet II, airing Saturdays at 9/8c; Thursday Night Darts: Premier League 2018, airing Thursdays at 10/9c; The Graham Norton Show, airing Fridays at 10/9c; and Killing Eve, which premieres April 8 at 8/7c.
@BBCAMERICA | @TopGear | BBCA | #TopGear
