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October 2008
News & Notes is a monthly publication compiled
and edited by the AMA's Government Relations Department. Designed to
inform motorcyclists of 'rights'-related issues and events around the
world, we welcome your news & views. Suggestions and contributions can
be sent to Sheila Andrews, Legislative Assistant, American Motorcyclist
Association, by e-mail at sandrews@ama-cycle.org.
Congress has finally passed
legislation to keep the Highway Trust Fund from going
broke.
The Highway Trust Fund, an account that holds the lion's share
of federal money appropriated for highway and infrastructure projects, was
set to hit zero at the end of September 2008. This would have left
agencies, such as the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), without
enough funding to continue operations until a new highway bill is passed
in 2009.
H.R. 6532, the legislation that
provides the necessary $8 billion deposit into the fund, was passed by the
U.S. House of Representatives on July 23, 2008. However, objections from
the Bush Administration stalled the bill in the Senate. Upon a statement
issued in early September by US Secretary of Transportation, Mary Peters,
the Administration reversed its opposition to the legislation. Three days
later the Senate was able to give final passage to the bill that will send
it to President Bush for signature.
Once
President Bush signs the bill into law, federal transportation agencies
will have the necessary cash to continue with on-going projects and daily
operations through 2008 and 2009. Future funding will be provided by the
up-coming highway bill, which Congress will begin drafting in early 2009
with hopes of passing in late 2009.
The National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) released the numbers for fatalities
and injuries on American roadways during the 2007 calendar year. While
overall numbers are down, motorcycles continue to be the only mode of
motorized transportation with increases in both the fatalities and
injuries categories.
A total of 5,154
motorcyclists were killed in 2007, a 6.6% increase from the 4,837 killed
in 2006. Motorcyclist injuries increased by 17%, up by 15,000 over 2006.
The release from NHTSA underscores the need to move forward with the
Motorcycle Crash Causation Study funded by Congress and contributions from
the AMA, Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) and individual riders.
The United States Marine
Corps has submitted an application for land withdrawal to the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for property in Johnson Valley,
California. The request would take the roughly 60,000 acres of off-highway
recreation trails, plus an additional 362,000 acres of BLM land and use it
to expand the military base in Twentynine Palms,
California.
After months of meetings and
conversations between Base Officials and the off-highway community, the
Marine Corps chose not to allow continued access by recreation enthusiasts
and request the entire 422,000 acres
available.
"We are very disappointed that the
Marines have chosen a plan that eliminates all rider access to Johnson
Valley. We will continue to work with the Marines and others in the OHV
community on negotiation efforts to preserve recreational access in
Southern California," said AMA vice president, Ed
Moreland.
The next step in the process of
deciding whether the entire withdrawal application will be granted in the
Environmental Impact Study (EIS) the Marines must perform. Within the EIS
will be an analysis of alternative measures for the Marine Expeditionary
Brigade (MEB) to meet their training requirements. The Notice of Intent to
perform the EIS should be published by the Department of the Navy in
November and public scoping meetings should begin in
December.
AMA Western States Representative,
Nicholas Haris, is involved in the effort to work with local base
officials to ensure the needs and concerns of off-highway enthusiasts are
continuing to be placed in front of the Marines. For updates as the
withdrawal application proceeds, look to American Motorcyclist Magazine,
AMA News & Notes, and www.americanmotorcyclist.com for
information.
California - The Mammoth
Bar OHV Park motocross (MX) tracks repair project began in August. The MX
tracks are expected to be closed for at least three weeks. Construction
work will involve the installation of a water sprinkler system to minimize
dust and airborne soil. The rest of the facility will remain open. For
additional information, contact the Auburn State Recreation office at
(530) 885-4527.
Connecticut - Passage of
Senate Bill 298, introduced by the Joint Committee on Transportation,
changes the state's definition of a motorcycle to exclude motor-driven
cycles and vehicles with or designed to have a completely enclosed
driver's seat and a motor not in the enclosed area.
Kentucky - House Resolution
5a, sponsored by Rep. Tim Moore (R-Elizabethtown), urging the
Transportation Cabinet to install cable median barriers on appropriate
sections of Kentucky's interstate highways, was adopted on June 25.
Louisiana - Senate Resolution
169, sponsored by Sen. Robert Marionneaux (D-Maringouin) and adopted on
June 23, declares July 16, 2008 as Motorcycle and Scooter Ride to Work
Day.
New York - Senate Bill
7405, sponsored by Sen. Thomas W. Libous (R-Binghamton), makes changes to
the requirements for organizations seeking to provide coordination of the
motorcycle safety program. The bill was signed into law July 7, 2008.
North Carolina - A group
of 30 stakeholders continue to negotiate future regulations governing
off-highway vehicle (OHV) use on the many popular beaches in the Cape
Hatteras National Seashore.
The motorized
community hit a large barrier with the anti-access special interest groups
when Defenders of Wildlife and the National Audubon Society sued the Park
Service in October 2007. That lawsuit resulted in the closure of many
popular beaches to motorized and pedestrian access and created a lack of
trust between the pro-access and anti-access group
members.
While a recent study of the group had
four members admitting that they believed the group should suspend their
efforts, the majority agreed that the dialogue must continue; with the
goal being to shore-up access and restriction issues surrounding OHVs on
public beaches. Official record of the September 8, 2008 meeting in Avon,
NC has not yet been released, but will likely contain valuable information
regarding the future of OHV access in Cape Hatteras.
South Carolina - Recent
changes to motorcycle licensing and endorsement requirements for
three-wheeled motorcycles or motorcycles with sidecars are explained in a
Department of Motor Vehicles chart at http://www.scdmvonline.com/DMVNew/general/Three%20Wheel%20MTC%20Endorsement%20Chart.pdf.
South Carolina - The City
of Myrtle Beach continued discussion on the future of bike rallies in the
city limits at a meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, September 9,
2008. Information regarding what was covered during the afternoon
gathering can be found at the City of Myrtle Beach website, located at http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/agendas.html.
Washington - The city of
Seattle is considering a new law that would impose a $38 fine on anyone
caught attempting to move a scooter or motorcycle over in its parking
place in order to make room for their car. This has been a growing issue
for Seattle scooter riders as more and more residents are making the
switch to the 150-pound, highly fuel efficient
vehicles.
Scooter owners have been finding it
more common to park, leave the vehicle, and return to find it not exactly
in the same spot they left it. Incidents of shifting a scooter over
occasionally result in a ticket for the scooter
driver.
Dan Nolte, an aide to City Council
Member Sally Clark, has labeled the hands-off scooter rule a "no brainer."
According to Garrett Johnson, a scooter and
motorcycle advocate with Cycle Barn Motorsports Group, "Can you imagine if
people got into unlocked cars, popped into neutral and rolled it away so
they could take parking spots?"
Canada - According to a
recent press release from the Alberta Mini RoadRacing Association (AMRA),
the Government of Alberta, Canada, will help fund their AMRA Community and
Ladies Sport Training Program. The press release goes on to list the
approved items the funding will provide, including, "10 new motorcycles,
both sport and dirt frame machines, along with 10 complete sets of riding
gear including helmets, riding leathers, gloves and boots."
England - Princes William
and Harry are reportedly back on for their week long charity motorcycle
ride through South Africa and Lesotho.
The
trip that has been on, then off, and now apparently back on again, would
take the brothers, and crowned Princes, through some intensely dangerous,
competely 'off-highway' riding. The trip is to total roughly 1,000 miles
in a Long Way Down style trek with the purpose of raising money for
orphans and AIDS victims in Africa.
The two
Princes are said to be extremely passionate about helping the people of
Africa. Prince Harry has already started a charity organization named
Sentebale to benefit the citizens of Lesotho. Sentebale means, "Forget me
not."
While travel details are being kept
secret, the information on how to donate to their riding campaign for
orphans and AIDS victims will be available once the trip is confirmed.
Dates for the 28th Annual Cycle
World International Motorcycle Shows have been announced,
beginning in Phoenix Arizona from October 31, 2008 - November 2, 2008. For
a complete list of shows with ticket information and hotel deals in each
city, visit www.motorcycleshows.com.
The Washington, D.C. "Ride Into
Political Action" seminar has been set for February 21-24, 2009
at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. Are you tired of
politicians not representing your views as a motorcyclist?Are you willing
to do something about it? Whether you're a veteran lobbyist or just a
concerned motorcyclist who wants to be heard on Capitol Hill, the American
Motorcyclist Association's "Washington, D.C. Ride Into Political Action"
seminar is for you. At this event you'll learn from the experts about the
issues facing motorcyclists today. And you'll learn the ins and outs of
working with members of Congress and federal
agencies.
In the four day seminar you will be
spending your time with these daily
activities:
Saturday: The seminar kicks off in the evening with a
brief nuts-and-bolts session for those who are new to lobbying. A
"welcome" reception and orientation for all participants
follows.
Sunday: You dive into the world of government and
politics. You learn about state, federal and global issues, and the
ongoing efforts of motorcyclists to influence your issues on Capitol
Hill.
Monday: The seminar moves into high gear. Discussions
focus on building relationships with lawmakers, officials, and working
with federal agencies. The day's discussions wrap up with how to deliver
your message to congressional
offices.
Tuesday: This is the payoff day when you put your new
skills into practice. After a brief refresher session, you head off to
talk with members of your own congressional delegation. Then you take part
in a debriefing session, before learning how to strengthen lobbying
efforts in your own state.
For information on
how to register for the seminar, please contact Sharon Smolinka, with the
AMA Government Relations Department, at (614) 856-1900 ext. 1252. Or visit
the AMA website at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/legisltn/dcseminar.asp.
AMA
Government Relations News & Notes is a monthly service
compiled and edited by the AMA Government Relations Staff to keep
motorcyclists informed of happenings around the world. We welcome your
news & views. Please submit all material to Sheila Andrews,
Legislative Assistant, 101 Constitution Ave., NW Suite 800W, Washington,
DC 20001; fax (202) 742-4304 or e-mail to sandrews@ama-cycle.org. |
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