Posts Tagged ‘motorcycle riders foundation’

Pro Motorcycle Advocacy: End of motorcycle only checkpoints?

Posted: March 6, 2014 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, motorcycle safety
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photo from motorcycle.com

Good news but your support is needed to ensure success. 

Senators from New Hampshire, West Virginia and Wisconsin have put forward a bill to prohibit the federal government from funding motorcycle only checkpoints!  As it stands today the federal government provides a majority of states funds to setup motorcycle only “safety” checkpoints.

As an example Georgia received a $70,000 grant to hold two checkpoints on two major interstates highways that connected with Florida.  Does not sound like a big deal until you notice that the checkpoints coincided with the opening and closing of Daytona Bike Week!  Wonder how much money Georgia raised in fines and tickets?

So why is this a big deal?  From my POV I register by bike with my state annually, I have to pass an annual safety inspection both of which I have to pay money to the state just like cars.  But, unlike cars, I am possibly subject to additional investigation and inspection just because I ride a bike.  That is not right on many levels.

If you agree that this is an area in which the Federal Government need to stay out of contact your state’s Senators.  You can contact them by calling the capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.

For more information you can review the Motorcycle Rider Foundation press release here and a news article from the Washington Times here.

Motorcycling Vs. CDC…. Another update!

Posted: November 28, 2013 in Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news
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picture by scott massey

DOT Approved? Not likely.

I just ran across another congressman who has sent a letter to the CDC (back in September, obviously I got to this late).

Congressmen Tom Petri of Wisconsin has written the CDC telling them to stay out of motorcycle safety issues and to focus on their mission of disease prevention. The congressmen said this:

“Given the demands on your budget and the unique ability of the CDC to address such pressing issues as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and a host of other conditions and issues, which afflict millions of Americans and others around the globe, we encourage you to direct your attention and resources to areas that are not currently already being addressed elsewhere in the government.”

ABATE of Wisconsin and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is working with the congressmen, who is apparently a motorcycle fan, on this and other biking related issues.

As I mentioned in my other posts about this issue, allowing the government to label any part of motorcycling a health cost risk is to open the door to the elimination of what we love. I am personally in favor of helmets, and think we should all use them but using the new health care laws will, eventually, slowly, eliminate motorcycles “for the safety of the children”.

Make sure you contact your congressmen about making the CDC stay out of transportation issues! You can call your representatives by calling the US Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.