Posts Tagged ‘vision zero’

Motorcycle News: Vehicle Kill Switches and Speed Limiters

Posted: November 23, 2023 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news
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ijustwant2ride.com

I am always looking at motorcycle news. Sometimes it is good news, sometimes it is not so good news. Here I give you a quick synopsis of the news story that caught my eye and then my take on that story.

Down Shift – Vehicle Kill Switches  

Under the Biden Infrastructure Bill “provision requires such technology to “passively monitor the performance of a driver” and “prevent or limit motor vehicle operation if an impairment is detected.” That “this needs to be developed and rules given to manufactures by 2026”.  We could see this as a “new feature”, for which we will be paying, by 2027.

My Take – Some are arguing that this is not a kill switch, but from the way I read the language it is a kill switch.  Whether or not it will stop a moving vehicle is a different question.  But, the way government bureaucracies work, if it does not cover stopping a moving vehicle at first, it soon will.

We do not need this level of government interference in our lives.  While the provision states “impaired driver” now what prevents the standard from changing to something different in the future.

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Down Shift – Using Technology to limit vehicle speed.

To prevent deaths from speeding, the NTSB has recommended limiting the speed of cars via technology, if necessary. This proposed action is another part of the Biden Infrastructure Plan.  This effort is modeled from the European Union legislation requiring all new vehicles to have “intelligent speed assistance” systems as standard equipment, which can be temporarily overridden by the driver. The limiting technology, known as Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA), doesn’t force drivers to obey the speed limit. 

My Take – I am sure that Vision Zero has their smelly little hands on both these rules that were slide into the Biden Infrastructure Plan.  Yes, I do not like the Vision Zero folks.  IMHO they are nothing but little totalitarians who what to eliminate motorcycles from the road. I am sure their unwritten manifesto is “The best way to save lives in the transportation system is to have no transportation”.

They state that the ISA will not force drivers/riders to obey the speed limit but, like the above proposal, if it does not at the start it will in a few years.

*****

Ride on, Ride Safe

Motorcycle News: More Motorcycle Bans in Europe – Why is your Congress member not on this list?

Posted: July 10, 2023 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news
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Down Shift – More of Europe Banned to Motorcycles

More of Europe has now barred motorcycles from traveling along public roads. To limit “noise pollution” motorcycles are barred from parts of Pyrenees National Park.  There were no restrictions on cars applied.

The year-round ban impacts not just motorcycles but also quads, buggies and mountain bikes. According to what I read this ban on “particularly noisy” vehicles occurred without taking into account actual sound levels of the vehicles in question.

From the documentation:

  • Limit the passage of noisy vehicles to certain areas of the ZEPQA, taking into account the regulation of motorized traffic inside the park, restricting access to certain tracks either throughout the year or at certain periods.
  • Restrict motorized access to the entire network of forest trails and paved paths of the ZEPQA of Alt Àneu and Farrera, except the access roads to urban centres, by vehicles considered excessively noisy consisting of all types of vehicles such as motorcycles, quads, ATVs and buggies that are not electric, except those of registered residents, beneficiaries of livestock forest exploitation, public services and those duly authorized by the Alt Pirineo Natural Park and/or the respective local entities.
  • Promote the use of electric vehicles.
  • In addition, there is a specific point dedicated to ‘Carrying out awareness actions specifically aimed at drivers of vehicles that emit more noise: motorcycles, mountain bikes, quads and buggies.’

My Take: This is not the first area in Europe to ban motorcycles.  I have written several articles on this issue referencing the following:

Dozens of roads closed to motorcycles in Germany.

Some of the best motorcycling roads in Europe now ban motorcycles.

The Swiss are planning banning motorcycles from certain roads.

IMHO this is a continuation of a Vision Zero mind state.  If there are no places to ride motorcycles, then there will be no motorcycle accidents.  Call me cynical but the bureaucracy of the EU will beat down motorcycling over time

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Up Shift – Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) 2022 Legislators of the Year.

Representative Susie Lee of Nevada and Representative Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin were recently honored as the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) 2022 Legislators of the Year.

Representative Lee was instrumental in seeking answers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the profiling of bikers. Representative Gallagher was the lead sponsor of the Motorcyclist Advisory Council (MAC) bill which was included in a larger transportation bill that officially reestablished the MAC.

Other pro-motorcycle Senators and Congress members

  • Senator Ron Johnson (Wisconsin)
  • Senator John Thune (South Dakota)
  • Senator Joni Ernst (Iowa)
  • Senator Gary Peters (Michigan)
  • Congressman Tim Walberg (Michigan)
  • Congressman Michael Burgess (Texas)
  • Congressman Troy Balderson (Ohio)
  • Congressman Darin LaHood (Illinois)

My Take – I am just so glad that we have some pro-motorcycle folks in our national legislation branch of government!  If any of these people are representing you, you now have an avenue to approach them for more motorcycle actions! Sadly, none of these are representing my state.

Vision Zero = Zero Motorcycles

Posted: July 14, 2020 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news, motorcycle safety
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Dozens of roads closed to motorcycles in Germany.

Vienna to ban all motorcycles even electrics.

Some of the best motorcycling roads in Europe now ban motorcycles.

The Swiss are planning banning motorcycles from certain roads.

Motorcycles should be banned to reduce road deaths.

Speed limits on popular motorcycle roads reduced in Australia.

Those are just a few links to what IS a growing trend to eliminate motorcycles in the name of safety and reduced pollution. Brought to you by the people and the fellow travelers of Vison Zero.

Don’t know about Vison Zero? The Vison Zero goal is to get to zero traffic deaths. As stated by its creator, Claes Tingvall, “it can never be ethically acceptable that people are killed or seriously injured when moving within the road transport system.” When asked about motorcycles Tingvall, in a candid moment stated “We must prevent the recruiting of new motorcyclists. In long-term thinking, I regret to say that motorcycles must go”. 

I underlined the “In long-term thinking” part because this is why we need to fight now! Incrementalism will kill our lifestyle just as if they did it in a mandate. The frog in boiling water analogy fits well here. Toss a frog into hot water it will jump out quickly. Toss it into warm water and slowly bring up the heat and the frog will die.

Right? But at the cost of freedom and individualism.

While Claes Tingvall recanted that statement, under pressure, actions speak as loud as the words.  Vison Zero is a worldwide effort with offices and proponents in nearly every country.  In the US, Vision Zero is lobbying nearly every state and local government for their vison.  Scroll down this wiki page to see some of the countries, states and cities were Vision Zero is operating. Vison Zero is better organized and better funded then our motorcycle communities. Wonder where the money is coming from?

So, what is Vision Zero working towards?  They are, in their own words: (taken from “Action Vision Zero”)

“This is about reducing the impact of motor vehicles by demanding”:

Slower speedsMaximum 20mph speed limits where people and vehicles mix and compliance with those limits.
Safe junctions & crossingsDirect crossings on desire lines with short waiting times and enough time to cross.
Safe space for cyclingProtected cycle lanes on main roads and low-traffic neighbourhoods.
Less trafficFewer vehicles means fewer casualties. Achieving this requires more walking, cycling and public transport, more efficient and sustainable delivery of goods, and road user charging.
Safe vehiclesSpeed limiters on all new private cars; retrofitting speed limiters on all working vehicles; safe HGVs including Direct Vision Lorries and Bus Safety Standards.ee
Safe behaviours and enforcementAn end to careless and dangerous driving. Education plays a role in achieving this, butclear and visible police enforcement is a priority.

Not anything directly pointed to motorcycles, right? 

It all sounds good and benign not a threat to your way of life? 

Reread that list and think about the bans that are going to or have happened in cities. Reread and think about how motorcycles and road safety are not compatible.  Reread and think that speed kills and that you must have it limited for your own safety. Reread and think… get off your motorbike and get on your bicycle. Your enjoyment has no place in their vision.

Tie in that Vision Zero has co-oped some motorcycle events and organizations… you know in the spirt of cooperation and safety.  You can find the Vision Zero in nearly every state, in every major city, in most countries and even in companies. Here are a few:

In North Dakota

In Alameda, CA

In North Carolina

In Canada

Continental Tires

PLEASE DO NOT LET THEY CO-OP YOU!  When they have reduced injury and death by other means they will then turn to MOTORCYCLES AS THE NEXT TARGET!!

So, what can you do?  Join a motorcycle lobby group.  Look for those that are actually going to fight the Vision Zero effort.  Groups like:

American Motorcyclist Association

Motorcycle Rider Foundation

Federation of European Motorcyclists Association

If you don’t help with the fight…then their may not be motorcycles in your future. What are your thoughts?

Feeling Safe on a Motorcycle? I live in the worst state!

Posted: April 23, 2019 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news, motorcycle safety, Uncategorized
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saf 34

A new study has just reveled that Virginia is the worst state for phone distracted drivers.

I also live right next to another top ten worst states, Maryland. Based on my personal experience I am surprised Maryland was not at the top of the list.

Zendrive’s study ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia on distracted driving and calls out “phone addicts as the primary cause.

This study was based on 160 billion miles driven by 60 million drivers.

You can check out the study for yourself here!

NOW DO NOT GET YOUR HOPES UP, this was not a study to help motorcycles, quite the opposite.

Zendrive, in a very cursory review, is a proponent of “Vision Zero” and “Road to Zero”. Both efforts are to reduce traffic deaths/injuries to zero. The only way you can do that is to get rid of motorcycles.

Getting rid of motorcycles was even a tenant of the early Vision Zero leaders until they got to much heat.  Several of those “safety leaders” have made multiple statements suggesting that motorcycles and Vision Zero could never find a real consensus.

Now almost every state and most countries have Vision Zero political organizations advocating to politicians about “saving the children”.  Do your own research and come to your own conclusions.

DawgHouse Motorcycle News, Rants and Racing show #383

Posted: October 13, 2016 in Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news, Motorcycle racing, Motorcycle radio, Motorcycle Rides, motorcycle touring
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ijustwant2ride.com

The DawgHouse Motorcycle Radio…The #1 Motorcycle Show in the USf

This week on DawgHouse Motorcycle News Rants & Racing show #383 …

10 Awesome roads to ride from around the world!  These are not the normal rehashed and rehashed set of roads (well mostly).  The #4 road on the list is the Iroha-Zaka in Japan which looks just unbelievable. Check out this map view of the road….d1

In an earlier show (DawgHouse 373) I discussed the possibility that motorcycles may not be allowed on the road as to dangerous to the riders. The framework that is working in Europe now is called “Vision Zero”, the Zero is for zero deaths.

Ken now has to admit I might be right!  Recently the US government has introduced a discussion of a version of Vision Zero and guess what was left out of that discussion…. MOTORCYCLES!  The AMA is worried that the reason the Federal Government left out motorcycles from it future planning is that they want to ban motorcycles.

In racing news…. MotoAmerica’s 2017 season schedule is out and there are some new tracks!!!! They have added Pittsburgh International Race Complex and Sonoma Raceway (and Ken again has to admit Warren was right). AND… Phil likes the change!!!!