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Motorcycle News
News that effects all of us as Bikers!!!
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Congress Considering
Transportation Programs that Affect Motorcyclists |
Take Action! |
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Write Your
Representative Today |
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Currently, Congress is working on the next version of a national
transportation bill. This program covers everything from highway
safety, to congestion mitigation, and tolling projects. The
House of Representatives is considering its options, but the
American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is seeking passage of
H.R. 7, the “American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of
2012.”
The
AMA supports H.R. 7, because it contains many critical measures
to address motorcycle safety programs, motorcyclist rights, and
motorized recreational access. Additionally, H.R. 7 begins the
tough process of modernizing the national transportation program
by eliminating some wasteful spending programs and streamlining
the project delivery process.
Of
the many important programs for motorcyclists in H.R. 7, the
continuation of the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is a
notable distinction. The RTP is funded by the fuel used for
off-highway vehicle recreation -- by snowmobiles, all-terrain
vehicles, off-highway motorcycles and off-highway light trucks.
In some states, a motorized trail program would not exist
without the RTP. It is very important this program continue.
Additionally, H.R. 7 would require state highway safety programs
to include initiatives that prevent motorcycle crashes while
limiting the establishment of mandatory universal helmet laws.
Moreover, the bill would prohibit the U.S. Department of
Transportation Secretary from providing federal grants to states
and local governments for discriminatory motorcycle-only
checkpoints.
Furthermore, under H.R. 7, motorcycles and motorcyclists would
be included in research and development of new technologies,
called intelligent transportation systems, which riders have
typically been excluded from in the past.
H.R. 7 also begins to eliminate the delay on transportation
project delivery by streamlining review and approval processes.
Therefore, the country can begin adding new capacity, improving
safety, and reducing congestion at a much faster rate.
Additionally, states would no longer be burdened with the
mandate to spend tax revenue on “enhancements” that drain
resources from the highway trust fund.
The AMA strongly encourages you to write your Representative
today and urge them to pass H.R. 7, the “American Energy and
Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012.” A pre-written letter is
provided for your convenience. You can access it by simply
clicking the “Take Action” option.
This bill contains
many programs of significant importance to motorcyclists, and we
believe is the best path forward for transportation in this
country at this time. Please write your Representative today. |
**** ALERT
**** This just in from the MMA:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Transportation Committee poised to issue Bill recommendations
The Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA) expects the Joint
Committee on Transportation to publically make important announcements
within the next 4 weeks. MMA Officers contacted the Senate Clerk and
confirmed that the Legislative Committees need to announce formal
recommendations for Bills no later than March 21, 2012.
This deadline to the Committees leaves us less than four (4) weeks to
make sure these Committee Members know we want the Right-of-Way
Violations Bill (S.1797) passed, and that we want the Helmet Choice for
Adult Riders Bill (S.1726) passed, and that we want the Motorcycle
Safety Fund Bill (S.1458) passed so Legislators stop stealing our Safety
Fund money.
This deadline to the Committees leaves us less than four (4) weeks to
make sure these Committee Members know we want the age restrictive 16
years or older to ride as a passenger (H.1806) defeated, and that we
want the age restrictive 5 years or older to ride as a passenger (H.947)
defeated, and that we want the proposed motorcycle sound levels bill
(H.952) defeated so that riders won’t face six (6) months license
suspension, six (6) years of insurance surcharges, and a $250 fine.
We know you’ve been asked to do this already, but the next four (4)
weeks is CRITICAL if we want movement of favorable Bills, or suppression
of unfavorable Bills. Now is the time to loudly demand the
Transportation Committee Members hear our voices! Please call them or
mail/fax your letters to the committee members today! Please also ask
YOUR State Senator and Representative as well as your riding buddies,
family, and friends to do the same!
Letters should be addressed using the following format and sent to the
room number in parentheses:
Honorable Senator McGee Honorable Representative Straus
Room 109C Room 134
State House State House
Boston, MA 02133 Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-1350 (617) 722-2400
(617) 722-2387 - FAX
Committee Chairmen are Senator Thomas McGee (109C) and Representative
William Straus (134).
Committee Vice Chairmen are Senator Jennifer Flanagan (410) and
Representative Demetrius Atsalis (26). Other Committee members are
Senators Gale Candaras (309), Brian Joyce (109D), Robert Hedlund (313C),
Michael Rush (519), Marc Pacheco (312B) and Representatives James Miceli
(446), Denise Provost (473B), Marcos Devers (146), Michael Finn (134),
Chris Walsh (39), Steven Howitt (237), Carl Sciortino (472), Timothy
Madden (167), Mark Cusack (134), John Mahoney (155), and Peter Durant
(33).
Complete Transportation Committee information can be found here: http://www.malegislature.gov/Committees/Joint/J27
Remember: the March 21 deadline leaves us with less than four (4) weeks
to get the message out. There is nothing stopping Committee Chairs from
making their recommendations before March 21, so the earlier, the
better.
Questions? Message LegislativeDirector@MassMotorcycle.org or visit
www.MassMotorcycle.org
This just in from the MMA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
01
February 2012
The
Motorcycle Riders Foundation reports that Wednesday, February 1st, the
United States House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure rolled out the latest version of the highway bill. The
bill is the long term funding bill for road construction and highway
programs.
This version of the bill takes aim at a controversial practice of the
Department of Transportation which funded motorcycle-only roadside
checkpoints with taxpayer dollars.
The checkpoints have drawn much criticism from the motorcycle community
at large. So much so, that longtime motorcycle champion Representative
James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) had introduced legislation to end the program
by prohibiting any future Federal funding of any motorcycle-only
roadside checkpoints. That bill is HR 904. The mammoth highway bill
includes the same language as contained in HR 904.
Representative Sensenbrenner had this to say, "We need to focus on
proven methods of motorcycle safety, including crash prevention, rider
education, and training and proper licensing. Motorcycle-only
checkpoints are an intrusive governmental overreach that place an undue
burden on riders while doing little to actually improve safety," He
added, "It is encouraging to see that the transportation
reauthorization bill will encourage more efficient use of taxpayer
dollars and smart motorcycle safety policy."
Representative Tom Petri (R-WI), a staunch defender of the
motorcyclists, had this comment on the issue, “Motorcycle riders are
right to be outraged at being singled out for safety inspections," Petri
said. "Nobody is suggesting flagging cars down for unscheduled
inspections, and there's no good reason why motorcycles should be
treated differently. It's unnecessarily intrusive, and not a smart way
to use limited police resources."
We at
the MRF could not agree more. While swift passage into law is not
likely, this is certainly an encouraging step.
AS A FOOTNOTE: I myself experienced
these type of road stops at Americade last year (2011). The POWERS
TO BE put up roadblocks on BOTH SIDES of Lake George and stopped ALL two
wheeled vehicles. Meanwhile giant 4X4's with headers were able to
proceed directly through the MOTORCYCLE ONLY road blocks. I am
hoping that reasonable people prevail and stop this unconstitutional and
invasive practice. If they don't this will be coming to a street
corner near you! Dave G
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Harley-Davidson Tries To Quiet Motorcycle Noise -
Loud Pipes' Cost
From, Motorcycle Cruiser
By Art Friedman
In a message entitled "Something We Never Want to
Lose" on his
company's
website, Harley-Davidson Motor Company President and
CEO Jim McCaslin tackles the issue of motorcycle
noise and the increasing backlash motorcycling is
experiencing as the result of loud pipes. Citing a
four-fold increase in negative media coverage during
the last decade, bans on motorcycles in some
communities, attempts to curtail major motorcycle
events, anti-tamper legislation, and other
limitations of freedom for motorcyclists as the
result of complaints about loud pipes, McCaslin
says, "We all, every Hog lovin' one of us, must do
everything we can to protect our sport and keep it
as strong as it is today."
In other words,
it's time to pipe down.
This is the
second stage of Harley-Davidson's campaign against
loud exhaust pipes. Its initial effort last year was
directed at and through dealers, with posters and
literature that attempted to educate dealers and
riders about the negative consequences of loud
pipes. Harley-Davidson spokesman Paul James also
told Motorcycle Cruiser that during the next few
months Harley will cease shipments to dealers of
racing
exhaust
systems
that can be fitted to street models. We could no
longer find any racing exhaust systems listed on the
company's accessory website. However,
Harley-Davidson still offers dozens of accessory
exhaust systems that are street-legal (and therefore
acceptably quiet), including for use in California.
Industry
concern over the problem of loud exhaust pipes is
nothing new. The American Motorcyclist Association
(AMA) has long warned riders that attitudes shaped
by complaints about loud pipes frequently compromise
the AMA's efforts to battle anti-motorcycling
legislation and regulation. That same concern was
echoed by the Motorcycle Riders Foundation a few
years ago when it adopted the AMA's stance against
loud pipes. The Motorcycle Industry Council has
conducted anti-noise campaigns for over 30 years.
These days, the
loud motorcycle you hear roaring past is likely to
be a modified Harley-Davidson. This is somewhat
ironic because Harley was among the first motorcycle
makers to tackle exhaust noise a century ago. In the
early days of internal-combustion
vehicles,
many vehicles were annoyingly loud as delivered, but
the threat of anti-motor-vehicle legislation soon
had automakers fitting mufflers to their vehicles.
As McCaslin's message points out, quieting
motorcycle exhaust pipes posed greater difficulties
because there is no room for a bulky muffler on a
bike. However, Harley engineered an effective
silencer, and the resulting bike became known as The
Silent Gray fellow. Its relative quiet contributed
to its reputation as an elegant, advanced machine
and helped distinguish Harley-Davidson Motor Company
from dozens of rival American motorcycle makers.
Changing to an
aftermarket
exhaust
system
has become almost a knee-jerk reaction for many
cruiser buyers. However, unless labeled as meeting
federal and state standards, all of these exhaust
systems are illegal and virtually all are illegally
loud. There are exceptions, such as systems offered
by Harley that meet requirements for all 50 states
or all states except California. Exhaust pipes are
changed for a variety of reasons. One is the search
for performance improvements, although, as McCaslin
and the AMA point out, not all deliver--and some
increase power in a portion of the power band while
reducing it in others. Some motorcycle owners change
exhaust pipes to personalize the appearance. And
many who modify their bikes' exhaust systems simply
want the noise, often for vanity's sake. Some
motorcyclists profess to believe that "loud pipes
save lives," although research tends to contradict
that popular axiom. (Few of those who say they want
exhaust noise for safety's sake use other
means--such as brightly colored apparel--which have
been proven effective.)
Harley-Davidson's current stance actually puts it on
the cutting edge of corporate responsibility
regarding exhaust-noise. It is the only company that
has both taken an anti-noise stance and offers
street-legal accessory exhaust systems as an
alternative to loud aftermarket pipes.
Honda, Kawasaki, and
Suzuki have never offered nor endorsed accessory
systems for their cruisers. Both Victory and Yamaha
offer exhaust systems that are not illegally loud as
"racing" modifications, though no effort is made to
qualify customers by asking for racing credentials.
You have to find and click on footnote notices on
their sites to learn that that the systems are not
legal for the street, and the disclaimer page on
Yamaha's site was not working when we visited.
Neither company offers legal accessory exhausts. We
also asked Yamaha if it had any plans to follow
Harley-Davidson's lead on this issue, but we had
received no reply to our email a few days later.
As the leader
in the cruiser market, Harley's public stance on
loud exhaust pipes may finally signal a turning
point for an issue that continues to put
motorcyclists in a very bad light and prompts
increasing calls for restrictions on motorcycles and
motorcyclists. Though some riders will try to
contend that their noise doesn't really bother
anybody, that they have some sort of right to annoy
everyone they ride past, or that their noise
protects them, such arguments have to sound
increasingly hollow when the biggest
cruiser-motorcycle maker points out that they are
actually risking all motorcyclists' freedoms and
asks them to "think about the consequences our
actions have on others, before others take action
against us."
Harley-Davidson
is not simply speaking out about the problems that
illegal loud pipes cause for the entire motorcycling
community. The Motor Company also offers
street-legal accessory exhausts systems and exhaust
components for its various motorcycle model
families. An alternative to universally loud
aftermarket exhausts, the Harley accessory pipes,
such as the these 50-state-legal slip-ons for Dyna
models, provide a legal option for riders who want
to customize.
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Read more:
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/newsandupdates/0602_crup_harley_davidson_motorcycle_noise/index.html#ixzz1l3aV5kTa
REMEMBER... This Saturday & Sunday
01-28/29-2012
 |
Boston, MA -
January 28-29
Seaport World Trade Center
200 Seaport Boulevard
Boston, MA 02210-203 |
Show Times: Sat.
10am - 7pm, Sun. 10am - 5pm
|
TV Reporter In Court On MV Homicide Charge:
Motorcyclist Killed In Plymouth Crash
BOSTON -- A
former network news correspondent was in a Plymouth courtroom on Friday on
charges stemming from a crash that killed a motorcyclist.
Bob Zelnick, 71, is accused of cutting off a motorcyclist getting onto Route
3 in Plymouth in October. The motorcycle collided with Zelnick's sport
utility vehicle. Brendan Kennedy, 26, of Plymouth, died of his injuries.
Zelnick, who was a correspondent for ABC News for more than 20 years, was
arraigned on motor vehicle homicide charges in Plymouth District Court on
Friday. Zelnick's license was suspended at the time of the crash. Zelnick
will return to court in May.
Read more: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/30259893/detail.html#ixzz1k0qyTdNl
Courtesy of WCVB TV Channel 5 Boston
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/r/30259893/detail.html
AMA supports senator's stand on helmets
December 05, 2011
The AMA praised U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) for standing up
against a proposal that would have indirectly forced states to pass mandatory
helmet laws.
U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) was poised to introduce the proposal on Dec.
14 during a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing on S.
1449 -- the Motor Vehicle and Highway Safety Improvement Act of 2011. His
proposal was an amendment to S. 1449, but he decided against offering it in the
committee.
In a statement for the record, Ayotte noted that the amendment would take away
the right of the people in a state to decide whether to have a mandatory helmet
law "by indirectly forcing all states to pass mandatory universal helmet laws in
order to receive funding for motorcycle safety.
"States without mandatory universal helmet laws -- such as New Hampshire --
would be subject to stricter eligibility criteria, and would be forced to use 50
percent of their grant funds to promote helmet use," she said.
"This amendment violates the original intent of the motorcyclist safety grant
program, which has traditionally focused on encouraging states to fund
motorcycle safety awareness, education and training," she said. "This amendment
would divert funds away from awareness and education and, instead, use them to
place federal pressure on states to enact mandatory universal helmet laws."
Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations, thanked Ayotte for
her statement, noting the AMA also opposed the Lautenberg amendment.
"Federal efforts should focus on preventing crashes rather than mandating what
gear riders should wear," Allard said.
Besides opposing the Lautenberg amendment, the AMA has been working on Capitol
Hill to try to ensure that motorcycle-only checkpoints don't proliferate around
the nation, and working to ensure that motorcyclists' concerns about possible
engine damage are considered before federal officials approve the use of higher
ethanol-gasoline blends for motorcycles.
"We need the help of all riders," Allard said. "More AMA members means more
political clout, from the statehouse to the White House. We urge motorcyclists
to join the AMA to help protect motorcycling now and in the future."
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