The commonwealth experienced an 87 percent jump in motorcycle fatalities in 2007, according to the most recent figures from the VSP.

As a result, the VSP launched its “Ride Smart, Arrive Alive” program to help curb the rise in fatalities.

The program consists of three objectives — education, enforcement and roadway management.

Read the Full Story here…

Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is a national initiative aimed at getting motorists and motorcyclists to “Share the Road” with each other, in an effort to save lives. Did you know:

* In 2007, motorcycle rider fatalities increased for the tenth straight year; during that year, 5,154 motorcyclists lost their lives in fatal highway crashes.

* Fifty percent of all motorcycles involved in fatal crashes collided with another type of motor vehicle in transport. In two-vehicle crashes, 78 percent of the motorcycles involved were struck in the front.

* Over 90 percent of all two-vehicle crashes involving a motorcycle and a passenger vehicle in which the motorcycle rider died occurred on non-interstate roadways.

* Helmets are estimated to be 37 percent effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcyclists. For every 100 motorcyclists killed in crashes while not wearing a helmet, 37 of them could have been saved had all 100 worn helmets.

The “Share the Road” guidelines advise motorists to remember that motorcycles are vehicles with the same rights and privileges as any motor vehicle on the roadway. Expect to see motorcycles at any time, and search aggressively for them. Motorcyclists are advised to wear brightly colored protective gear and a DOT-compliant helmet. For more information and full guidelines, please visit: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/

The bill puts the Congress on record as recognizing the contribution motorcycles make to the transportation mix. It encourages all road users to be more aware of motorcycles and motorcyclists’ safety. This is in addition to encouraging all riders to receive appropriate training and practice safe riding skills and supporting the goals of a Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.

The bill was passed unanimously by the committee with many positive statements from committee members. Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN) cited many positive aspects of motorcycling and was complementary to his constituents who have been in touch with him concerning motorcycle awareness programs. The bill will next head to the House floor for a full vote.

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation encourages its members to contact their individual member of congress to sign on as cosponsors of this legislation.

Consumer Product Safety Commission – Lead issue

Recently the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) announced that off-road motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles marketed to children ages 12 and under are now banned for sale in the United States. As you may already know the 110th Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Commission Improvement Act which set limits on the amount of lead that products marketed to Americans 12 years old and under may contain.

The MRF certainly agrees with the intent of the law which is to protect younger Americans from unknowingly being exposed to dangerous amounts of lead.

However, as with many things that come from Washington, this all out ban seems to be a case of unintended consequences. In order to correct this oversight legislation has been introduced. Congressman Denny Rehberg (R-MT) has introduced HR 1587 which would exempt the off-highway vehicles the CPSC has banned. The MRF does support HR 1587 and encourages its members to contact their representatives to cosponsor the important legislation.

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation has been working this issue hard, after making an unprecedented decision to advocate for an issue that does not affect street riders. Vice President of Government Relations Jeff Hennie, along with MRF Vice President Michael Kerr, have been on Capitol Hill together the past week. Working with members from our state partner organizations ABATE of Illinois and ABATE of Minnesota, this issue has been raised in over 30 congressional offices.

While this seems to be as straight forward as an issue can be, after working with Capitol Hill over the past few weeks the MRF has learned just how political this issue can be. Several members of Congress expressed that supporting the above legislation could be used against them in upcoming elections by their opponents because it can be viewed standing in the way of child safety. That point of view is certainly a stretch, but one that will be advocated for by many child safety organizations. The MRF believes it should be the parents that choose to allow their children to ride and race. With the proper amount of supervision and instruction, youth use of motorcycles and ATVs is as safe as any other sport. It is our challenge to convince Members of Congress that supporting (and co-sponsoring) legislation to exempt off highway vehicles from the CPSC ban can have a positive political impact as well.

Save the Date.
May 14th, 2009 is the first official National Motorcycle Awareness day. The MRF has secured motorcycle parking on the United States Capitol grounds from 10am-2pm. Due to space restraints and security concerns by the administration of the House of Representatives; we may be forced to limit the number of motorcycles that we can bring onto the grounds. So please let us know as soon as possible if you plan to ride your motorcycle to this historic event. Please call 202-546-0983 or email jeff@mrf.org to register your interest.
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Ride With The LeadersTM by joining the MRF at http://www.mrf.org/join.php or call 1-202-546-0983

(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists’ rights organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists’ rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early 1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause of rider safety and rider freedom.

The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists’ rights organizations and the very founders of the American riders’ rights movement among its leading members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists’ rights organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.

Bikers Inside the Beltway will take place to educate members of Congress on the importance of motorcycle safety and awareness programs. The MRF will also take the opportunity to reaffirm its position that “2010 funds” (funds appropriated by Congress to support motorcycle rider education and awareness) have had a positive impact and should be preserved.

The MRF has secured limited parking space on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. If you are sincerely interested in riding your motorcycle into the grounds please email Jeff@mrf.org or call 202-546-0983 to join the list for admittance. Due to space and security concerns by the administration of the House of Representatives, we may be forced to limit the number of motorcycles that we can bring onto the grounds. So please let us know as soon as possible.

Of course, there is no limit on the number of people who can attend. The MRF is still working with House officials and will present more details shortly.

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Ride With The LeadersTM by joining the MRF at http://www.mrf.org/join.php or call 1-202-546-0983

(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists’ rights organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists’ rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early 1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause of rider safety and rider freedom.

The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists’ rights organizations and the very founders of the American riders’ rights movement among its leading members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists’ rights organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.

MRFA&E will not be engaging in issue advocacy or lobbying of any kind. We will be providing several valuable services to the Motorcyclists’ Rights Movement however. A room in the Washington DC office of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation will now be dedicated to legislative and historical
research. It will be funded by MRFA&E.

This room, commonly referred to as the “States’ Room”, will be available to motorcyclists visiting Washington free of charge. The room has high speed internet access and contains a wealth of printed material on current affairs, in addition to rare information on the motorcyclists’ rights movement, worldwide. The MRF’s Vice President of Government Affairs will also be available to brief visiting delegations of Motorcyclists’ Rights Organizations on the fundamentals of the procedures of the United States Congress, as well as historical information on the District of Columbia.

MRFA&E will help sponsor Educational Workshops put on by MRF at the annual and regional conferences.

MRFA&E is proud to announce that its first donor is Michael Hupy of Milwaukee Wisconsin. Mr. Hupy – a stalwart supporter of motorcyclists’ rights – is a member of ABATE of Wisconsin and Illinois. He has donated the amount of $5000.00. Mike Hupy has provided encouragement and advice to
this effort long before its inception. We offer our sincere thanks and gratitude to him.

Also lining up early to support this new organization was Ginger Magures from the state of Washington. Ginger has been a driving force for motorcyclists’ rights in the Pacific Northwest for decades. Her generous donation, made at this year’s Meeting of the Minds, is most appreciated.
Others joined in with donations at the Meeting of the Minds in Denver, giving MRFA&E a running start.

Motorcyclists, and indeed the general public, are encouraged to donate to the Motorcycle Riders Foundation for Awareness and Education. If you are a motorcyclist and wish to see that future activists receive solid training in the rudiments of the rights movement, MRFA&E is the organization to donate to.  Or perhaps you are just a concerned individual who feels that more Americans should be educated as to the fact that our freedoms are being eroded. A donation – large or small – will in some way contribute to an enlightened public.

MRFA&E is ready to go to work for you. With your support we can make a difference. Remember, all donations made to MRFA&E are tax-deductible for federal income tax purposes.

Please send your donation to
Motorcycle Riders Foundation Awareness & Education, Inc.
236 Massachusetts Ave NE #510
Washington DC 20002
202.546.0983
Or contact Deborah Butitta Board of Director Chairman deb@mrf.org

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Ride With The LeadersTM by joining the MRF at http://www.mrf.org/join.php or call 1-202-546-0983

(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists’ rights organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists’ rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early 1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause of rider safety and rider freedom.

The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists’ rights organizations and the very founders of the American riders’ rights movement among its leading members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists’ rights organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.

A Motorcycle Riders Foundation representative attended a July 1 meeting with United States Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, in her office, to discuss among other issues, the 2010 funds.

Earlier this year, Peters sent proposed legislation to Capitol Hill that would allow the 2010 funds to be used by states to promote helmet use (not law). This is in addition to the other two areas where the funds are already allotted now; rider education and motorist awareness programs. Also in attendance at the meeting were representatives from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and the Motorcycle Industry Council.

The motorcycle community was disappointed, to say the least, by this new demand on 2010 funding. When Congress included the section 2010 grant programs in SAFETEA-LU it was debated and decided that helmet use promotion already occurs under all rider education programs, which is the proper venue to talk about personal protective gear.

Secretary Peters explained that the genesis of the proposed legislation came from a Senate appropriations hearing where she was taken to task by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) on the rising number of motorcyclist fatalities and the reduction of state helmet laws. The third term Senator,
who chairs the Senate appropriations subcommittee on transportation, asked Peters if she would support the use of the 2010 funds for helmet promotion. Peters said she would support using 2010 for that purpose, and in order to preserve some political cover, Peters sent some shell language to the Hill. Upon closer review, Secretary Peters now agrees that the 2010 funds should not be used for helmet promotion but should remain for rider education and motorist awareness campaigns only. She is not backing off promoting helmet use, but rather is in favor of finding or creating another pool of funds for this cause.

Peters then issued an apology for failing to work with the motorcycle community and pledged to work more closely, and personally, with the motorcycle community at large. She then went on to add that this current administration will never even consider a national helmet mandate.

The Secretary then offered to send a letter to all 50 governors asking them to take motorcycle safety more seriously, to increase funding for all motorcycle programs, and to never raid the dedicated motorcycle safety funds as some governors have already done.

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation also asked Peters to explore the creation of a new class of vehicles for the emerging auto-cycles, or 3-wheeled enclosed vehicles, that are currently licensed as motorcycles, and are therefore skirting any safety standards that are required for autos. These
non-motorcycles need their own classification in order to keep any additional fatality data separate from data collected on “true” motorcycles.

We at the Motorcycle Riders Foundation thank Secretary Peters for her apology, and we look forward to working with her as she finishes out her term as Secretary in January of 2009.

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Ride With The LeadersTM by joining the MRF at http://www.mrf.org/join.php or call 1-202-546-0983

Registration is easy and secure for MRF Regional and Meeting of the Minds conferences. Visit our website at http://www.mrf.org/events.php for further details and registration information.

Send in your nominations and donations for the MRF’s Young Activist Scholarship fund today. For complete details, visit http://www.mrf.org/yascholarship.php.

Sign up today for the MRF’s new roadside assistance program by visiting http://www.mrf.org/mrfroadside.php The program is available to MRF members and non-MRF members.

(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists’ rights organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists’
rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early 1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause
of rider safety and rider freedom.

The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists’ rights organizations and the very founders of the American riders’ rights movement among its leading members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists’ rights organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.