Forbes commented, “While motorcycling is fun recreation and affordable transportation, it is important to remain focused on safety. The Motorcycle Safety Caucus encourages motorcyclists to get trained and licensed, obey traffic laws, avoid mixing riding with alcohol and wear proper, motorcycle-specific safety gear, but it doesn’t stop with riders. The Caucus serves to also remind other motorists that motorcyclists use the roads as well, and to remember to look for motorcycles particularly when turning or changing lanes.”

Read the rest of the story here…

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.

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation would like to encourage its members, the motorcycling community and all concerned Americans to join us in support of Ray LaHood, the designated nominee for Secretary of Transportation.  We ask that you join us in our efforts of supporting this nomination by calling your own United States Senator and ask them to vote YES to confirm the nomination of Mr. LaHood.

Ray LaHood served in the Congress from 1995 until 2008 as the representative from the 18th District of Illinois.  His record on motorcycle issues during his tenure was outstanding.  ABATE of Illinois considered him to be one of their best friends and allies in Congress.  He has even been named a MRF Champion of Motorcycle Rights & Safety in the past.

He has consistently supported legislation that would close the HIPAA insurance discrimination loophole that could deny motorcyclists insurance payments.  He stood fast against efforts that would punish states for keeping helmet use voluntary.  While serving on the House Committee of Transportation and Infrastructure, he was key in seeing that language allowing motorcycle access to all highways that were constructed or maintained using federal funds was included in the interstate funding act.

When calling you Senators it may be worth mentioning that Ray LaHood:
* Consistently worked in a bi-partisan manner while serving in congress.
* Is respected for his fairness by Democrats and Republicans alike.
* Is well versed on transportation issues (having served on the Transportation and Infrastructure committee during the authorization of TEA21).
* Has good relations with both organized labor and the business community.
* Having served a diverse congressional district, Mr. LaHood understand the transportation concerns of Americans living in urban, sub-urban, small and medium sized town and rural areas.

Please call (or e-mail) your United States Senators today and ask them to confirm Ray LaHood as Secretary of Transportation.  A vote on his confirmation by the Senate will imminent in the coming days following his confirmation hearing today with Commerce Committee.

You can find Senate contact information on the web at: www.senate.gov or
by calling (202) 224-3121.

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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

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.

In June, the US Department of Transportation created a first-of-its-kind $1.6 billion financing package that consisted of tax-free bonds, loans and state taxpayer grants to support the project that will add a pair of High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes to the Interstate 495 Capital Beltway just outside of Washington, DC. To this amount, Transurban only added $349 million of its own capital — less than the cost of interest — toward the construction of the toll lane.

Read the Full Story here…

They’re all motorcycle riders motivated by record gas prices to switch to two-wheeled transportation.

Read the Full Story here…

According to the United States Census Bureau and the Department of Transportation, over eighty million cars and light trucks are used for daily commuting on American roads, and about 200,000 motorcycles and scooters are a regular part of this mix. On Ride To Work Day, the practical side of riding becomes more visible as a larger number of America’s 8,000,000 cycles are ridden to work.

Ride to Work Day helps demonstrate how these vehicles make parking easier and help traffic flow better. Studies have shown that across equal distances, commuting motorcyclists reach their destinations in less time than those using automobiles, that motorcycles and scooters consume less resources per mile than automobiles, and that they take up less space on roads. Motorcycle and scooter riders seek improved employer recognition and support for this form of transportation, and more public and government awareness of the positive value of riding.

• All 2008 RTW ad’s are available as digital image files at http://www.ridetowork.org/ride-to-work-day-ads
• More information on RTW day is available at the expanded Ride to Work Day website: http://www.ridetowork.org
• For additional information or questions please contact Andy Goldfine agoldfine@ridetowork.org or Christine Holt cholt@ridetowork.org

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Ride to Work Day, a 501 c4 nonprofit organization, can be reached at:

POB 1072, Proctor, Minnesota, 55810 USA

http://www.ridetowork.org

218 722 9806

Christine Holt cholt@ridetowork.org

Andy Goldfine agoldfine@ridetowork.org

Ride to Work Day Mission Statement:

To advocate and support the use of motorcycles and scooters for transportation, and to provide information about transportation riding to the public.

Affiliated Ride to Work Day Countries:

Germany, Philippines, England, Germany, France, Israel, Turkey, Ecuador, United States, and many others.

Newsletter:

Sample issues of ‘The Daily Rider’ newsletter are available for download at:

http://www.ridetowork.org/the-daily-rider

History:

A brief history of Ride to Work Day is available for viewing at:

http://www.ridetowork.org/ride-to-work-day-history

Fact Sheet:

A transportation motorcycling fact sheet is available at:

http://www.ridetowork.org/transportation-fact-sheet

RTW Day Photos and Artwork:

Motorcycle commuting photos, ads, posters, banners, illustrations and other artwork is available for view and download at:

http://www.ridetowork.org/signs-posters-cards-propaganda-art