The
Sequoia National Forest is asking for support on a
grant application to the State of California Off-Highway Vehicle Commission. If awarded,
the grant will help maintain and enhance the Forest’s existing off-highway vehicle
(OHV) system of routes and trails and maintain facilities that support OHV riders. The
funding will be used for facility operation and maintenance, informational signing,
conservation including monitoring for resource protection and wildlife habitat, trail
maintenance, planning, and law enforcement in OHV areas. The Forest is also requesting
grant funding for OHV safety and education materials and support. Specifically, the
Sequoia team is requesting a letter of support from local stakeholders regarding the
proposed application. Letters of support should be mailed to Chris Sanders, OHV Project
Leader, 1839 South Newcomb Street, Porterville, CA 93257 or emailed to: csanders@fs.fed.us.
Philippines motorcycles
are now banned on expressways, which the Department of Transportation and Communication
(DOTC) classify as "limited access highways." Radio dzBB reported that enforcers
at the North and South Luzon Expressways have started flagging down motorcycles traveling
along these expressways. But it said authorities admitted they could still not issue
citation tickets to the motorcycle drivers as there are still no implementing rules and
regulations for the new policy. /p>
Oregon Senate Bill 101 has been
signed by the Governor. This bill includes a number of important provisions including the
removal of all age based restrictions for ATV riders and creation of rider fit guidelines
(the nation’s first) for ATV use. It was passed at the request of the Oregon OHV
community with strong support from the AMA and ATVA. Additional provisions include
requirements for mandatory rider safety training classes and supervisions of youth when
riding on public lands. A previously considered measure, Senate Bill 49, included a
provision to prohibit all riders under age 12 from operating OHV’s on all public
lands.
Orinda, California rider and AMA
Community Council leader Wayne Phillips has secured designated motorcycle parking in that
Northeast Bay Area community’s downtown. Phillips successfully lobbied for the
designated spaces to be marked in what were corners and end-caps of already marked parking
spaces so that no car spaces were lost. For anyone who wants to accomplish the same thing
in their municipality, Phillips gives some clear-cut advice: “One or two persons just
go to the city council meeting and ask to speak, tell them that parking is inadequate and
that you know how they can be part of the solution, suggest that they use all the snips
and bits of space that are not big enough for an SUV as motorcycle parking, and then offer
the use of you and your motorcycle to test out which of these small spaces could
effectively be used. Then work with the city crews to mark such spots.”
The Federation of European Motorcyclists
Associations (FEMA) is organizing its 11th annual motorcycle ride with
Members of the European Parliament (commonly called MEP RIDE). This ride across the
beautiful Strasbourg Region will gather Members of the European Parliament (MEP) and
Assistants from over 15 different EU countries and allow motorcyclist to discuss issues of
major importance with their representatives like the integration of Powered Two-Wheelers
in urban transport and motorcyclists views on how to improve safety on EU roads. For
further information, please visit www.mep-ride.eu.
Delaware House Bill 133, sponsored by
Rep. Bruce C. Ennis (D- Smyrna), clarifies the definition and licensing requirements for
three-wheeled motorcycles. Among other things, it requires a licensed operator to have a
motorcycle endorsement if the vehicle has less than three feet between the tandem wheels.
A group of retired federal and state
land managers and forest rangers called reckless off-road vehicle operators the No. 1
threat to Western public lands. They reported an increasing number of riders combined with
the growing power of the machines is endangering natural resources and public safety. Last
month, a Tucson, Ariz.-based teleconference was organized by an existing organization of
federal employees, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, which helped found
the new group to combat off-road use of trails in the West. Its members said that damage
from off-road vehicles was most severe when riders left designated routes and headed into
sensitive areas such as fragile desert and riparian areas. As various agencies, in
particular the BLM and the Forest Service, have seen budgets and staff sharply cut in
recent years, there hasn't been enough money or staff to police legal trails or close
illegal ones in a timely manner, members of the group said. Illegal trails are being
blazed regularly, they said, making it difficult for future riders to distinguish legal
from illegal routes.
The first and only ticket that
police have issued to a motorcyclist under Denver's controversial new noise ordinance was
dismissed in early August. The city's decision to drop the case highlights a fundamental
flaw - Denver police aren't equipped with the $1,000 noise monitors needed to make the
charge stick, said Wade Eldridge, lawyer for the ticketed biker. "In any case in
which it's properly challenged, the city has an impossible burden," said Eldridge.
The reason Assistant City Attorney April Snook cited in her motion to dismiss the case was
the city was "unable to prove charge beyond a reasonable doubt." The ordinance,
which took effect July 1, was in response to rising complaints about ear-splitting
motorcycle noise in areas such as downtown, where more people are living in lofts and
high-rise condos. It limits noise levels to 82 decibels from a distance of 25 feet and
requires motorcyclists with bikes made after 1982 to have a muffler with an EPA
noise-certification stamp. (Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News, August 9, 2007)
In the AMA's
continuing effort to educate riders
about how noisy bikes risk rights, the Government Relations Department has awarded nine
sound-level test kits to AMA districts, clubs and promoters. The kits are used to test the
sound level of bikes to educate riders about how loud, or quiet, their bikes are, and to
ensure that competition machines meet AMA competition sound limits. The sound-level test
kits were granted to the CC Riders Motorcycle Club, Nutmeg Scramblers, Cheaha Trail
Riders, AMA District 1 (New England), Congress Delegate Bill Haas, the Wisconsin
Off-Highway Vehicle Association, Freestone County Raceway, Walden Playboys MC, AMA
District 16 (Northwestern Michigan, Wisconsin) and AMA District 27 (Washington). This is
the third year that sound-testing equipment has been available through this grant program.
In the first two years, the Government Relations Department awarded only sound meters.
This year, awardees got an entire kit that includes a sound meter, tachometer,
instructional DVD and manual, spark arrester probe, personal protective equipment and a
certificate for a free annual recalibration from the sound meter supplier.
Australian Minister for Roads and Ports, Tim Pallas, announced recently that
the Government would introduce new regulations for Learner and Probationary motorcyclists
in Victoria through the introduction of a new Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS).
Pallas said the new licensing scheme would encourage national uniformity and modernize the
current regulations that restrict new and learner motorcyclist to an engine capacity of
260cc. Rider advocate and interest groups have strongly supported the move saying it will
give learner and novice riders access to more appropriate motorcycles and restrict them
from high risk, race replica motorcycles.
Illinois school districts must include classroom
instruction on distracted driving as a major traffic safety issue in all driver education
programs under recently-enacted Senate Bill 1557. Illinois Statutes already provide for
driver education classroom instruction on the safety rules and operation of motorcycles or
motor driven cycles. This website offers tips for site organizers, and more information
and photos for the news media.
North Carolina Governor Michael Easley (D) signed into law
provisions for the use of ATVs on certain public roads by public safety personnel and by
certain municipal employees when operated in the course of their official duties. The
legislation was introduced by Rep. Ronnie Sutton (D-Pembroke) and is available on the
“Rapid Response” page of www.AMADirectLink.com
Also signed was Senate Bill 1359, authored by Sen. Austin Allran (R-Hickory) which allows
motorcyclists stuck at intersections controlled by traffic-actuated signals to proceed
through the red light under certain conditions. The change takes effect December 1, 2007.
While he was at it the Governor signed into law, Senate Bill 1036, sponsored by Sen. Joe
Sam Queen (D-Waynesville), authorizes Blue Ridge Parkway license plates for motorcycles. A
minimum of 300 applications must be received by the Division of Motor Vehicles before the
plates can be developed. Visit http://www.ncdot.org/dmv
or call (919) 715-7000 for more information.
The US Department of the
Interior has announced the
establishment of the Big Cypress National Preserve Off-Road Vehicle Advisory Committee.
The committee is to offer recommendations, alternatives and possible solutions to
management issues associated with off-highway vehicle use in the preserve. The committee
is expected to begin meeting late this year. Meeting information will be available on the
Big Cypress website http://www.nps.gov/bicy/ For
further information contact the preserve’s Pubic Affairs Officer Bob DeGross at
239-695-1107.
Tennessee legislation, championed by
CMT/ABATE of Tennessee and in accord with the AMA Justice for All campaign, to increase
penalties for right-of-way violations that result in serious injury or death has been
enacted. Senate Bill 794, introduced by Sen. Tim Burchett (R-Knoxville), was signed into
law by Gov. Phil Bredesen and became effective July 1. To find out more about the Justice
for All campaign to reduce motorcycle accidents and punish those who cause these accidents
go to www.AMADirectlink.com and click on the
Rights Resources section.
Illinois school
districts must include classroom instruction on distracted driving as a major traffic
safety issue in all driver education programs under recently-enacted Senate Bill 1557.
Illinois Statutes already provide for driver education classroom instruction on the safety
rules and operation of motorcycles or motor driven cycles.
North Carolina Governor Michael Easley (D) signed into law provisions for the use of ATVs
on certain public roads by public safety personnel and by certain municipal employees when
operated in the course of their official duties. The legislation was introduced by Rep.
Ronnie Sutton (D-Pembroke) and is available on the “Rapid Response” page of www.AMADirectLink.com . Also signed was Senate
Bill 1359, authored by Sen. Austin Allran (R-Hickory) which allows motorcyclists stuck at
intersections controlled by traffic-actuated signals to proceed through the red light
under certain conditions. The change takes effect December 1, 2007. While he was at it the
Governor signed into law, Senate Bill 1036, sponsored by Sen. Joe Sam Queen
(D-Waynesville), authorizes Blue Ridge Parkway license plates for motorcycles. A minimum
of 300 applications must be received by the Division of Motor Vehicles before the plates
can be developed. Visit http://www.ncdot.org/dmv or call (919) 715-7000 for more information.
The US Department
of the Interior has announced the establishment of the Big Cypress
National Preserve Off-Road Vehicle Advisory Committee. The committee is to offer
recommendations, alternatives and possible solutions to management issues associated with
off-highway vehicle use in the preserve. The committee is expected to begin meeting late
this year. Meeting information will be available on the Big Cypress website http://www.nps.gov/bicy/ For further
information contact the preserve’s Pubic Affairs Officer Bob DeGross at 239-695-1107.
Tennessee legislation,
championed by CMT/ABATE of Tennessee and in accord with the AMA Justice for All campaign,
to increase penalties for right-of-way violations that result in serious injury or death
has been enacted. Senate Bill 794, introduced by Sen. Tim Burchett (R-Knoxville), was
signed into law by Gov. Phil Bredesen and became effective July 1. To find out more about
the Justice for All campaign to reduce motorcycle accidents and punish those who cause
these accidents go to www.AMADirectlink.com
and click on the Rights Resources section.
Illinois Governor Rod
Bagojevich (D) vetoed Senate bill 627, which sought to protect the state’s
Off-Highway Vehicle Trails Fund from future legislation that might change the proportion
of the fund that can be spent on administrative functions such as law enforcement,
planning and implementation. The measure was introduced by Sen. Michael Jacobs (D-East
Moline). Activists from ABATE of Illinois and others are looking into the possibility of a
veto override later this fall.
Placerville, California was the
site of a large group of forest users gathered to protest the proposed Eldorado National
Forest travel management plan. The core of this grassroots demonstration was OHV users,
but the alternatives discussed in the Draft Environmental Impact Study will potentially
affect every forest visitor, who stand to lose access to thousands of miles of existing
roads and trails throughout the forest. For more information about this group please visit
www.ForestClosure.com.
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit aimed to re-open Surprise Canyon, (near Ballarat)
CA to off road vehicle use. Environmental groups see the creek that flows through Surprise
Canyon as a rare desert resource in need of protection from vehicle use. Off road vehicle
travel in Surprise Canyon was banned in 2000 and 4x4 fans sued the Federal Government to
re-open the Canyon under a civil war era law known as R.S. 2477. R.S. 2477 is an old
statute that grandfathers in rights of way up until the law was repealed in 1976. R.S.
2477 is also the same law that Inyo County is using to sue the federal government over
other roads in Death Valley National Park. The judge found that private groups and
individuals, like the off roaders, can’t use the R.S. 2477 to claim a right of way.
As for the county lawsuit against Death Valley National Park, while individuals don’t
have the jurisdiction to claim a right of way, a public entity like the county or the
state can.
AMA
Government Relations News & Notes is a monthly service compiled and edited by
the AMA
Government Relations Staff to keep motorcyclists informed of happenings around the world.
We welcome
your news & views. Please submit all material to Terry Lee Cook, Grassroots Manager,
13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, OH 43147; fax 614-856-1920 or e-mail to tcook@ama-cycle.org. |
