[Mrfnews] 08LR14 - MRF Leaders Report- June

[mrfnews at mrf.org]

MRF E-MAIL NEWS Motorcycle Riders Foundation
236 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Suite 510
Washington, DC 20002-4980
202-546-0983 (voice)
202-546-0986 (fax)
http://www.mrf.org (website)


For Immediate Release

Contact: Jeff Hennie, Vice President of Government Relations
Email: jeff at mrf.org

May 2, 2008



WASHINGTON UPDATE - The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) is pleased to
report that the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) has
renewed the charter for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Motorcycle Advisory Council (MAC) for an additional two years.  The MAC
advises the Secretary of Transportation on all issues concerning
motorcyclists and infrastructure issues such as roads, bridges, and
barriers.  No rulemaking was required to extend the charter; instead it
was the positive results of the MAC that warranted the go-ahead from the
country's chief transportation boss.  The MRF commends Secretary Peters
for recognizing the need for the MAC to continue. Under normal
circumstances Secretary do not reauthorize councils that they do not have
to. Peters by law did not have to renew the charter which uses some of her
very limited discretionary dollars to fully fund this council. That's why
we thank her for her attention to this very important issue.

The MAC met a total of four times over the initial two-year charter.  The
meetings are open to the public and generally span a couple of days.  The
MAC has no authority to issue any binding recommendations, but it does
have the ear of the agency officials, and several MAC's recommendations
have been enacted upon.  The MAC has put forth some meaningful and useful
recommendations to the Secretary, and recent recommendations include
implementing motorcycles into the department-wide goal to reduce
congestion and fuel consumption.  Another recommendation was to continue
the practice of letting motorcycles use high occupancy vehicle (HOV)
lanes.  On a related note, New York City police have continued to violate
federal law by not letting motorcycles use HOV lanes, making this
recommendation very important for motorcyclists in the Big Apple.  Visit
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/mac/index.htm for more information on the MAC
and its members.

ROB ANDREWS FOR CHANGE - Last week US Rep Rob Andrews (D-NJ) challenged
long-time motorcycle adversary Senator Frank Lautenberg for his seat. 
Bucking party politics and in the face of a huge uphill battle, Andrews
waged a positive, aggressive campaign.  Alas, he came up rather short on
Election Day, outspent and out-recognized in the crucial north Jersey
demographic. The New York Times endorsed Lautenberg a few days before the
primary, and that seemed to put the votes in Lautenberg's column.  The MRF
stands by its long-term support of Andrews and wishes him the best in his
future endeavors.  There is somewhat of a silver lining though.  Andrews
had to give up his House seat to run for the Senate, and poised as the
likely successor to Andrews is his wife. Camille Andrews witnessed the
outpouring of support from the motorcycling community and has vowed to
continue her husband's legacy of championing motorcycles in the Nation's
Capitol.

TIERED LICENSING IN UTAH - The state administrator of motorcycle safety in
Utah has issued a mandate reorganizing the way motorcycle licenses are
handed out.  The way it works is that if you test on a 90cc you can ride
90cc or less; if you test on 249cc you can ride a 249cc or less; if you
test on 649cc you can ride 649cc or less; and finally if you test on a
650cc you can ride whatever you want.  One need not progress up the tiers
to attain the unlimited license, but this process does raise a few
questions.  Will there be an unintended negative effect of discouraging
folks from getting M class endorsements at all?  Will it force people to
take a bike larger than what they are comfortable on to the test in order
to ride that new Sportster?  Will it turn off people to training
curriculum that uses 125cc or 250cc motorcycles?  The implementation date
is July 8, and the MRF is working with motorcyclists in Utah to, at the
very least, have that date pushed back so we can more carefully examine
what Utah is trying to do and what the implications will be. The MRF will
keep you posted on this issue.

YOUNG ACTIVISTS, WHERE ARE YOU? - The MRF young activists search is on
again. Applicants need to be between 18 and 30 and have a motorcycle
license. Each year, a handful of superb applicants receive round-trip
airfare to the MRF's Meeting of the Minds, as well as a bunch of other
goodies.  For nomination info visit www.mrf.org.

KILTS VS. BIBS - It's official.  The tug of war is on!  At a recent MRF
board meeting there was some discussion regarding whether we should
continue the tug of war or leave it off the Meeting of the Minds agenda,
since both squads have a win under their belts (or shoulder straps).  That
idea was quickly dismissed, and it was decided that we would have the
roped-off rumble once again.  Rumors are flying of a possible ladies'
bikini team, a men's Speedo team, an all-nude team, a Gold Wing team, and
several others. What's not rumor is the fact that the undisputed champs
will emerge in Denver, and they will be wearing kilts!  Right guys? 
Speculation from the kilt camp reveals that the kilts have been in a
rigorous off-season training regimen that is sure to produce some powerful
pulling, not to mention seriously sexy calves.  Whatever side you are on
it's a can't miss event at this year's Meeting of the Minds in Denver. For
You Tube video of the kilts victory go here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUJffeyGgdQ



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(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.