THE NMA NEWS LETTER–When we published E-Newsletter #520, The Next Ten Years, on December 30, 2018 with predictions from some NMA and NMA Foundation directors of the challenges that the NMA and motoring public are going to face over the next decade, we encouraged readers to provide their insights. And boy, have you.
We currently have enough material for two reader feedback editions. This is Part 1. Part 2 will follow next week.
As a senior citizen in my ‘80s I have been a motorist for over sixty years and point out that numbers of elderly drivers are on the increase. Care must be taken to assure that senior drivers are not discriminated against either because of age or by the invisible threat of being overwhelmed with increasingly complex new technology.
Progress is easy, but becomes a challenge for many seniors. As an example, my wife purchased a 2019 automobile with so many electronic features that I refuse to drive it and am concerned that all the technology of late model cars poses a significant risk of inducing driver distraction to many drivers.
It’s easy for society to become overly enthused about new technology while forgetting that some of its members may be increasingly challenged by it. Consideration of the needs and abilities of those motorists must not be ignored nor plowed under in the push for progress. Advances in technology must not be allowed to create unnecessary obstacles for older drivers who may be overwhelmed by them.
The environment in which motorists operate must accommodate all drivers and not discriminate against those drivers whose skill level and experience it makes obsolete. The headlong rush for technology must not take precedence over the safety and ability of the aging motorist population.
Steve, NY member
I believe the real issue confronting motorists and motorcyclists currently is infrastructure. We need more, and perhaps dual-tiered, roads for a growing population. State DOTs need to better accommodate lighter weight traffic and motorcycles, perhaps through the use of smart lanes.
Keith Ball, California member
BIKERNET.COM™
The biggest challenge NMA faces is making sure that the general public ultimately decides policies, free of entrapment, privacy denial, etc. There are four realms where this is, and will continue to be, an issue.
The first is automatic law enforcement, such as speed and red-light cameras. The people do not want this. It is nothing but a moneymaker for the government, and does not improve safety. In the meantime, what WILL improve safety is being ignored.
The second is connected cars. We get them whether we want them or not. They invade the privacy of owners, and report sensitive information to the governmental enemy that will use this information against us.
The third is autonomous cars. Nobody is asking the general public whether we want to share the road with these vehicles. They simply do not have the mental capabilities of humans, and they are unpredictable, especially to the human drivers who share the roads with them. In fact, I have already decided to avoid driving where they are allowed.
Finally, what may seem like a side issue: legalization of recreational marijuana. Those in favor want the “right” to stone themselves silly, and far too many of them are perfectly willing to drive and endanger the rest of us. Here again, I choose not to drive where this is legal. We do not owe it to anyone to legalize self-destructive acts, which reach even into homes where children are the victims.
Good luck fighting these dragons. We are going to need it.
Pat, Arizona member
Mr. Walker nailed the key issue: “…posted limits have become disrespected and little more than warnings of potential ticketing risk.”
Most freeway speed limits seem to be set about 10 – 15 MPH below what is safe. Fortunately, most drivers recognize this and travel at the 85th percentile speed. Unfortunately, some drivers take the artificially low limits at face value, drive to those limits, and thereby impede efficient traffic flow, especially on two lane roads.
I believe the problem boils down to a policy balance between protecting people for their own good vs. trusting them to use good judgment. Many traffic authorities err on the side of conservatism, so speed limits have migrated too far toward the former policy.
Brian, Pennsylvania member
BALL DYNASTY ART OF THE WEEK– Tattoo for my friend, Brad, to symbolize his everlasting love for his mother. Made in Venice, Los Angeles California.
–Frank Ball Jr.
AUSTRALIAN CLUB NEWS–Mates warned to stay away from declared groups under threat of criminal prosecution
People without a criminal history in the Australian state of Queensland are being handed official warnings to stay away from motorcycle club members under the threat of criminal prosecution as part of the state’s draconian consorting laws.
The laws implemented to stop bikers from associating with other known criminals, are now being used to stop people, without a criminal history, from continuing or forming relationships with the declared club members.
Police sources have stated the new tactic was aimed at isolating bikers further, not only from their fellow club members, but also from other members of the public.
“It’s working. Bikies are walking away from their gangs because they can’t hang out with anyone, they are being isolated to the point where they can’t even have a coffee with a friend,” the source said.
“It’s also about letting people know that the person they are forming a friendship with is part of a gang, it’s about keeping them safe, away from becoming a potential victim, or being brought into the fold of the gang.”
Gatenby Criminal Law director Michael Gatenby said he had some Gold Coast clients who had no criminal history but had received official warnings from police for consorting with known criminals.
“It’s pretty isolating (for convicted criminals),” he said.
“It’s taking mates away from people at a time where you are trying to get through and talk to them and rehabilitate them.”
Mr Gatenby said he was also aware police were serving notices for people who had contact with convicted criminals in other states, such as Tasmania.
The lawyer has previously gone with clients as they were served by police with the notice.
“I haven’t been served but police have told me I could be,” Mr Gatenby said.
There are exceptions granted under the consorting law for people talking to named persons who are immediately related to them or for work purposes.
Grant Lawyers director Jason Grant said he was aware of one person who was a “cleanskin” who had been given a warning under the anti-consorting legislation.
“It means effectively that people who have done nothing wrong are limited in their freedom,” he said.
Mr Grant said he was not aware of any persons with no criminal history being charged under the law.
A Gold Coast man warned
Police advised man to avoid his mate of 12 years, under laws originally sold to the public as biker specific.
Trent Young, a local excavator driver who has no recorded criminal history, believes he was targeted when hanging out with a childhood friend.
The pair were riding their motorbikes and decided to park late last week, when they were approached by officers.
“He was on a Harley I was on a road bike Yamaha,” Mr Young said.
Mr Young said as soon as the pair parked their motorbikes, two police officers spoke with them.
“They then questioned my friend for having any links to any motorcycle club,” Mr Young said.
The 25 year old said his friend may have had connections, but was not aware of that being a problem, as he himself had no criminal record and simply wanted to meet up.
“After they ran his name they then informed him that they have the power to issue me with a consorting notice, even though I have no prior convictions nor am I part of any motorcycle club,” Mr Young said.
“They had just told us it was due to the fact we have been close friends since high school, they then proceeded to take photos of me as well as my motorcycle for no apparent reason.”
“The police then told us how it doesn’t matter if you are a part of a motorcycle club or not.”
Mr. Young said he couldn’t believe the situation but didn’t argue with police as he was concerned he would be issued with the formal warning.
“I was frustrated about it all,” he said.
“How is it we are no longer allowed to associate with each other.”
“This means anyone who has any convictions whether it be a driving offence or more serious offences, are now at risk of their close friends being targeted by this law and possibly convicted.
Mr Young, who avoided the official warning later consulted a lawyer on the matter.
“I’ve spoken to a lawyer about it and he has stated that that’s the law now.”
“Obviously I’d like to see the laws get dropped because I think they are getting too ridiculous now,” Mr Young said.
“Saying you can’t associate with your best friend because he has a conviction or is in a motorcycle club or both … should be dropped, you should be able to associate with who ever you want.”
Mr Young said he believed the laws were unlikely to assist police as they isolate those with a record.
–Deep Down Under Cover
Agent
Bikernet.com™
QUICK NEW READER COMMENT–
BIKERNET IS OPEN WEEKLY NEWS for January 10th, 2019
https://www.bikernet.com/pages/BIKERNET_IS_OPEN_WEEKLY_NEWS_for_January_10th_2019.aspx
I didn’t expect this week’s publication of the News but it was a great surprise. Thanks
–Sam
Somewhere, TX
Hey Sam, the Thursday or Weekly news won’t change unless I’m on the road. Just the Sunday Post changed to the Weekend Round-up on Monday. I needed my Sunday’s Back.–Bandit
THE ELECTRICAL CONTROVERSY–We’re not being told something huge about all this electric vehicle stuff.
We do know that manufacturers want to remain relevant. They want subsequent owners to have to turn to them, decades later, to keep their vehicle going. It’s an income stream for them, a lease rather than sale model. It’s the same as Microsoft going to “subscription-based” rather than ownership.
But there’s another twist. Last week I found a new magazine dedicated to electric vehicles. Inside, the Publisher gushed about how excited everyone was about this technology. He took a pause to blast Trump for “unacceptably” not “believing” that global climate change is man-made. He said it was a failure of leadership, etc., & he praised China for investing in “most every electric vehicle entity” because China “gets it.”
Hey wait a minute. Doesn’t anyone remember when Walmart changed its position & decided to support Obamacare? They told Walmart stockholders that they realized Obamacare was going to put such a burden on the economy & retailers that it would hurt their competitors, Target, Costco, the corner drugstores, more than it would hurt Walmart. So they decided to support it in order to enjoy the heavy hand of Government giving them a competitive advantage.
Same with the large health insurers, the AMA, & AARP. They pushed a hugely-inefficient program which was being rammed down our throats because they realized they could get ahead of their competitors that way.
Even the proponents of electric vehicles admit that the overall impact, from power generation to transmission, is a mere fraction of the efficiency of good-ol petroleum combustion, especially diesel, which is even more efficient than gasoline. It’s the same for carbon impact, too. Petroleum makes less of an impact on the environment overall, in terms of recycling, making the batteries, mining the elements (so many of which China controls…)
So China is investing in electric vehicle technology, probably pouring large amounts of money & free tech help to anyone willing to….make America less competitive, at the expense of the stupid American taxpayer.
Yeah, China “gets it” alright.
There again, if we just followed the $%^&^ US Constitution, we wouldn’t be in this boat. The Feds have no Constitutional authority to be cherry-picking recipients of specific welfare. China sends a battery of lawyers & cute Asian girls in short skirts to entice Federal bureaucrats, stuck in square cubicles & starved for attention. Easy peasy. Just look at what happened with Toyota & the “sudden acceleration” issue – every time a Fed bureaucrat got close to the truth, Toyota hired them away with a huge salary bump. The issue stayed covered for years, NHTSA even announcing “there’s nothing to see here, go away.” With Consumer Reports’ blessing of course (Hey, they also supported Obamacare, hmmmm). Americans died. No fed was fired or reprimanded. Centralized power is always corrupt.
If you mention in public the Constitutional concept of decentralized power, some righteous bird always speaks up “Hey what about slavery? – You have to keep the Feds over the States.” Right, well what about abortion on demand, homosexual marriage on demand, transvestites in women’s bathrooms, Bernie Maddoff & the SEC, Lois Lerner & the IRS, the State Department & the Iran Nuclear deal, Clinton giving nuclear secrets to China, Clinton selling uranium to Russia as a “charity” so they can write it off on their taxes….
Yeah China, Japan, about everyone in the world “gets it,” but US Taxpayers. We’re hard at work generating cash with what’s left of our Free Enterprise Golden Goose & then we ship almost half of it to greedy bureaucrats, all gathered together in one spot, Unconstitutionally, to dispense it to their buds, assuring us that they’re saving the planet. It’s all for our own good, you see.
If only we could get the message across about the overwhelming benefits of decentralized power, as our Constitution expects. I think most Americans would “get it” if we just explained it.
–from Geno Dipoli
Emperor Editor
Old School Rods Magazine
NEWS FROM LOWBROW–Changing out your handlebars can radically change the look of any motorcycle, stock or custom. You know what else?
It can make for a more comfortable ride. But, what the heck is dimpled or smooth? Not sure what bars will look best and work with your bike?
No problem! Check out our Motorcycle Handlebars 101 Video and get the lowdown. Also, below you will find some videos showing bikes with different bars. You can also look at different handlebar listings to see photos of them on various bikes here at the shop.
And if you still have questions just contact us or reply to this email, we love talking about motorcycles!
Click for action.
