laws

MRF Visits Waymo: Latest In Robo-Taxis

Last week, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) attended an event in Washington, D.C., hosted by Waymo, a self-driving car company. Titled “Every Mile Together: Waymo Safety Forum and Discussion,” this event included a panel discussion with executives for Waymo, the National Safety Council and the Governors Highway Safety Association. Waymo is a subsidiary of Google and is best known for its “robo-taxis.” These vehicles allow riders to hail a car and travel to a destination without a driver. Operating without a driver falls under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) definition of “Level 4” automation. That NHTSA classification means, “When engaged, the system is fully responsible for driving tasks. A human driver is not needed to operate the vehicle.” An important takeaway from the event was that Waymo agrees with the MRF that current advertisements and the lack of transparency involving this modern technology are unacceptable. Other companies are operating vehicles with Level 2 autonomy. Misleading advertising means consumers are unaware of what tasks that automation level can perform. The Level 2 automation definition states: “Driver is fully responsible for driving the vehicle while the system provides continuous assistance with either acceleration/braking and steering.” The MRF is committed to fighting for the safety of bikers and will collaborate with allies on issues we agree upon. We thank the officials at Waymo for the invitation and for including us in these discussions. As a reminder, Waymo is operating in Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles, with plans to start in Austin, Texas. These vehicles are on the road now and their presence is growing. Waymo will soon begin testing in other locations, so, as always, remain vigilant. Join The MRF — visit http://mrf.org/

MRF Visits Waymo: Latest In Robo-Taxis Read More »

100WFC: Burn Out by Wayfarer

Burn Out by Wayfarerwith illustration by Wayfarer The winds slapped his body as he kept his head steady, guiding the Fat Boy through backroads, out past county lines. The roads uneven, but the path was known to him. The brothers had brought the fight to the establishment. The State however considered them a malignant minority. Even as cops and Congressmen thrashed the group with harsh laws and fines, the rider’s outlook was – all for one and one invaluable Constitution. As they stood their ground, an underground parking lot exploded. “Outlaws!” “Scum!” Age-old slimy propaganda to delude the masses. In a city that banned ICE engines, it was anybody’s guess what had exploded. (publication dated 23-March-2024) READ ALL THE YEAR 2024 ENTRIES BY CLICKING HEREhttps://www.bikernet.com/pages/Bikernet_100_Word_Fiction_Contest_2024.aspx

100WFC: Burn Out by Wayfarer Read More »

Call To Action! S. 3094 (CARS Act)

Call To Action — U.S. Senate Bill S. 3094 Wednesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final rule on tailpipe emissions. The plan calls for greenhouse gas emissions limits for the 2027 through 2032 model years for passenger vehicles. The original plan would have required 67% of new light-duty car and truck sales to be electric by 2032. After pushback from numerous groups, hybrids became included in the calculations and targets were slightly lowered. Nevertheless, over 50% of cars for sale in less than a decade, will need to be electric. Last year the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act with bipartisan support. The vote was 221-197. The bill prevents the EPA from enacting these rules, thereby protecting the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). Unfortunately, the Senate refuses to act. Only 37 U.S Senators are currently supporting the companion bill, S. 3094. If you care about preserving the Internal Combustion Engine, now is the time to act. Tell your Senators to push back against the mandate for electric vehicles. Click the Call To Action button below! Add your voice to those that want to defend our lifestyle. There is speculation that new bills will be introduced to protect the Internal Combustion Engine but we must keep up the pressure! If bikers do not stand up now, will they hear us later? !!Call To Action!! Join The MRF — The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated

Call To Action! S. 3094 (CARS Act) Read More »

Friday From DC – E15 Changes In The Midwest

E15 Changes In The Midwest Last week the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a policy change related to gasoline with 15% ethanol (E15). In 2025 this new policy will allow gas stations in eight Midwestern states to sell E15 fuel year-round. Current policy prohibits E15 sales between June 1st and September 15th because of concerns that it adds to smog on hot days. In 2022 and 2023 the EPA announced emergency waivers that allowed for summertime E15 sales, citing market disruptions, including the war in Ukraine. This move by the EPA will make those temporary changes permanent in the selected eight states. The rule, which takes effect in April 2025, will apply in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. This decision comes after governors and farm groups in these eight states requested that the federal government change this policy. This modification is a prime opportunity to remind everyone to be mindful of the fuel that you use. Verify that the fuel you are using in your bike is compatible with manufacturers’ guidelines. Stay vigilant as these changes take effect over the next year! Ride Safe and Ride FreeJoin The MRFClick here http://mrf.org/ or call (202) 546-0983

Friday From DC – E15 Changes In The Midwest Read More »

Send a Letter to EPA Opposing California’s ICE Ban

Final Call: Oppose California’s ICE Ban The California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) “Advanced Clean Cars II” (ACC II) regulations ban the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035. ACC II requires that 35% of new cars, SUVs, and small trucks sold in California must be zero-emissions vehicles (ZEV) starting in 2026. The regulation increases ZEV sales requirements by 6% to 8% annually through 2035, when 100% of new vehicles sold in California must be ZEV – eliminating the sale of any new vehicles that are gas-powered. Before ACC II can be implemented, CARB must receive a waiver from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its regulation to take effect. SEMA opposes ACC II because seventeen states, representing nearly 40% of the American population, have previously adopted California motor vehicle emission laws. To date, nine states and the District of Columbia have already adopted ACC II; three states have adopted ACC II through 2032, which requires 87% of new motor vehicle sales to be ZEV; and two states have started the regulatory process to adopt ACC II CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Send a Letter to EPA Opposing California’s ICE Ban Read More »

Witness Slips Needed Today

ABATE of Illinois  Statehouse Update Always See the latest at abate-il.org/bills Questions? email: Legislative@abate-il.org Want to make your voice heard? Join Us for Legislative Day – April 17th Witness Slips Needed Today (2/20/24) Lawmakers to Consider Enacting California Air Emissions Restrictions on Illinois Bikers & Off Road Riders Late last night, ABATE of Illinois learned that HB1634 will be heard in committee today at 4pm. This bill would subject ALL Illinois vehicles to restrictions passed by the unelected bureaucrats of the California Air Resources Board.  This bill would ban internal combustion engines by 2035, and severely restrict your ability to work on and maintain your motorcycles & off road vehicles.    Click here to fill out a witness slip (Opposed, Record of Appearance Only) Need to Renew Your Membership or Update your information? Click Here to Log in or request credentials to access the member only parts of our Website

Witness Slips Needed Today Read More »

The Tall Tales of the Climate Crisis

by Daniel W. Nebert For the past 35 years, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned us that emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, predominantly carbon dioxide (CO2), are causing dangerous global warming. This myth is blindly accepted — even by many of my science colleagues who know virtually nothing about climate. As a scientist, my purpose here is to help expose this fairy tale. From his seminal work while prisoner of war during WWI, Serbian mathematician Milutin Milankovitch explained how climate is influenced by variations in the Earth’s asymmetric orbit, axial tilt, and rotational wobble — each going through cycles lasting as long as 120,000 years. Click here to read this article on Bikernet.com * * * *

The Tall Tales of the Climate Crisis Read More »

Royal Enfield unveils Classic 350 Flex Fuel motorcycle

– Classic 350 with flex-fuel blend unveiled – Gets green and red paint scheme – Likely to be launched in 2025 Royal Enfield has unveiled a flex-fuel version of its most successful motorcycle – the Classic 350. This bike was unveiled at the ongoing 2024 Bharat Mobility Expo. Flex Fuel Classic 350 can run with a blend of petrol and ethanol. However, the exact percentage of ethanol blending has not been mentioned. Currently, most petrol pumps across the country have 10 per cent ethanol blended in their petrol tanks. The government has plans to take the ethanol blend to 25% by 2025.

Royal Enfield unveils Classic 350 Flex Fuel motorcycle Read More »

Scroll to Top