laws

Is Green the New Gray Area

by Mark Buckner with images from Sam Burns For as long as I can remember – which is getting to be a LONG time! – those of us who love riding motorcycles and have devoted a large part of our lives to preserving and protecting our way of life have been telling anyone who would listen that the enemies of motorcycling don’t just want to pass more and more restrictive laws where we’re concerned. Their ultimate goal is to get us off the road entirely. Click here to read this report only on Bikernet.com * * * * To Stay updated on all Motorcycle News and Events … – simply Click & Subscribe to Bikernet’s FREE Weekly Newsletter

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Drag Specialties demands waiver signatures

Hey, this is major important. Drag Specialties is making it mandatory to sign a waiver before you can buy any performance parts from any shop. This is why you need to be on the alert. There is only one organization with the balls to fight back, the MRF and the new IMA with Bob Kay, Kirk Willard and myself. We won’t go down without a fight. Join the MRF and the IMA Visit https://mrf.org/ Visit https://mrf.org/join/join-mrf-imac/ * * *

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Spain is rolling out mandatory Motorcycle gear to solve rising fatalities

from the Wayfarer with illustration by the Wayfarer SPAIN— All motorcyclists might soon be required to wear full-face helmets and gloves every time they ride. In USA, there is some reasoning and freedoms left while across the pond, the control-ist regimes are “welcomed” by mute citizens, reminiscent of 1930s. There are many reasons for a road accident and many more for a motorcycle related accident. In USA, even the Feds and NHTSA know that it is the people with more than two-wheels who are reckless and blind and have the shameless (illegal) luxury of texting and dialing while driving. Yet, why not blame the most fuel-efficient and cheapest transport vehicle available to a citizen–the motorcycle –and its rider for accidents and fatalities. You might as well say roads kill people and force people into house arrests or ghetto patrol with Judge Dredd being the only one with a gun and a motorcycle! Even open-face helmets are not good enough for Spain as full-face helmets are being advocated to be mandatory. No gloves? Well, they want to save your middle-finger for later! Gloves are to be mandatory riding equipment as well. While there’s no specified timeline regarding the implementation of these various new mandates, driving license for two-wheelers itself will be staggered and handed out in stages to those completing courses. Maybe Spain will mandate a College Degree in Motorcycle Riding to allow a citizen to get a motorcycle driving license. Meanwhile, the rest of the users of Spain’s roads are not required to know anything about motorcycles, including the lawmakers!

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Fliers for Freedom

Hey, I was inspired by Becky Zarling, an MRF Assistant rep and a hardworking member of ABATE of Wisconsin. She pronounced in her newsletter that members of ABATE would attend every motorcycle event in Wisconsin, meet bikers and hand out fliers regarding legislation, MRF efforts and ABATE of Wisconsin activities. I was moved and motivated. I asked Becky if I could create an important MRF flier about the biggest threat to our lifestyle. Could she add it to her leaflets and make it available to riders all over her state? She said yes, but there were some guidelines she must follow. First the flier had to be motorcycle centric and secondly, and of course, the wording must be approved by the MRF Board. There you have it. So, I’m here to present my original version and the version edited by the CO2 Coalition. I hope one or the other is approved and we can move forward. Chris Callen, the boss of Cycle Source Magazine volunteered to handle the art layout. We will make these available to anyone who wants them free of charge. Bikernet.com is also sponsoring this effort. Keith R. Ball Bikernet.com WHAT’S THE BIGGEST THREAT TO MOTORCYCLING AND OUR LIFESTYLE? CLIMATE DOOMSDAY Harley CEO Jochen Zeitz tells us that after 120 years of being famous for its big gas-powered models, electrification is the logical next step. –Jalopnik SO, WHAT’S THE REAL DEAL, THE TRUE SCIENCE? CARBON DIOXIDE CO2 IS NOT A POLLUTANT More carbon dioxide will help everyone including future generations. CO2 is the essential food for land-based plants. The Earth’s biosphere has experienced a relative CO2 famine for millions of years, but the recent increase in CO2 levels with the use of Fossil Fuels has had a measurable, positive effect on plant life. FUTURE CO2 INCREASES WILL

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California’s Attack on the Internal Combustion Engine

This week, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a hearing on proposed emission standards from the State of California. The plan submitted by California would end the sale of new cars and light-duty vehicles with internal combustion engines by 2035. In response to the California CARB plan, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) submitted comments to the EPA. We know this attack on internal combustion engines will eventually include motorcycles and we must respond. The MRF is fighting to preserve the bikes we love, as well as the local shops and dealers that support the internal combustion engine. It is time to fight back! Click to read MRF comments submitted to EPA hearing: MRF Comments to EPA To Join the MRF visit https://mrf.org * * * *

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Ohio Pushes Back on California Plans

Just before the end of 2023, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed H.B. 201 into law. The focus of the bill is to; “Prohibit a state agency, county, or township from restricting the sale or use of a motor vehicle based on the energy source used to power the motor vehicle; to prohibit a state agency from adopting the California emissions standards for motor vehicles.” As you may remember, the Clean Air Act allows states to seek a waiver to enact emission standards outside of those set by the federal government. In 2022, California received a waiver allowing the state to establish guidelines requiring every new car and truck sold there to have zero emissions by 2035. This requirement has set off a debate in state capitals around the country. Some states seek to align with California, while others, like Ohio, are pushing back against California’s plans. ABATE of Ohio received the support of other groups in support of the bill, including the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Auto Dealers Association. Ed Schetter, Executive Director of ABATE of Ohio, testified in December, backing the bill. In his remarks, he said, “ABATE of Ohio is concerned with the push towards electric power and pressure to eliminate the internal combustion engine from the marketplace. This may leave many motorcyclists without options on how to power the motorcycles we ride. We also feel this may limit the availability of sales, parts, and service to the motorcyclists of Ohio. Many of these businesses are ones we’ve relied on for years.” After the hearing, lawmakers thanked ABATE of Ohio for their participation. Multiple legislators noted that ABATE of Ohio was the only “citizen-led” group involved in the hearing. Comments like that help reinforce the importance of engagement and participation by citizens in the legislative

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MRF on New Year 2024

Happy New Year! It is 2024. Time marches forward and so must we. We had a good 2023! If you missed the review of what we did in 2023, you can check out our most recent Facebook post using the button below. Now we must keep moving forward! At Meeting of the Minds (MOTM) in Harrisburg, PA this past September we set our agenda for 2024. Our top priorities include (in alphabetical order): Autonomous Vehicles Crash Avoidance Data Recorders Definition of a Motorcycle Emissions Regulations Helmet Laws Internal Combustion Engines Profiling Renewable Fuels Right to Repair We’ve taken our moment to celebrate 2023 and hope you have as well. The MRF now looks forward to seeing our entire family of Freedom Fighters, gather again to work toward saving the lifestyle we love! MRF Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/bikers.rights About Motorcycle Riders Foundation: http://mrf.org 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 lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond.

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