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In the Cantina – Weekly News for April 25th 2019

May We Find Balance and Freedom I wonder if all the bullshit is human nature. We just can’t relax and have a good time. We need to fight over something. I just hope it doesn’t lead to something devastating. Maybe I read too much. I just want to ride free, race, and chase redheads. Life can be so fuckin’ amazing, if we just let it be. I’m about to launch a new Cantina episode. We have Barry’s footboards tech about ready. And you just don’t know what might happen next. Joe Teresi told me he has a deal to sell ER and take the company off his hands. Shit is changing fast. Ride hard and die fast. Forever Free, CLICK TO READ THE NEWS IN THE CANTINA !!! Annual Subscription to Bikernet CANTINA at just $24  

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Join the Cantina – The Rights Weekly News for April, 18 2019

Time to Step Forward and Learn about our Struggles There’s been an on-going struggle to involve the motorcycle industry and all riders in motorcyclists rights forever. This week it heated up again. Now is the time, once more to join a motorcycle rights group and learn about the struggles we face. QUICK READ THE WEEKLY NEWS – Click Here Join the Cantina for $24 per annum

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Letter sent to NHTSA Seeking Clarification on the Definition of a Motorcycle

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation would like to thank Congressman Michael Burgess (TX) and Congressman Tim Walberg (MI) for a letter they sent this week to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) seeking clarification regarding the definition of a motorcycle. In addition to Congressman Burgess and Congressman Wahlberg, the following U.S. Representatives joined their colleagues in signing the letter: Congressman Troy Balderson (OH), Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO), Congressman Collin Peterson (MN), Congressman Steve Stivers (OH) and Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA). The current definition is decades old and so broad that new vehicles on our roadways, with numerous carlike features, are defined as motorcycles. “As you know, NHTSA has long defined a motorcycle as a ‘motor vehicle with motive power having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground.’ While this was a clear characterization for many years, the recent emergence of a new class of vehicle that has attributes of both automobiles and motorcycles has created confusion,” the members wrote. “We respectfully request a response that describes whether NHTSA believes the current federal definition of a motorcycle is appropriate and if not, what NHTSA is doing to address this issue.” The ambiguity of the classification of these new vehicles as either motorcycles or autocycles has created a patchwork of rules and regulations at the state level for licensing, registration and insurance. The MRF believes that a review of this definition is needed and would help provide clarity to states when making decisions on how to appropriately regulate them. We thank these seven members of Congress for seeking clarification from NHTSA on this issue of importance to motorcyclists. President of the MRF, Kirk “Hardtail” Willard, stated “For three years our members have asked

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EPA chief defends decision to pull out of Calif. mpg talks

Washington — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler defended the Trump administration’s decision to pull out of talks with California about new rules for gas mileage. Speaking to reporters Thursday at the Washington Auto Show, Wheeler said he is confident the Trump administration’s proposal to roll back stringent rules that would require automakers to produce fleets that average more than 50 miles per gallon by 2025 will hold up in court if it is successfully finalized later this year. “Our goal from the beginning was a 50-state solution,” he said. “I met with (the California Air Resources Board) three times since taking the helm of EPA last July. But despite our best efforts, we could not reach a solution and decided to end the discussions. We embrace federalism and the role of states, but federalism does not mean that one state can dictate the standards for the entire nation.” Asked what would happen if California proceeds with a lawsuit that has already been filed over the proposal to rule back mileage rules, Wheeler said: “We’ll go to court if they do that. I believe we’re on firm legal footing and I believe that our standards will be upheld by the courts.” The Trump administration announced last year its intention to ease stringent gas-mileage rules that would have required fleets averaging more than 50 miles per gallon by 2025. The administration proposed a freeze in the mandate after 2020, when their lineups must average 39 mpg. Automakers cheered the decision to reopen the so-called midterm review they were promised when the Obama-era gas mileage rules were agreed to in 2011. But they hoped the Trump administration would quickly reach an agreement with California on a new set of rules to prevent a lengthy legal battle that would leave the mpg

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Weekly Biker Bulletin from Inside the Beltway April 5th 2019

RIDING FREE FROM DC Your Motorcycle Riders Foundation team in Washington, D.C. is pleased to provide our members with the latest information and updates on issues that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. Count on your MRF to keep you informed about a range of matters that are critical to the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle. Published weekly when the U.S. Congress is in session. Capitol Hill Update Ground Game Last week the MRF issued a call to action regarding H. Res 255 the Motorcycle profiling bill introduced by Congressmen Walberg (MI), Burgess (TX), Peterson (MN) and Pocan (WI). Since last week, MRF members have sent over 2,000 letters to their lawmakers. The resolution started with four cosponsors, and a week later we have doubled that number to eight cosponsors. A great example of how reaching out to your lawmaker can lead to results comes to us from the motorcycle community in New York. Congressman Lee Zeldin of New York received the most letters of any member of Congress. His office received over 100 letters asking him to cosponsor H. Res 255. And wouldn’t you know it, Congressman Zeldin jumped on as a cosponsor within days of receiving those letters. However, all members of Congress are not as receptive to their constituents as Congressman Zeldin. However, one thing is for certain, if a Member of Congress doesn’t know a bill or resolution exists, they will not be a co-sponsor. Cosponsors by State Illinois – 1 Michigan – 1 Minnesota – 1 Missouri – 1 New York – 1 Texas – 1 Washington – 1 Wisconsin – 1 States who have sent the Most letters New York Texas Louisiana South Dakota Wisconsin Pennsylvania Arizona Minnesota Michigan California DC Game While we ask our members to contact

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Action Alert on $32 Fee Repeal

There has been an overwhelming displeasure with the process of the original bill. It was our understanding at the beginning last session, that the original bill would be to rescind the VLT for alternative fuel vehicle exceptions. In fact, part of the testimony was the fact that so many large trucks, who do the most damage on our highways, are converting to alternative fuels. Obviously, that’s not what happened. And it has been obvious by the public outcry, that the setting of the fees by the ADOT Director is not something the voting population is happy about. I could give you survey results of how motorcyclists in our state feel about this legislation, but I am sure you all are too familiar with the displeasure. I’ll just leave a few numbers for you – $133 additional dollars. That’s the additional fees one voter told me. He is a single man with 2 motorcycles, 2 cars and an off-road vehicle. The increase is more than he pays for both his motorcycles and one of his cars combined. From $35 to $99. Single mom. She has a beater car and a daily driver motorcycle to get back and forth to work. The motorcycle saves her a tremendous amount on fuel. The $64 increase is more than 2 months of her fuel costs on her bike. This is what one of our members just received and is the typical increase for a motorcyclist. I could go on and on with examples, but I am sure you get the picture of the negative financial impact this has had. The motorcycle community in Arizona is in favor of Senator Ugenti-Rita’s bill to repeal this absurd fee and we ask that you contact your State Representative and ask for a unanimous floor vote on SB1001. ABATE OF ARIZONA

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Utah Legalizes Lane Splitting

from rideapart.com Governor Gary Herbert signed H.B. 149 into law Thursday, making Utah the second state to permit the practice. Update: Imprecise language to discuss the contents of this bill was used. The Utah bill clearly states that “lane filtering” is now legal, however, we referred to it as “lane splitting”, which is often colloquially used to describe both. We have clarified the information and changed the article to reflect the subtleties between both terminologies, and we apologize for the mistake. – SG On Thursday, the number of states to take motorcycle safety measures doubled to two, as Governor Gary Herbert signed H.B. 149, legalizing lane filtering in the great state of Utah. Only 48 U.S. states, Canada, and a few other countries prohibit motorcycles from traveling between lanes of cars in slow or stopped traffic. It’s common and expected practice throughout Europe and Asia. As long as cars are expecting it and everyone involved does it safely, it’s not only faster for bikes to cut through traffic, but safer, too. Bikes can safely make their way to the front of the line, rather than be stuck in the back where an inattentive driver could crash into them from behind. Of course, since this is a motorcycle safety bill, it’s not about doing a wheelie between cars at 100 mph. The law stipulates certain conditions under which lane filtering is allowed. The road must have two or more lanes with a speed limit no greater than 45 mph, which unfortunately rules out interstates. Additionally, traffic must be completely stopped, and the motorcycle may not exceed 15 mph while navigating between lanes (unlike lane splitting that allows motorcycles to cruise in-between lanes while traffic is in motion). It’s not exactly the Wild West of California’s lane splitting laws (or lack of

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War on Cars Watch for March 20, 2019

The national stories from across the country. War on Cars Watch, a weekly blog to bring together all the stories that affect motorists with regards to street planning such as road diets, and traffic calming as well as programs such as Vision Zero and Complete Streets. Since its founding more than 30 years ago as the Citizens Coalition for Rational Traffic Laws, the National Motorists Association has been the voice of thousands of motorists who stand up for key principles of drivers’ rights. READ the NMA News Report by Clicking Here – Subscribe to Bikernet Cantina Today Support NMA

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Thousands of Outlaws attend Dayton funeral for Taco Bowman

Illinois, Texas, New York, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Connecticut were among the dozens of states represented Saturday at the funeral of the infamous former international president of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club – known to all as Harry Joseph “Taco” Bowman, at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. Police estimate there were more than 2,000 people at the funeral Saturday morning, coming in from all over the world on 1,200 motorcycles and hundreds of other vehicles. Mark Lovett, a detective in the Columbus Police division’s intelligence unit said he saw patches from England as Outlaws drove in, and the crowd was large because many drove up Interstate 75 from Daytona Beach Bike Week, which is running from March 8 through today. Lovett has been to more than 15 Outlaws motorcycle funerals in the last 20 years and this is by far the largest one he has witnessed. Even larger than the funeral for Dayton’s Harold “Stairway Harry” Henderson, Bowman’s mentor and one of the last International presidents of the Outlaws, Lovett said. “This is one of those events that really only happen once in our career, to see something this big,” Lovett said. Several police agencies and task forces were at the funeral outside of uniform to observe. Most of the funerals are peaceful, Lovett said. But uniformed police and fire departments were ready to respond to any needs, including general health concerns of members attending the services. “You just never know what’s going to happen at a motorcycle gang funeral. They say they’re not a gang, but they fit the description,” he said. Members of the Outlaws would not comment to the Daily News Reporters, but they said Bowman is a legacy. Bowman died March 3 at age 69. He was serving two life sentences in a North Carolina prison after being

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