From “Texas” Larry Walker, Government Relations Specialist, Washington Road Riders Association:

Week three and things are starting to settle in to some sort of “routine.” So far there are only two bills that look to be in less than the best interest of motorcyclists, but I will save that for later.

The good news is that HB 1403 (Addressing the detection of motorcycles and bicycles at vehicle-activated traffic control signals.) is scheduled for a hearing in house transportation. It will be heard next Thursday, Feb. 5, at 3:30 PM in house hearing room B.

And now for a bit of protocol, direction, and advice on the hearing process:

1. Brevity is essential. The Bicycle Alliance of Washington is taking the lead on the bill, so their representative will be the first one to give testimony. I will sign in as testifying in favor, but I will only be speaking if it is absolutely necessary. The remaining bicycle enthusiasts that come will most likely sign in as in favor but not testifying. The motorcycling community should do the same. If you do have some anecdotal stories to tell it is always appropriate to submit your remarks in writing to the committee. The committee members have lots on their plates, and the last thing they need to listen to is the same point being made over and over. They will appreciate it if we keep it short and sweet. (I fully intend to keep my remarks to a minimum, and anyone who has known me for very long knows what a sacrifice that is.)
2. Proper decorum is a must. Do not congregate just outside the entrance to the hearing room. When you enter the John L. O’Brien building, proceed to the hearing room, remove your hat and enter quietly, and find a seat. Finally, do not forget to silence your cell phone. When the hearing is over, if you do not wish to stay for the rest of the agenda feel free to quietly exit, both the room and the building.

See you at the hearing.

Now, for the rest of the news:

SB 5387, the companion bill for HB 1403 has yet to see any action. Senator Haugen has other irons in the fire, so she may wait for the house version to come across before she considers the issue. I continue to hear interest in the issue.

SB 5652 (Requiring a reduction in toll rates charged to motorcycles) has been dropped in the senate and forwarded to Senate Transportation. Representative Dan Roach (R-31) will be dropping the house version in the next few days. Considering the budget issues, either of these bills will have an uphill battle.

SB 5552 (Modifying restrictions on children riding motorcycles) is another attempt to regulate how responsible riders take their children riding. We have been there before and demonstrated many times the there is no problem, to there is no problem to solve, but some people just need to regulate any behavior that seems to look “risky.” The good news is that the word I keep hearing is that most of the senate sees to pressing need to work on this issue. It is too early to start lighting up phone lines, since this may be destined to go nowhere, but it is not too early for you to start composing your statements. If it looks like this issue has any traction at all I will definitely be sending out a high priority legislative action alert. Then is when we will light up the servers and switchboards.

HB 1497 (Eliminating boards and commissions) is an interesting piece of work. It came out of a Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) study concerning boards and commissions, and calls for the elimination of all boards and commissions. That would eliminate the Motorcycle Safety Program, but don’t panic. Most likely, either this bill, or the Governor’s proposal, which has yet to be released, will be turned into a work in progress after the session adjourns. I have already offered to join into the process if that is indeed the case. Again, no need to open fire, but get the ammo loaded so that we can move on a moment’s notice.

Finally, there is HB 1344 (Exempting enclosed, three-wheeled passenger vehicles from the motorcycle endorsement requirement) which exempts these high mileage three wheeled cars that are starting to show up from being designated as a motorcycle or having a requirement to be endorsed to operate one. There is no real issue for the motorcycling community, but this should be an interesting show to watch.

As of yet, while there are rumors of a helmet law reform bill, one has yet to hit the intro sheets. I will get that out on the wire when it happens.

Until then, Ride safe and legislate well.

Photo by Piutus

The beginning of the new legislative session is upon us!  Our elected officials are headed back to Olympia, and it’s time for us to remind them about our issues.  Black Thursday, motorcycling’s first big day in Olympia, is scheduled for January 22, 2009.  This is a great opportunity for us to show our representatives in the State Capitol that motorcyclists WILL stand up and be counted, that we WILL be heard in the halls of government, that we WILL be part of the solution.

How do you get involved?  First, you need to know who represents you: two members of the House, one of the Senate.  If you don’t know who these people are, you can go to http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx, enter your address, and the website will tell you who they are.  The next step: you need to call each of them, identify yourself as a constituent and a motorcyclist, and ask for an appointment.  A few fine points:

• Your legislator will not answer the phone.  The phone will be answered by his/her Legislative Assistant.  This is NOT a secretary or a receptionist.  This person is part of the legislator’s team, and supports him/her in the work of understanding our state’s many issues and crafting responses.  It is important to treat this person with the same respect you would show to the member.  He or she may ask you what you want to discuss.  I suggest your response be brief, and state that you are an active motorcyclist who lives in the district and you want your legislator to be aware of issues that matter to motorcycling.  Not sure what that is?  Read on….
• In general, our most important message is that motorcycling is a way of life as well as a serious mode of transportation for many of us.  I’ve met legislators and others who think that motorcycles are something we take out on weekends and play with when the sun is out (both days).  I know many people who use motorcycles as their primary means of transportation – including me!  It makes a big impression when you tell your legislator that this is how you or your friends get to work, and why.
• Texas Larry will be sending out a set of ‘talking points.’  This is a summary of the issues we are tracking right now.  This is NOT to tell you that you must only address those issues.  The talking points are offered as helpful hints, not an agenda.  We don’t have any particular bills we are running this session, but we are watching some trends that are important to motorcycling.
• Don’t own a suit?  No worries.  It’s actually great if you show up as a motorcyclist.  I most often do that at big-ticket fundraisers, because I want everyone to know I’m a biker.  If you don’t ride that day and don’t want to wear riding gear, just dress in something clean, comfortable and that would not offend either your mother or her old-maid sister.    Oh, by the way: I keep two helmets, one for normal riding and one that I wear around legislators.  The former is something you wouldn’t leave around for your mother to read – the latter is as clean as a baby’s first (or maybe second) thoughts.  Watch those patches, too.  We do want to make a positive impression.

When should you call?  Well, tomorrow would be good.  Tomorrow is only ten days from Black Thursday.  The legislators may not be in the office yet, but their assistants will be.  It’s important to get on their calendars before they fill up.  One important thing to remember: these are very busy people.  While they will do their best to keep their appointments with you, sometimes Things Happen.  If you are asked to wait or are told your appointment can’t be kept,  please be gracious.  Yes, it sucks.  But it’s not malicious – it just happens, when committee chairs call unexpected meetings, the Governor’s office wants to talk to you…  And if you can’t make it for some reason, please call and cancel, even if it’s just before your appointment.  It’s all about respect.

I know I’m asking you to do something pretty special and perhaps a bit hard.  For most of us (myself included), it involves taking a day off work.  But this is one of the most powerful statements you can make in defense of your right to ride.  Imagine a world where highways are built such that we can’t ride on them (some versions of the Intelligent Transportation System propose this).  Imagine a world where your choice of motorcycle is limited to one or two models (there are current and proposed pollution control rules that would make it impossible for manufacturers to offer many models or for you to customize your motorcycles – and don’t really impact pollution!).  If our elected officials do not see the face of motorcycling – that’s you and me – they can’t and won’t know how to act in our interest.  It’s important.

I also know that for some people, this is somewhat overwhelming.  If you would like either Texas Larry or me to accompany you, please let us know as soon as you have an appointment and we will do our best to do so.  I would also appreciate it if others with experience in Olympia would let Larry and me know if you’ll be there, so that perhaps we can pair you up with newcomers if Larry and I are both booked.  But we’ll be there all day, and we’d love to help.

By the way, if you live in the 43rd District and can be in Olympia for Black Thursday, please let me know right away.  Your representative is the House Speaker, Frank Chopp, and we would appreciate your help in obtaining an appointment with him.  On the off chance that someone from Spokane (3rd District) will be there, we’d like to meet with Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown.

If you live in a district with a new legislator (as I do), it is even more important he or she meets you.  We need to start out the new kids right.    During the campaign, I had a conversation about motorcycling with the candidate who eventually won.  He was very interested in our perspective and told me he had never realized the challenges we face – of course not, he doesn’t ride!  But he’s interested in what we have to say now, because he realizes there is a different perspective from atop two wheels.  That’s how this works, folks: we educate those who legislate, so they are empowered to legislate in our best interests.  They don’t know if you and I don’t tell ‘em.

Questions?  Please email me and/or Texas Larry:

president@roadriders.org
wrraleg@aol.com

I look forward to seeing you around the sundial!  — Ian

Ian King, President
Washington Road Riders Association
http://www.roadriders.org

May you live in interesting times.

As we greet the new year we can expect to continue to feel the effects of the recently-officially-designated economic recession and credit crisis. Motorcycling, largely driven by discretionary spending, is being hit hard. Major manufacturers are looking to cut costs and/or boost sales to keep the cash flowing in 2009.

A number of companies are already scaling back and offering incentives to buyers. A few examples:

• Kawasaki has withdrawn from MotoGP competition.
  

  John Hopkins and teammate Marco Melandri are looking for rides in 2009.

• Honda announced their withdrawal from Formula 1 racing. However, Honda Europe spokesman Paul Ormond recently told autosport.com that the Honda MotoGP team is not under threat. “The decision to pull out of F1 does not affect the other forms of motorsport Honda are involved in,” Ormond said. “We will be looking at reducing our costs, as we’re sure other teams will be doing too, in MotoGP and other motorcycle activities.”
• Harley-Davidson, in an effort to spur sales in the first quarter, has created the “Ride Free” program. Under the program purchasers of 2008 or 2009 Sportster models before March 31 can ride their bike for up to one full year and still get full MSRP trade-in toward a new Dyna, Softail, VRSC or Touring model. The Motor Company’s stock is down over 60% over the last 12 months.
  

  Buy one of these before March 31, ride it for a year, and get full MSRP at trade-in.

Major motorcycle events are not immune from cost-cutting:

• Held annually for the last 15 years, the love-fest known as the Honda Hoot has drawn the Honda faithful from all parts of North America. The event may have been the largest single-brand vehicle owners gathering. Honda has cancelled the 2009 event. According to American Honda, “Based on the current economic crunch which may have significant impact on our customers during 2009, American Honda will take this time to seek out new and innovative ways to engage with customers.”
  

  Honda Hoots for the last time in 2008.

• Also canceled for 2009 is the Legend of the Motorcycle Concours d’Elegance at Half Moon Bay, CA. In announcing the cancellation, co-founder Jared Zaugg said, “The decision is due to the effect the world economy has had on many sponsors, and while deciding not to produce the show next year was very difficult, it was the most prudent. We’d never do anything to compromise the quality of the Concours. We’d rather suspend the event than see it done halfway and I’m sure those that have participated would agree. This has been a true labor of love and something we strongly believe in, so we look forward to reinstating it after this hiatus.”

Given this climate one wonders what will become of other major events in 2009 like Daytona and Sturgis. And what of smaller companies and custom builders? Surely they will feel the pinch as credit remains tight. Perhaps some will be unable to continue operations.
Interesting times indeed.

Photo courtesy of dreamsjung.

2008 has been a pretty decent year for me and for Northwest Cycle Report; the name change notwithstanding. I look forward to riding and writing more in 2009.

To all my readers, I wish you a safe and happy holiday season.

Join me and my buddies Walt and Steve from Hog Radio at the Cycle World International Motorcycle Show presented by Toyota in Seattle on December 12-14 at the Qwest Field Event Center.

This year’s show will feature 19 major manufacturers, including: Aprilia, BMW, Buell, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Hyosung, Kawasaki, KTM, Kymco, Moto Guzzi, MV Agusta, Piaggio, Star, Suzuki, Ural, Vespa, Victory and Yamaha. There are also local manufacturers, custom bikes, various vintage clubs and so much more for the whole family to experience.

Walt, Steve and I will be on site Saturday to check out the latest bikes and gear and to interview lots of reps and exhibitors at the show. Look for us and stop and say hello.