HELMET LAW REPEAL BILLS INTRODUCED...WHO'S NEXT? In the five years since bikers from across the country worked together in a united effort to repeal the federal helmet law mandates on November 28, 1995, five states have succeeded in amending their helmet laws to allow adult freedom of choice; Arkansas in 1996, Texas in 1997, Kentucky in 1998, Louisiana in 1999, and most recently Florida in 2000.
As the 2001 legislative sessions commence across the country, the majority of the remaining 20 helmet law states have already introduced repeal bills in hopes of being the next state to win their right to choose; Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia. California is expected to follow suit soon, while riders in Michigan continue to fight their helmet law through the courts with the help of Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) attorney Larry Katkowsky, who serves as legal counsel to ABATE of Michigan.
In the meantime, the Washington State Legislature will consider a bill that would define exactly what a legal helmet is, in an effort to curb overzealous "beanie helmet" enforcement, and Massachusetts legislators will be debating the merits of a bill to require car drivers to wear helmets too!

CHILD PASSENGERS MAY BE BANNED FROM BIKES In a bizarre new trend, three states have now introduced legislation to make it illegal to ride a child on the back of a motorcycle. Hawaii's bill, HB923 would ban children under the age of 12 from riding as a passenger. Maryland's HB739 originally banished kids under 12 from the back of bikes, but has been amended to state that a passenger's feet must rest firmly on passenger footpegs. But most disturbing is Pennsylvania's bill, SB248, which would prohibit passengers under the age of 18, regardless of the fact that persons 16 or older can obtain a permit to operate a motorcycle!

CHILDREN'S TOY OFFENDS BIKERS When the German based toy company Playmobil began manufacturing and marketing their Adventure Police Set just in time for Christmas 2000, they apparently didn't realize that using bikers as ''bad guys'' would upset anybody. That is, until they received a tersely written letter from Toronto ABATE and the Ontario Confederation of Clubs.
''The depiction of a police officer detaining a rider is an image that should not be used in promoting your product,'' wrote Glenn Allardyce, President of Toronto ABATE, who went on to point out that, ''A 1999 study commissioned by the Motorcycle and Moped Industry Council of Canada has found that the average motorcycle rider is now 43 years of age, married, employed with an income averaging $50,000 (Canadian), has received 2+ years of post secondary education and rides a motorcycle with an average retail value of $15,000. To project the image of the stereotypical rebel of the 1960's is a direct slap in the face to the riding community. It is especially offensive in that your product is directed at and used by children. This can only serve to reinforce such archaic and totally groundless fears about motorcyclists.''
''Playmobil responded quickly and positively,'' said Brian Dodds, Secretary of the Ontario Confederation of Clubs, who helped compose the letter. ''Within three weeks after the letter was sent, we received a reply from the Canadian office of the corporation apologizing and informing us that the toy would no longer be manufactured.''
Russ Sawatzky of Playmobil Canada responded to the riders' concerns in his reply; ''I assure you that it was never our intent to imply or promote a negative image towards motorcycle owners and riders. Playmobil's sole objective is to provide hours and hours of play value to children around the world. Now that you have expressed your concerns regarding item #3085 Police Adventure Set, we are in total agreement with your comments and this specific set will no longer be produced. We apologize for any offensive manner this set may have expressed to your membership and I assure you, in the future, we will achieve to be more objective when launching new products.''
Congratulations to Toronto ABATE and to the Ontario Confederation of Clubs for their successful efforts in getting this situation resolved.
And, as Dodds points out, ''A special congratulations to Playmobil Inc. for exhibiting the true spirit of corporate and community responsibility.
Truly a win-win situation for all involved.''

DON'T FOLLOW ME, I'M LOST TOO According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the total mileage of public highways and streets in the United States is 3,889,299 miles. Even-numbered U.S. routes go east-west, odd numbers go north-south. Three-digit interstate with the first number even (270) indicates a route through or around a city. First number odd (195) indicates a spur into a city.

HARLEYVILLE SIGN POPULAR WITH BIKERS In Harleyville, South Carolina, the town limits sign has disappeared from the same spot for the fourth time in five years, and town officials think they know who has the signs: Harley-Davidson fans. A motorcycle shop owner says swiping Harleyville signs, which have been spotted as far away as Florida, is a point of pride among some bikers.
''I've seen them coming with a beer in one hand and a sign in the other, like I'd give them a brownie point or something,'' he said.

DISPENSING BIKER JUSTICE USA Network and the former head of the New York Hells Angels are teaming up to bring you ''Street Justice,'' a one-hour special featuring Chuck Zito of the hit HBO series ''Oz''.
''Most Judges wear robes...ours wears chains,'' announced USA Network, ''Most Judges are confined to courtrooms...ours hits the streets to seek Justice head on.''
Zito searches for the truth to get both sides of the story, drawing upon his own gritty life experiences, and dispenses his own brand of raw, in your face justice, but with a heart. The litigants are real, and the verdicts are final.
Street Justice will premier in Spring 2001, so stay tuned.

''GHOST RIDER'' TO HIT THE BIG SCREEN Dimension Films has acquired the rights to ''Ghost Rider,'' an action-filled adventure based on the popular Marvel Comic's superhero.
''Ghost Rider'' was written by David Goyer (''The Crow: City of Angels''), and will be directed by Steven Norrington, who previously worked together on ''Blade.'' ''Ghost Rider'' tells the story of a motorcycle stuntman who, seeking revenge for harm done to his one true love, makes a pact with dark forces to avenge the wrongdoing. By day, the Ghost Rider is a motorcycle stuntman able to perform superhuman tricks; by night he is transformed into a burning demon on wheels as he hunts down those who bring pain to the innocent.

A BIKER'S STORY The cover of the February 2001 Reader's Digest beckons readers to turn to page 118 for ''The Biker and the Baby,'' a grippingly true tale written by Peter Michelmore about a biker who adopted an infant with severe birth defects. Reminiscent of another true story, ''Mask,'' the biker dedicated himself to raising and nurturing the invalid little girl, Tiffany, and through his love and devotion she was able to experience the joys of life for an all too brief period of time.
''His love had given her life, and her life had given him love.''
This one's a must read, but keep a box of tissues handy.

EUROPEANS RESOLVE TO MAKE CRASH BARRIERS SAFER FOR MOTORCYCLISTS The European Parliament has adopted a resolution at the request of the Federation of European Motorcycle Associations regarding making crash barriers safer for motorcycle riders.
FEMA pushed for the resolution because of their concern with a report, ''Priorities in EU Road Safety,'' which advocated safety barriers as a way to improve road safety, but failed to mention that crash barriers are the cause of 10-15% of all fatal motorcycle accidents in Europe and also cause very severe injuries.
FEMA recognized that crash barriers can be of benefit to the majority of road users, but wanted the risk they cause to motorcyclists to be recognized and some emphasis to be put on existing secondary safety measures to address those risks.
The text adopted in the Resolution reads: ''Whereas such a policy might require major investment to plan and build a safe traffic system; but whereas low-cost road engineering measures, such as safety barriers, may be implemented quickly and, like the production and promotion of EU technical guidelines based on best practices, may significantly improve traffic safety; whereas, however, the safety barriers must meet specific safety requirements of motorcyclists.''

CAMPAIGNS CURB MALAYSIA'S HOLIDAY ROAD DEATH TOLL The average Malaysian may doubt it, but experts say driving campaigns are making the country's roads safer, especially during holidays like the recent Chinese New Year when five times more vehicles travel during the four-week holiday period.
While TV news reports flash pictures of crumpled cars and newspapers decry higher accident numbers, the crash rate per vehicle is actually dropping steady, claims the Ministry of Transport's Suret Singh.
According to a news article written for Reuters by Marty Logan, police have led high-profile safety campaigns, which have included politicians pouring wake-up cups of coffee at highway tollbooths and MOTORCYCLE MAKERS HANDING OUT BRIGHT ORANGE SAFETY VESTS.
The campaigns have also included up to $2.6 million in multimedia advertising, defensive driving courses for new drivers and mandatory motorcycle lanes on all new highways, Singh said. In the last three years the accident rate has dropped from 8.4 per 10,000 vehicles to 5.8, making Malaysia second lowest in Southeast Asia after Singapore, but well behind the United States and New Zealand, which are below two per 10,000.
Singh said the government's driving campaign is focusing increasingly on two-wheeled travelers, just over half of all vehicles on the road but 16 times more likely to have a crash.
''They tend to tailgate, weave through traffic dangerously and 'beat' red lights,'' he said.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: ''Good intentions will always be pleaded for every assumption of authority. It is hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters.''
Noah Webster


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