motorcycle club
BIKER NEWS BYTES
retaliates
with cyber attack
bY: bILL bISH, ncom
THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought
to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is
sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. If you’ve
been involved in any kind of accident, call us at 1-(800)
ON-A-BIKE or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com.
NEW ‘A BIKER’S GUIDE TO MAKING LAW’ BROCHURE
AVAILABLE FROM NCOM
The latest in a line of “BIKER’S GUIDE” brochures was
recently unveiled during the Mock Legislative Session
at this year’s NCOM Convention in Mobile, Alabama.
Conducted by the National Coalition Of Motorcyclists’
Legislative Task Force (NCOM-LTF), the seminar was
a hands-on demonstration of passing legislation,
providing a perfect opportunity to unveil the new “A
BIKER’S GUIDE TO MAKING LAW” educational brochure of
similar topic.
The new tri-fold brochure was produced by the NCOM-
LTF to explain how to get a bill introduced and lobby for
pro-motorcycle legislation, and is being provided free
of charge to any Motorcycle Rights Organization (MRO),
Confederation of Clubs (COC), NCOM Member Group, club
or organization, through Aid to Injured Motorcyclists
(A.I.M.) and the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester.
“The Biker’s Guide was well received,” said Frank
Ernst, Chairman of the NCOM-LTF following the mock
session on May 12th. “After we passed them out,
many attendees came up and asked if they could have
additional copies, and most agreed it is a valuable tool
and will give people help on how to get started in the
process.”
A BIKER’S GUIDE TO MAKING LAW joins previous titles
in the educational series which includes; RUNNING FOR
PUBLIC OFFICE, COMMUNICATING WITH GOVERNMENT,
and NEWS MEDIA RELATIONS, and for free copies for you
and your motorcycle group, call A.I.M./NCOM at (800)
ON-A-BIKE (800-662-2453).
MOTORCYCLIST FATALITIES TREND DOWNWARD
Nationwide motorcycle traffic fatalities dropped
by 5.6% from 2016 to 2017, a new report shows. The
Governors Highway Safety Association released a
report in May showcasing preliminary data on last
year’s motorcycle fatalities by state. Per the report, U.S.
motorcycle fatalities dropped by 296 deaths -- from
5,286 in 2016 to a projected 4,990 last year. That’s
coming off a 5.1% increase in such road fatalities from
2015 to 2016, the report states.
The figures reported are proj ections based on
preliminary data provided for 2017 from all 50 states
and the District of Columbia. Compared with 2016,
motorcyclist fatalities are estimated to have decreased
in 30 states, remained the same in two states, and
increased in 18 states.
E15 ETHANOL PROTECTION PROPOSED IN CONGRESS
U.S. Representatives Austin Scott (R-GA) and Lois
Frankel (D-FL) have introduced the bipartisan “Consumer
Protection and Fuel Transparency Act of 2018” to
require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to
expand consumer awareness on how to safely use fuel
containing more than 10% ethanol.
Since motorcycle and ATV engines are prohibited from
using fuel with more than 10% ethanol content, namely
E15 (fuel containing 15% ethanol), improved labeling,
fuel pump safeguards, and education outreach are key
to protecting consumers. E15 fuel is sold at many retail
gas stations, and currently 63% of consumers assume
all products sold at these stations are safe for their
engines despite the fact that high ethanol fuel blends
can damage smaller engines and void manufacturer
warranties.
RETALIATORY TARIFFS WOULD ‘SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT’
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
With the full support of all 28 member states, the
European Union will impose “rebalancing” tariffs on
U.S. imports ranging from Harley-Davidson motorcycles
to Levi’s jeans beginning in July in retaliation over
President Donald Trump’s decision to put duties on
European aluminum and steel. After failing to win
trade concessions, on June 1 the Trump administration
withdrew exemptions given to imported metals from
the EU, Canada and Mexico from global tariffs imposed
in March, citing “national security” interests.
Harley-Davidson has warned of a “significant impact”
on its sales from reprisal duties, saying in a statement;
“We believe a punitive, retaliatory tariff on Harley-
Davidson motorcycles in any of our major markets would
have a significant impact on our sales, our dealers, our
suppliers and our customers in those markets.”
The Milwaukee-based Motor Company claims such
tariffs on raw materials would inflate its costs by an
additional $15-20 million this year.
Likewise, India is countering the Trump tariffs by
proposing an increase on import duty on 30 American
products, including “specific motorcycles imported from
the U.S.”, by up to 100%.
MIC, CONGRESSIONAL MOTORCYCLE CAUCUS CONFER
ON AUTOMATED TECH
30 Thunder Roads Magazine Louisiana/Mississippi | July 2018 | www.thunderroadslams.com
The Motorcycle Industry Council, in coordination with
the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus, hosted a briefing
on “Intelligent Transportation Systems and Automated
Vehicle Applications Impacts on Motorcycle Safety”
on May 22. Caucus co-chairs, U.S. Representatives Tim
Walberg (R-MI) and Michael Burgess (R-TX) addressed
the Caucus’s mission to support riders through education
and awareness, the potential for technologies to improve
the riding experience and bring in new riders, and why
the discussion on how motorcycles will factor into a
connected and autonomous world is so important.
The briefing, moderated by Callie Hoyt, MIC’s
manager of federal affairs, featured a panel of industry
and research experts: Sam Campbell, BMW Group; Gary
Higgins, American Honda Motor Company, Inc.; Shane
McLaughlin, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute; and
Eric Teoh, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
“Visibility on the road can equate to life or death
for motorcyclists, and human error is a major factor in
that equation. If emerging connected and automated
technologies are developed to correctly detect and
respond to motorcycles, their deployment holds the
potential to considerably decrease motorcyclist injury
and fatality rates,” Hoyt said.
Panelists discussed how connected and autonomous
applications relate to motorcycles, how the applications
can supplement one another, and the overall effect that
widespread connected and automated technology can
have on motorcycling.
Both the House and Senate have been developing
legislation that would establish the first federal
regulatory framework for autonomous vehicle (AV)
technologies. The briefing recognized the importance
of ensuring that the needs of everyone on the road
-- particularly motorcyclists -- are addressed in AV
legislative and regulatory landscapes, as well as in real-
life applications.
Advanced technology will also affect motorcycle rider
training programs, and the panel talked about the need
to train riders on how to interact with connected and
automated vehicles.
AUTOMATED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY SHOWING UP ON
MOTORCYCLES TOO
It’s not only cars and trucks: automated tech is
starting to show up wherever there are wheels, and
companies are starting to focus on making motorcycles
safer with automated-driving technology. Exposed to
the elements and operating on two wheels instead of
four, motorcyclists are particularly defenseless in the
event of a crash. Yet there’s been little innovation in the
motorcycle safety industry until recently.
Earlier this year, major auto parts supplier Bosch
announced it was working on driver-assistance systems
for motorcycles, like adaptive cruise control, which
accelerates and decelerates to avoid potential collisions.
Before that, a Canadian startup called Damon X Labs also
launched with the intention of creating a similar system
for motorcycles.
Now, Israel-based startup Ride Vision is also working
on rider safety features for motorcycles, creating an
alert system that uses relatively inexpensive front- and
rearview cameras to give a 360-degree view of the
motorcycle’s immediate surroundings. The system uses
lights attached to the motorcycle’s rearview mirrors to
alert the motorcyclist when there is a chance of collision
-- whether there’s a car passing or if the rider is leaning
too hard.
Skully Technologies, an Atlanta-based wearable tech
company, is introducing a DOT certified motorcycle
helmet that has augmented reality and artificial
intelligence features including a heads-up display,
rearview camera, Smart Phone and Bluetooth
integration, with hands-free control and other smart
t echnology.
While some of the self-driving sensors and systems
are the same between cars and motorcycles, it’s a notably
different product says recode.net; “While the mechanics
are different, the automated motorcycle industry will
likely move in a similar direction as the autonomous
car industry. Startups and suppliers alike will rush to
partner with major motorcycle manufacturers to begin
testing and then eventually producing vehicles with this
technology.”
NEW HAMPSHIRE BANS MOTORCYCLE-ONLY ROADSIDE
CHECKPOINTS
Motorcycle-only roadside checkpoints first appeared
in New York in 2009; functioning like sobriety
checkpoints, motorcycle-only checkpoints (MOC)
allow law enforcement to pull over motorcyclists
without cause, for an on-the-spot safety, license, and
helmet inspection. Since then, these so-called safety
checkpoints have popped up across the country and
have spiked controversy as opponents claim invasion of
privacy and discrimination against motorcyclists over the
operators of other motor vehicles.
Nineteen states now bar such roadblocks either
through legislation or judicial proceedings (AK CA IL ID IA
LA MD MO MI MN NC NH OR RI TX VA WA WI & WY), and in
2015 Congress banned the use of federal funds for MOCs
as part of the FAST Act highway bill. Yet they continue to
be a problem for bikers in some states.
Although in 2011 New Hampshire became the first
state to prohibit the use of federal funds to conduct
discriminatory motorcycle-only stops by police, the “Live
Free Or Die” state recently enacted Senate Bill 516 to
prohibit motorcycle-only checkpoints outright.
Signed by Governor Chris Sununu on May 30, 2018,
effective immediately; “No law enforcement officer
or agency shall establish or conduct motorcycle-only
checkpoints.”
PHILIPPINE RESOLUTION CALLS FOR REVIEW OF ALL
ANTI-BIKER LAWS
Senator Grace Poe of the Philippines has recently filed
a resolution in the Senate to look into legislation and
ordinances that lead to the discrimination of motorcycle
riders. The resolution notes the prevalence of, “stricter
checkpoints specifically targeting motorcycle riders
and the latter are now perceived by the community as
reckless riders and/or prone to criminal activities.”
It cites the following activities as discriminatory to
riders: “a. irregular PNP checkpoints; b. national laws
that penalize motorcycle riders excessively; c. high
fines being imposed against motorcycle riders; and d.
local ordinances that have overlooked the income of
minimum wage-earning motorists.”
The resolution is hoped to review current legislation,
ordinances, and law enforcement practices that
specifically target motorcycle riders. Riders of the
Philippines recently united several groups to ride in
protest of such discriminatory practices, and drew
several thousand attendees.
The resolution, filed on May 28, 2018, ends with the
statement, “that while it intends to substantially bring
down the number of accidents and crimes involving
motorcycles, the State shall not do so to the detriment
of the rights of motorcycle riders who seem to be treated
with automatic disdain and “Harassment” at times.”
MOTORCYCLE RACING ENDANGERED BY INSURANCE IN
ENGLAND & THE EU
Motorcycle racing is in danger in the U.K. and
across Europe as new insurance rules loom, and the
Motorcycle Industry Association (MIA) has called on
EU member governments to reject the latest European
Commission proposals, which have the potential to end
all competitive motorsports across England…”Even if
this means defying Brussels.”
The EU directive amends aspects of the Motor
Insurance Directive, responding to the so-called ‘Vnuk’
judgment from 2014 which ruled that all mechanically
propelled vehicles must have third-party insurance, even
if they are only used on private land.
The insurance industry has already made it clear that
it would be difficult to provide such insurance given the
risks involved with racing and that doing so could be
incredibly expensive and lead to “catastrophic damage
inflicted on motorsports across the board if this ruling
becomes law,” according to the MIA. In other EU countries
where this has already been applied, premiums have
risen dramatically making many events unsustainable.
The proposals represent a complete U-turn from the
European Commission’s previous position in 2016, when
it proposed to exclude vehicles not being used ‘in traffic’.
This would have made all forms of motorsports exempt
from the impact of the ruling, impacting around £11
billion ($14.6 billion USD) to the U.K. economy alone.
QUOTABLE QUOTE: “Disobedience is the true foundation
of liberty.”
~Henry David Thoreau (1817-62), American Essayist,
Philosopher
www.thunderroadslams.com | July 2018 | Thunder Roads Magazine Louisiana/Mississippi
31