Next Meeting is June 8 at Fitz Inn.  All Meetings Will Be Held at Fitz Inn on the Second Sunday of the Month.

   Freedom Run Rerun- June 14, 2008  Sign in The Brown Jug 10:00am to Noon

   $10.00 per person. Ends at Pottsie's Too in Cuba last bike in by 7:00pm with a Hog Roast and Music

                                        May Meeting News:

   A new era is upon us, starting with the May 11th meeting we have confirmed a new but old meeting place. From now on our meetings will be at Fitz Inn in Green Valley at 1:00pm with a ride after to another sponsors location.  Now you have only one date each month the second Sunday, one time and one location.  Thanks to those members that showed up for the April meeting and voted for the change.  I realize we can't make everyone happy but the majority spoke up to make the permanent change over.

Legislative:

 Right now Springfield is trying to pass bills to fund schools,highways, and other infrastructure.  They're too busy to try to throw an anti motorcycle friendly bill out there but watch to make sure they don't add an amendment to  a live bill.  Locally nothing to report, haven't heard from Hunter John on anything hot coming at us but stay alert.

On the Federal things are moving around mostly in different committees.  Some good news from the U.S.D.O.T. as of June 2008, it's now mandatory for states to report motorcycle VMT.  A major factor at play is that vehicle miles traveled (VMT) numbers have historically been voluntary for states to report  to the feds, this fact has been pointed out for several years now.  It's about time motorcycles were given the same level of respect in the calculating of this important baseline number.  You know the stats show x number of motorcycle involved in accidents but with no annual miles driven in that state.  That can only mean cage operators must be running over people sitting in their garage or driveways since you'd have to put miles on your bike out on the road to become a statistic.  It's hard to comprehend how some states have 10, 20 or what ever numbers riders killed but no miles traveled by bikes at all in their reports.

 A study is being released soon on DRL (Daytime Running Lights) and if there is a fact a "diminished motorists' awareness" of motorcycles since all other forms of transportation having their lights on.

 Another study underway, but still under wraps is one that determines the value of combined braking systems for motorcycles.  In detail the study will examine the benefits of a one-lever control for rear and front brakes.  This study is reportedly the result of a government statistic that says 80% of motorcyclist involved in a crash don't use the front brake.  That sounds crazy to me since that's the first thing I grab for in close calls.

 Lastly a major thorn in every motorcyclist's side on the federal level is Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) who's been the #1 proponent for mandatory federal helmet laws for years.  He is currently either chairs or sits on every single Senate Committee and subcommittee related to transportation without exception.  Second we are going to begin negotiating another highway bill next year, and if Lautenberg is in charge we will see mandatory federal helmet initiatives of many kinds.  Third continuing the current 2010 motorcycle safety grant funds for which the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) state motorcyclists' rights organizations (SMRO's) and motorcyclists nationwide fought so hard in the last highway bill, and doing anything to curb the lobbying activities of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will be nearly impossible with Lautenberg at the helm, and he will be if he wins his next election.  A strong opponent has surfaced in the U.S Rep. Rob Andrews who announced a month ago and wasn't given a chance now has major backing in the Garden State and Lautenberg could loose his seat.  Andrews has given written commitment that  he will never support a mandatory law on protective gear of any kind and will fight for freedom by choice.

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