Political Involvement

[printing724]

I'm a new member to the forum, and seek only knowledge from members willling to share their perspective. All replies are appreciated.

I am the State Coordinator for a motorcycle rights organization in Pennsylvania (A.B.A.T.E. of PA). We are successful in that we have achieved the majority of our legislative goals. We're a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

We have not been as successful in engaging the sportbike riding community. I am trying to understand why. I have my ideas but will keep them to myself for now.

I have the following questions to pose to the members of the forum...

(1) If you are politically involved, with what organization?

(2) If you aren't politically involved, what has kept you from doing so?

(3) If you're not politically involved, what would it take to get you involved?

(4) Are you worried about any pending legislation that might affect you personally? If so, what legislation and why?

Any answers will be confidential from my end, and appreciated. If I'm asking the wrong questions for the forum, please ignore me.

BTW, my current ride is a 1999 H-D Ultra Classic, and I still own the first bike I ever rode, a 1975 H-D FX. Un-sportbike as you can get, but we all ride in the same wind.

thanx
Kevin Snyder
State Coordinator
A.B.A.T.E. of PA
Welcome to A.B.A.T.E. of Pennsylvania

[smashbox]

subscribed

[lunchbox101]

(1) If you are politically involved, with what organization?
none

(2) If you aren't politically involved, what has kept you from doing so?
im 18, and dont really want to get involved in any government politics anything. mostly because of my views on life in general

(3) If you're not politically involved, what would it take to get you involved?
i dont want to get involved

(4) Are you worried about any pending legislation that might affect you personally? If so, what legislation and why?
no..but that "30 miles over takes away your bike license" thing going on in florida is a little crazy and insane to me

[F4sSprintST]

I do basically support a Right to be an adult and make stupid decisions

However, I have a real problem supporting a group who's main focus is for helmetless riding

Too many squids, too many folks becoming organ donors.


I am a part of the AMA, and member of many gun rights groups

Originally Posted by printing724

We have not been as successful in engaging the sportbike riding community. I am trying to understand why. I have my ideas but will keep them to myself for now.

[Nefarious_SV]

Originally Posted by F4sSprintST

I do basically support a Right to be an adult and make stupid decisions

However, I have a real problem supporting a group who's main focus is for helmetless riding


I am a part of the AMA

I am also an AMA member, as well as a CCS member, I have no wish to have anything to do with a group that continually gives riders a bad name, and encourages people to ride in an unsafe manner. I'm with Sprint, 90% of the time I'm all about the Right to be your own idiot, but helmetless riding can take a fucking hike. I'm also a District Chairmen of the VFW, where I go out of my way to make sure that our riders here in a state that does not enforce helmet riding, wear theirs. To even get me remotely involved with a group like ABATE, you'd probably have to stop encouraging riders to be complete idiots.

You're going to have a VERY VERY hard time getting ANY Support from the sportbike community, where generally safety is a top priority as well as the ability to live through a crash. I can't believe for one second that ABATE is in anyway confused as to why Sportbike Enthusiasts want nothing to do with people who make excuses for suicidal behavior.

[lunchbox101]

Is that what this group is about?
My view on the no-helmet/gear situation

your body, your gear, your head and skin
i could care less what you wear, i dont need somebody to tell me to wear a helmet

i think they should get rid of the helmet law. does that mean i would ride without one?? never

[printing724]

lunchbox101:

Thank you. I understand where you're coming from.

Give yourself some credit. You're aware of the Florida thing and what it could eventually mean to you in California. Awareness is the first hurdle in protecting your rights.

thanx
Kevin

[F&D]

I am an AMA member, but have no interest in ABATE.

[F4sSprintST]

ABATE Of California - About ABATE - History

Easyriders magazine editor, Lou Kimsey, made a plea in issue #3, October 1971, for bikers to come together to fight impending restrictions by joining a new national organization called the National Custom Cycle Organization, but because of a conflict with the acronym the name was changed in February 1972 to A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments (ABATE). Easyriders began granting state charters around 1974, and Keith Ball was the original national coordinator (Keith was for many years the editor of Easyriders).

ABATEs which came into existence around this same time were chartered in Kansas, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and New York. Also started were the Modified Motorcycle Organization (MMA) of California, the MMA of Massachusetts, the New Hampshire Motorcycle Rights Organization, Rhode Island Motorcycle Association, Connecticut Motorcycle Rights Organization, and the Wisconsin Better Bikers Association. Easyriders published their contact information and soon the network began to grow.

...........

As in most states, before bikers became politically organized, the clubs were the first to fight helmet laws and other restrictions..................

[printing724]

F4sSprintST,

Thank you for the feedback, and your involvement in the AMA. For the record, A.B.A.T.E. of PA has never advocated helmetless riding. We do advocate the right of experienced and responsible adult riders to make a choice as to whether to wear a helmet or not.

thanx
Kevin

[SlowGoose]

ABATE makes me chuckle. The bit about full-face helmets being dangerous because they could cause oxygen deprivation was unreal. But they are helping to weed, to mix metaphors, the gene pool, so they can't be all that bad.

[F4sSprintST]

Understood.

Like I said, I'm pretty torn about personal rights and responsibliities, versus safety legislation.

Originally Posted by printing724

F4sSprintST,

Thank you for the feedback, and your involvement in the AMA. For the record, A.B.A.T.E. of PA has never advocated helmetless riding. We do advocate the right of experienced and responsible adult riders to make a choice as to whether to wear a helmet or not.

thanx
Kevin

[modette]

No helmet law then why have seatbelt laws?

It seems to me ABATE members are more worried about helmet laws then anything else. It also seems like the members also are more worried on going to court weekly to fight no helmet tickets (I knew a ABATE person that had some type of duty for ABATE in MI). Seems like a waste of time and money if you ask me for Abate to keep going on about helmets. Most places require people to now wear helmets on Bicycles but yet there is no group raising holy hell to change those laws.

Also ABATE seems to also screem that LOUD pipes save lives although there is no proof there and instead it just seems to piss off the general population includding me when I have to listen to a HD from 5 miles away while inside my house.

Do I belong to any political group...nope but I did once belonged to the AMA but my friend bought me the membership for a year. Seemed like they were more worried about Off-Road rights to me *shrug* If you want to ride off road buy some property...I do not believe everyone should have any rights to ride on the road or off...it is a previliage to me, not a right.

Plus in todays world we pay monthly and yearly fees for everything. Last thing I need is to give money to another organization so some President/lobbyist can make a ton of money. I don't feel the AMA, ABATE or any group really stops questionable laws.

[Josh D]

I went to a small motorcycle show one time organized by an abate group. I knew what it would mostly consist of, but I like bikes of all types so I went anyway.

They wanted it to be a harley show, and there were probably 6 or 7 categories for different kinds of harleys. A couple of those only had 1 bike in them. Meanwhile, they had a "Metric Bike 1001cc's and under" or some such class which was quite full, considering the number of sportbikes and cruisers that are in that range. Doesn't sound to me like this club wanted any new members unless you are one of "them".

I support the general idea (i guess) behind ABATE, if that means they try to lessen restrictions on motorcyclists. I do not support the helmet law, although I choose to wear one 100% of the time. It should be up to you. But I will not join a club that has the main focus of getting rid of helmet laws.

BTW- I have always wondered, "a brotherhood aimed towards education", what is the education they are giving?

[TJ213]

I want to protect my rights, but I went to the flyer and saw this:

and I support all those, many other sport bikers will too.

Honestly on passenger restrictions I didn't know of any significant ones

Health insurance should be mandatory, if you are going to take a risk like this you should be ready to afford the consequences.

Noise Ordinances, definitely should stay, and be enforced more often, many bikes are way too loud, and honestly I find them embarrassing for the rest of us. I like a good sounding engine, but it doesn't have to be so loud that you hear it from half a mile today.

Helmet Laws are something that I think are totally ridiculous, people should not be so stupid that we need them.

I don't even want to find out what "and more" is