MMRA & ABATE work for you

[Sparky_Bill]

I just received the following message. If you guys and gals don't know the State of Minnesota, though the work of the MMRA and ABATE passed laws that say we can not be denied access just because we are bikers. I can find the law and post it here another time but wanted you to know about this.

Nothing I would attend but noteworthy.

On Friday April 26 I was denied access to the Tattoo Tour tattoo show at the
Hyatt Regency Hotel in Minneapolis soley because I was wearing a black
leather vest. I've already Spoken with Frank Ernst and I'm planning on
calling Mr. O'Brien on Monday. The organizer of this show ran a full page ad
in the ABATE ROADNOISE but still won't let "biker types" into the show. I
had pre-registered for the show a month in advance and the only way I could
enter was to remove my vest. I was hoping you could foward this to Members
as the show runs through Sunday the 28th.


Thank you,
Rich Gilchrist
ABATE of Minnesota Lake Chapter
and MMRA Member

[Sparky_Bill]

Motorcycle Passage Through Traffic Signals


The House version of the Motorcycle Passage Through Traffic Signals bill, House File 3226, caused quite a stir from the moment it was introduced.

For those of you who have never seen an actual bill, there is a paragraph at the beginning which simply describes the intent of the bill. This paragraph is called the enacting clause and does not become part of the law when the bill is enacted. When the House version of this bill was drafted, the enacting clause read "Allows motorcyclists to run red lights under certain circumstances." Of course when the media saw this, my phone started ringing off the hook! The author of the bill, Representative Tom Workman of Chanhassen had a similar barrage of calls. Between the two of us, I believe we were contacted by every local television station and quite a few local radio stations. If you were watching the Fox 29 9:00 PM news on February 18, you saw me interviewed on the steps of the Capitol. Once the bill was explained, of course, much of the uproar went away.

The bill was heard by the House Transportation Policy Committee on February 18. The Minnesota State Patrol, represented by Gene Halverson, testified that they had no objection to the bill. Jack Nelson, Chief of the Metro Transit Police Department, testified in favor of the bill as well. Jack has been riding for 35 years and just took delivery of a brand new Harley-Davidson Road King. He testified that there are several traffic signals between his home and his office that he must run because they will never sense his motorcycle. Everyone out there should go out of their way to be supportive of cops who ride - it certainly helps to have them on our side on issues like this.

The Committee passed the bill and referred it to the House Crime Prevention Committee.

The House Crime Prevention Committee heard the bill on February 22, 2002. We met with some opposition in this committee, but we managed to pass the bill after amending it to be an "affirmative defense."

An affirmative defense means that, unlike the original form of the bill, passage through a red traffic signal would still be a crime and you could be ticketed for it. You would, however, have this law as an "affirmative defense" to plead not guilty to the ticket. This removes a great deal of liability from the State compared to a law which gives motorcyclists "permission" to pass through red traffic signals.

I want to express our thanks (and you should too if you're in their district) to Representative Maxine Penas of Badger, the Vice Chair of the committee, and Representatives Doug Fuller of Bemidji and Dale Walz of Brainerd. These three helped bring a measure of sanity to the hearing on this bill.

The bill had its second reading on February 26 and is now ready for a floor vote in the House.

The news on this bill is not good. It did not pass this year but will come up again next year and with enough calls and support may well pass. This is but one example of what these two organization can do for those of us who chose to ride motorcycles. Take time to visit both MMRA site and ABATE.

http://www.mmra.com

http://www.abatemn.org

[Choirguy]

On Friday April 26 I was denied access to the Tattoo Tour tattoo show at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Minneapolis soley because I was wearing a black leather vest...Rich Gilchrist

That's funny...I was trying to get into the international leather vest show, and they wouldn't let me enter because of my tatoo. So, I peeled off the Victory stick-on and they let me in. Where is this world coming to?












(by the way, my reply is meant to be funny):crazy:

[Sparky_Bill]

Originally posted by Tubamotorcycle



(by the way, my reply is meant to be funny):crazy:

And it was!

[Sparky_Bill]

Just going out the door when I heard this: Makes getting favorfull legislation difficult.

LAUGHLIN, Nevada (CNN) -- Rival motorcycle gangs clashed in a southern Nevada casino early Saturday, leaving at least four people dead, 11 wounded and an entire town in lockdown, authorities said.

Two men identified as shooters were among the wounded, according to Larry Tunforss of the Bullhead City, Arizona, Fire Department, which first responded to the incident. Police took 100 people into custody for questioning after the shooting at Harrah's Laughlin Casino, Nevada state police spokesman Allan Davidson said

The shooting took place at 2:13 a.m. (5:13 a.m EDT) in Laughlin, about 70 miles south of Las Vegas. Davidson said members of Hells Angels were involved in the shooting, along with members of a second motorcycle group whose identity had not been confirmed.

Tunforss said Laughlin is celebrating the 20th anniversary of an event called River Run, which each year draws 50,000 to 80,000 motorcycle enthusiasts, including Hells Angels.

"The majority of them come here to have a good time," he said. "Unfortunately, when you get that many people, we're going to get the criminal element too."

Laughlin was shut down while investigators looked for more suspects, Davidson said. Only security personnel with authorized identification were allowed in or out of the town, and all the city's casinos were closed.

Las Vegas police SWAT teams were in the Harrah's hotel searching room-to-room for anyone else who may be connected with the shootings, he said.

Tunforss said five of the 11 people who were wounded were airlifted to Las Vegas for treatment. Of the remaining six, one was in surgery and another was in the intensive care at Western Arizona Regional Medical Center in Bullhead City. The other four were being evaluated.

Davidson said one of the wounded shooters was a member of Hells Angels.

Harrah's Entertainment Inc. was founded in the 1930s and now operates 21 casinos in 17 markets under the Harrah's, Rio, and Showboat brand names. The Mexican resort-themed Harrah's Laughlin Casino and Hotel opened in 1988.

[Choirguy]

I've wanted to write this for some time, but haven't had a moment to do so. Joe Soucheray would call it "linking."

I was trying to figure out what the deal was with leather vests, etc, and then I read the most recent issue of Motorcyclist magazine. It turns out that some tatoo show had a situation where Hell's Angels and Pagans went at it...and therefore closed the show to people wearing colors.

I was also trying to figure out why the Hell's Angels were suddenly rioting when there's been a "love affair" with the Hell's Angels for the past couple of years (Sonny Barger's book has been a best seller, and he just released a new one). I had believed that the Angels were falling under the trap of "commercialism" as a group as nostagic as a Harley-Davidson heritage springer.

Well, it turns out that the Hell's Angels had a "pact" with other gangs regarding territory and drug distribution since the early 90s. The other gangs have now decided to void that pact...and all of the "rival" gangs (Pagans, Outlaws, etc). are now united against the Hell's Angels.

Meanwhile, we're finding out that the Hell's Angels have a boatload of new members...they aren't an aging group of motorcyclists in their late 60s.

All this is to say that until a new "pact" is reached, motorcycle-based events will have a potential for danger that we haven't seen for some time.

By the way, before the most recent run-in, the gangs were scheduled to meet (in May) to discuss this stuff, and of course, nothing is going to happen now. And I've also heard that Sonny Barger, for the first time in a while, is not responding to the press or any interviews.

[Sparky_Bill]

Very interesting Chris. Hope that there will be no further trouble this year at ANY of the rallies.

[Sparky_Bill]

Article Last Updated:
Monday, May 06, 2002 - 5:21:53 AM MST
www.sentinelandenterprise.com

Of springtime, bikers, and starch

They come as if the results of a warm day's hatch.
If you're caught unawares, they seem to fill your senses, buzzing angrily and clouding your vision; swarming around you and threatening to attack. They are certain harbingers of full spring in New England.

May flies?

Black flies?

Yellow jackets?

Mosquitoes?

None of the above. For it's the time of the biker of which we speak, the phalanxes of motorcyclists who hit the roads as spring takes away black ice, and replaces it with black mood when one is stuck behind columns and rows of the bikers careening down the tarmac.

Perhaps this is being too harsh.

We all have been told of the wonderful things biker groups do to serve their communities, raising money for good causes, holding Marlon Brando look-alike contests. We realize they serve as a rough-edged form of population control, as the wildest sub-species of bikers annually spins itself into oblivion against dozens of New England trees and Massachusetts stone walls.

Those of us familiar with the annual Darwin Awards, which go to people who kill themselves in most creative and stupid ways, find there's a who genre of bikers who are Darwin candidates every day.

Consider riding down Route 12 heading north towards New Hampshire and finding oneself being passed on a blind curve by an idiot on a motorcycle who is weaving by you and other drivers at 20 miles per hour faster than traffic is moving.

Scares the hell out of you, doesn't it?

No, whatever it is that drives men and women to buy and drive motorcycles on public rights-of-way, it isn't common sense. Unless common sense is not seriously considering how fast one can die when thrown from the seat of a speeding Harley which suddenly stops speeding before your body does.

I have a friend who has done a very informal observational study of bikers, and he has a chicken-and-egg theory about what makes them tick or is it "varoom"?

One word, he says.

"Starch."

I was puzzled at the least when he first said "starch" and I demanded an explanation.

"Did you ever notice how many bikers are really big people?" he asked. "I mean there are some guys and gals who make cruiserweights look like bathtub dinghies. They are so big, I'm convinced they do the weight thing to keep from exiting those Harleys andSuzuki's at high speed.

"Those bikes are really heavy and really powerful, and if you don't watch, they'll get away from you in a trice. So the best thing is to weigh as much as you can. That way you won't fly off as easily."

So what does "starch" have to do with this, I asked him, thinking of the kind I get on my dress shirts at the laundry.

"If you really want to be heavy and stay on your bike, it's logical you have to eat a lot of starchy foods, like french fries, rice, or taro root.

"Now it isn't easy to ride from place to place and try and eat greasy foods like that, particularly if you wear leather gauntlets like any good biker. The food gets cold quickly as you motor down the road. And how do you hold taro root or rice balls with gauntlets on? So it's not a very appetizing way to get the starch you need to keep the bike connected with your copious seat."

The answer, said my friend, is beer.

"Beer is about the starchiest substance you can drink," he said. "It can be consumed directly from bottle or can, cold or tepid, and it remains palatable under any circumstances. If a biker really needs a starch fix, there are a million places to grab a six-pack along the road. And six-packs fit neatly into a saddlebag over the rear wheel."

My friend insists that bikers are out running around all day in warm weather because they need to replenish their starch shortage from a winter in hibernation. "Just how many bikers do you see in the winter anyway?" he asked.

"They must go into caves or under rock projections to stay out of the cold and snow. And that means all summer they need to scramble to get enough starch into their bodies so they can live through the winter hibernation period."

My friend has convinced me. I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that bikers act the way they do out on the road because of that irresistible need to find starch.

Why else would a pack of them risk their lives and sometimes ours to pass us on the highway, and then turn off at the next road house which has a flashing neon "cold beer" sign hanging in a front window?

And it's a pretty sure thing none of the ones I've seen drink "light" beer.

Paul Wieland is executive director of Fitchburg Community Television.
****************************

This guy is a real butthead. There were letters responding to his article and they are below. Good reading before you write and vent.

[Sparky_Bill]

Article Last Updated:
Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 5:57:58 AM MST


Readers take columnist to task over article on motorcycle buffs

I am writing in response to Paul Wieland's article ("Of springtime, bikers, and starch," Sentinel & Enterprise, May 6). I do hope you will print the other view of bikers! I weigh less than 140 pounds, never had a beer and avoid eating starch.It is no wonder that bikers get such a bad name!What about the motorists that try to run bikes off the road?
I know everyone is entitled to his point of view, but this article doesn't even address the good riders or good deeds that bikers do! I not only ride a bike, but am a registered nurse and work in open heart surgery and save lives!

SHEILA MCFARLAND

Bellevue, Ohio

I would like to compliment Mr. Wieland on the recent opinion he offered in a recent edition of your paper.

I myself, am a biker. Now don't stop reading due to that shocking revelation, at least yet, please. In every work of fiction there is always some truth. This proves itself in Mr. Wieland's comment about the appearance of bikers in the spring. Truly, springtime is a wondrous time of year, fresh flowers abound, scents fill the air, balmy breezes predict the coming summer, and all people tend to step outside, stretch, and give thanks that the long, cold winter is again waning. We bikers relish the spring like no other season.

I ride year-round, since I live in North Carolina and the climate here is conducive to such activity. I was truly engrossed in Mr. Wieland's fictional account of the emergence of bikers in your region and would have been drawn into his fantasy had I not already known something of the biker community. Truly, Mr. Wieland weaves a fantastic story, not unlike Tolkien in comparing bikers (subconsciously, of course) to Hobbits, Elves and other mystical and mythical creatures. But in reality, bikers do exist, and bikers perform many wonderful services for their own and their community. Tangible, measurable wonderful things ranging from Christmas toy runs for kids to supporting MDA, cancer research, homeless people, and a host of other charitable works. Sadly - and here Mr. Wieland is brilliant - bikers also have those among them, just like priests, lawyers, police officer, judges and corporate executives, who are, shall we say, less than noble? It is those whom Mr. Wieland has seized upon to spin his tale - and is it not unfortunate that he is so talented to write and entertain us that what he writes is almost mundanely believable! Mr. Wieland talks of those we call the "1 percent," who live for trouble, and who garner the 99 percent of the press copy when something amiss happens.

I suppose being executive director of Fitchburg Community Television, gives him license to write what he wishes, whether true or not, and you being the protector of free speech, the same right to print it without researching it for one shard of truth.

Mr. Wieland certainly has my admiration as a writer. Of course he is no London or Melville, but as fiction goes, he could possibly compete with King since he tries to write horror and pass if off as reality.

I'm certain the superior court justices I ride with, and the attorneys, law enforcement officers, doctors, teachers and other professionals I associate with would also agree that Mr. Wieland has produced a wondrous work of practically pure, unadulterated fiction.

LT. T. S. WILLIAMS (RET)

Zebulon, N.C.

I am a biker. I am a woman who is not overweight . I would like to take you to task for your recent article regarding bikers, springtime and starch however, after having my morning coffee and jumping on my Harley for a quick morning ride (yes, it's 7 a.m. in California, overcast and cold), I've come to the conclusion that your article was written "tongue-in-cheek" and can't be taken seriously.

However, there is always a chance that you stand behind what you have written and think of it as truth. How very biased if you've never ridden before. Have you? If not, you should. Either way, I am personally offended by your article. I have never been the biker you described and know of no bikers like you described. I know there's always "bad" in any group, but the majority of bikers do not fit the profile you have created.

As for your "hibernation" theory, maybe over on your side of the world, the inclement weather abounds throughout winter, making it nearly impossible to ride and enjoy yourself (and stay safe). However, here on the west coast, we ride all year long without beer and without passing folks at 20 miles per hour faster than anyone else on a blind curve. There are those that do so, but they don't do it on a Harley!

May I suggest you take a trip out to California or even Vegas or Arizona or anywhere, and talk to some bikers who can give you real perspective on what being a biker is all about instead of listening to someone who has no real appreciation for who we are and what we do.

I challenge you to get on a Harley, feel the power of the engine, listen to rumbling of the exhaust, get the wind in your face and experience the camaraderie and brother/sisterhood that automatically exists when riding a Harley. Take a group ride with an experienced rider and watch how bikers maneuver their way from Point A to Point B (or C or D) and get everyone there safely, never leaving a brother behind. Watch for the wave as you pass other Harley riders. Watch for the look of awe and wonder on the faces of kids in cars as you pass them, then give them a wave and feel the smile burst across your face as they get so excited they can hardly stand it!

My first ride on a Harley had me hooked. That's all it takes.

JERAE LA CROIX

California

I read the piece by Paul Wieland about bikers, and I must be truthful about the immediate reaction it provoked in me. I am generally a very laid-back person who is at peace with herself at the age of 44, but your piece about us bikers literally brought out anger in me.

Your diatribe about bikers in general was downright horrible and so untrue! How could you honestly write such a piece and not research bikers? How dare you write such a piece based on what you and your "friend" think? You didn't even give us the benefit of the doubt by researching your views and beliefs. It was the most offensive "story" I have ever read in my life.

I myself have been riding since I was 16 years old, and right now I ride a 1400cc Suzuki Intruder. Sure, it has the horsepower, but I can assure you I don't pass cars on curves at high speeds as you claim, then turn into the nearest bar. I don't even drink, and I sure wouldn't drink and drive if I did drink. I belong to two motorcycle groups. I can assure you again, that we don't stop for alcoholic drinks, and nor do we look "starched" up.

We are healthy individuals who weigh an average of 145 pounds, and you won't find one bike whose frame sits on the ground from the weight of starch sitting on it.

I am furious with your image of bikers. Not all of us are of the type you may see riding around you. Not all of us are of the same kind of people that dare to break the law by drinking and driving. Not all of us are fat, heavy people that you portrayed in your story. Not all of us are on bikes strictly for the speed. I plan on sharing your horribly untrue piece with my two groups of bikers, and I do hope you get your share of their opinions that speak the truth of most bikers. How dare you lump us all into the same category of fat, alcoholic bikers that you may have seen once or twice in your lifetime?

I have been pulled over once in my life by a police officer while riding my bike and I do believe to this day he wasn't after ticketing me for speeding; he only wanted to see what was under the helmet as he liked what he saw with the helmet on. Otherwise, I have never been ticketed for speeding, nor careless driving as you claim we all do. So you see, as one who has been driving virtually all her life on bikes, yet has only been pulled over once, I don't confirm with your opinions.

I do believe you owe us an apology, and should admit that you did not research bikers in general and that you just stereotyped us all into the same category as the few bikers you may have seen personally.

CAROL BEAUSOLEIL

Ontario. Canada

How judgmental!I hope Mr. Wieland knows about the$25,000 we so-called beer-drinking "starch" eatersraised inOctober for the Red Cross

for the Sept. 11th fund!

He did not happen to mention that it is usually the people in their cars on their cell phones that cause the majority of accidents!

He forgot to mention thata lot of bikers are veterans of war who fought to give you the freedom you now have,

I believe Mr. Wieland needs to do a little more research on this subject and stop watching so much TV.

Karen Gizzie

Acton

I would like to comment on recent column by Paul Wieland. Yes, I get annoyed by some of these riders myself. I will also point out that the riders Mr. Wieland speaks of do not represent the motorcyclist world as a whole. Most conspicuous, yes, but not the majority. Being the most visible, they are also the easiest target for criticism. Some of their actions do hurt the riding community because they make it easy for the uninformed observer like Mr. Wieland to draw these sweeping generalizations about all of us.

There are plenty of other riders out there too, riding to work alone on reasonably quiet machines and minding the rules of the road. Likewise, I know there are plenty of safe and ???????????? automobile operators on the road. However, the ones I notice while I am on my bike are those who come screaming up behind me at the speed of light, yammering on a cell phone and tailgating me while dodging about and trying to pass me.

Is this person really paying attention to the road...and me, whose life depends on his reaction time if I have to stop suddenly? Bikers do not have a corner on the market regarding aggressive and stupid driving behavior.

Another myth I must dispell is the Mr Wieland's friend's beer-and-body-weight theory. The fact is, alcohol is a national obsession. Don't make the mistake of singling out any group as being above the norm here. It sounds cute and clever, but one look at US traffic fatality statistics (alcohol-related ones comprising around 47 percent of all road deaths) points up the reality of this as a problem approaching epidemic proportions. It is no joke, and roadhouses do not stay in business on bike traffic alone.

Likewise for the weight thing. Americans are one of the most overweight groups in the world, and we got that way by eating badly and drinking too much. The image of motorcyling in this country has been dominated for 60 years by one rally in California that took place in 1947. Much of this myth, unfortunately, is propagated by bikers themselves. They like to flirt with danger and break out of the perceived "conventions of society" by going against the rules in a conspicuous fashion. And the general public is all too willing to accept this behavior as "typical" of all riders.

It would be nice if we all got to the realization that motorcyclists are just people trying to get somewhere on two wheels instead of the personification of evil we have all had a part in maintaining. Can we please get beyond this now? I just want to ride my motorcycle in peace. The lilacs are blooming and quite frankly, I just want to be out on my bike puttering down the back roads to smell the flowers.

Sandy McArthur

Clinton

Once upon a time, I believed that newspapers were responsible forms of communication and education. (Including, of course, the comic section.) I like newspapers - I enjoy reading them in both paper and Internet forms. I have been fortunate enough to be published in a few.

My enjoyment of such media, however, seems to have come to a screeching halt upon reading the recent article by Paul Wieland, the executive director of Fitchburg Community Television. It seems that Mr. Wieland is possibly the most misinformed man on the planet when it come to motorcyclists.

For the record, I am a 37-year-old female homeowner and the proud owner/operator of a 2002 Honda GoldWing (a large touring bike). I commute 1 1/2 hours each way to my job, preferably on the motorcycle - both for enjoyment and the convenience of using the HOV lanes. Yes, I own a car, but I save that for rainy days. Certified by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, I also teach people how to ride motorcycles.

Contrary to Mr. Wieland's belief that all bikers are boozers, it has taken me about 3 months to consume the 12-pack of Killian's Red in my fridge. (OK, I confess that 4 bottles were used for cooking and not drinking.)

This is not to say that all motorcycle enthusiasts are responsible people. Of course, I doubt that any segment of the population could make this claim. Even journalism has its bad apples. On average though, motorcyclists are typically better-trained and have better insurance coverage than car drivers.

Please do not judge this black leather book by her cover, Mr. Wieland.

Anna Marie Schwind

Richardsville, VA








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© 1999-2001 MediaNews Group, Inc. and Mid-States Newspapers, Inc.

[Sparky_Bill]

Check this out if you are a dirt biker. There are terriorist groups out that that are not from the middle east.

http://www.off-road.com/vw/enviro/efdm.html

Eco-Terrorist orginizations :gun:

Earth First :gun:

Earth Liberation Front :gun: