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MRF E-MAIL NEWS Motorcycle Riders Foundation
236 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Suite 510
Washington, DC 20002-4980
202-546-0983 (voice)
202-546-0986 (fax)
http://www.mrf.org (website)


For Immediate Release

26 March 2009

Contact: Jeff Hennie, Vice President of Government Affairs, MRF
Email: jeff@mrf.org

Bikers Inside the Beltway Date Confirmed

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation is pleased to announce that the
Sergeant-at-Arms of the United States House of Representatives has
approved our request to hold an event inside the Capitol complex. The
event is planned for the morning and early afternoon of Thursday, May
14th, 2009. By all means, save that date on your calendars and plan to be
in Washington, DC.

Bikers Inside the Beltway will take place to educate members of Congress
on the importance of motorcycle safety and awareness programs. The MRF
will also take the opportunity to reaffirm its position that "2010 funds"
(funds appropriated by Congress to support motorcycle rider education and
awareness) have had a positive impact and should be preserved.

The MRF has secured limited parking space on the grounds of the U.S.
Capitol. If you are sincerely interested in riding your motorcycle into
the grounds please email Jeff@mrf.org or call 202-546-0983 to join the
list for admittance. Due to space and security concerns by the
administration of the House of Representatives, we may be forced to limit
the number of motorcycles that we can bring onto the grounds. So please
let us know as soon as possible.

Of course, there is no limit on the number of people who can attend. The
MRF is still working with House officials and will present more details
shortly.

 

 

 

Media Release: For immediate use
Date: 04/07/09
Subject: June 15th Annual Ride To Work Day

Motorcycle and Scooter Day Turnout Expected to Increase

This year's eighteenth commuting demonstration event, to be held on Monday June 15th, is expected to double the number of riders on the road, according to Ride to Work, a non-profit advocacy organization.

According to the United States Census Bureau and the Department of Transportation, over eighty million cars and light trucks are used for daily commuting on American roads, and about 200,000 motorcycles and scooters are a regular part of this mix. On Ride To Work Day, the practical side of riding becomes more visible as a larger number of America's 8,000,000 cycles and scooters are ridden to work.

"Riding to work on this day shows the positive value of motorcycles and scooters for transportation. For several hundred thousand commuters, riding is an economical, efficient and socially responsible form of mobility that saves energy, helps the environment and provides a broad range of other public benefits," states Andy Goldfine, the event organizer. Motorcycle and scooter clubs and organizations in many countries encourage their members to ride to work on this day.

Ride to Work Day shows how riding makes parking easier and help traffic flow better. Motorcycles and scooters consume less resources per mile than automobiles, and they take up less space in parking areas and on roads. Riders seek employer support for this form of transportation, and increased government and public awareness about riding's many benefits.

Press release also available in Word and PDF formats.

Contact Ride to Work Day, a 501 c4 nonprofit organization, at:
POB 1072, Proctor, Minnesota, 55810 USA
http://www.ridetowork.org
218 722 9806
propaganda@ridetowork.org
Mission Statement:
Advocating and supporting the use of motorcycles and scooters for transportation, and providing information about everyday riding to the public.
Some Affiliated Countries:
Canada, Germany, Philippines, England, Germany, France, Israel, Turkey, Ecuador, United States, and many others.
Newsletter:
Sample issues of 'The Daily Rider' newsletter are available for download at:
http://www.ridetowork.org/the-daily-rider
History:
A brief history of Ride to Work Day is available for viewing at:
http://www.ridetowork.org/ride-to-work-day-history
Fact Sheet:
A transportation motorcycling fact sheet is available at:
http://www.ridetowork.org/transportation-fact-sheet
Photos and Artwork:
Motorcycle and scooter commuting photos, ads, posters, banners, photos, illustrations and other artwork is available at:
http://www.ridetowork.org/signs-posters-cards-propaganda-art
 

 

Primary Races and Bills

 

Below is a summary of primary races coming up around Virginia, sent to us by Douglas Findlay.  If any of you all have contacts in Vienna, Burke, Norfolk, or Dumphries, we need to contact these candidates and find out their positions on motorcyclists rights (paricularly helmet law reform).  I don't personally, know any enthusiasts/acitvists in these cities, but I'd like to find out which candidates will pledge support to us and then work to see them win in the primary races coming up in June.  Please let me know if you can help us find out which candidates deserve our support.

 
> H-55 in Richmond. Steve Skeens has identified some primary candidates that are biker-friendly, but right now he's keeping a low profile to see how things evolve. The retiring incumbent (Hargrove) has always opposed us, but there's a good chance that who ever replaces him will be biker-friendly. Steve has strong support from the local biker community to work in this primary. B4BS.NET can also support Steve with a few subscribers from the Richmond area. Since the general election will favor the primary winner, we will probably gain an ally in this district.
 
> H-23 in Lynchburg. Tony Tronco is checking out the two challengers to the sitting anti-biker incumbent (Valentine). If Tony finds out that any of the primary candidates are biker-friendly, he has strong support from ABATE members to work in this race. If there's a biker-friendly primary candidate, we have a good chance of gaining an ally in this district.
 
 
 
> H-47 in Arlington. I've checked out all 5 of the candidates. The retiring incumbent (Eisenberg) has always opposed us. Only one of the candidates may support us, and he is already an ally of biker-friendly Senator Chap Peterson. B4BS.NET has dozens of new subscribers who are ready to work as campaign volunteers. Other primary races in question:
 

> H-35 in Vienna. Four unknowns (Baldwin, Keam, Kelleher, Omeish) are challenging the anti-biker incumbent (Shannon).
> H-41 in Burke. One of two primary contestants (Bolognese, Coffee) will challenge the anti-biker incumbent (Marsden).
> H-52 in Dumfries. One of two primary contestants (Hodge, Torian) will challenge the biker-friendly incumbent (Frederick).
> H-90 in Norfolk. One unknown (Spruill) is challenging the anti-biker incumbent (A. Howell).
 
Thanks a billion to Steve and Tony for the updates and especially for letting B4BS.NET support their efforts. I greatly prefer to follow the direction of ABATE on these primary races, as well as in the general election yet to come.