As we close out 2023, here is a snapshot of where we are at year's-end, and where our focus will be in 2024.
Autonomous Vehicles (AV) – Over the summer, MRF Leadership met with officials at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to discuss our concerns about the deployment of AVs and their interactions with motorcycles. This fall, NHTSA issued a recall of Tesla vehicles following the investigations, including one focused on fatal crashes involving motorcyclists. All companies operating in the AV space should be accountable for what they deploy on our roads. The growth of AV technology, along with the prevalence of distracted driving, remains a major concern for us. We were grateful that our champions on Capitol Hill used congressional hearings to elevate this topic and we remain engaged on this critical issue in 2024.
Bikers Inside the Beltway (BITB) – The 2023 BITB had the largest attendance in the 14-year history of the event! Motorcyclists from thirty-four (34) states traveled to Washington, D.C. and advocated for issues that matter to street riders. In just one day, all 435 members of the House of Representatives and 100 Senators received an informational packet from the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) explaining who we are, what we have done and what we want.
Definition of a Motorcycle – We continue to educate lawmakers about our concerns regarding the out-of-date federal definition of a motorcycle. In 2024, we will pursue a legislative fix that more appropriately fits vehicles on the road today.
Ethanol – The MRF continues to seek allies from diverse groups to push back against increasing ethanol mandates. This year the MRF met with groups, like the oil producers, in hopes of joining forces to preserve access to E10 and fuel grades with lower levels of ethanol.
Internal Combustion Engine – Two separate bills, H.R. 1435 and H.R. 4468 passed the U.S. House this year. Both bills would limit the power of state and federal officials to restrict the purchase of vehicles with internal combustion engines. Each bill has a companion in the U.S. Senate. S. 2090 would limit states from setting their own regulations, while S. 3094 would stop the federal government from mandating the manufacture of electric vehicles. We will continue to press Senators to join these bills as cosponsors and seek final passage.
Motorcyclist Advisory Council (MAC) – Created by federal law in 2021, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has been slow in establishing the MAC. In May, at the urging of the MRF, thirteen (13) lawmakers sent a letter pressing DOT to seat the MAC. This month, the DOT finally began the selection process for the MAC. The MRF has worked hard to advocate for qualified candidates for the MAC and we anticipate a formal announcement on membership soon.
Profiling – While 2022 saw the passage of our second Congressional resolution on profiling, we continue to look for opportunities to work on this issue. For the second year in a row, the funding bill for DOT seeks a report back from NHTSA on motorcyclist profiling.
Right to Repair – We are committed to preserving consumer choice and affordable access to parts, and thus have worked to support H.R. 906, the Repair Act. We continue to drive cosponsors to the bill and our work during Bikers Inside the Beltway helped double the number of cosponsors on the bill to almost fifty (50). We anticipate that the House Committee on Energy and Commerce will consider the bill during the first half of 2024.
Roadshow – From California to Florida, New Hampshire to Oklahoma and states in between, the MRF has been on the road listening to what matters to bikers. We are also happy to deliver presentations informing state motorcyclist rights organizations about issues of interest to motorcyclists at the federal level. MRF board members made it to twenty (20) states in 2023 and we hope to exceed that number in 2024!
Safety – In May, the MRF met with representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to continue a dialogue about motorcycle safety. More safety funding and increased awareness and accountability by other vehicles on the road were among the topics we discussed.
2024 is shaping up to be another busy year for the MRF! Our sustained engagement here in Washington, D.C., combined with your visits to Capitol Hill and support back home, is what allows us to maintain total vigilance and achieve victories in Congress.
Thanks for a momentous year. See you in 2024!
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