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RED LIGHT BLUES
The ongoing struggle with non-motorcycle-friendly traffic signals continues…
By Joy Burgess
The red light blues. If you’re a street rider, you’ve probably had ’em. You ride up to a red light and you wait, expecting the light to turn green eventually. But when it doesn’t, or it cycles without giving you a left-turn arrow, you start to fidget. Maybe you jump up and down on your seat, hoping to trigger a sensor buried in the ground (which doesn’t work…read on!), or let a car behind you roll up and (hopefully) trigger things.
When that doesn’t work, maybe you take a few rights to get where you’re going. “I’ve even put my kickstand down and run over to a crosswalk to hit the crossing arrow to trigger a traffic light,” said AMA On-Highway Government Relations Manager Tiffany Cipoletti. Or, some folks say “the heck with it,” wait for a safe and clear moment, and run the light, risking a ticket.
While you’re likely familiar with the struggle, you may not be aware that 15 states have already passed Traffic Actuated Signal laws — which Cipoletti notes are referred to as “Dead Red” proposals by state motorcycle rights organizations — addressing this issue, which basically allow you to treat malfunctioning traffic signals as stop signs when it’s safe to proceed. Two additional states — Louisiana (H.B. 150) and Texas (S.B. 1737) — are actively pursuing such legislation.
Of course, this does not mean motorcyclists can treat any stoplight like a stop sign. Specifics vary among the 15 states with laws already in place, but one example is Virginia’s current code. It allows riders to proceed through the intersection on a steady red light when a sensor fails to detect the motorcycle only if they: come to a full and complete stop for two minutes or two complete cycles
of the traffic light (whichever is shorter); exercise care and treat the traffic signal as a stop sign; determine it’s safe to proceed; and yield the right of way to the drivers of any other vehicles approaching from either direction.
In contrast, Arkansas simply requires riders to come to a full and complete stop, exercise caution, and proceed when safe at a light that fails to actuate. In Illinois, riders must wait at least 120 seconds before safely proceeding due to a signal malfunction or failure to detect their arrival, but this may only be done in municipalities with less than 2 million people, which means it’s not legal in the city of Chicago. So it’s a mixed bag.
Although this traffic signal problem isn’t new, many riders don’t understand why it happens. It’s a common myth that traffic signals are triggered by vehicle weight (which leads to the ineffective and somewhat-humorous jumping around on the bike at red lights). Many traffic signals use inductive loop detectors (ILDs), a type of in-roadway sensor that causes a light change from red to green when metal interrupts an electrical field at an intersection. These sensors aren’t as sensitive to motorcycles because they contain far less metal than cars, although according to the Federal Highway Administration, if motorcycles don’t actuate the sensors it is possible to adjust their sensitivity settings. We say, “Get those screwdrivers out, city engineers!”
Many areas continue to move towards using traffic signals featuring newer technologies like video and radar detection, and while they’re far better at detecting bikes than ILDs, they still may not always sense motorcycles.
While it may seem like a small thing, this slight nuisance is symptomatic of a bigger problem — infrastructure that fails to take motorcycles into account. And as national discussions surrounding transportation have shifted towards a fully autonomous future, motorcycles must be a part of this conversation in order to preserve the future of twowheeled travel.
The AMA works diligently to ensure that every conversation about infrastructure includes motorcycles. The AMA also continues to advocate for motorcycle safety to be a critical component of all autonomous vehicle technology programs, voicing concerns about how other vehicles detect and respond to motorcycles and the vehicleto-infrastructure component that comes with a fully autonomous future.
Along with engaging the DOT during public comment periods regarding autonomous vehicle policy, the AMA worked with Harley-Davidson and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation during the 116th Congress to share joint concerns on the priorities of motorcyclists, and will continue to utilize that framework of concerns of the motorcycle community in autonomous vehicle policy while engaging during the 117th Congress.
Traffic Actuated Signal laws offer a way out when you’re stuck at a red light, but it’s better to avoid getting stuck in the first place. If you have a faulty traffic signal in your area, contact your local road authority to alert them of a malfunctioning signal that’s not working for motorcycles. Signals can be recalibrated to better detect bikes to prevent the problem. If your state doesn’t have a Traffic Actuated Signal law for motorcycles, contact your state legislators. INNOVATIVE TOOLS AND PRODUCTS THAT HELP YOU MAINTAIN AND REPAIR MOTORCYCLES, ATVS AND UTVS
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COLORADO PULLS OHV FUNDING U-TURN
Robbed by the pandemic, Colorado returns $5 million to OHV fund
By Kali Kotoski
The governor of Colorado has signed a bill to return $5 million to the State Parks’ Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Fund after fears that the state’s revenue would take a drastic hit by the COVID-19 pandemic were overblown.
The bill represents a significant win for the OHV programs in the state at a time when outdoor recreation activities in the backcountry have surged to unprecedented levels, highlighting the dire need to have adequate funds to manage the strain on natural resources, educate users, maintain trails and preserve riders’ rights.
The $5 million was originally swept into Colorado’s General Fund during the final days of the 2020 legislative session, when the state was desperately trying to shore up its coffers ahead of the anticipated pandemic squeeze. The last-minute sweep blindsided stakeholders without time to mount objections.
While sweeping money from cash funds deemed not immediately essential is a common practice when states are faced with budget uncertainty, a repayment of funds is virtually unheard of, according to Jerry Abboud, AMA Board Member and President of the Colorado OffHighway Vehicle Coalition.
Senate Bill 225 was championed by Senator Bob Rankin (R-Carbondale) who wrangled support within the Joint Budget Committee, eventually earning broad bipartisan support.
“I’m philosophically opposed to using cash funds to balance the state’s budget,” said Rankin. “However, responding to the COVID pandemic required budget cuts no one wanted to make. When the time came to look at undoing some of the cuts we had to make last year, repaying the OHV fund became a priority of mine. I felt it was one of the more egregious cash fund sweeps we had to make. And given the fact that we have a lot of backcountry to repair due to overuse and historic wildfires, I wanted to pay back this fund in particular.”
House Rep. Kim Ransom (R-Acres Green) also led the charge to repay the funds. The Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition (COHVCO) and the Powersports Dealers Association of Colorado led the lobbying push while
the non-lobbying Trails Preservation Alliance continued to educate the public on how they can protect their rights.
“It’s not often that cash funds get repaid,” said Landon Gates, lobbyist for the Powersports Dealers Association of Colorado. “We were fortunate enough to have Senator Rankin do much of the heavy lifting behind the scenes, and working together we were able to use PDAC’s membership to help educate the other members of the Joint Budget Committee on the serious need for backcountry trail repair.”
COHVCO Chairman Matt Hiller said that the advocacy work by lobbyists representing off-highway issues cannot be understated, as it is crucial in accessing and safeguarding funds.
“Without a strong presence at the Capitol by COHVCO lobbyists saving our sport would be impossible,” Hiller said.
Rob Dingman, President and CEO of the AMA, explained that, in general, the sweeping of motorcycle and trailpreservation funds leads to a scenario where a user fee paid by riders through licensing, permits, registration and fuel fees, becomes a user tax when the funds are swept away to support unrelated programs.
“It is often a hard-fought battle to get the funds allocated,” Dingman said, “but when they are swept and not repaid, the fight to get more funding starts again from square one. The repayment of the Colorado OHV Fund shows these user fees will be spent for their intended purpose.”
Abboud said that with the repayment of the $5 million, stakeholders will now start working with the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife on a strategic and impactful two- to three-year spend-down plan. Additionally, Abboud said capturing funds as soon as possible is a priority as federal government agencies and Congress are pushing for the private sector to take on more of the funding burden.
“As federal agencies are signaling that conservation efforts need to shift from the public sector to private stewardship,” Abboud added, “it is important that we have these public funds now to prepare for increased strain in the future, because private-sector stewardship will not be enough.”
MOTOCROSS SCHOLARSHIP RACES
The AMA and On Track School team up to support continuing education through scholarships for racers
By Joy Burgess
In 2018, the AMA and the On Track School discussed the need for continuing educational support for racers, and together came up with a program to award scholarship funds at approved sanctioned races. Over the following year, members of On Track School continued to meet with AMA representatives, conducted research, met with MX Sports to expand the reach of the program and presented findings to the AMA, supporting a plan to implement based on a successful model shared by the USA BMX Foundation. The very first event, coined Cash for Class, took place in Nov. 2019 at the Georgia Practice Facility (GFP) in Cairo, Ga.
Cash for Class brought in 190 individual race entrees and raised more than $12,500 in donations. Of that, $9,300 was paid in scholarship certificates to 529 education savings plans, and in 2020, $15,140 was paid in scholarships from the second Cash for Class Scholarship Race at GPF. Additional funds donated from these events have been rolled over to be used in 2021. Donations are held in an endowment fund by On Track Learning Solutions, Inc.
An established advisory scholarship panel is in place, including On Track School, GPF, AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier, AMA Deputy Director of Racing/Motocross Manager Michael Burkeen, AMA Racing Program Manager Alexandria Kovacs, MX Sports, and former AMA Pro Motocross and AMA Supercross Champion Jeff Emig.
The next event will be held at GPF in Cairo, Ga. in Nov. 2021, an AMA Featured event. Stay tuned for more updates and coverage of November’s scholarship race.
Learn more at https://scholarshiprace.com/.
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Oceano Dunes Group Challenges Coastal Commission Authority in Lawsuit
The Friends of the Oceano Dunes in a lawsuit has accused the California Coastal Commission of violating environmental laws and overstepping its authority to approve a plan to ban off-road vehicle riding at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area over the next three years. The lawsuit, filed in April, is the latest salvo in a conflict that has yet to determine which agency, the Coastal Commission or the California State Parks, has jurisdiction over deciding the future of off-roading at the area. The conflict has been a flashpoint between agencies and advocacy groups for years, costing the state hundreds of thousands of dollars. In March, the Coastal Commission voted unanimously to expedite a recommendation to close access to the dunes in three years, instead of five, while closing access to the Pier Avenue entrance by July 1, 2022.
The lawsuit disputes the Coastal Commission’s finding that it has sovereignty over projects managed by California State Parks, which is tasked with protecting the state’s natural and cultural resources, as well as creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Friends of the Oceano Dunes argues that the Coastal Commission misled the public into believing that access would remain and that parking and camping areas would stay open, only to reconstitute a plan that bans access without holding a formal hearing. The group also argues that under the California Environmental Quality Act, only the lead state agency has the principal responsibility to approve a project, which California State Parks asserts it is. In 1975, the dunes were set aside for off-road vehicle recreation as part of the California Coastal Plan.
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The AMA National Adventure Riding Series for 2021 has more than a dozen events across the country for riders to test their skills, explore the pavement, and blast down remote dirt roads. The AMA National Adventure Riding Series, sponsored by ADVMoto and Helite, offers the best routes and trails to showcase the abilities of adventure bikes. The two-day events include plenty of challenging rides that are well marked and thoughtfully designed by local clubs. They are also built around a full weekend of activities that include bonfires, camping, food and prizes. AMA membership is required for these national-level events. For those who aren’t yet members, a one-event pass may be purchased for $20 at the event. Event dates are subject to change. For the most up-to-date schedule, visit https://americanmotorcyclist.com/nationaladventure-riding.
Wisconsin Rep Seeks Reauthorization of Motorcycle Advisory Council
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Representative Mike Gallagher (RWI) has introduced the Motorcyclist Advisory Council Reauthorization Act, WE REPAIR AND RESOLE MOST BRANDS LIKE: a bill that would renew the Motorcyclist Alpinestars,SIDI, Gaerne, Fox and more! Advisory Council’s mandate at the U.S. Department of Transportation. If H.R. ALSO FACTORY RESOLE OF TECH 3, 7, & 10 BOOTS 2141 passes, it would set up the third FREE Return Shipping iteration of the council that is made up of motorcycle manufacturers, rights and safety organizations — such as the AMA — and local and state transportation and infrastructure specialists. The Council serves as a liaison to the US DOT to 1-949-791-8009 voice critical firsthand knowledge on www.mxbootrepair.com infrastructure and road safety measures impacting motorcyclists.
Specifically, the Council has advised the US DOT on barrier design, roadway BC_047460_DRI0416P.indd 1 Anthony's benefit logo.indd 1 design, maintenance, construction practices and the implementation of Intelligent Transportation Systems. The second iteration of the Council was chaired by Michael Sayre, the AMA’s Director of Government Relations. The bill would require the US DOT to respond to recommendations while allowing more of a back and forth between government agencies, including the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Sayre explained. The bill is also supported by Harley-Davidson, ABATE of Wisconsin and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation. The AMA calls on its members to contact representatives to ensure the Council remains an active and participatory member in infrastructure development.
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