Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

~ ILLI 015 LAW ~5PON50R ~ ~NOW FOR ...) bHELMET REPEAL Illinois has somet:hin.o; good goine for it. State Senator Robert Mitchler is one of those very rare men who can admit to a mistake and set about to correct it. He now sees no need even for those under the age of 21 to wear helmets since such precautions should be a parental responsibility. It is Mitchler's opinion that, "If you want to go out and crack your head . open it's your own business. Seconding this view was Illinois State Senator James Lukas and Illinois professional lobbyist Richard Lockhart. Lucas, one of the co-sponsors of Bill No. 263 to repeal the helmet law, is now having a billboard erected advocating just that. Due to the absolute flood of mail they received opposing it, 25 other Senators, both RepUblican and Democrats, are co·sponsoring No. 263, Secret Laws Curtai' Cycle Desert Use H Standing is Illinois State Senator Paul Louka, Seated is State Senator Robert Mitchler. Both men are spearheads in the move to repeal the state's mandatory Helmet 1_, New Arizona Motorcycle Laws By Matt Glover In Arizona alone, the number ot registered motorcycles and scooters has more than doubled in the past tour years. The rise in motorcycling accidents, injuries and deaths has been alarming. In order to combat the rise in motorcycle accidents, the 1968 state legislature made several changes in Arizona's Motor Vehicle Laws, to become eftective Jan. 1, 1969. A three month grace period tor compliance was allowed. As ot April first the new laws will be tnlly enforced by state, county and municipal police torces. in the past a passenger car driver's license permitted the operation of motorcyc'les as well. Now a valld motorcycle operator's license is required. The Motor Vehicle Division has record ot 25,000 motorcycle and scooter registrations. This does not include the trail and desert bikes which are only ridden off the public highways. Over halt of th1's number, or about 15,000, are registered in Maricopa County which encompasses the Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa area. To date only 5,000 riders have made applications tor the tests, and the threemonth grace period ends April first. This clearly indicates an apparent apathy on the part of cyclists. So evidently it is just like the inc 0 m e taxpayer's procrastination right up to theAprilfitteenth deadllne. An applicant tor a license must be sixteen years of age, or over. The procedure would be to secure a Motorcycle Riders Guide Book, study and memorize it. The questions in the written examination are based on information contained in this manual. At time ot application a $2.50 fee will be collected. The applicant is entitled to three tries to pass the examination. There are twenty questions, multiple choice, scored at 5 points each. One hundred is a perfect grade. After passing the exam you are ready for the vehicle inspection and riding tesL The cycle must be equipped with a rearview mirror, seat and footrests tor the operator, It carrying a passenger it must also have seat, footrests and handrall tor such passenger. Handlebars cannot rise more than fitteen inches above the level ot the driver's seat or saddle. Every cycle must have a muffler. Horn, headllghts, talI light, stoplight and mutfler must be in good working order. Both operator and passenger must wear a Z90.1 or Snell approved helmet, and also wear goggles or a transparent face shield, unless the bike is equipped with a protective windshield. I have been especially requested by the authorities to advise that some cut-rate and discount stores have sold helmets as "ap'proved", which are not Z90.1 or Snell approved, and theretore are not legal. The state inspectors have a detailed printed list of helmet AAMVA approvals. The riding test course has a start/ finish line (no trophies!) and two rows ot spaced pylons, with about ten or twelve teet between the rows. You are required to zig-zag a serpentine UP one row of pylons, turn and come back down the other row in the same fashion. Then you must ride slowly UP between the two rows, a balance tests. At the end you turn back attain a speed of twenty miles per hour betore crossing a painted line wbere you must brake to a stop within thirty feet at the start/finish line. Simple enough and easy for the average rider. That's it! Because of inclement weather, rain, snow and ice, the Prescott MVD could not conduct the cycle inspection and riding tests tor five successive weeks. Flagstaff and other northern stations have had even more adverse weather conditions. Because of this I understand reasonable time allowance will be made by the authorities in those areas. The Phoenix-Mesa area MVD offices have had a tnll crew ot inspectors on Oklahoma To Change H-Law House Bill 1258 was passed by the Oklahoma House of, Representatives. It would replace the existing compulsory helmet law, which the state attorney general says is unconstitutional. The new law would only require motorcycle riders under 21 years of age to wear helmets at all times. City ordinances forcing helmets on riders are still being enforced illegally, despite the attorney general's warning. Representatives say that the state "has the right to protect the young," and the new law will stand the constitutional test. Rider Know-Ho", P'an Stops Accidents With motorcycles multiplying about ninety times faster than cars, the time has come for a rider instruction program similar to the Driver Education program with automobiles. Bonanza industries has kicked off the first National Safety on Two Wheels Program. This program is based on the encouraging tact that proper instruction in motorcycling has been shown to be very etfective - so effective that accident rates can be lowered below those ot cars. The motorcycle police of a very large city find that proper instruction has lowered their accident rate 36% below that of their patrol cars. Many people have ridden over a million mUes without a scratch! The few high schools that teach riding report extremely low or non-existent motorcycle accident rates. Authorities believe such instruction would be more popular it taught as part of a tun-on-two-wheelsgroupenjoyment. So Bonanza is offering both a safety instruction program by itself and information on how to start a ridingclub.And at a no-prottt price, for instruction use, they offer their minibike - a halt-size, halt-weighi., halt-cost motorcycle tor off-the-road fun that allows youngsters to develop a good grasp of riding principles before being exposed to traftic on a motorcycle. Working with Bonanza is Mr. AI Hall, Managing Editor ot Hot Rod magazine. Mr. Hall has created a safety program based on the best-proven teaching techniques, including those of the L.A. Police Department Motorcycle School. He also is forming two-wheel riding clubs in special duty on Saturdays. This Saturday operation will be discontinued as ot April tirst. Consequently all ot the 20,000 Johnny-come-latelies had better bone UP on the manual and get your britches tn the saddle ot your motorized boneshaker and getlegal, or else, Police, it so inclined, will issue only one solitary warning, it you should be so lucky. The next time - a ticket! Of course, I managed the real stickler question ot reciprocity to out ot state riders who will enter or pass through Arizona from states not having these requirements. The law is the law, and they will be deemed in violation and cited. The alternative is to pay the fine or go to trial to test the validity of these new Arizona laws. Ab, the political state and the lack of national uniformityl H••••t 1.,•• 1 o. Docklt At M.tllso. By JAMES BAXTER in January, '69, two pieces of legislation directly affecting Wisconsin cyclists were introduced into the Wisconsin State Assembly. One bill, No. 7g, if passed, would eliminate the mandatory helmet wearing provisions for all pOISOns over 21 years of age. Someone has effectively managed to keep this bill well hidden as most cyclists in the state had no knowledge of its existence until after the legislative hearing. It was introduced by Assemblyman Stalbaum from Waterford (Racine Area). He used the "if I want to break my neck, that's my business" argument. The lust retort from the safety·minded populous was, as always, "but your family and society are affected in a negative manner by your self, imposed extermination." The Family starves, kids go uneducated, and the county Urest home" is possibly saddled with a mental vegetable. Sound convincing? Not really. Heart disease is the largest killer in this country and also accounting for a substantial number of deaths are overeating and smoking. Just try to pass a law limiting the calorie intake or number of cigarettes smoked by Mr. and Mrs. U.S. citizen. Sure people die from over-indulging in work or play, bu isn't that our right? It costs our society to preseIVe basic freedoms; large savings could be realized by eliminating trial by jury; political elections, and censoring all communication media. We've fought wars for these freedoms and now we're supposed to surrender them in the name of safety (a term right in there with mom and apple pie). The second piece of legislation is a much more pleasant subject and one in which I have become personally involved. Nicknamed M.O.R.R (Motorcycle Outdoor Recreation Program), this bill sets up a system for establishing State operated motorcycle parks and trails. Officially titled Assembly Bill 139·A, this legislation offers something for all riders. Potentials include long-distance trails in Northern Wisconsin, informal scrambles and motocross course, challenging loop trails, rally grounds and just a place for cyclists to meet and enjoy themselves. which safety is taught to those who want the instruction along with riding tun. These clubs include youngsters uoder car-license age. For information un starting a Safety on Two Wheels program in your areawith or without a group, - Write National Headquarters, Fun on Two Wheels/Safety on Two Wheels, Station E, P,O. Box 13194, Oakland, Calitornia 94611. Headed by the Bureau ot Land Management there are several groups who are eager to stop the use of the desert wheeled vehicles, and severely confine the motorcycle events there. (See opposite page). . Unfortunately, before anyone knew what was going on, "laws" were passed governing the use nf the desert, but so far they have not been enforced. As of now, to throw a desert event, the sponsoring club must obtain a permit from the county ottice to use the land. They must also provide the otticials with three copies of a detailed map showing the course lay-out so it may be approved. Another law is that following a run, the location must be cleaned completely, and the Bureau means completely, even to lime, markers, ribbons etc., marking the course. When the Bureau first started showing an interest in desert events, District 37 endeavored to work with them by providing information and inviting Bureau members to attend races and see what was going on out there. But the laws came as a surprise. District 37 rules are strict as to what a club must do when they throw a desert race and clubs who tall short lose all point runs tor a year. So far this penalty has not been necessary because the desert riders love the desert as much as the conservationists do. Therefore they want to keep ltthe wayitis. The two most important rules are that proper sanitary facilities have to be provided and the pit and gas check areas must be lett completely clean. When the racers have gone, the desert looks as it they were never there. The motorcyclists have going against them the powertul Sierra Club which claims the passage of bikes over the desert has "created erosion problems, destroyed some va r i e tl e s of desert shrubbery and disturbed the wild lite." The Bureau wants to contain racing to one or two areas such as Stoddard Wells, having all the races thrown in that area alone for one year, and then seal it off, moving the races to another location.As anyone knows who rides desert, this idea completely defeats the idea of what desert riding is all about. It's the challenge of riding the unknown route each week that brings the riders out. Not only that, the restricted area would soon be destroyed by over-use. Although there have been times in the past when the two- wheelers and tourwheelers have run afoul of each other, the four-wheeled groups are in the same position we are. Not just to planned events will be curtailed, but all use, aftecting the individual with his off-the road vehicle. At a recent meeting in Sacramento all sides came together and the discussion got pretty heated. Ron Sloan, President of District 37 represented the AMA motorcyclists and made an excellent speech. A committee was made up of people trom each faction to discuss the problems, but unfortunately each group seems bent on getting his piece of pie if he has to shoot down the others to get it. One jeeper told the Bureau that he considers bikes should be kept out of the desert because two wheels do more damage to the land than the jeeps and balloon-tired dune buggies. It we are to hold on to our rightful use of this land, this obviously isn't the way to go, we all have to work together. The Bureau is making plans to send out observers to a run soon, and District 37 will ensure that they see an excellent one, even to putting them in a helicopter it necessary so they can observe the race under way. Desert lovers must also inform their legislators what they think of these laws, and exert enough pressure to get them repealed before they are enforced and that time is now.

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