Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126053
II Political lifeline ~ t By Lane Campbell SAN FRANCIS CO, CAL., J UNE 22 . In one small co m er of Federal government endeavor, it is a new ball game. That was confirmed at a public meeting (one of ten scheduled around the country) called by the National Highway Traffic Safety Ad ministration (NHTSA) to hear public input on proposed revisions to the agency's 18 highway safety standards. (A heady mouthful of bureaucra tese, no?) Specifically, the NHTSA folk (Len Tabor, Chief of Program Definition Branch presiding) wanted to find out if the government agencies of the State of California (along with any other state in Region Nine), plus any private citizens who happened to show up, would accept their latest idea - that of replacing the present rigid standards with "hi-level" standards , halfmanadatory, half optional. What made this meeting so unusual was the fact that it was being held at all. Before even issuing new standards, DOT was asking us , the ci t izen ry , how we liked the proposed format and what we might like to see in the mandatory and optional portions of the standards. Realize that the standards we are talking about presently encompass all the mandatory safety programs which the Federal government has required of the states under penalty of highway fund "sanction", and that one of these mandatory items is/was the now-defunct mandatory helmet provision. And the same law (PL 9 4- 280 ) which de-fanged the helmet provision requires t hat this hearing, and others, be called before the DOT can propose an y new standard for the states - and then they can only propose to Congress ; they ca n no longer promulgate su ch a standard by themselves. Do you begin to see the uncertain limbo in which this places the rule-makers, habitually accustomed to writing the standards first . then telling people about them? If the DOT peop le were floundering, so were the people who came to the meeting - fo r they were equally acc ustomed to a posture of defensive reac tion.io f arguing fo r or against some new government rule after it had been written . In fac t, it got mi ldly humorous, as the tone of a couple of the spearkers was, "Well, what do you people at DOT want?" w hi le in truth the DOT came to hear what the speakers wanted, but had so mehow failed to communicate their desire . Still, there was much to give encouragement. Michael P. Evanhoe, of California's Business and Transportation Agency , rei te ra ted the state 's historical opposition to helmet laws while, in general, praising the bi-level concept. He talked of a general tax squeeze on new, untested safety programs, stressing the need for specific goals and ways of measuring results, rather than shotgun approaches. He also talked of the 55 mph speed limit, in hopes that the Feds would soon allow California the flexibility to remove the 55 limit from many of its wide-open stretches of freeway, su ch as 1-5 through the San Joaquin Valley. The general tone of most remarks was, "let's use education and behavior modification, rather than punitive or equipment-oriented approaches to accident prevention." And though most remarks were addressed to the general driving environment, most had a kind word for motorcycle rider education and motorcycle awareness for car drivers. Perhaps now that the smoke and heat generated by the battle over helmets has drifted away, things that have remained obscured for years can .c o m e .to the surface. The time is really ripe to replace the heated confrontation WIth some cool reaso n in g, for the DOT heirarchy is more receptive than it 's ever been, possibly more receptive than it will ever be, given time for new positions to crystallize and harden. There will be more meetings in the CN "West" reading area. (See below). The Feds have even scheduled evening sessions to accommodate people who can't leave their jobs. If you have any interest in motorcycle highway safety, anything to offer over and above "get off our backs," you sho u ld go to one of them. Your blue-sky ideas will wind up on tape, pumped into the official record , an d the best of them mav vet be distilled into public policy. Isn't this better than getting so me non-rider's safety ideas shoved down our throats ? • ~m~m_ inp . July 7 - Seattle, Washingto n, New Federal Bldg., 915 Seco nd Ave . July 9 - Fort Wor th , T exas, Hilton In n , 1·20 an d Co mmerce. A second round of mee tin gs, nat io n wid e, sched uled for late February, 1977, exact dates and p laces TBA. Written com ments on NHTSA standards, suggested safety pTOgramS for states, q uality o f the riding/driving e nvironment, etc . may be addressed to : Docket No . 76·2 NHTSA, R m . 5108 400 Seventh St., SW Washington, D.C. 20590 Further information. call (202) 426·9581. -,. Hollister Hills a good start By Gerry Reaga~ HOLLISTER, CAL.,JUNE 12 About 20 years ago a gang of motorcycle riders rode into the sleepy little town of Hollister, California. In less than a day they had destroyed many businesses and terrorized the townsfolk. They inspired fear and hatred among people of the town and the surrounding ranches. It became well known that motorcycles were not wanted in Hollister. I remember riding through in late 1964 on a little Suzuki 80 and even then, after the influx of small motorcycles to the U.S. had made cyclists "respectable," the people of Hollister still cast angry glan ces as we rode by. But attitudes can chan ge. Then came Howard Harris who owned a ranch in the foothills outside of Hollister and opened it up to off-road motorcycle riders. Trails were developed, campsites built and dirt riders from allover northern California came to ride. . The people of the town were wary, but when the dirt bikers did not rampage through the town or ride all over private ranches, they began to accept the motorcycle park and even promote it as good for business. Last year Mr. Harris sold his ranch to the State of California for a State Motorcycle. Recreation Area. The money for the purchase came from the green sticker fees paid by off-road motorcycle riders, and on June 12 , the official opening of Hollister Hills took place, with a dedication ceremony at the park. So now the people of the central California coast have ' their first State run bike park. It's in a good location, ab o u t 50 miles south of San J os e, and there are over 100 miles of trails in the 25.000-plus ac res of land. At the prese n t tim e the park is in about the sam e co ndition as it was wh en Howard Harris owned it. There are six designated camping areas, complete with an abundant supply of picnic tables and water. The trails are well used, but make for some good riding with something for everyone, from steep hills and ridges to canyons and cree k beds. They are marked with directional signs, and warnings are post ed where the trails may be too m uch for . inexperienced riders. There are lo ts of open areas and some good "make your own" race tracks . In the center of the area is Hunting Lodge Camp where you can b uy some food supplies, riding gear and bike parts, . get some welding done, or, if you must, get first aid for your body. The State plans many improvements, including fixing up the camping areas by installing chemical toilets and barbeque pits, remarking the trails with better signs and making improvements to the access roads and trails. Mr. Harris ' ranch consisted of two parts known as the upper and lower ranch. The State bought only the lower ranch but has a lease on the upper part which has another thousand acres of riding area and several racetracks. At present the upper ranch area is not used, but is available to clubs and organizations who want to put 040 events there. Hollister Hills is open " year -ro u n d from 8 a.m , until dark for riding. Camping is $2 a night. To ride, you must have a spark arrestor, silencer and off-road sticker or license plate. It costs $3 a bike (under 80cc is $1.50) and $ 1.50 per car to get in. If you buy an annual pass, good for all State Parks in California, you get your car in free. The pass is $ 15 and is good through the ca lendar year. The rangers in charge of Hollister Hills see m well acquainted w ith rno torcycles and there are riders on patrol throughou t the park to help if you have a problem. Hollister Hills may not be the dirt rider's dream but it is a start, and it's go o d to see o ur gree n sti cker money being used fo r us. For more info, cal l the park at 408 6 37-3874.