This year’s recipients of the annual AMA Sound Meter Program include the Coast Riders Motorcycle Club, Trail Riders of Southern Arizona, Coconino Trail Riders and Ocean State BMW Riders. With the sound kits provided by the program, these clubs will be able to accurately check the sound emissions of their motorcycles and institute training efforts to limit sound pollution at their events.

“With the AMA Sound Meter Program, we’re supporting and encouraging riders and clubs to take sound issues seriously and make decisions based on accurate information,” AMA Government Relations Director and Western States Representative Nick Haris said. “Phone apps and cheap meters are often not reliable and it’s important to have accurate, repeatable information prior to implementing any sound-related rules.”

The AMA Sound Meter Program, started in 2005, has awarded more than 130 sound meters and helps riders and event organizers better understand acceptable sound levels according to AMA guidelines.

The sound testing kits provided by the AMA contain a Type 2 sound meter, a tachometer, training materials, a spark-arrestor probe, personal protective equipment and a storage case.

In addition to the AMA Sound Meter Program, the AMA remains committed to supporting quieter motorcycle use and fighting against unfair sound ordinances. For more information on the AMA’s stance on excessive motorcycle sound, visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com/rights/ama-board-position-statements/excessive-motorcycle-sound/.

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The American Motorcyclist Association mourns the loss of Dave Pickett, who dedicated his life to advocating for the rights of motorcyclists throughout Northern California and Western Nevada.

Pickett, a lifelong motorcyclist and AMA Life Member, served as President of AMA District 36 from 2004 through 2013, while also working as the Legislative Action Officer for the District until his retirement in 2018. In these roles, Pickett advocated for off-road trail access for enthusiasts across his district, allowing for a thriving off-road riding community in District 36.

In 2011, Pickett earned the Jim Hutzler Service Award — AMA District 36’s highest honor.

In addition to his time with AMA District 36, where he started in the early 1970s and also served on the Board of Directors, Pickett served as an AMA Congressman. Pickett was also a lifetime member of the BlueRibbon Coalition and California Enduro Trails Riders Association.

An avid off-road riding participant, Pickett began riding and racing in 1965 and rose to the A class of AMA racing.

Pickett’s contributions to the AMA and motorcycling were vast, and he will be greatly missed.   

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SB24-079 permits motorcycles to overtake or pass another motor vehicle if traffic is stopped in surrounding lanes. Colorado will join Utah, Montana and Arizona as states that permit lane-filtering, with Minnesota’s own lane-filtering bill slated to take effect on July 1, 2025. Lane-splitting is also legal in California, allowing riders to move through slow-moving traffic in addition to stopped traffic, which differs from Colorado’s law which only permits motorcyclists to pass when the flow of traffic is stopped.

To legally filter, the road must have lanes wide enough to pass safely, the motorcyclist must maintain speeds of 15 miles per hour or less, and “conditions permit prudent operation of the motorcycle while overtaking or passing.”

Motorcyclists must pass on the left of the vehicle in front of them. When the stopped vehicles begin to move, the motorcyclist must stop passing and merge back in line with traffic. 

While lane-filtering is now permitted by law, with the guidelines previously mentioned, it must be done legally and safely to have its intended effect on the safety of riders in stopped traffic.

Under the newly minted law, it is illegal to overtake or pass on the right shoulder, to the right of the vehicle in the farthest right-hand lane if the highway is not limited access or in a lane of traffic moving in the opposite direction.

The law will undergo a three-year period of safety data collection by the Colorado Department of Transportation. The CDOT will compare the number of motorcycle rear-end collisions, the severity of motorcycle rear-end collisions and the number of motorcycle side-swipe collisions while overtaking or passing at 15 miles per hour from before and after the effective date of the law.

For more information regarding Colorado’s new lane-filtering law, visit www.codot.gov/safety/motorcycle/lanefiltering.

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The Co-Chairs of the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus, Reps. Tim Walberg (R-MI), Troy Balderson (R-OH), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), and Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) — in addition to Reps. Tracey Mann (R-KS), Carol Miller (R-WV) and Warren Davidson (R-OH) — introduced H. Res. 1391 in the House of Representatives honoring the anniversary.

“As a Charter Life Member of the AMA, it was my honor to introduce this resolution to recognize the historic achievement AMA has reached, marking its 100^th Anniversary,” Rep. Walberg said. “I am proud to have been a part of this fine organization, and consider it a privilege to be counted as one of its many members.”

Over the last 100 years, the AMA has served as the foremost motorcycle rights advocacy organization at the federal and state levels. The AMA has operated with a permanent government relations staff presence in Washington, D.C., since the 1990s. Throughout the AMA’s history, the organization has worked closely with members of Congress to fight discriminatory healthcare legislation, recreational trails inaccessibility, ethanol concerns and other issues facing motorcyclists. 

“We are honored Congress recognizes the AMA’s effort to protect the rights of motorcyclists,” AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman said. “The AMA is pleased to serve as the leading resource for our elected officials on issues facing motorcycle riders, racers, and enthusiasts.”

In addition to the AMA’s recognition at the federal level, the AMA was also honored during an Ohio Senate session at the Ohio Statehouse on June 12, in which Sen. Tim Schaffer (R-20) presented AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman with a resolution celebrating the AMA’s centennial anniversary.

In May, the AMA was recognized at the local level. During the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Spring Bike Night and 100th anniversary celebration in Pickerington, Ohio, Mayor Lee A. Gray stopped by the AMA’s campus to deliver a proclamation declaring May 18 as American Motorcyclist Association Day in the city of Pickerington.

The AMA remains actively engaged in many issues impacting motorcyclists. To stay informed, visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com/rights/.

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PICKERINGTON, Ohio (July 15, 2024) — The American Motorcyclist Association joined 24 other organizations in support of HR 906, The Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair Act (REPAIR Act), which aims to protect the right to repair one’s own vehicles.

In a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee by the Auto Care Association, on behalf of the AMA and other REPAIR Act stakeholders, the group urged Congress to pass the REPAIR Act.

Since November, Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL-02) was responsible for negotiating provisions regarding the bill, which included an effort to remove motorcycles from the legislation. The AMA worked closely with Reps. Tim Walberg (R-MI-05) and Troy Balderson (R-OH-12) to ensure that all language regarding motorcycles remained in the proposed bill.

“It is imperative that all language regarding motorcycles remain in the REPAIR Act, and thanks to the work done by Reps. Dunn, Walberg and Balderson, and their willingness to work with the AMA on this issue, motorcycles remain at the forefront of conversations surrounding the right to repair,” AMA Government Relations Director Nick Haris said. “This bill could have immense implications for the future of motorcycling, and we continue to support all efforts to allow motorcyclists to repair their vehicles as they see fit.”

HR 906, the REPAIR Act, is a piece of bipartisan legislation — with 56 cosponsors evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats — which would protect consumer and independent business access to affordable vehicle repair and equal access to the necessary parts, maintenance tools, components and data to complete repairs.

The AMA remains committed to protecting the right to repair used motorcycles for all motorcyclists and will continue to work with Congress to ensure these rights are protected for our members and beyond.

For more information on the AMA’s Government Relations efforts, visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com/rights/.

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PICKERINGTON, Ohio (July 3, 2024) — The Supreme Court’s June 28 decision to overturn so-called “Chevron deference” in a landmark case will restrict the ability of government regulators to act outside of Congressional or federal judiciary oversight, likely altering the scope and power of regulations impacting motorcyclists, from off-highway access to right to repair.

Dating to a 1984 Supreme Court decision, Chevron deference referred to the directive that federal courts accept the judgement of regulators regarding relevant law and resulting regulations. This made challenging rules, such as land closures impacting motorcyclists, difficult in the courts.

“Overturning the Chevron deference makes it much harder for the executive branch to implement onerous or misguided regulations,” said AMA Director of Government Relations Nick Haris. “The list of bureaucratic fumbles affecting motorcyclists is long, from the Department of Health and Human Services flipping Congressional intent in the 2000s, paving the way for health insurance discrimination of motorcyclists, to the more recent ‘lead law’ interpretation that temporarily outlawed youth off-highway vehicles. Working with Congress, the AMA was able to defeat both dangerous decisions, but it took years of work and significant resources to do so.

“In a post-Chevron world, we anticipate having more leeway to fight, but we are also cautious that the road ahead is largely unknown,” Haris added. “We will continue to monitor the effects of this decision and update AMA members on how it will impact them in the future.”

The Supreme Court overturned the 40-year administrative law precedent in a 6-3 decision, eliminating the latitude given government agencies to interpret ambiguous laws through regulations. The decision shifts the responsibility of deducing laws and the intent of Congress away from government agencies to the independent judgement of courts.

The American Motorcyclist Association has a long history engaging on issues potentially impacted by the Chevron deference ruling. Since 1924 the AMA has fought in the interest of motorcyclists, repeatedly taking on the overreach of government agencies.

For example, the AMA has fought the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on multiple occasions, including working against noise regulations that would have cost individual motorcyclists thousands of dollars. The AMA also took on the Internal Revenue Service, getting it to rewrite its regulations to allow proper sales tax deductions for motorcycles.

To stay informed on the latest news affecting motorcyclists’ rights, visit the AMA’s Government Action Center.

To join the fight for motorcyclists’ rights, donate to the AMA’s Government Relations efforts today.  

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By Joy Burgess

The National Forest System Trail Stewardship Partners (Trail Partners) Funding Program recently announced the recipients of the 2024 grants. In total, the program awarded $215,000 to 16 trail maintenance and improvement projects across the U.S.

The Trail Partners grant program is a joint partnership between the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance and the U.S. Forest Service in collaboration with the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), American Trails, American Hiking Society, International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC), and the Back Country Horsemen of America. Grants help support organizations leading trail maintenance efforts across the country’s National Forests, distributing funds throughout the trails’ community, both by recreation type and geographically.

The AMA has been involved with the Trail Partners grant program since its creation in 2016 as a result of the National Forest Trails Stewardship Act and continues to work on increasing awareness of the program as a grant source.

“It’s important that AMA members, clubs and the general public are aware of the Trail Partners program as a possible grant source to fund trail repair and improvements,” said AMA Government Relations Central States Representative Nick Sands. “We encourage more people to submit grant applications for motorized trail projects in 2025.”

Another motorized group that sits on the review committee for the Trail Stewardship Partners Funding Program includes the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC), a 501c3 dedicated to creating a positive future for off-highway vehicle recreation.

“NOHVCC is honored to participate in this fantastic grant program and we hope to do our part to encourage motorized partners to apply for grants in future funding cycles” said Marc Hildesheim, Executive Director for NOHVCC. “It is always a pleasure to work with the AMA; NOHVCC and the AMA have partnered on many great initiatives over the years.”

The projects selected for grants in 2024 will engage around 2,250 volunteers in 39,000 hours of maintenance work to repair over 900 miles of trail and will match federal dollars awarded with $1,723,000 in cash and similar support.

“The National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance values ongoing partnership with the USDA Forest Service and our national trails community to get much-needed funding on the ground for critical trail maintenance projects that increase access, engage the public, promote sustainable use, and stretch federal dollars,” said Joelle Marier, Executive Director of National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance. “I am continually impressed by the energy, dedication, and passion every single applicant brings to public lands stewardship. This year our partners really brought the fire, leveraging federal dollars at an 8:1 ratio. I am particularly grateful for the ongoing support from our collaborating organizations whose reviewers contribute many hours of their valuable time year to year to represent their communities and help select the best and most diverse projects.” 

Chad Schneckenburger, USDA Forest Service Acting National Trail Program Manager added that, “Investing in the Trail Stewardship Partner Funding program has proved to be an excellent way to help actualize the vision and meet the goals of the 10 Year Trails Shared Stewardship Challenge —to increase the collective capacity to care for National Forest System trails while simultaneously increasing the number of trail miles that are well-designed, well-maintained, and well suited to support recreation use today and into the future. These grants encourage partners, volunteers, and the general public to become engaged with their National Forest System trails and provide an excellent return-on-investment for the American taxpayer.”

Out of the 16 groups receiving funding, groups awarded grants specifically for motorized trail maintenance include:

• BCHC Educational Fund: $12,300; Region 5 (Pacific Southwest) – A volunteer-led general trail maintenance and repair project with a strong focus on fire-impacted areas.
• Mountain Bike the Tetons: $16,300; Region 4 (Intermountain Region) – An organization that has strong collaboration with partner organizations serving diverse communities of trail users.
• Headwaters Trail Alliance: $30,000; Region 2 (Rocky Mountain Region) – Multiple use general trail maintenance proposal on a variety of trail types using a combination of staff, contractors and volunteers to complete work. Funding will contribute to staffing costs for HTA’s overall trails program.

The Trail Partners Funding Program is made possible through the National Forest System Trail Stewardship Act of 2016. The Act significantly increases the role of volunteers and partners in trail maintenance to aid in addressing backlogged projects such as signage upgrades, trail clearing, reroutes, bridge and structure repair, and improvements to drainage. The funding comes from dedicated USFS funds, demonstrating the significance the agency gives to the program.  

To learn more about the Trail Partners Funding Program, visit https://www.wildernessalliance.org/trail_funding.

To learn more about both grant programs at the federal and state level, visit the AMA’s grant resource page at https://americanmotorcyclist.com/rights/rights-resources/grants/.  

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PICKERINGTON, Ohio (June 17, 2024) — On June 12, members of the American Motorcyclist Association’s Government Relations Department celebrated Ride to Work Day by joining the Chairs of the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus and other motorcycle industry leaders on a ride through Washington, D.C. 

Led by the Chairs of the House Motorcycle Caucus — Reps. Tim Walberg (R-MI), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Troy Balderson (R-OH) and Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) — the inaugural Ride To Work Day at the Capitol took the group of riders on a loop from the U.S. Capitol Building, passing by the National Mall and other historic landmarks in the nation’s capital.  

“As Chairs of the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus, it was an honor to host the first annual Ride to Work Day at the U.S. Capitol,” The chairs said in a joint statement. “Not only do we love to share this passion, but we appreciate the opportunity to bring safety and awareness issues up at a national level. There’s no better way to raise awareness than joining with nearly two dozen others to ride past the historic sites on the National Mall and into work at the Capitol Building. The estimated 30 million members of the motorcycling community across America are an important constituency, and we’ll continue our work to improve safety and awareness.”

The AMA was represented on the ride by Washington Representative Zach Farmer, Legislative Affairs Coordinator Jeremy Robinson and Eastern States Representative Max Colchin. In addition to the AMA, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, Harley-Davidson, Motorcycle Industry Council and the Specialty Equipment Manufacturing Association all had a presence at Capitol Hill.

“It’s always great to see motorcyclists come together to raise awareness about the safety of riders on the open road,” Farmer said. “The motorcycling community is strongest when it works together, and Ride to Work Day is an excellent way to celebrate motorcycling while advocating for the safety of riders.”

The AMA remains at the forefront of the fight to protect the rights of motorcyclists. To learn more about the efforts of the AMA Government Relations Department, sign up for AMA Rights Updates at AmericanMotorcyclist.com/rights/rights-resources/subscribe-for-rights-updates/.

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Photo Courtesy of Sen. Tim Schaffer’s Office

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (June 14, 2024) — The American Motorcyclist Association was honored at both state and local levels recently as it celebrates a century of protecting the rights of motorcyclists and promoting the motorcycle lifestyle.  

Ohio’s recognition of the AMA’s 100th anniversary — presented by Ohio Sen. Tim Schaffer (R-20) on the Ohio Senate floor during a legislative session — is a major milestone for the organization, which has laid its roots in the Buckeye State as it carries out its mission to effectively serve and protect the rights of motorcyclists throughout the country.

“Since 1924, the AMA has worked to protect the future of motorcycling and promote the motorcycle lifestyle,” Schaffer said. “Today, AMA members come from all walks of life and they navigate to many different routes on their journey all to the same destination: fun, freedom and adventure on two wheels. Congratulations to the American Motorcyclist Association on 100 years.”

During the visit to the Ohio Statehouse, Schaffer presented the AMA with a written proclamation regarding the organization’s 100th anniversary and met with AMA staff — including AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman — and volunteers in his office.

“This is a special year for the AMA as we celebrate our 100th anniversary,” Dingman said. “We’re grateful to Sen. Schaffer for introducing this resolution to the Ohio Senate, and for his hospitality during our visit to the statehouse. This is a monumental occasion for the AMA, and one we will cherish as we look ahead to our next 100 years.”

In May, the AMA was recognized at the local level. During the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Spring Bike Night and 100th anniversary celebration, Pickerington, Ohio, Mayor Lee A. Gray stopped by the AMA’s campus to deliver a proclamation declaring May 18 as American Motorcyclist Association Day in the city of Pickerington.

“[I] proclaim May 18 as American Motorcyclist Association Day in the city of Pickerington and commend the AMA for promoting and protecting the rights of motorcyclists since 1924,” said Gray, who himself is a Charter Life Member of the AMA.

The AMA remains actively engaged in many issues impacting motorcyclists. To stay informed, visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com/rights/.

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PICKERINGTON, Ohio (June 13, 2024) — The American Motorcyclist Association completed the restructuring of its Government Relations Department by adding Eastern States Representative Max Colchin, who will work closely with motorcyclists across the Eastern United States to preserve their rights.

“Max joining our team as the Eastern States Representative completes the restructuring of our Government Relations Department. We are pleased to have him on board as we work to represent our members throughout the United States,” AMA Government Relations Director Nick Haris said. “Max’s addition will have a tremendous impact on riders in the Eastern United States, his knowledge and expertise will help protect their rights as motorcyclists.”  

Hailing from Fort Wayne, Ind., Colchin started riding motorcycles at a young age, gaining a lifelong appreciation for the motorcycling lifestyle.

Colchin’s legislative experience began during his time at Indiana University — where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science — as he moved to Washington D.C. during the second semester of his senior year to participate in an internship on Capitol Hill. Following his graduation, Colchin worked as a full-time staffer in the United States House of Representatives.

Now with the AMA, Colchin will use his legislative experience to serve motorcyclists across the Eastern United States.

“In my role on the AMA Government Relations team, I will apply my experience and knowledge gained from working on Capitol Hill to continue the AMA’s advocacy work in the Eastern region to protect the future of motorcycling,” Colchin said. “As a congressional staffer, I was responsible for monitoring every issue, from the most contentious debates on the House floor, to legislation renaming post offices. It was part of my responsibility to inform and educate our constituents on their areas of interest.

“I look forward to doing similar work by actively working on state-level policy and funding determinations,” Colchin continued. “Remaining actively involved in these conversations is one of the most effective ways to influence policymaking and ensure that motorcyclists’ rights and priorities are protected.”

To stay up to date on the latest Government Relations news, sign up for action alerts at https://americanmotorcyclist.com/rights/rights-resources/subscribe-for-rights-updates/.

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