The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. Each year the MRF hosts several regional conferences around the country culminating in the national Meeting of the Minds (MOTM). This year's MOTM was held in Columbus, Ohio in September and the legislative agenda for 2014 was discussed and voted on by the various State Motorcycle Rights Organizations (SMRO) in attendance. Each participating SMRO is entitled to one vote on agenda items brought to the floor during discussion.
Using the agenda items that received endorsements by the SMRO's gives the MRF a clear and precise message to take to Congress. The various state motorcycle rights organizations are encouraged to attend the annual federal lobby day, billed as riders Inside the Beltway, on Thursday, May 15, 2014, to help the MRF introduce the legislative agenda for 2014.
Some of the things the MRF will be working on include a continuation of the NHTSA Lobbying Ban, support of HR1861 which disallows grant money to states to institute motorcycle only check points and encouraging additonal federal research of E15 fuel as it relates to use in Motorcycles.
Also of note are plans to pursue safer roadway design strategies that take motorcycles into account and motorcycle specific training modules for Emergency Medical Services and 911 dispatch personnel. You can learn more about the MRF at http://www.mrf.org
Besides representing the motorcyclists of America in Washington, D.C., the MRF works with allies in Europe and Asia to influence talks on vehicle globalization and harmonization that are proceeding under the United Nations and the World Health Organization.
