Bacon's Rebellion

Let Their Voices Be Heard (Above the Roar of their Hogs)

—

by

James A. Bacon
in

After clearing out ineffective and inefficient boards and commissions in Virginia, Gov. Warner is creating new ones with noble and lofty purposes. The latest is the Motorcycle Advisory Council:

The group, comprised of state and local officials, state agency representatives, and motorcycle enthusiasts, will work to promote motorcycle safety, tourism, and business development in Virginia. The Council is the next step in Governor Warner’s “Motorcycle VIRGINIA!” initiative created in 2004.

“Virginia has worked to expand its tourism markets in so many areas – and motorcycle tourism is a great opportunity for us,” said Governor Warner. “As an example, the annual Gold Wing Road Riders Association state rally in Roanoke generates over $320,000 each year for the Roanoke Valley; and we know motorcyclists are generous with their time and resources in raising hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for charities in communities across the Commonwealth. Additionally, as the Commonwealth grapples with the transportation challenges of the next decade, motorcyclists need to have a voice in that debate.”

Until the creation of this council, I had not realized that bikers had no voice. I can only hope they will use it to tie transportation to land use planning and to lobby for changes in human settlement patterns.

It’s an impressive group of Virginians that Warner named to the council–many are affiliated with existing motorcycle groups or own their own machines. They’ll be able to ride their Harleys to meetings, weather permitting. I must admit disappointment that the list of state agencies represented did not include my own. I’ve had five or six calls over the last three years from individuals wanting to start chop shops or become motorcycle dealers/repair centers. Now I can refer them to the council and they should receive special business development assistance.

Thankfully, the Alcohol and Beverage Control Board is represented. We know intuitively that motorcyclists have special needs when it comes to alcohol.

Share this article

ADVERTISEMENT

(comments below)

Comments

Comments

13 responses to “Let Their Voices Be Heard (Above the Roar of their Hogs)”

  1. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    This is actually pretty cool. A real people thing for a change. The group looks pretty interesting.

    Can you imagine if they start having motorcyle rallies organized by the state? Pretty cool…

  2. Will Vehrs Avatar
    Will Vehrs

    Yes, those rallies that are privately organized can really suck sometimes.

  3. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    I’ve never been to a rally in my life, I don’t even own a motorcyle but from what my brother and a few other folks say, the rallies in other states are much more fun. It usually has something to do with the police, um..uh..um… looking the other way…

    I would imagine this is not the kind of rallies we’ll find in good ole’ conservative Virginia…

    Most of the people I know that are “bikers” are middle-aged men with a pretty comfortable lifestyle. There’s money to be tapped there.

    Maybe “Bikers tour Virginia for [insert some good cause here]”

  4. Joe Avatar
    Joe

    Among Moto Guzzi riders, the Virginia rally (3rd weekend in June in Buena Vista) is perennially considered one of the best nationwide. In addition, the Blue Ridge is known nationally as a destination…and if VA were known as being bike-friendly, it would help tourism.

    In addition, the press release does say, “as well as a representative from each of the following state agencies: Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of State Police, Department of Transportation, and the Virginia Tourism Authority.” So ABC is involved.

    Finally, according to the Hurt Report (yes, that’s the real name of the report–based on the person who led it), most accidents that CAR DRIVER’s fault, not the bike driver.

    In addition, the Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists (VCOM) has been a purposed voice, one that has helped enable reduced tolls for motorcyclists along with the ability to drive in HOV langes–reducing gasoline consumption as well as impact on the roads (since bikes are far lighter than cars or trucks, they don’t tear up the roads as quickly).

  5. Ray Hyde Avatar
    Ray Hyde

    For their weight and utility, motorcycles get really lousy gas mileage. My Hybrid Prius gets the same mileage as my former 90cc Honda motorbike, which was no where near as capable or comfortable, or fast.

    I hesitate to think what the gas mileage/decibel ratio is for a Harley. I’d prefer a nice quiet BMW, if wishes were horses.

    I’ll admit, that while riding I have had motorists look me right in the eye and then pull out in front of me. I knew from the vacant stare that they were looking only for autos, —if that.

    Successful motorcycle riding is a 100% zero defects proposition. I’ve always maintained that auto drivers should be required to ride a motorcycle for a year: It teaches defensive driving, increases your situational awareness, and it kills all the people that are too stupid to drive.

    I think every Harley in the state drives past my place on the way to the Blue Ridge on the weekends.

    Aah, nothing like a nice quiet day in the country, good thing I can’t hear them over the roar of the tractor.

  6. Lucy Jones Avatar
    Lucy Jones

    I wonder what the mortality rate of motorcycle riders is compared to other vehicles. I know you are less likely to survive a motorcycle accident but how many crashes per miles driven/drivers?

    Also health care expenses, overall fuel consumption, etc.

    A study of the social, economic and physical effects of motorcyle riding would be interesting. I wonder if it’s mentally healthier like owning pets.

  7. Ray Hyde Avatar
    Ray Hyde

    I agree, there is no reason for anything to make that much noise. If they were BMW’s all you’d hear would be a soft whoosh. Even Harley riders describe them as a 100 years of legend, unmarred by improvements.

    I see our “Good ‘Ol Boy” Dick Cheney was speaking at a Harley plant today.

    The good news is that those motorcycles, like a lot of the increase in auto registration you complain about, are only part-time vehicles, like my farm trucks, my neighbors classic cars, the weekend sports cars, etc etc. These things cost tens of thousands and they pay property all the time they are sitting in the garage.

    Motorcycles aside, why would anyone want to eat next to a road?

  8. Joe Avatar
    Joe

    “I wonder if it’s mentally healthier like owning pets”

    There is a saying that you don’t see many motorcyclists on analyst couches.

  9. Ray Hyde Avatar
    Ray Hyde

    Analysts know how to pick their battles.

  10. E M Risse Avatar
    E M Risse

    The Agency missing on the team is the Health Department.

    We and others have given up trying to eat outside at otherwise delighful inns that are near roads in the Countryside because of the racket that pods of cycles make crusing up and down and up and down the roadways. The more scenic the roadway the more noise generated.

    I suspect a comprehensive cost benefit analysis will show the bikers could not spend enough to overcome the loss of business from others due to the noise.

    EMR

  11. Ray Hyde Avatar
    Ray Hyde

    Now I see what you mean. If you were at Four and Twenty Blackbirds, or The Inn at Little Washington, they are right on the street.

    I thought you meant eat by the road as in picnic.

    Let’s face it. The reason those things are so loud is because they enjoy annoying people and getting attention, even if it is negative in nature.

    They rationalize the noise as a safety mechanism, and I’ll admit there have been motorcycles I heard before I saw – but still.

    While we are at it, we could take on Jake Brakes.

  12. Lucy Jones Avatar
    Lucy Jones

    I’m not so sure the need for noise is confined to motorcycles. My ex always had the loudest cars available. Special pipes, engine parts, etc. I always just assumed that was a “man thing” I just did’t understand.

    Don’t they regulate the noise for cars? Seems like I remember him getting some grief over “glass pipes” or something and he had to get rid of them. If so, why not have the same regulations for bikes?

  13. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    I think the regulations are there, but like immigration they are not enforced or not enforced well.

Leave a Reply

ADVERTISEMENT