BikePAC of Oregon, Inc.

PAC #00019 PO Box 5612 Salem, OR 97304 www.bikepac.com

Click here for a news video of the 2009 May Awareness Rally.

Greetings to Everyone:

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all of their work thus far this legislative session. It looks like 2009 will be a good year for us. It was unexpected that we would get so much done due to the horrible economic situation that we are all facing. But, we are still making progress.

We have reached the half-way point in this session’s work. Now all bills that have passed the House/Senate go to the other side for deliberation. That means that the bills before the legislature will now be worked on by the other half. If the bills they work on receive any changes wanted and pass the vote then they have to go back to the original side, Senate or House, and be looked at again. What that amounts to is this; if both sides, House and Senate, agree on a bill’s language then it will be sent to the Governor after passing the vote in the House/Senate.

We can claim 4 Victories this session thus far. The victories may not be 100% what we could have wanted but they have changes and omissions that make it closer to our goals, therefore a strategic victory.

1. The Vulnerable User bill has added motorcycles and passed the House by a vote of 58-2.

2. The Insurance Bill that would allow a motorcyclist to ride without a helmet but would need a very large insurance rider has been removed at our request. This bill is unattainable, as no insurance company would give such coverage at a cost that anyone could afford. History has shown that this bill will not work.

3. The Riding Unendorsed fine was raised but with our language that would allow a rider to take a safety-training course, get endorsed and the fine of $720 could be waived. This is in parity with auto drivers.

4. The Mandatory Training Bill (Vickie Walker’s baby) has had the language changed so that already endorsed riders are not effected by this. This means that only new riders or those getting endorsed after a lapse in their license would have to get training. This bill has a time frame that will go into effect gradually over the next few years.

The stalemate is one that I am sure that you expected. The Adult Helmet Modification is still locked in committee and will not leave it. I believe that we may have stood a good chance at winning this time but it had to get out of committee first. The committee knows that we will not go away on this issue. It is not a matter of riding without a helmet but the freedom for an adult to choose the safety equipment that they use be left up to the rider.

Thank you to everyone for all of your work. We are making a difference and we are winning! Keep up the great work!

Nic Oliver
Executive Director