This editorial was published in the local newspaper. Our fight needs to be shared by all and it is urged to write your state legislature in hopes of getting some reasonable ears to listen.
There ought to be a law!
Dear Editors,
From the tone of your editorial it is clear that the board has no love for bikers. Admittedly, the amount of polution emitted by bikes is minuscule in relation to all other sources. But then, you guys go after loud pipes as if it doesn't really matter if they pollute. The "screeching" sound (your word) certainly doesn't describe the sonorous rumble emmitted by the 103 cubic inches of my big twin. Screeching more suitably describes the strident legislative voices of those who would love to codify more restrictions on motorcycle riders. You complain about our machines "screeching" by on the freeway, and it's my guess that you are bothered more by our ability to "split lanes"--(yep, it's legal) than you are by the pollution or the noise. Speaking of noise. Already there are noise restrictions on motorcycle exhaust. This is accepted by the biker community. Personally, I ride with consideration for others, realizing some folks don't enjoy the rumble and roar of a healthy v-twin the way we riders do. It's been said many times, but " Loud pipes do save lives! " Far too often we on our bikes are invisible to the driving public surrounded in their steel cage. The rumble of my engine gives an audible warning that our two vehicles are sharing space. Still, with drivers listening to radio or talking on cell phones (There's a law that drivers really took to heart..!), without the audible roar of our motorcycle engine we are all the more vulnerable out there surrounded by steel boxes speeding on the road.
Then there's the pollution thing. . . you cited that in the big picture, our emissions amount to very little. This fact will not concern legislators wanting to legislate. You didn't name them, but those guys are probably desperate to get their name on a bill (any bill) to make their constituents think they are doing something. There are plenty of motor vehicle laws that, if they were vigorously enforced, would accomplish a great deal towards helping to clean our air. Ben Franklen said (so I'm told) that " government that governs least, governs best." Enforce existing law before ennacting new ones to accomplish the same thing. Our roads and freeways are clogged by drivers who entered our country illegally. That's just a fact. Now ,how many of those drivers are driving clunkers spewing gross pollution because they cannot afford to repair them or purchase a newer vehicle? Yes, I realize it's not just illegal aliens that drive old clunkers, but some will call me racist for bringing this up. Driving is supposed to be a privilege. You have to have a valid license, registration, and insurance. We all know there are millions in this state without legal documents, let alone insurance., so perhaps before putting us bikers more at risk from the unseeing driver public, law enforcement should crack down on gross polluter automobiles. It's way too much to expect our borders be controlled, but they could be --under existing law--but no, let's go after them damn, disrespectful bikers. Look at em! they're having too much fun while we're stuck here in this traffic. There ought to be a law!!!
Gary S. Hatfield
Mountain Home Village
Gary, Check out the new RumbleRouser link from the front page.