United States – Megan Ekstrom Vice-President of Government Affairs & Public Relations of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) in the US asks, “What about us? and, “Why the bikers of America cannot continue to be ignored or forgotten.”
Sometimes a realisation can start to sweep over, especially if you work for motorcycle rights with a passion. As Megan says, “After sitting through, countless meetings, congressional hearings, public information sessions, symposiums, conferences and breakout sessions which have covered a gamut of issues that affect riders”, that, “The U.S. population at large, just doesn’t give a shit about motorcycles.”
Similar rider rights organisations and riders themselves wherever they are – just insert your country/region/city/town – have asked at times and do continue to ask the same question.
We have been there and had that feeling, that has lead to a representative with a passion for rider’s rights to say this. A sort of a light bulb moment and one we thank Megan for sharing.
WHAT ABOUT US? – Why the Bikers of America Cannot Continue to be Ignored or Forgotten
(This is the full article reproduced from Megan Ekstrom and if you feel inclined, after reading through it, please give a standing ovation with loud and prolonged applause.)
I’ve held the position of Vice-President of Government Affairs for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation for roughly 18 months. And during those months I’ve sat in countless meetings, congressional hearings, public information sessions, symposiums, conferences and breakout sessions which have covered a gamut of issues that affect riders.
Anything and everything from ethanol to self-driving cars to road design and infrastructure, I’ve sat, listened and taken detailed notes. However, during the last couple of months I’ve started to uncover a deeper (and darker) underlying message in my meetings. I’m not one for conspiracy theories so I won’t suggest that my theory is the product of some sort of anti-motorcycle secret society, but what I am beginning to believe is that the future of riders – our future – is questionable.
I say this because as I’ve sat through these meetings and conference calls, my takeaway increasingly becomes that the U.S. population at large, just doesn’t give a shit about motorcycles. We’re ignored or perhaps forgotten. We’re relegated to the category of recreation. And dangerous recreation at that.
We’re swept into the same column as shark cage diving, or bull running or cliff base jumping. And though I have no problem with any of those recreational activities, riding motorcycles is not the same. It’s not even CLOSE to the same! Though many of us ride for the fun and the thrill of it, our bikes also get us from place to place.
Unlike swimming with the sharks or running with the bulls, riding a motorcycle is a form of transportation. Motorcycles get us to work, to the post office, to the dentist. So why, in America of all places, are we forced to say again and again and again, what about us?
There is surprisingly little research done about the benefits of riding motorcycles. And I am not talking about benefits to the rider. You ask any one of our MRF members and they’ll tell you that riding is cheaper than seeing a psychiatrist. So let’s put that aside for a minute and talk about the benefits to society.
In Europe several years ago, there was a study done to test mobility – that is moving from point A to point B. They looked at commuting routes from outside major cities and within major cities as well as rural areas over varying distances and compared the mobility of a motorcycle to that of a car. And out of the fourteen tests they conducted to measure mobility, the motorcycle won 85% of the time. So in other words, a motorcycle is more likely to get you to your destination faster (and not just because you’re speeding).
The impacts go on from there. Another study (also in Europe where motorcycles are better viewed and accepted as a legitimate form of transportation) showed the impact of what might happen if just 10% of cars were replaced by motorcycles. Time loss for all vehicles would decrease by 40%. That means a quicker commute for everyone whether they are on a motorcycle or not. And with less cars on the road and less sitting in traffic, that means an impact on emissions.
Though I have not uncovered a comprehensive study on the specific issue of reduced emissions and motorcycle usage, a case study by Transport & Mobility Leuven (yep, Europe again) stated that, “New motorcycles emit fewer pollutants compared to average private cars (less NOX, NO2, PM2.5 and EC, but more VOC).
They also emit less CO2. Total external emission costs of new motorcycles are more than 20% lower than average private cars. On the section of motorway between Leuven and Brussels, total emission costs can be reduced by 6% if 10% of private cars are replaced by motorcycles.”
There are other benefits too. Things like fuel efficiency; most bikes get as many miles per gallon as a car if not much more. What about infrastructure? Right now, the Trump Administration is currently figuring out how to raise $200 billion to upgrade our nation’s infrastructure which is in dire shape in some parts of the country.
What may have helped our nations’ crumbling infrastructure? A motorcycle’s lighter touch could mean less wear and tear on a bridge or a road than a heavier, wider-set vehicle.
Given all the aforementioned benefits, you’d think I’d hear some praise from non-riders. Instead, I hear a lot about noise pollution. And that’s when they even talk about motorcycles. In many cases, they aren’t.
Take the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); when they put out their initial guidance on autonomous vehicles and potential policies and safety factors, motorcycles weren’t even mentioned. They revised the document a year later, and though they did mention motorcycles, it was in the context of what vehicles NHTSA has jurisdiction over.
Where it was blindingly not, was in the section that has to do with the ability of this technology to identify and respond to objects on the road. Interestingly, the guidance names cars, trucks, pedestrians, bicyclists and animals. But not motorcycles.
Another instance of riders being forgotten (or ignored)? The newly minted U.S. version of Vision Zero, called Road to Zero. It’s a program with an admirable goal – to completely eliminate deaths on our nation’s highways in 20 years. The program spends very little time or resources on motorcycle and related issues in every meeting I’ve attended. Even the logo can’t be bothered to contain a motorcycle rider.
It is estimated that there are more than 300 million powered two-wheelers in the world. These are substantial numbers, so when it comes being viewed as a legitimate form of transportation, why are riders having to fight for a seat at the table?
And an even bigger question is how we can change this dynamic? I don’t have the answers, but I bet if enough of us put our heads together we can start to chip away at the problem targeting not just society as a whole, but the different segments that contribute to this pervasive problem.
From policymakers to media to public interest groups and everyone in between, we need to make sure that riders everywhere, regardless of what patch you hold or bike you ride, deliver the message that motorcycles have a place in the future.
Megan Ekstrom
Vice-President of Government Affairs & Public Relations
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation
About Motorcycle Riders Foundation
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond.
Website – mrf.org
Facebook – bikers.rights
Twitter – Motorcycle Riders Foundation Washington D.C
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF)
We wish Megan all the best as she moves from the MRF to a new position in global government affairs for Procter and Gamble.
Today the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) announced that Vice-President, Government Affairs & Public Relations Megan Ekstrom has resigned from her position effective October 9, 2018. The Board had appointed Ekstrom to the role in May 2016. During her tenure, she served as the chief association advocate on legislative and regulatory issues at the federal level that impacted motorcyclists’ rights and safety and played a primary role in promoting and expanding the MRF’s government and regulatory affairs missions.
“I was disappointed in learning of Megan’s departure, as I felt we have indeed made great progress since her coming aboard,” said Kirk “Hardtail” Willard, President and Chairman of the Board. “I genuinely wish her the best and am grateful for her service and assistance in finding a suitable replacement.”
Ekstrom has accepted a position in global government affairs for Procter and Gamble, a Fortune 50 company, where she will advocate in front of Congress on behalf of their consumer product line and international trade concerns.
“Leaving the MRF has been a truly difficult decision to make, however with the current staff and leadership within the Board of Directors and state partners, the organization is exceptionally well positioned strategically and is supported by a dedicated membership. I have no doubt that the MRF will continue to be a ‘force to be reckoned with’ in the future,” Ekstrom said of her departure.
A search committee to identify candidates will be formed in the coming days. The process will be expedited to ensure a smooth transition period between Ekstrom’s departure and the new hire’s start date.
Original Source: The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF)
Dear Megan
I agree with all the my colleagues have written here. There is a problem as you clearly define it here. Riding a motorcycle on the road is not a form of risk sport, it is a normal activity. There are some risks and certainly in the urban environment these are similar to being a pedestrian or a cyclist. These risks can be mitigated by a huge margin simply by adopting some common sense actions. Pedestrians should not walk around self absorbed, paying no attention to anything other than their smart phone. I do not know which state you are from – I guess as you work a lot in DC it is not California! The Californian rider (like her or his counterpart in Europe) should avoid lane splitting (filtering as we call it in the UK) past a junction. Most of the time you get away with it as exposure risk is small for a single trip. Do it for ten, twenty, twenty five or thirty years and one day you might get caught out with fatal results. Friends and neighbours will say.
“Why did John die? He was such a long time safe rider.”
No. John was a dickhead who did dumb stuff and finally got caught out.
Countering official ignorance requires a lot of hard work. The task is all the easier if riders cooperate. This has not always been the case in Europe but today it is. We decided that there had to be an intellectual basis to this co operation so we used the International Transport Forum – OECD document as a starting point. FEMA already had a series of position papers and Dolf re wrote these. He did a fantastic job producing short precise documents.
These were generously shared with FIM and today they form the joint positions on key issues shared between FEMA and FIM Europe. They were revised again in 2017 and this process will be repeated every two years. New papers will be added as and when new issues arise.
We also have an agreement that where we may differ we discuss things first. Since we formed the co operation we have regular meetings and I cannot think of any issue where we have ended up with different views. This is helpful and sometimes we will go together to a meeting.
For a lot of the major meetings both FEMA and FIM are present anyway. So next week I will be in the same room with Dolf alongside the industry, officials from the EU Commission and representatives from member states of the EU.
I conclude with Vision Zero. We asked if motorcyclists were included or not in our internet question of the week recently. This is on our new site on public affairs aimed at professionals. More than 70% said, “yes.” This is not what riders think for sure! It is a very interesting response as it shows the majority reading articles on our new site are our target audience….decision makers. We are not (on this platform!) talking mainly to ourselves.
You can access this via the link to public affairs on the FIM home page at: http://www.fim-live.com or via the direct address which I will send to you by email as I have a few additional points to make to you.
kind regards,
John
Dear Dolf, Jesper, and Elaine,
I greatly appreciate your comments and am pleased you’ve read the article. I’m even more pleased that there seems to be a great bit of interest to join forces, engage in information sharing and perhaps even seek out a more formal dialogue amongst the many motorcycle riders associations across the globe. It does sound as though this conversation is overdue.
I’ll leave my direct contact information below – I do hope we can work out something out in the near future. I believe the MRF would be happy to take part in such a dialogue and help where we can with the organization, logistics and content.
Warmly,
Megan Ekstrom
megan@mrf.org
+1 202-725-5471
Reference to the comments made by Dolf Willingers:
“In Europe, motorcycle associations, like FIM and FEMA, already work closely together. We also work together with the industry, where possible, and with other organisations. As FEMA, we should go further and cooperate also with organisations like MRF too: to join forces, exchange information and best practices, to make a fist against the car lobby and the car-oriented authorities.”
Up until 2008, FEMA was the representative in the UNECE WP29 and WP1 in Geneva, FEMA lost that position of being able to actively participate in these working groups and the International Coalition’s representation in Geneva no longer exists.
But to refresh everybody’s memory: (From FEMA’s website): “In the years 2000-2001, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), the Motorcycle Riders’ Foundation (MRF), the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA) and the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) decided to set up an International Co-operation Fund with the objective of ensuring an efficient representation of motorcyclists at the United Nations, where Worldwide Standards for Bikes and road safety measures were developed. The so-called “International Coalition” was born. Thanks to this international collaboration, great achievements have been made throughout the years.”
For many years, the President and other representatives of FEMA regularly attended the MRF’s annual “Meeting of the Minds” where there was an exchange of ideas and connections with other organisations such as Canada’s Riders’ Rights MCC. Kirk “Hardtail” Willard (President of the MRF) attended various FEMA meetings such as the spring meeting in Denmark and Scotland as well as attending the OECD/ITF conference in Lillehammer in 2008.
My point is that the contacts are already there just waiting to be picked up again. I am certain that the good people from MRF, as well as other riders’ organisations in Canada and Australia would be just so pleased to have a world-wide “Meeting of the Minds”, it wouldn’t take much to organise.
So I agree with what Dolf says – it is so important to get something similar going again and to work out a strategy for all motorcyclists!
Back in 2010, I wrote an article entitled “The Art of Dialogue and Motorcycling” which is on this website. Perhaps this might be of use in setting out such a strategy?
Dear Megan,
As General Secretary of the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA, but that abbrevition might by confusing for someone from the USA), based in Brussels, you could say I’m your counterpart in Europe. We are a federation of riders’ rights organisations all over Europe, inside and outside the European Union. In 2016 we performed the mobility test you refer to in your article. The score would have even been higher than 85% if one motorcyclist had not taken a different route than he was supposed to.
I fully agree with your analysis. Motorcycles are not only some recreational gadget, not in the USA, not here in Europe and certainly not elsewhere in the world. Motorcycles are essential for transport and with growing urbanisation will even be more important. Motorcycles and other powered two-wheelers are part of the solution for congestion, parking problems, GHG and toxic gas emissions and wear of the roads. Speaking for myself: the motorcycle is the only sensible, and sometimes even possible, way to commute from my home in the Netherlands to Brussels, thanks to the possibility of filtering between the lanes.
Instead of stimulating the use of motorcycles the present authorities ignore them. Instead of trying to enhance the road safety for motorcycles, they come with sometimes ridiculous and always contra-productive measures. Instead of facilitating motorcyclists, they come up with measures that limit our possibilities. Instead of coming with financial incentives, sometimes we pay as much toll as cars. Instead of stimulating clean alternatives like electric motorcycles (a good alternative for commuters), financial incentives like reduced taxes for “clean” cars are not for motorcycles.
Is it a conspiracy? I don’t think so. Fact is however, that the lobby for car manufacturers and car users is much more powerful than for motorcyclists. In Brussels we are with two persons, ACEM, the European motorcycle manufacturers association has nine persons in Brussels. The car industry and car users’ organisations have over a hundred registered employees in Brussels. Volkswagen alone has 29 persons registered as lobbyists. These organisations also have much more resources than the motorcycle community. Then there is the image issue: motorcycles are still seen as polluting and noisy. the facts show otherwise, but prejudices have the upper hand. Motorcycling is seen as dangerous. Indeed, motorcycles do not have protective cages, they are balance vehicles, so we can fall, they have less advanced rider assistance systems than cars and a lot less money is spent on accident research and research and development of assistance systems that can make motorcycling safer. However, with good training and a good risk awareness much can be done. In Europe, compared to the increasing use of motorcycles the accident figures are even quite good.
In Europe, motorcycle associations, like FIM and FEMA, already work closely together. We also work together with the industry, where possible, and with other organisations. As FEMA, we should go further and cooperate also with organisations like MRF too: to join forces, exchange information and best practices, to make a fist against the car lobby and the car-oriented authorities.
Kind regards,
Dolf Willigers,
General Secretary of the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA).
Megan, your article hits spot-on!
Your not alone – we start to see exactly the same in many EU countries. Motorcycles or PTW´s are not an issue to care about for the authorities. And in addition to this it might be so, that PTW´s didn’t fit into the Vision-Zero, and no body haven’t ever solved this little issue.
Instead it has been obvious that Vision-Zero instruments like wire guardrails 35 centimeters from the roadside are efficient for smaller passenger cars – but, a three killing instrument for motorcycle riders. In the homeland of Vision-Zero are rider fatalities in guardrails world leading!
So, it is obviously that We, The Riders – must be part of the Vision-Zero.
We are starting addressing this issue quite intense over in Europe – and our actions will become visible later this year. And we will together hopefully succeed…