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A new low…for NYC

Leo — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:19:37 +0000

Here’s a heads up for those of you who sometimes park on the sidewalk in the city…it appears the NYPD is on a ticket blitz. But with a twist this time. Not only are bikes that are parked on sidewalks being ticketed, chains cut, towed, and impounded, but the NYPD is arresting scooter riders on felony charges for not having external VIN plates.

The VIN number on a motorcycle is usually etched onto the frame near the forks and difficult to obscure (if you see a motorcycle without a VIN it’s probably stolen); but scooters have a cheap plastic or metal plate for the VIN, attached by 2 easy to damage rivets. If you buy a second hand scooter, it probably didn’t come with the external VIN plate. Not only that, but if you were the mischievous type, you could easily take someone else’s VIN and attach it to your scoot (so that they’d get the tickets).

Now obviously I’m biased, but I think there’s a problem when the city does not address the reasonable needs of its citizens (in this case, safe parking spaces where bikes won’t be knocked over by cars and can be chained to something to hinder thieves); and then criminalizes non-criminal behavior… The NYPD should have better things to do than go after scooter riders and motorcyclists. You can read more about it the current situation on NYScooterClub.

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Free Subscription Offer

Leo — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:34:10 +0000

Who says you can’t get anything for free? For those of you who signed up last year, you’ve been enjoying a free subscription of Motorcyclist Magazine… Well the good folks at Road Gear are doing it again: Click on the link and get your free subscription. I think it’s limited this time, so you have to sign up fast.

No. I don’t work for either RoadGear or Motorcyclist, but I like them both, plus I like free stuff, so I’m passing on the news. Cheers!

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Save Motorcycle Parking

Leo — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:39:52 +0000

I’ve gotten a few emails recently about a motorcycle parking area in the Financial District by Pier 13 that’s going to be taken away because of construction. If you sent me an email, sorry for the delay: let me just put my $0.02 here instead of replying one by one.

My first reaction to this news was, “There was free motorcycle parking on Pier 13?!?!” And it seems there is…or was… Beginning next week “The first phase of construction will take place on the waterfront between Wall Street and Maiden Lane; bus and motorcycle parking will be removed in April 2009″ (acc. to an official website). So what can we do about that?

The bad news is that we probably can’t do anything about these spaces because they will be starting construction. But the hope is, if we can make enough of a stink about it, they’ll offer up another area to park in and make sure to return the motorcycle parking area when the construction is over. If we do nothing (and by “we” I mean you folks who normally park there) then chances are you’ll never see motorcycle parking around there ever again.

So what can we do? First get the names and addresses of (1) the city council person for that district (I believe it’s Alan J. Gerson) along with any other council person that’s relevant (e.g., the council person for the district you live in, work in, etc) and the borough president Scott Stringer. (2) Craft a letter asking them to save motorcycle parking in that area. Write the letter on behalf of yourself and people who live near and work and frequent the businesses in the Financial District. If you have an idea of where they could create motorcycle parking, be sure to mention that.

For example: (you can take this and use it or write your own)

Dear Councilman Gerson,

I am a New Yorker who believes in the benefits of commuting by motorcycle and other powered two wheeled vehicles. Although New York has excellent public transportation, the subways and buses do not provide coverage to many parts of New Jersey and Staten Island or even parts of other boroughs to which I need to travel. Commuting by motorcycle has the benefits of causing less congestion and consuming less fuel than automobiles. It also takes considerably less space to park.

Up till now the city has offered motorcycle parking in the Financial District at Pier 13. This is being taken away from us as of April 14. This will have an enormous impact on many motorcyclists who live and work in the Financial District. We request that you help us save motorcycle parking in the Financial District.

Sincerely,

Sign your name

(3) Get as many names, addresses (you won’t be taken seriously without addresses – if you receive mail at work, you can use your work addresses), and signatures as you can get. Hit up all your buddies and co-workers, it doesn’t really matter if they ride or not, as long as they want to support those who do. (4) Make copies and send the mini-petition to as many elected government people as you can.

If you’re a hermit and just can’t get the signatures, then send the letter on your own. It’s a drop in the bucket, but each letter gets read and you should get a personal written response. If they get enough of them, they’ll be open to doing something… If you have an idea of what they *could* do such as ‘allow motorcycle parking on an unused section of Pier XYZ, then by all means, include that in your letter. They just might do it.

Stuff like this SOMETIMES works in NY. The good news for everyone else is: if it works in NY, it will work in your city as well. The people in elected offices need to hear from CityBikers…regular people who work and live in cities and ride motorcycles.

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Support our City Council!

Leo — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:56:16 +0000

Yesterday was a good day for this country. And hopefully it might encourage you to believe in our system of government. I hope so. I wrote about Proposition 416A a while back. Well it turns out that many people in law enforcement think this is a done-deal. They think this law will surely pass sometime this summer. Motorcycles and scooters without “DOT approved” exhausts can be ticketed (first offense $1000) and towed.

This law unfairly targets the minority of the NY population that rides motorcycles and scooters. Although it claims to enforce local noise ordinances it does not stop those who like loud pipes from drilling holes in their baffles, or removing the packing of their stock exhausts. Instead of targeting vehicles that exceed the noise limit, it targets any anyone who no longer has a stock “DOT approved” exhaust. Proposition 416A has been embraced by City Council members who do not ride motorcycles or scooter, and who resent those who do. It is an example of how people often misunderstand and oppress those who are in the minority.

Now some of you CityBikers started writing City Council members, and have started to get responses. What I want to do is compile a list of our “friends.” People in City Council who are willing to listen to our concerns and oppose 416.

Friends of CityBikers (City Council Members who oppose 416A):

Tony Avella - representing North Eastern parts of Queens, such as Bayside, College Point, Whitestone, and parts of Flushing – initially sent out a letter saying he was willing to listen to the concerns of motorcyclists (January 6). But recently decided, after hearing our concerns, to oppose Prop 416A. He is also open to ideas and suggestions to help with motorcycle parking. Thank you Mr Avella!!
Help us get this list going… Contact your City Council people, let them know what you think, and let us know where they stand.

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Anti-Motorcycle Legislation in NYC

Leo — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:43:23 +0000

The New York City Council is considering “Proposed Int 416″ a new law that would make it illegal to park a motorcycle with an exhaust that does not have an EPA sticker on it. The fine for the first offense will be $1000 and the police would tow your motorcycle until you paid your fine. The fine for a second offense would be $2500 and you could lose your motorcycle for good. (Some details from another website) – Update: here’s a link from the Daily News…

Why haven’t I heard of this before? This was originally proposed in 2006 and sat in a committee for two years with no movement until just a few days ago when the ‘Committee on Public Safety’ (which has been sitting on the proposal for two years) approved it and recommended that it go to a full vote on December 18, 2008.

What is this proposed law trying to accomplish? It’s trying to stamp down on loud motorcycles and reckless riding. I happen to be against these things too. They think this law will make it easier to enforce noise violations in motorcycles.

Then what’s wrong with this proposal? To start with:

There are already laws on the books concerning loud pipes and excessive noise in general
This would not ticket loud pipes, just pipes that don’t come from the factory with an EPA sticker
Those who want loud pipes can simply drill or remove the baffle on their stock exhausts as people have been doing for ages
This specifically targets motorcyclists rather than addressing noise violations in all vehicles
The penalty is too severe: A missing sticker can result in a $1000 ticket and/or forfeiture of your motorcycle

Where can I read more about the proposal? You can read the proposal and the committee reports (1,2) by clicking on the links.

What can I do to stop this? Whether you live in NYC or commute here, you can contact members of the city council by phone or email. Manhattan City Council members, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island.

I suggest you write respectfully and personalize your letter, but here’s a template to get you started:

Dear Respected Council Members,

I am a resident of ______________________ (OR I commute to) _____________________ and I am deeply concerned about Proposed Int. No. 416-A concerning the parking or standing of motorcycles without EPA stickers on the exhaust. I have two reasons for this concern:

1. My motorcycle has a manufacturers factory exhaust that conforms to the legal sound limits for motorcycles in NYC. It does not, however, have an EPA sticker. 416 would allow my main means of transportation to be towed and I would be fined in excess of $1000, and the motorcycle sold at an auction if I am unable to pay . This would be an unfair financial burden to me in this economy.

2. The law requiring EPA stickers would also not address the problem of excessive noise because a “modification” for motorcycles is to either remove the internal baffles or drill holes in them to increase air flow. This would allow for loud motorcycles with sound levels similar to “straight pipes” but with EPA stickers.

I understand public dislike of loud motorcycles being operated recklessly; but I have similar concerns about automobiles being operated recklessly and with loud aftermarket exhausts and stereos and I am concerned over the unfair way in which this law would single out motorcyclists in NYC.

Thank you for taking the time to here my concerns. Would you please reconsider this proposal or at least refine it so that it does not discriminate against law abiding motorcyclists?

Sincerely,

Name + telephone number

***UPDATE: According to an email by Jeff Hennie of the Motorcycle Rider’s Foundation (MRF):

“The Motorcycle Riders Foundation is pleased to report that for now the bill has been pulled from the schedule for December 18th, when it was to be voted upon by the full council. The MRF thanks Speaker Christine Quinn for realizing that this issue requires much more than one week worth of consideration.”

The proposal will most likely come to a vote at some point in 2009 unless there is strong likelihood that it will not pass, so for New Yorkers now is a good time to contact your local council person and express your concerns.

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