Another Pleasant Valley Sunday!

And what's about the money whe pay on gaz, plates... to use roads, ALL roads!!!:o((((

Is it a public road? I thought it was a strictly private road, in which case it would be the community's right to decide (ooh, there goes Jon on the freedom kick again). Besides--screw the snobs--I don't want to live there anyway! Monkies literary referendces, Brad? *Very* un Harley like! :-)

I saw the same article Brad. I'm also corresponding with the NYC-Moto group regarding a proposed ban for motorcycles in a certain area of lower Manhattan. Seems the "Community Board"-those who have expensive lofts, hi-paying jobs, and no clue- want to ban bikes because of noise & overall bad-image looks in their area. No loud car horns or obnoxious cage habits will be affected, just 2-wheelers. An oddball irony (?) is that the ban-line is drawn short of the Angels' HQ in the area. Don't want to mess with those guys" maybe? It's amazing how the clueless can have such b---s if you let 'em run...

If it's a private road, perhaps. But often times these developments have publically financed and maintained roads. Of course, there is also the question of whether or not a homeowner's association has the ultimate authority to ban an individual's personal right to operate a vehicle which is duly licensed by the state. CA obviously thinks they do. The AMA will push legislation to strip that authority. I hope they're successful. Monkies literary referendces, Brad? When in Rome! hehe

Frank, is the AMA involved in your issue? If not, they should be. Sounds like the situation in Chicago. Bad precedent! Starts in one place and spreads likea cancer. I get knocked down, but I get up again...you're never going to keep me down!Chumbawamba (Is that more up to date for ya Jon? hehe)

The issue is: Whose road is it? If it's a public road, then all licensed vehicles should have access to it. If it's a private road, and the people living there have agreed with the owners of the property to this, then it's up to them. However, another question: Do the people in this community own their own houses (or at least do the banks own their houses until 30 yrs. from now)? If they do, and the homeowner suddenly decides to buy a bike, who are the gatekeepers to prevent him from keeping it there. For all Jamaica's imperfections of government, that sort of thing can't happen here. If I come in to see Mr. X, and Mr. X is willing to see me, then I could even be in a donkey cart and the gateman would have to let me in. A so Jamaica go!

It's just sad, even in these days of the "Love Ride" and mega-sized Toy Runs, we as motorcyclist's just can't get a break from a "1960's bad image". The largest part of rider's are just regular people and should be able to live where we can afford, not being put out due to our choosen lifestyle. I wish you luck Brad, these fights can go on forever! It's just a shame, we might as well "live the way we want", as the General Public will never understand or except us on our terms. I have always felt that someday it will come down to "Us vrs. Them" and we probably will loose due to shear numbers against us. Maybe the best we can do is just "choose not to support" those area's that don't want us but it also never hurt's to put up a fight as long as you can. Tailwinds, BJ

The AMA has been informed more as a cover-the-bases ploy than anything Brad. The issue is with the mayor and the yuppies vs. the riders. It'll be interesting to see if the AMA will get involved in a local, city political stew. Right now it's a perfect example of the "gentrification" of the area that caused many who lived in the area to move because of inflation and "plasticizing" of the neighborhood. Myself and quite a few others became victims of this wave in the early 80's.

The AMA has been working on the Canyon Lake thing for a couple of year now. Actually the news above COULD be good news. By not reviewing the case the road has been paved to put this into the Federal Courts (Slow but more broad reaching in terms of decisions). In the meantime let's all go to Canyon Lake, park our bikes at the front like they ask and have a Huge BBQ and BEER BLAST. We could call it "The Party that will Last Till You Change Your Minds"... We could make it real Picket Line like, with angry crowds and everything... (Yes, I can be somewhat of a militant!) Forgive me here but them folks is ASSHOLES.

COUNT ME IN! More shrimp for the barbee? hehe

I'd say "Me too!", but there's no way for me to get there... Raise the Jamaican & Ethiopian flags at the site for me, O.K.?

A large showing of bikes at the gate is a great idea. Though it'd have to be peaceful. We get rowdy at all and they'll scream "See..I told ya they were animals!" The only way to get any attention is in big numbers and show em we're regular folk. Get enough residents on our side would help, though other residents may try to have em evicted..ahh, Federal Court again. Sounds like a good civil rights injustice. If I could make it there Sam, I'll bring the flags..proud to.

Gather 'round and sing "The Times They Are A' Changin'" and "Chant Down Babylon" by the American and Jamaican Bobs respectively!

Sounds good, Shane. And when they open the road, I say every biker within 100 miles should show up with their bikes (take the mufflers off, it's a special occasion) and go for a ride. Chumbawamba Well, they're a better example of the "new wave alternative to music", but (as bad as they were, and as corporately synthesized as they were), I'd probably prefer the Monkies. But atleast Chumbawamba is a real band!

Speaking o' Bob (Dylan, that is), you need to get his new album, Sam. It's a blues album and it's great--Bob finally found a style of music his voice is suited for.

Instrumental?

Funny. Very funny.

Thank you. I thought so too!

Here in British Columbia every autumn we have a Toy Run in the Vancouver area that has around 8 to 9 thousand bikes. We also have the B.C.C.O.M. (BC Coalition of Motorcyclists), a lobbying organization for All motorcyclists concerns (off road riders, Loud pipe hassles with the law, etc). Well, it appears that "one of the larger auto associations" (can you say BCAA {AAA} boys and girls). They were complaining that the "Bikers" get to go on the ferry boats first, even though the cars have been waiting for a es. The provincial gov't was going to make it so the bikes would have to get in line with the cars but the BCCOM got hold of this and told the government if they attempted this, there would be a "Toy RTun' at the ferry terminal and if the bikes had to line up with the cars, they would expect to take up the same amount of room as a car. You can imagine what 4000 bikes would do to a line up for a ferry that can hold around 400 cars. Needless to say, the motorcycles still go to the head of the line. I don't now too much about the AMA but I believe here in BC that anyone that rides, should belong to the BCCOM. The more members, the stronger the voice. The only thing politicians think about is "What's in it for me/" and if there are 10,000 biker votes, the voice isn't heard as loudly as 1,000,000 biker votes. LeRoy Pattison Non Carborundum Illegitimii! (Don't Let The Bastards Grind You Down!) '92 Goldwing SE (teal) 211,000+ on the odometer Cascade Classic Bun Burner 1500

LeRoy, the AMA is kinda like that but on a more "national level" scale. The local freedom fighter's are really groups like "ABATE", they mainly work in "State area's" so I think your group works like our ABATE groups. Your right on the votes my friend, the more we orgainze to support "each riders rights, no matter what brand or style of bike they choose to ride, the better off it will be for all of us! Wow, a multi-thosand rider toy run, how awsome! We have a local one run thru HOG that gets around 800 every year. Hopefully one day it will hit the "thousand" mark, that would be excellent. Tailwinds, BJ

Hitting the nail on the head here guys. Organize ALL makes, brands, types of riding is what is going to add legitimacy to the various political battles we fight. AMA does this at the National level, however, most state level organizations get mired down in the "Clique" and prevent forward progress. Every organization that I have ever seen, or read anything about bitches about not having enough membership while overlooking the field of Dirt Bikers, or Sport Bike Organizations that exist right under thei noses. This is usually because looking in these directions means supporting someone (or something) that they don't understand. The truly sad part is that these affiliations could make the entire motorcycling experience more enjoyable, Imagine, if you will, a toy run that centered around a 3 day Moto-Cross, Enduro, or Hill Climb (there used to be an event like this in Nebraska, BIG FUN, ride out, drink beer, talk bikes and watch the U-Hoos try to climb that hill. The event was discontinued when the Street Folks started getting nasty with the Hill Climb Organizors over sponsorship and marketing) Or a Rally that was cunducted at th club level that included an invite to the "Crotch Rockets" to come show there stuff at the local track. I know that the AMA sanctions these events but they are few and far between... More open-mindedness at the state, club, indiviual level could make these events more common place and locally available. Why can't we all just get along??

Shane, I think it is a way to "blame" all the problems on the "other guy"! You hear it all the time, The Touring riders talk crap about the Bikers and the Crotch-Rocket Riders, it's there fault. The Bikers say our image is shit becuause of the Crotch-Rocket riders. Crotch-Rocket riders, just thumb there nose's up and don't associate with the Touring Riders and none of us road riders really give much notice when the dirt riders are losing places to ride more and more each day!! Will we ever become 1-TEAM against the common FOE. I really tried to bond with the local ABATE chapter but they really make me feel uncomfortable becuase I wear a helmet and you can tell they feel, I dont' "really support" their "main cause"! Shane, don't think I will see us "come together" in my lifetime! Tailwinds, BJ

Would anyone be interested in setting up a community next to Canyon Lake that would only allow motorcycles in? Just a thought.....he,he. Seriously, me thinks there will be no way to convince these people that the majority of riders are law abiding contributors to society. The only way to fight this is in the courts. I encourage all readers to join the AMA and help support their efforts. Thanks.