Andy Kelly
ABATE of Pennsylvania
State MRF Representative

On Loan to ABATE of Delaware
hd1957flh@yahoo.com

HARRIS POLL's 7th ANNUAL SURVEY OF CONSUMERS AND E-15

The Harris Poll conducted its 7th Annual survey on behalf of the Outdoor Power

Equipment Institute (OPEI) between January 17th - 23rd of this year. The online

survey of 3,000 U.S. adults showed that the lack of education, inadequate labeling

and dangerous marketing tactics around new fuel products such as higher

ethanol-blended gasoline,  are likely causing consumers to use the wrong kind

of fuel, also known as "mis-fueling". The study found that more than 20% of outdoor

power equipment owners are currently mis-fueling and 25% have done so in the past.

Now, I’m sure most people reading this know which fuels can be used in their

motorcycles and small engines but, is this information known by the general public?

The Environmental Protection Agency has stated that it is illegal to use any fuel that

contains more than 10% ethanol (E10) in a small engine. But with numerous choices

at the pump, many uneducated consumers tend to opt for the cheaper of the fuel options. Just think, 3 in 5 Americans say they would purchase 88 Octane fuel for their outdoor

power equipment, especially if it were available at a cheaper price. Only 1 in 5 people

know that 88 Octane has more ethanol than 87 Octane fuel, and almost half of American consumers think the warning labels at gas stations are adequate to inform them about E15.

These are the reasons why we need to do something about what is happening to our fuel supply. The politicians in D.C. see that almost 62% of the public doesn’t care about ethanol. Given the above information on attitudes and misinformation around fueling, we all have good reason to contact our Representatives in Washington D.C. and ask that they become co-signers of H.R. 1024, the Consumer Protection and Fuel Transparency Act of 2019.

This bill requires information to be provided to the public about the risks associated

with improper use of E15 fuels in certain vehicles, engines, and equipment and defines

E15 as “gasoline containing 15% ethanol”. Specifically, the bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency to revise labeling requirements for fuel pumps that dispense E15 fuels.

It proposes that labels be five inches by seven inches or larger, include the word “WARNING”, and also include the text “Check your owner’s manual”.

The labels will include pictograms depicting a boat,

lawnmower, chainsaw, motorcycle and snowmobile.

As expressed in a recent article on ResearchAndMarkets.com, the global market for Ethanol is expected to grow by more than 5%, driven by the increasing demand from the automotive industry. Also expected is an increase in government initiatives specifically uplifting restrictions on selling gasoline containing a higher percentage of Ethanol. 

 

-Ride Safe

Andy Kelly

MOTORCYCLE PROFILING LEGISLATION

If you have not heard, Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI) has

introduced a resolution addressing Motorcycle Profiling on March 26th.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/255

 

House Resolution 255 has three key points:

 

1. Promoting increased public awareness on issues Motorcycle Profiling. 

           
2. Encouraging collaboration and communication with the Motorcycle Community and Law   Enforcement to engage in efforts to end Motorcycle Profiling  

 

3. Urging State Law Enforcement officials to include statements condemning Motorcycle Profiling in written policies and training materials.

 

The bipartisan Co Sponsors of H Res. 255 as of this writing are,

Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX), Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN),

Rep. Billy Long (R-MO), Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY).

 

Make your voice heard and take action for all Motorcycle Riders by personally

contacting Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester in Washington D.C. and asking

her to Co-Sponsor H. Res. 255 here: https://bluntrochester.house.gov/contact/

 

An even easier way to do this is to go to the Motorcycle Riders Foundation website.

 

NAVIGATION

 

Mobile Users tap here: https://mrf.org/

 

1. Tap on the MENU button.

 

2. Scroll down and tap on Federal Legislative Issues to the right of Legislative Action Center.

 

3. Tap on the blue box that says “TAKE ACTION”

 

4. Type in your ZIP CODE.

 

5. Tap on the Blue Button that says, "CHECK ZIP CODE"

 

The message that you will be sending to your Representative will come up.

 

At the bottom of the page there will be boxes to be filled out with your information, once that is done click on "SUBMIT" and if it is filled out correctly you will receive a Thank You. 

 

PC/Laptop/Tablet Users click here: https://mrf.org/

 

1. Click on the Legislative tab.

 

2. Click on Legislative Action Center.

 

3. Click on Federal Legislative Issues.

 

4. Click on the blue box that says, “TAKE ACTION”

 

5. Type in your ZIP CODE.

 

6. Tap on the Blue Button that says, "CHECK ZIP CODE"

 

The message that you will be sending to your Representative will come up.
 

 

At the bottom of the page there will be boxes to be filled out with your information, once

that is done click on "SUBMIT" and if it is filled out correctly you will receive a Thank You.     

 

Another choice you have, is to join us in Washington D.C.,

on May 21, 2019 for the 11th ANNUAL BIKERS INSIDE THE BELTWAY. 

This is an opportunity for you to join fellow riders from across the country

at the ONLY National Motorcyclist Lobby Day held in our Nation’s Capital.

 

-Ride Safe

Andy Kelly

AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES AND E-15

In Washington, D.C. the MRF is working with the American Motorcycle Association,

Motorcycle Industry Council, and Harley-Davidson to start working on issues

with Autonomous Vehicles and other safety issues at the Federal level. 

The four groups have agreed on a basic common framework for our priorities

and met with staff of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to

discuss the Legislative agenda surrounding Autonomous Vehicles.

Last year, the House and Senate had different versions

of Legislation dealing with Autonomous Vehicles.

The Senate version never made it to the floor for a vote while the House

version passed in the House, but was not considered by the Senate.

The House version did not have any specific wording in the Legislation to make sure

the the technology used for Autonomous Vehicles would detect bicyclists, pedestrians,

MOTORCYCLISTS and other road users that may get in the path of an Autonomous Vehicle.

The Senate version did include language that stated, “detection classification,

and response to any circumstance or condition relevant to the dynamic

driving task within the operational design domain, including sense of objects,

MOTORCYCLISTS, bicyclists, pedestrians, other road users, and animals in

or crossing the path of travel through the automated driving system.”

A short time after that it was announced that two

Democrats and two Republicans introduced H.R.1024.

This bill would require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection

Agency to revise labeling requirements for fuel pumps that dispense E15.

The MRF worked with like minded groups, with

common interests to get this Legislation introduced. 

I hope people are well aware of the fact that E15 will

affect any small, air-cooled engine, not just Motorcycles.

This is why the MRF is working with the Marine Retailers Association,

National Marine Manufacturers Association, Specialty Equipment

Market Association, Briggs and Stratton, American Sportfishing

Association, Boats US, Outdoor Power Equipment Institute,

American Highway Users Alliance, and the Snowmobile Industry

in hopes of raising awareness about the impact of Ethanol on engines.

This is why it will be very important that when Legislation is introduced

that we contact our Legislators in Washington, D.C. and have them pass it.
 

Stay tuned, more to come.

-Ride Safe
Andy Kelly