Ups And Downs

UPS AND DOWNS

ROUNDUP

DOWN: To incessant “safety-crats,” for devising yet another way to bugger-up a perfectly good motorcycle. The latest offender is Britain’s Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), which has commissioned Lotus Engineering to design an airbag for motorcycles. Positioned atop the fuel tank, the bag may reduce head and neck injuries, says the TRL. Note that this is the same group that is trying to mandate motorcycle leg guards in the U.K. Just another reason to be glad our forefathers won the Revolutionary War.

UP: To the state of California, for making good on a debt. After years of borrowing from the Off-Highway Vehicle registration fund (a.k.a. the Green Sticker fund), state officials have agreed to pay back at least some of the money over the next five years. Additionally, the outstanding capital will be subject to a 7-percent interest penalty. According to the American Motorcyclist Association, the Green Sticker fund is expected to recover $9.6 million-money that is supposed to be used to develop and maintain off-road riding areas.

DOWN: To the State of Massachusetts, for proceeding with a plan to close the majority of its public lands to off-road motorcycling. The state’s Department of Environmental Management recently issued a proposal that would permit trail riding in nine state forests, but only during a fivemonth period between May and October, and only provided that a local club agrees to be held responsible for trail upkeep. Furthermore, officials are not expected to solicit public comment on the issue, and may establish a trail-use permit and fee program in addition to the existing OHV registration program. Worst of all is wording that prohibits trailriding on Sundays. C’mon guys, it ain’t On Any Saturday!