President Biden recognized May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in a letter from the White House acknowledging the millions of Americans who ride. The letter notes that “a motorcycle offers freedom, recreation and the opportunity to explore our great Nation coast-to-coast.” This recognition comes against the backdrop of increased ridership during the past two years. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council’s Retail Sales Reporting System, motorcycles and scooters rose 14.2% in 2021, the second consecutive year of growth.
“My Administration remains committed to ensuring the safety of everyone who rides a motorcycle and all who travel across our Nation,” Biden wrote in the letter dated May 1, underscoring the importance of personal protective gear for motorcyclists, obeying traffic laws, riding alcohol- and drug-free, and for motorists to drive safely, be aware of motorcyclists, and to share the road. “All of us who travel America’s roads have an important role in securing a safe motorcycle-riding environment.”
“We thank President Biden, Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and the Department of Transportation for helping to raise awareness of motorcyclists and motorcycle safety,” said MIC president/CEO Erik Pritchard. “On behalf of motorcyclists across the country, we are grateful for the funding contained in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to modernize the highways, roads, and bridges.”
“This is something we’ve been working on for more than a year and Secretary Buttigieg and his team at NHTSA were instrumental in helping secure the letter,” added Scott Schloegel, senior vice president of government relations for MSF. “The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has worked closely with the Department of Transportation and the Biden administration to bring issues facing motorcyclists to the forefront,. This administration has placed a priority on reducing highway deaths and on educating the motoring public. We appreciate that this presidential recognition is one of many ways they are working to accomplish that goal.”
In addition to the letter from the White House, the Motorcycle Caucus was in action. “Congressman Michael Burgess’ introduced a resolution he and House Motorcycle Caucus co-Chair Congressman Tim Walberg initiated recognizing Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month,” concluded Schloegel.
