Pittsburgh Rides: In the Political Gear
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The American Motorcyclist Association's website keeps riders abreast of governmental issues affecting them.
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Let's have a show of hands. Who has had their fill of campaign commercials? Who's sick to death of watching those same political spots over and over again? Me, for one, and I can't imagine I'm alone here.
Every two years, from mid-September through early November, my TV gets turned off like a woman in a roomful of polyester-wearing men with comb-overs. Even with the power of the mute button, I just can't take weeks and weeks of watching the candidates snipe and snarl at one another.
Welcome to Pittsburgh Rides, our regular feature on motorcycling. Here we bring you the latest in rides, trends and events, but we need your input. We're looking for voices from the local biking community willing to share (in roughly 500 words) your experiences on the road and what you think is hot on wheels. Send your story or pitch to Weekend editor Scott Mervis at smervis@post-gazette.com.
Don't get me wrong, I want to be informed. I want to know where the candidates stand on issues that matter to me. But, let's face it, I won't find that kind of information in the 30-second "He's Liberal!" or "He's Mr. Wall Street!" commercials that are making me nostalgic for the days when Billy Mays just shouted at me a couple of times a week.
So with the TV taking a fall vacation, what's a conscientious voter to do for information? Well, I turn to newspapers and to the American Motorcyclist Association.
Politics might not be what you think of when you think of the motorcyclist association, but you might want to think again. Along with sanctioning on- and off-road racing, maintaining a must-see museum in Pickerington, Ohio, providing tour info and hosting charter clubs, the association has a powerful lobbying presence in Washington.
And, while the association's position may not always coincide with my own, I'm glad to know there is someone in D.C. watching out for the rights of motorcyclists.
The association's website, www.ama-cycle.org, is invaluable for keeping riders abreast of the issues that affect them, and how their local representatives and senators stand on those issues. From the association's home page, for example, you can access up-to-date information about the CPSIA, or Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, of 2008.
First Published September 30, 2010 12:00 am
