• There has been a recent cluster of spammers accessing BARFer accounts and posting spam. To safeguard your account, please consider changing your password. It would be even better to take the additional step of enabling 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) on your BARF account. Read more here.

barf in action - support the sport

budman

budman

General Menace
Staff member
Administrator
Joined
Apr 4, 2002
Location
Menlo Park, Ca.
Moto(s)
Keep me rocking life
Name
Budman
BARF perks
AMA Life Member #203453
As some know I sit on the CA Mission 12 moto safety committee.

Last year the D*V came with a proposal to make lane sharing a thing of the past. I called :bs and along with a few other entities and agencies squashed the bs. In fact barf started the campaign to educate and set a standard for recommendations on how to make it safer.

I started it, but I suck at how to make the system work, but with back up from Silversvs and other got it redirected to the education about the practice and Mr. svs organized a lane sharing summit to establish a best practices recommendation about It to present to the State. The OTS picked up the ball for the sucky me and the survey moved forward.

Now we have the practice being recognized and other States are considering making it legal and California will be spending some dough on getting the word out we are cool doing it.
I just submitted a proposal to make moto awareness mandatory in drivers training and this time I hope to get the paperwork right to make that happen. Some have seen that I met with Senator Simitian on the OHV $$$$ grab that will have a big impact on our Park system. All this is because of some effort and the power of barf.

This site has given me a platform to make a difference. When I reach out to you it is because we can make a difference. I ask you to honor that by supporting my effort.

I am not a fly by night moto dude. I want the best for my sport and you.

Your support by contributions keep us at minimal levels on advertising, but your support
In terms of actions when I ask are the most important to me.

Please support the effort to support the sport. Roll with me.

Thanks.

Bud
 
I pledge my steel brother... Cry Havoc!
 
say the word and you will have people coming out of the wood work to get your back.
 
budman said:
As some know I sit on the CA Mission 12 moto safety committee.
Click to expand...
I'm new here ... what is the CA Mission 12 MSC? Have you been on the local news lately? Maybe make contact and get on their "expert advisor" list. Might help spread awareness, even if your called to comment on a fatality.

budman said:
Last year the D*V came with a proposal to make lane sharing a thing of the past. I called :bs and along with a few other entities and agencies squashed the bs. In fact barf started the campaign to educate and set a standard for recommendations on how to make it safer.
Click to expand...

"D*M" ? Did you mean DMV? Or ...? What entities helped "squash the bs"? Seems to me ... whomever they are ... they are your allies in this. I hope they too are willing to put in effort to educate and spread awareness on Lane Splitting and MC safety in general.

As a long time City Bike contributor I can tell you that Brian Halton was taking such actions ... 20 years ago. Who do you think helped in getting all that MC parking in downtown SF? Remember, for decades it was free. And Motorcycles in Car Pool lanes? Halton wrote many letters and published responses in City Bike! If your allies are government agencies it may be tough to get them to give anything beyond lip service. But I'm sure you're aware of how they roll. But don't give up! :thumbup

budman said:
I started it, but I suck at how to make the system work, but with back up from Silversvs and other got it redirected to the education about the practice and Mr. svs organized a lane sharing summit to establish a best practices recommendation about It to present to the State. The OTS picked up the ball for the sucky me and the survey moved forward.
Click to expand...
Sounds good ... :thumbup but who are OTS? I wonder if these best practices are taught in MSF classes?

budman said:
Now we have the practice being recognized and other States are considering making it legal and California will be spending some dough on getting the word out we are cool doing it.
I just submitted a proposal to make moto awareness mandatory in drivers training and this time I hope to get the paperwork right to make that happen. Some have seen that I met with Senator Simitian on the OHV $$$$ grab that will have a big impact on our Park system. All this is because of some effort and the power of barf.
Click to expand...
All sounds good. I did not know BARF was tied into dirt riders and Green Sticker OHV money issues. Our community does not have many allies in govt. ... because about 80% are apathetic, don't vote and are illiterate. I was a member ... and contributor to the Blue Ribbon Coalition for about 15 years. They are still out there fighting, but not much hope given the current state of the youth.

budman said:
I am not a fly by night moto dude. I want the best for my sport and you.
Click to expand...
Right On! :ride But when dealing with the govt. and its representatives I would not characterize motorcyclists commuting to work because they can't afford a car ... as participating in a "Sport". Negative connotation. They already know "Sport" is what we do on the weekends. Don't remind them of that! :teeth

Instead you might consider reminding them of the facts concerning motorcycles and their benefits to our congested and polluted world. I know you know all this ... but seems the powers that be need to be reminded from time to time. Little things like:
1. 4 motorcycles in ONE Car parking spot?
2. Negligible damage to the road way infrastructure
3. Motorcycles help traffic flow, reduce dangerous back ups
4. Low cost transportation for commuters, less time spent on roadway means less congestion overall.
5. Many motorcycles/scooters get 50 to 90 MPG and newer ones are lower emission ... and don't forget Electric!
6. The fact is it was the CHP that first promoted making lane splitting legal. They still support it I believe.

There is more of course.

It's a worth while effort. I hope you can convince the riders here to actually do something and get involved. The general tone does not present a hopeful image. BARF seems to be about squidery and recreation from what I've seen. Nothing wrong with that ... but maybe not the best group from which to form a PAC? :wow

BTW, states like Texas have come close to allowing Lane Splitting for years.
Other as well. But somehow it does not happen. I am not up to date on this, but I believe nothing has changed on this front and California remains the ONLY state to allow this practice. This is one BIG reason I no longer support a very out of touch .. and ineffective AMA. I've met several times with AMA board members ... and was not impressed. Like Old Corporate Dead Wood, trying to make to retirement before they are found out. :teeth

Good luck with the effort Bud man.

Patrick
San Rafael
 
Last edited:
D*V = DMV
OTS = Office of Traffic Safety - Bud sits as a civilian board member (I think)
MSF mentions lane sharing in the classroom portion of the BRC curriculum. More could be said about it. Deciding WHAT needs to be said is part of the issue.
 
You must be doing something very right.
On my drive to Santa Cruz today I saw "Share the road, look out for Motorcyclists" 3 times in big bright neon.:thumbup The public is being made aware of motos in a positive light for once thanks to you and Silversvs.:cool
 
BARF has a voice, there is no doubting that. We have leveraged our strong membership numbers into getting seats in some prominent meetings regarding motorcycle safety in California. Budman has done an exceptional job representing all motorcyclists in these meetings and committees, and will continue to do so.

Over the last few years we have made an effort to "clean up" BARF. While not wanting to remove the fun from BARF, we did want to reduce the T&A and porn so that when important eyes checked the forum they would take us seriously. Well they have and they do.

I have no doubt that BARF will be involved in many facets of the "politics of riding" in the near and distant future.
 
I'm down to get my hands dirty. What do you need?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top