Post by Wyldcomfort on May 7, 2007 22:41:33 GMT -5
Hello....
Several months ago I got very seriously involved in opposition to SB 49. You see my family has been riding together for about five years now. My kids, ages 11 and 13, are on the tall side. Senate Bill 49 would have banned my daughter from riding and forced my 5'10" son on a bike that was dangerously too small for him. In a nutshell, it would end this as a recreational option for our family. So I put together a rally, even signed up as a Lobbyist, gathered the troops, and began an assault on SB49. We established an email network and soon mailboxes at the Capitol overflowed. We met with several Senators, including the bill's sponsor Senator Devlin, and explained we had a better way. We worked with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, American Safety Institute, American Motorcycle Association, All Terrain Vehicle Association, Power Sports, Dealers Association, numerous clubs, and public officials. We held a very successful Rally on the front steps of the Capitol with over 200 people attending and were honored to have Representative Smith and others speak on our behalf. We had a successful campaign and SB 49 was tabled.
But there was another bill, SB101 sponsored by Parks and Recreation, setting a minimum age for operation and requiring training and supervision. We testified at the hearing and unintentionally showed enough opposition to discourage it from going any farther. We liked many parts of Senate Bill 101 and had hoped only for change. Senator Metsger encouraged us to work with Parks and Senator Devlin to reach a consensus and draft amendments. After a four-hour session we had agreed on all parts of the bill. There would be some language changes but the most significant change was dropping the minimum age for ATVS and replace it with a more common sense approach "Rider fit". Everyone loved it and we quickly had the amendments drafted. It is now a bill we desperately want.
It has been said we are "rolling over" or we have "a gun to our head" and are choosing SB101 because of the threat of SB49. In truth, Senate Bill 49 did wake us up but has no ties to SB101. We are just realistic and are proactive in assuring not only the safety concerns for our youth but the longevity of our sport. We want to fix it, not wait for someone who has no love for our recreation to restrict our families from its participation. Three key elements of this bill are Supervision by an adult to children under the age of 16, Safety training, and Rider fit with no minimum age. The majority of parents are doing this without any laws - just common sense. BUT - some parents not only put their children at risk they put our sport at risk as we saw with SB49. You see, rather than hold the parent responsible when they endanger their child, they hold the group. A few ruins it for the whole. A law that would prohibit a family from recreating is a bad law, but a law that will protect this activity by holding individuals responsible, protecting and educating our youth is a great law. SB101 is a law to protect our sport not exclude or ban anyone from participating.
Another argument was there is already training available. This is true but the same restrictions of age to cc in SB49 apply to the ASI training program. What this means is many children, including my own, can not take the training because they do not physically fit on the required sized ATV. ASI will continue to be available - but for many children who are not able to take ASI, Parks and Recreation will have a course they can take, with the support of the many clubs, based on rider fit. Our youth need this training. It is estimated that the majority of accidents could be avoided with proper training and the cost would be no more than $5.00 for a lifetime permit.
Many states have age restrictions taking the family out of this activity. This is generally a reaction to having children riding vehicles that are so big many can't even reach the brake or controls. "Rider fit" will allow all children to ride as long as they can safely reach and operate the controls and have at least three inches of clearance between inseam and seat (so they don't get bounced off). It isn't designed in any way to prevent a child from being able to ride; it simply sets standards of safety to protect them.
So we could do nothing and stick our head back in the sand. We can continue to fight this battle session after session until such time we lose. How exhausting. Or we can come together as a team inviting everyone to the table in a consensus of what is good and right. SB101 is an honest attempt and a first step in a long and productive process. Oregon is in a position to set a standard for other states to follow. We have the opportunity and we should be proud of the many groups and individuals who have worked long and hard to bring you the amended SB101. I ask that you please give this consideration and rather than just voting no - run by your concerns and give me an opportunity to discuss them with you.
I would also like to thank you. As a private and not very politically savvy mom it has been not only educational but also incredibly fulfilling to be a part of this process. I have also gained a tremendous amount of respect for the amount of work and responsibility you all have. I have only spent a few days at the Capitol and to say it is exhausting is an understatement. Thank you for your commitment. You may reach me at 503-394-2180. I look forward to hearing from you. Lindy Minten
Several months ago I got very seriously involved in opposition to SB 49. You see my family has been riding together for about five years now. My kids, ages 11 and 13, are on the tall side. Senate Bill 49 would have banned my daughter from riding and forced my 5'10" son on a bike that was dangerously too small for him. In a nutshell, it would end this as a recreational option for our family. So I put together a rally, even signed up as a Lobbyist, gathered the troops, and began an assault on SB49. We established an email network and soon mailboxes at the Capitol overflowed. We met with several Senators, including the bill's sponsor Senator Devlin, and explained we had a better way. We worked with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, American Safety Institute, American Motorcycle Association, All Terrain Vehicle Association, Power Sports, Dealers Association, numerous clubs, and public officials. We held a very successful Rally on the front steps of the Capitol with over 200 people attending and were honored to have Representative Smith and others speak on our behalf. We had a successful campaign and SB 49 was tabled.
But there was another bill, SB101 sponsored by Parks and Recreation, setting a minimum age for operation and requiring training and supervision. We testified at the hearing and unintentionally showed enough opposition to discourage it from going any farther. We liked many parts of Senate Bill 101 and had hoped only for change. Senator Metsger encouraged us to work with Parks and Senator Devlin to reach a consensus and draft amendments. After a four-hour session we had agreed on all parts of the bill. There would be some language changes but the most significant change was dropping the minimum age for ATVS and replace it with a more common sense approach "Rider fit". Everyone loved it and we quickly had the amendments drafted. It is now a bill we desperately want.
It has been said we are "rolling over" or we have "a gun to our head" and are choosing SB101 because of the threat of SB49. In truth, Senate Bill 49 did wake us up but has no ties to SB101. We are just realistic and are proactive in assuring not only the safety concerns for our youth but the longevity of our sport. We want to fix it, not wait for someone who has no love for our recreation to restrict our families from its participation. Three key elements of this bill are Supervision by an adult to children under the age of 16, Safety training, and Rider fit with no minimum age. The majority of parents are doing this without any laws - just common sense. BUT - some parents not only put their children at risk they put our sport at risk as we saw with SB49. You see, rather than hold the parent responsible when they endanger their child, they hold the group. A few ruins it for the whole. A law that would prohibit a family from recreating is a bad law, but a law that will protect this activity by holding individuals responsible, protecting and educating our youth is a great law. SB101 is a law to protect our sport not exclude or ban anyone from participating.
Another argument was there is already training available. This is true but the same restrictions of age to cc in SB49 apply to the ASI training program. What this means is many children, including my own, can not take the training because they do not physically fit on the required sized ATV. ASI will continue to be available - but for many children who are not able to take ASI, Parks and Recreation will have a course they can take, with the support of the many clubs, based on rider fit. Our youth need this training. It is estimated that the majority of accidents could be avoided with proper training and the cost would be no more than $5.00 for a lifetime permit.
Many states have age restrictions taking the family out of this activity. This is generally a reaction to having children riding vehicles that are so big many can't even reach the brake or controls. "Rider fit" will allow all children to ride as long as they can safely reach and operate the controls and have at least three inches of clearance between inseam and seat (so they don't get bounced off). It isn't designed in any way to prevent a child from being able to ride; it simply sets standards of safety to protect them.
So we could do nothing and stick our head back in the sand. We can continue to fight this battle session after session until such time we lose. How exhausting. Or we can come together as a team inviting everyone to the table in a consensus of what is good and right. SB101 is an honest attempt and a first step in a long and productive process. Oregon is in a position to set a standard for other states to follow. We have the opportunity and we should be proud of the many groups and individuals who have worked long and hard to bring you the amended SB101. I ask that you please give this consideration and rather than just voting no - run by your concerns and give me an opportunity to discuss them with you.
I would also like to thank you. As a private and not very politically savvy mom it has been not only educational but also incredibly fulfilling to be a part of this process. I have also gained a tremendous amount of respect for the amount of work and responsibility you all have. I have only spent a few days at the Capitol and to say it is exhausting is an understatement. Thank you for your commitment. You may reach me at 503-394-2180. I look forward to hearing from you. Lindy Minten