The new lead rules that have banned the sales of many youth all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles could lead to $1 billion in lost economic value in 2009 for the industry, predicts the Motorcycle Industry Council.
The projected loss is based on 2008 estimated value of the retail marketplace for ATVs and off-highway motorcycles and factors out vehicles and related economic value not included as part of the ban. MIC projects that the estimated value of the retail marketplace related to all youth ATVs and off-highway motorcycles exceeds $1.5 billion, but the ban applies only to products that are intended primarily for youth aged 12 and under. Powersports companies have stopped selling affected youth products with lead content in excess of the limits identified in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act that went into force February 10.
"The potential losses for the powersports industry are massive at a time when this country cannot afford additional economic losses," said Paul Vitrano, general counsel for MIC and SVIA. "With these vehicles sitting in warehouses instead of on showroom floors, the related sales of most protective gear, accessories, and parts and services are virtually non-existent. Thousands of small businesses across America are impacted by this ban."
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Attention Illinois Motorcyclists!
Action Alert - Helmet Bills Scheduled for February 25 Hearings
Two bills that would require all motorcycle operators and passengers to wear helmets that meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218 will be heard on Wednesday, February 25.
House Bill 925, sponsored by Karen A. Yarbrough (D-Broadview), will be heard by the House Vehicles & Safety Committee on February 25 at 10:00 a.m. in the Capitol Building, room 115, in Springfield, Illinois.
Senate Bill 1351, sponsored by Donne E. Trotter (D-Chicago), will be heard by the Senate Public Health Committee on February 25 at 1:00 p.m. in the Capitol Building, room 212, in Springfield, Illinois.
If you can’t attend either hearing, consider contacting both committee chairpersons and your representative and senator.
The House Vehicles & Safety Committee is chaired by Representative John D'Amico (D-Chicago); his telephone number is (217) 782-8198.
The Senate Public Health Committee is chaired by Senator William Delgado (D-Chicago); his telephone number is (217) 782-5652.
You can obtain contact information for your state representative and senator by visiting the AMA Rapid Response Center and entering your Zip+4 Code in the space provided.
Two bills that would require all motorcycle operators and passengers to wear helmets that meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218 will be heard on Wednesday, February 25.
House Bill 925, sponsored by Karen A. Yarbrough (D-Broadview), will be heard by the House Vehicles & Safety Committee on February 25 at 10:00 a.m. in the Capitol Building, room 115, in Springfield, Illinois.
Senate Bill 1351, sponsored by Donne E. Trotter (D-Chicago), will be heard by the Senate Public Health Committee on February 25 at 1:00 p.m. in the Capitol Building, room 212, in Springfield, Illinois.
If you can’t attend either hearing, consider contacting both committee chairpersons and your representative and senator.
The House Vehicles & Safety Committee is chaired by Representative John D'Amico (D-Chicago); his telephone number is (217) 782-8198.
The Senate Public Health Committee is chaired by Senator William Delgado (D-Chicago); his telephone number is (217) 782-5652.
You can obtain contact information for your state representative and senator by visiting the AMA Rapid Response Center and entering your Zip+4 Code in the space provided.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Take action now: Help stop the ban on youth model OHVs
As you may know by now, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) has effectively banned the sale of youth off-highway vehicles (OHVs) as of Feb. 10, 2009. The AMA is issuing a repeated call for action to help reverse the potentially devastating effect this could have on the sport of OHV recreation. We are also asking for your help, as promoters and club leaders, to spread the word to your club members, racers and fans to encourage them to get involved.
While this move could cripple the future of the sport, it does appear that there may be relief for the use of motorcycles purchased prior to Feb. 10. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has compiled a list of prohibited acts in the CPSIA. Neither riding a previously purchased motorcycle nor promoting a race that includes those motorcycles is included on that list.
Still, immediate attention is needed to end this ban on the sale and manufacture of youth model OHVs. In addition to the efforts the AMA is putting in on Capitol Hill, all motorcyclists need to help fight this measure. Here are some quick links to background information and ways you can help reverse this decision:
Contact your representatives in Congress by using the Take Action button in the Issues and Legislation section of the AMA website. Write the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) directly to encourage them to exclude youth model OHVs.
For regular updates on this issue, please keep a close eye on the AMA website at www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com. You also can sign up to receive AMA Legislative Alerts.
While this move could cripple the future of the sport, it does appear that there may be relief for the use of motorcycles purchased prior to Feb. 10. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has compiled a list of prohibited acts in the CPSIA. Neither riding a previously purchased motorcycle nor promoting a race that includes those motorcycles is included on that list.
Still, immediate attention is needed to end this ban on the sale and manufacture of youth model OHVs. In addition to the efforts the AMA is putting in on Capitol Hill, all motorcyclists need to help fight this measure. Here are some quick links to background information and ways you can help reverse this decision:
Contact your representatives in Congress by using the Take Action button in the Issues and Legislation section of the AMA website. Write the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) directly to encourage them to exclude youth model OHVs.
For regular updates on this issue, please keep a close eye on the AMA website at www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com. You also can sign up to receive AMA Legislative Alerts.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
AMA Action Alert
Attend a Congressional Town Hall Meeting Near You!
Congress will be in recess this week and many of them will be working in their home state offices. This is a great opportunity to meet your elected officials and discuss issues important to the riding community. Some current topics to discuss with your elected officials are access to public lands and the future of youth motorcycles and ATVs.
If you are interested in meeting your Member of Congress you can call their home office closest to you and request the time, date and location of their next public meeting or to schedule a meeting of your own.
If you would like to access your Member of Congress and their contact information, please click here, and enter your zip code.
If you are able to attend a public meeting with your Member of Congress and would like some ideas on current issues affecting the riding community, we have included some suggested talking points below.
1) AMA Opposes S. 22, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act, because it imposes blanket regulations which will result in restricting the use of millions of acres of public lands. Please ask your Senators and Representatives how they voted or will be voting on S. 22.
If speaking with your Senator, please click here to see how they voted
If Representative will be voting "No", thank the Representative for keeping public lands open to responsible access for current and future generations
If Representative will be voting "Yes", let the Representative know of your concerns with the bill. You can let them know it will:
Create 80 new federal wilderness designations or additions to public land
Consist of approximately 150 separate bills, which 77 has never been considered in the House of Representatives
Designate 2.186 million acres as federal wilderness land, which eliminates all motorized off-highway recreation
Make the National Landscape Conservation System permanent. This system creates an additional level of bureaucracy for the National System of Public Lands and would remove much of the authority of the existing agency in managing nearly 25 million acres
Costs $10 billion to enact
2) The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) threatens to end youth off-highway vehicle (OHV) riding entirely. The AMA is concerned with the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) interpretation of the CPSIA.
The CPSC has interpreted the CPSIA to apply to various components of youth motorcycles and youth ATVs including the engine, brakes, suspension, battery and other mechanical parts
The unavailability of youth OHVs will devastate family OHV recreation and cripple amateur competition, creating a domino effect across all aspects of motorized recreation
In order to assure continued availability and access to youth OHVs, ask your Representative to urge the CPSC to approve the industry's petition to exclude youth OHVs from the lead content standard
Thank you for taking an active role in helping promote and protect the future of motorcycling and the motorcycle lifestyle. If you would like more information on meeting with your Member of Congress or on the issues, feel free to contact Rick Podliska at rpodliska@ama-cycle.org.
Congress will be in recess this week and many of them will be working in their home state offices. This is a great opportunity to meet your elected officials and discuss issues important to the riding community. Some current topics to discuss with your elected officials are access to public lands and the future of youth motorcycles and ATVs.
If you are interested in meeting your Member of Congress you can call their home office closest to you and request the time, date and location of their next public meeting or to schedule a meeting of your own.
If you would like to access your Member of Congress and their contact information, please click here, and enter your zip code.
If you are able to attend a public meeting with your Member of Congress and would like some ideas on current issues affecting the riding community, we have included some suggested talking points below.
1) AMA Opposes S. 22, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act, because it imposes blanket regulations which will result in restricting the use of millions of acres of public lands. Please ask your Senators and Representatives how they voted or will be voting on S. 22.
If speaking with your Senator, please click here to see how they voted
If Representative will be voting "No", thank the Representative for keeping public lands open to responsible access for current and future generations
If Representative will be voting "Yes", let the Representative know of your concerns with the bill. You can let them know it will:
Create 80 new federal wilderness designations or additions to public land
Consist of approximately 150 separate bills, which 77 has never been considered in the House of Representatives
Designate 2.186 million acres as federal wilderness land, which eliminates all motorized off-highway recreation
Make the National Landscape Conservation System permanent. This system creates an additional level of bureaucracy for the National System of Public Lands and would remove much of the authority of the existing agency in managing nearly 25 million acres
Costs $10 billion to enact
2) The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) threatens to end youth off-highway vehicle (OHV) riding entirely. The AMA is concerned with the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) interpretation of the CPSIA.
The CPSC has interpreted the CPSIA to apply to various components of youth motorcycles and youth ATVs including the engine, brakes, suspension, battery and other mechanical parts
The unavailability of youth OHVs will devastate family OHV recreation and cripple amateur competition, creating a domino effect across all aspects of motorized recreation
In order to assure continued availability and access to youth OHVs, ask your Representative to urge the CPSC to approve the industry's petition to exclude youth OHVs from the lead content standard
Thank you for taking an active role in helping promote and protect the future of motorcycling and the motorcycle lifestyle. If you would like more information on meeting with your Member of Congress or on the issues, feel free to contact Rick Podliska at rpodliska@ama-cycle.org.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Congress Gets an Earful
About 100,000 of the bikes popular for trails, zipping around backyards and racing on motocross tracks sold last year for $1,500 or more, according to industry estimates. Dealerships where sales already were sputtering due to the recession received notices over the last month that they must pull the bikes off showroom floors.
Industry leaders say some 13,000 dealers are now stuck with $100 million worth of inventory that may end up worthless.
Congress is getting an earful. U.S. Rep. Danny Rehberg, R-Mont., fielding angry phone calls over the issue, blamed "government bureaucrats" for bungling implementation of the original law.
Washington Post
Industry leaders say some 13,000 dealers are now stuck with $100 million worth of inventory that may end up worthless.
Congress is getting an earful. U.S. Rep. Danny Rehberg, R-Mont., fielding angry phone calls over the issue, blamed "government bureaucrats" for bungling implementation of the original law.
Washington Post
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Bicycle Industry Appears to be Ignoring the Law
The Consumer Product Safety Information Act contains a ban on children’s products with lead parts exceeding 600 parts per million. Those products cannot be sold to consumers and any old product must be yanked off retail shelves. Some common bike parts like valves and spoke nipples exceed the lead limit. "Lead in alloys on aluminum, brass/copper and steel used on bicycles with 24-inch wheels or smaller, joggers and bicycle trailers," said John Nedeau, president of the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association.
"Any bicycle with 24" wheels or less is now illegal to sell, although the bicycle industry appears to be ignoring the law." said Ian Smith, President, OSET Corp.
"Any bicycle with 24" wheels or less is now illegal to sell, although the bicycle industry appears to be ignoring the law." said Ian Smith, President, OSET Corp.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
