motorcycles Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

House Passes Bill That Would Allow Motorcyclists To Stand On Vehicles

A House bill that would permit motorcyclists to stand upright in their vehicles passed the chamber Wednesday after an amendment to the bill was shot down the day prior.

Motorcyclists could soon be permitted to stand upright on their vehicles while traveling on West Virginia roadways — if the state’s upper legislative chamber agrees with a Wednesday decision from the West Virginia House of Delegates.

House Bill 2752 would permit motorcyclists to stand on their vehicles while facing forward and keeping their feet on its pedals or footpegs. Proposed by Del. Kathie Hess Crouse, R-Putnam, the bill passed the House by a vote of 80 to 17, and now heads to the West Virginia Senate for further consideration.

“This isn’t the ability to stand and do tricks or anything,” Hess Crouse said on the House floor Wednesday.

Hess Crouse said the bill would permit riders to stand on their vehicles when needed for safety and performance purposes, like when roadway visibility is blocked or when rough terrain requires shock absorption.

Standing helps with “avoiding potholes and everything,” plus “cooling and air flow,” she said.

But Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, said focus on the bill reflects misplaced priorities in the legislative chamber.

“Well, vroom vroom, West Virginia! Another hard-hitting piece of legislation here in the West Virginia House of Delegates,” he said. “Wow! Addressing standing while driving a motorcycle.”

The bill’s passage comes on the heels of a lengthy debate Tuesday over an amendment that would have made helmet usage optional for motorcyclists over age 21. That amendment was voted down.

Lawmakers Talk Challenges Unique To Eastern Panhandle

On this episode of The Legislature Today, Jack Walker talks with Eastern Panhandle lawmakers Dels. Michael Hite, R-Berkeley, and Mike Hornby, R-Berkeley. They discuss lawmakers’ approach to regional issues like infrastructure constraints and a higher local cost of living.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, Jack Walker talks with Eastern Panhandle lawmakers Dels. Michael Hite, R-Berkeley, and Mike Hornby, R-Berkeley. They discuss lawmakers’ approach to regional issues like infrastructure constraints and a higher local cost of living.

Also, Tuesday marked the last day for new bills to be introduced in the House of Delegates. The state Senate has until next Monday for the same milestone.

In the Senate, the chamber passed the Safety and Violence Education for Students Act. Senate Bill 548 would provide training for public school students on violence and self-harm.

In the House, helmet requirements for West Virginia motorcyclists were the subject of spirited discussion on the floor. As Jack Walker reports, the debate centers around safety and personal choice.

And from the Eastern Panhandle to the southern mountain counties, West Virginia contains great variety. As Chris Schulz reports, both education committees debated bills intending to address unique regional issues.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

House Votes Down Amendment To Make Helmets Optional For Motorcyclists

The West Virginia House of Delegates voted down a bill amendment Tuesday that would have made helmets optional for motorcyclists over age 21.

Members of the West Virginia House of Delegates have upheld the state’s requirement that motorcyclists wear helmets while operating their vehicles.

Current state law requires motorcyclists to wear a helmet and maintain “a seated position facing forward” in their vehicles. But House Bill 2752 would permit motorcyclists to stand up “with both feet on the vehicle’s footpegs or pedals” while maneuvering through West Virginia roadways.

Proposed by Del. Kathie Hess Crouse, R-Putnam, the bill is scheduled for a third reading on the House floor Wednesday. But a proposed amendment brought early debate to the bill from lawmakers Tuesday afternoon.

Del. Dave Foggin, R-Wood, introduced an amendment to the bill that would have removed helmet requirements for motorcyclists over age 21. Current state law requires all motorcyclists to wear protective headgear, regardless of age.

Foggin described his amendment as an effort to uphold personal choice for motorcyclists.

“It’s about the personal choice for an adult to wear a helmet when they’re riding a motorcycle,” Foggin said.

Other lawmakers, like Del. John Paul Hott, R-Grant, disagreed. Hott saw the policy not as a matter of personal liberty, but of personal safety.

Hott also said that helmet usage from motorcyclists creates safer roadways for everyone, and alleged that less safe road conditions could result in increased vehicle insurance rates for West Virginia drivers.

“If you want to see us become at a greater disadvantage in this great state to neighboring states who have substantially low auto and motorcycle rights, implement this amendment that’s before you,” Hott said.

Concerns over the amendment ultimately won out. Following the discussion, 54 delegates voted to reject Foggin’s amendment, whereas only 41 voted to adopt it.

A narrower version of House Bill 2752 pertaining just to standing while operating a motorcycle will still proceed for a further review from members of the House.

Manchin Leads Memorial Motorcycle Ride

An annual motorcycle ride to honor fallen military service members kicked off its ninth year at the West Virginia Capital.

Motorcycles lined the sidewalks of the West Virginia Capitol grounds and leather-clad riders milled about the Gold Star Monument Thursday morning, awaiting their Special Guest Road Captain, Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va.

In remarks before the ride began, Manchin expressed his gratitude to the families of veterans.

“I’ve said this to all of you, and I mean this to all the riders,” Manchin said. “I don’t know more patriotic people in the United States of America that’s willing to give their time, effort and the resources to help a worthy cause. And I don’t, I can’t say thank you enough to all of you.”

The ninth annual Ride for Fallen Service Heroes began at the Capitol in Charleston and ended at the Veterans Memorial Arch in Huntington.

Manchin is not seeking reelection and changed his party affiliation from Democrat to independent in May of this year.

“Someone said, ‘Is this going to be your last one?’ Absolutely no, I’m not going anywhere,” Manchin said. “I’m just not going back to Washington. I’m staying right here, and we’re going to continue to do this. I said, ‘As long as I can hold that bike up and it not fall over on me, I’m going to ride.’”

Motorists Encouraged To Be Mindful Of Motorcycle Safety

With warmer weather just around the corner, state officials are raising awareness around motorcycle safety.

Memorial Day is the unofficial start of the summer road travel season, and the Governor’s Highway Safety Program is emphasizing that “Motorcycle Safety is Everyone’s Safety”.

Unfortunately, data shows that motorcyclists are overrepresented in traffic crashes and fatalities.

In 2020, 38 motorcyclists were killed in crashes on West Virginia roads, accounting for 14 percent of all statewide traffic fatalities that year.

Safe driving and riding practices from all road users — drivers and riders alike — help reduce the number of crashes, fatalities, and injuries on our highways.

Drivers and riders alike are encouraged to drive and ride alcohol- and drug-free and to obey the speed limit.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), alcohol impairment was a factor in 41 percent of fatal motorcycle collisions in 2020, while excessive speed was a factor in 34 percent.

Drivers are encouraged to allow more follow distance when behind a motorcycle, while riders are reminded to wear protective gear. NHTSA estimates that helmets saved the lives of 1,872 motorcyclists in 2017.

For more information about the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program, visit highwaysafety.wv.gov or call 304-926-2509.

Adventure Travel Day At The Capitol Includes E-bikes

On Adventure Travel Day at the West Virginia Legislature, on and off road enthusiasts touted some mean machines on two wheels and four – and some, not so mean.

West Virginia adventure travel displays were not limited to inside the capitol rotunda. Outside the governor’s office, a row of high end road warrior vehicles formed a formidable, impromptu parking lot. A few came complete with attachable camping gear.

Inside, adventure travel outfits included a variety of Hatfield-McCoy and other ATV trail runs, rides and accessories. The New River Jet Boats drew interest, as did the Court Roads Jeep Club and the 132-mile Hellbender Motorsports roadway run.

McDowell County’s “Head of the Dragon” motorcycle and sports car ride was organized to help bring economic development to the coalfields.

And the veteran driven Mission 22 display offered a road or trail ride to any former or current serviceman or woman who wants to hit the hills.

But the wheels getting the most traction running through state legislation right now come with the smallest engine here, and it’s not even gas powered. We’re talking about electric bikes, or e-bikes.

Joseph Overbaugh is the chief operating officer of Fission Cycles just outside Parkersburg. He is also the author of House Bill 2062, which just passed the House and is now in the Senate. It’s meant to align state e-bike laws with federal laws. The measure allows the most popular e-bikes made to be ridden in all of West Virginia’s state parks.

Overbaugh said over the past five years, electric-bike popularity has skyrocketed.

“One of the main drivers was actually COVID-19,” Overbaugh said. “After the lockdown and everyone got stuck at home, people started to look for ways to get out and do outdoor activities and social distance. The e-bike market just exploded as an opportunity for people to get out to exercise and social distance.”

State parks representatives who were set up at Adventure Travel Day said they were all in favor of opening up the parks to e-bikes.