Many MRO's and other organizations can get a bit territorial. Rejecting offers of help from other states. Which is kind of a disconnect as if they are "not for profits" receiving federal grant monies they are in fact accepting help from individuals in other states.
We all contribute to the grant money that rolls of the presses distributed to causes we may or may not agree with.
That aside something to consider when discounting the letters from "out of staters" to legislators using Florida as an example.
Florida is still a "tourist state". Although some of the major metropolitan areas are not as dependent on tourist dollars as they once were, many communities would take a severe hit with out the visitors dollar. Consider the Orlando area.
Consider the Economic hit Daytona, Leesburg, Panama City/Panama City Beach, Holt area and increasingly the Nature/west Coast area would take were they to lose the instate or "out of state" Biker dollar ? These are communities that would be hurt badly. Yet my bet is that the persons that legislators hear the most from are those who could care less about the Biker. Retiree's on stable incomes for example, who have the time to write and hate the noise.
Yet were the workers whose jobs depend on these dollars to understand, weather they ride or not, how these dollars contribute to their paycheck, they too may get more active and not be happy with legislators that engage in actions that affect those paychecks.
The other issue is some of these legislators may have designs on gaining some sort of National position once they move beyond their current positions. If they are in positions of power, if they are engaged in representing "the people", then they need to know that "THE PEOPLE ARE WATCHING"Add to Technorati Favorites
And another letter To FL Senator Garcia for 968
Senator Garcia:
I’m writing to you, as I’m sure many others have, On the eve of yet another fellow biker begin killed by an SUV That pulled out in front of him on Gulf Blvd. in St. Petersburg , Florida – 02/07/09.
We have lost so many on Florida roads. We have lost so many to The words “ I didn’t see him/her” .....
What is it going to take for them to start seeing us????
Another friend is blind for life – car crossed the lane and hit him head on....
No justice there either....
We’ve already buried so many....
My first one was over 35 years ago when I lost a neighbor – on his harley – riding home from Work, left behind a wife and 2 small children....
And the dozens that have occurred until the present time...
Try making a comparison....what happens when a car hits another car....and the victim is killed....
What laws apply to that??? What penalties are assessed to the driver that caused the accident????
What happens when a truck hits a car...What laws apply to that??? What penalties are assessed to the driver that caused the accident????
What happens when a train hits a car...
What laws apply to that??? What penalties are assess to the driver that caused the accident????
Those drivers are usually penalized....What happens when a car hits a biker....
Nothing....All we hear is “ I didn’t see him/her”....
Don’t you think that our lives are worth something....too??
We are children, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins,
Caregivers, workers : blue and white collar.....
We are born, live, pay taxes, vote, just like any other driver –
We choose to ride on 2 wheels....
We pay a license fee, registration, insurance (as chosen), just a cars, trucks, etc do....
We share the road ways and follow the same rules and laws of the road and driving....
Why shouldn’t we have the same protection as people who drive 4 + wheels....???
We are the same people, in a different mode of transportation....
If you take us off the 2 wheels, and put us in 4 – we are still the same....
Maybe we need to step up and put MORE into the Florida driver program that makes drivers
More aware of motorcycles....
We need protection – we need penalties for those who injure and kill us....
Not a light slap on the wrist....But a strong penalty that spreads the message that –
People will start realizing they have to be a little more careful and cautious
Because they don’t want to end up with a large penalty themselves for hitting a biker.
A few years ago – I was lucky,,,leaving work, sitting at a stop sign...waiting to turn onto a busy road,
And ended up flying off my motorcycle....into the road....The driver in the car behind me was too busy talking on her cel phone to pay attention and see I was there...Right in front of her..!!!!.
Luckily I only received some bruises and an abrasion on my leg .....But others aren’t as lucky.....
Don’t let more of us die in vain....Keep the penalties Stiff for hitting, injuring or killing a biker....
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation with bill SB 0968. Keep it Stiff... so it doesn’t make stiffs out of us!!!!
Ride Safe, Ride Free
Diane Borges - Mac LennanAdd to Technorati Favorites
I’m writing to you, as I’m sure many others have, On the eve of yet another fellow biker begin killed by an SUV That pulled out in front of him on Gulf Blvd. in St. Petersburg , Florida – 02/07/09.
We have lost so many on Florida roads. We have lost so many to The words “ I didn’t see him/her” .....
What is it going to take for them to start seeing us????
Another friend is blind for life – car crossed the lane and hit him head on....
No justice there either....
We’ve already buried so many....
My first one was over 35 years ago when I lost a neighbor – on his harley – riding home from Work, left behind a wife and 2 small children....
And the dozens that have occurred until the present time...
Try making a comparison....what happens when a car hits another car....and the victim is killed....
What laws apply to that??? What penalties are assessed to the driver that caused the accident????
What happens when a truck hits a car...What laws apply to that??? What penalties are assessed to the driver that caused the accident????
What happens when a train hits a car...
What laws apply to that??? What penalties are assess to the driver that caused the accident????
Those drivers are usually penalized....What happens when a car hits a biker....
Nothing....All we hear is “ I didn’t see him/her”....
Don’t you think that our lives are worth something....too??
We are children, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins,
Caregivers, workers : blue and white collar.....
We are born, live, pay taxes, vote, just like any other driver –
We choose to ride on 2 wheels....
We pay a license fee, registration, insurance (as chosen), just a cars, trucks, etc do....
We share the road ways and follow the same rules and laws of the road and driving....
Why shouldn’t we have the same protection as people who drive 4 + wheels....???
We are the same people, in a different mode of transportation....
If you take us off the 2 wheels, and put us in 4 – we are still the same....
Maybe we need to step up and put MORE into the Florida driver program that makes drivers
More aware of motorcycles....
We need protection – we need penalties for those who injure and kill us....
Not a light slap on the wrist....But a strong penalty that spreads the message that –
People will start realizing they have to be a little more careful and cautious
Because they don’t want to end up with a large penalty themselves for hitting a biker.
A few years ago – I was lucky,,,leaving work, sitting at a stop sign...waiting to turn onto a busy road,
And ended up flying off my motorcycle....into the road....The driver in the car behind me was too busy talking on her cel phone to pay attention and see I was there...Right in front of her..!!!!.
Luckily I only received some bruises and an abrasion on my leg .....But others aren’t as lucky.....
Don’t let more of us die in vain....Keep the penalties Stiff for hitting, injuring or killing a biker....
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation with bill SB 0968. Keep it Stiff... so it doesn’t make stiffs out of us!!!!
Ride Safe, Ride Free
Diane Borges - Mac LennanAdd to Technorati Favorites
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