White House Recognizes May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

President Biden recognized May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in a letter from the White House that acknowledged the millions of Americans who ride and that “a motorcycle offers freedom, recreation and the opportunity to explore our great Nation coast-to-coast.”

“My Administration remains committed to ensuring the safety of everyone who rides a motorcycle and all who travel across our Nation,” Biden wrote in the letter dated May 1, underscoring the importance of personal protective gear for motorcyclists, obeying traffic laws, riding alcohol- and drug-free, and for motorists to drive safely, be aware of motorcyclists and to share the road. “All of us who travel America’s roads have an important role in securing a safe motorcycle-riding environment.”

“We thank President Biden, Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the Department of Transportation for helping to raise awareness of motorcyclists and motorcycle safety,” said Erik Pritchard, president and CEO of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. “On behalf of motorcyclists across the country, we are grateful for the funding contained in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to modernize the highways, roads and bridges.”

More riders are anticipated to be on the roads this year. Sales of motorcycles and scooters rose 14.2% in 2021, the second consecutive year of growth, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council Retail Sales Reporting System, which gathers new motorcycle and scooter retail sales data from 14 leading manufacturers and distributors in the U.S.

“The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has worked closely with the Department of Transportation and the Biden administration to bring issues facing motorcyclists to the forefront,” said Scott Schloegel, senior vice president of government relations for MSF. “This administration has placed a priority on reducing highway deaths and on educating the motoring public, and we appreciate that this presidential recognition is one of many ways they are working to accomplish that goal.”

More tips for riders and drivers are available at the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s websites: msf-usa.org and forcardrivers.com. Users can also test their perception and knowledge with timed challenges and quizzes. (https://www.msf-usa.org/RiderPerception.aspx)

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame recently named Marilyn Stemp and Steve Piehl to its board of directors.

Stemp is a pioneering figure in the motorcycle industry, founding IronWorks Magazine with her late husband, Dennis, and becoming the first female editor of a nationally circulated, mainstream motorcycle magazine. She also revived their trade magazine, Iron Trader News; edits the monthly Kiwi Indian News; contributes to several powersports media outlets; and is the founding editor of Sturgis Rider Daily. Stemp is a noted editor and writer of several motorcycle-focused books. Her consistent support for charitable efforts in the industry include the annual Biker Belles Celebration, Las Vegas BikeFest and as campaign chair for the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum’s development plan in 2014. She co-founded the Flying Piston charity events taking place in Daytona and Sturgis each year and is a National Ambassador for All Kids Bike. Stemp was inducted into both the Las Vegas Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the Sturgis Museum's Hall of Fame in 2018, and in 2022 she was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in Powersports by DealerNews.