FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Karen Bolin, MRF President
karen@mrf.org (e-mail)
March 29, 2005
#05NR04 - MRF Responds to Dr. Jeffrey Runge and the Detroit Free Press
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) has recently issued two letters in response to separate incidents involving the very public maligning of motorcyclists and motorcycling. The MRF has joined with other motorcycle organizations, and individual riders, in a united expression of concern.
On Monday March 14th, 2005, Dr. Jeffrey Runge, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Director addressed the delegates attending the Lifesavers Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. Numerous attendees reported Dr. Runge’s disparaging remarks regarding motorcyclists. The MRF has responded and is currently in the process of working with staff to Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta to address Dr. Runge’s remarks. The Department of Transportation oversees NHTSA.
On Monday March 21st, 2005, an editorial column, titled "No Brain, Our Gain", written by Brian Dickerson, appeared in the Detroit Free Press. In his column, addressing ABATE of Michigan’s recent success moving legislation in the Michigan State Senate to amend the Michigan helmet law, Mr. Dickerson called for mandatory organ donation, and alluded to motorcyclists being denied emergency medical coverage. Furthermore he likened this legislation, and the motorcyclists who support it, to Jack Kevorkian and the tragic case of Mrs. Schiavo in Florida.
The MRF responses are now posted on the MRF website at: http://www.mrf.org/positionpapers.php
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