Washington Motorcycle Safety Education Advisory Board meeting

Thanks Steve.
I would suggest that anyone who is in Washington state contact a board member named James Wihlborg who is said to be an ABATE member and furnish him with a link to this website and this section of sidecar.com and the thread titled 'Washington State Licensing Changes' .
I would also suggest that ABATE in general be informed of this action and also be encouraged to read the information here.
James Wihlborg
1115 North Custer Street
Oak Harbor WA 98277-1941
Phone: (360) 679-3028
Term expires: June 30, 2008
SEE:
http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/motoboardmeetings.html

I called and left a message with his wife (very nice lady BTW).

Hopefully he will have time to print out and read the message thread
(it's really too big to read on screen, at least for me it is, I'm
an old-timer and like to read from paper)

Here is a fairly good place to jump into the message thread for
those who dan't have time to read it all:

http://www.sidecar.com/megabbs/thread-view.asp?threadid=507&start=76

I finally got my endorsement this morning (another $10 to update my
license in addition to $30 earlier... and unbelievable inconvenience
and expense to do the whole process... which has so few participants
that it doesn't warrant resources... which backs up my assertion that
it is insignificant enough that there is no need for special regulation of 3-wheelers).

Now if I can get the ferry system to recognize that trikes and sidecars
should not cost almost as much as a car for a month of commuting to work.
(Sidecar rigs are about 1/2 the length of a midsize car).

So, does anybody know what happened?

I would imagine meeting minutes are online somewhere, right?

He said the meeting is on the 7th of September, Mark. Next Friday.

D'oh!

From Evergreen Safety Coucil's Website

Washington St. subsidizes many of our classes for State residents ($125).
Additional classes have been added at a higher price to meet demand ($225).
Other than price and availability, all classes are identical.

Funny how more money induces availability of classes.

Originally written by Mark 42 on 9/5/2007 6:25 PM

From Evergreen Safety Coucil's Website

Washington St. subsidizes many of our classes for State residents ($125).
Additional classes have been added at a higher price to meet demand ($225).
Other than price and availability, all classes are identical.

Funny how more money induces availability of classes.

Funny? Not really...but...it is all about money no doubt.

Originally written by claude #3563 on 9/5/2007 10:10 PM

Originally written by Mark 42 on 9/5/2007 6:25 PM

From Evergreen Safety Coucil's Website

Washington St. subsidizes many of our classes for State residents ($125).
Additional classes have been added at a higher price to meet demand ($225).
Other than price and availability, all classes are identical.

Funny how more money induces availability of classes.

Funny? Not really...but...not surprizing at all either.

Originally written by claude #3563 on 9/5/2007 7:10 PM

Originally written by Mark 42 on 9/5/2007 6:25 PM
Funny how more money induces availability of classes.

Funny? Not really...but...it is all about money no doubt.

Not if you're on the receiving end...
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5254963

Whatever happened in this advisory board meeting .,..anyone know?

The minutes will be posted as soon as the board approves them.

Basically, there was a quick discussion about cable barriers and the Rider's Edge training program.

A board member presented the concerns that were posted here about testing facilities and I responded to the board with the information I presented here. The board members understood the explaination of examiner proficiency and no further discussion followed.

The next meeting is tomorrow night (Dec 7th) at the Lacey Licensing Office. It will begin at 7pm. The agenda includes a DOT rep to talk about cable barriers and a Rider's Edge update.

Back in the 50's and 60's Washington used the cables on Hiway 99 around the Centralia and Kelso ares. I believe they stayed till the I-5 freeway was completed through there.
We riders used to call them "Cheese slicers". In the late 60's one of my neighbors was beheaded when he ran into a cable barrier on his Yamaha.

They weren't safe then and they aren't safe now.

Lonnie
(Former Washingtonian)

As an design enginner, I took one look at them and said
"Who in the heck would think those are safer?

Another interesting tidbit... the ones on highway 16 are
not even aligned well between posts... no quality and pride
in workmanship like there used to be among professionals.

It's sad that people don't give a rat's $%#@ about what
their work looks like, as long as it meets requirements.

WASHCI,
Appreciate the reponse to the question I just posted.
Gotta say though I can see why you didn't post any info here earlier. The meeting was when? September 7th?
Seems like from what you wrote the issues presented here were pretty much blown off and that even seems to be confirmed by what you said was on the agenda for the 7th of December.
You also said the minutes would be posted as soon as 'the board' approves them? Don't you think that maybe this is a tad inefficient being as the next meeting is December 7th...which is tomorrow?
Sounds like getting the mess implemented was sure a lot more efficient than getting the problems with it addressed a little.
Of course I am sure the pros can descibe very eloquently why a lowly citizen such as myself can't grasp how all of this has to come about.
Things such as 'We th ePeople' and ' a goverment by the people and for the people' just doesn't have quite the meaning it did in years past.
How much coffee was consumed at that meeting anyhow. Did everyone have a good time? Anyone doze off after a day on the golf course?
Sorry for being candid and not politcally correct. Hope you are not offended. Oh and if you repond be sure to focus on what doesn't mean much. That's what most of the pros have learned to do quite well.
Condescend a little if you wish we will understand.
Too bad.