Hate to boost your title up Solo, but I think this is an issue that people here need to be ready to address.
We live in an age of reactionary politics- Those running for office have found that they can gain a lot of votes for placing blame, pointing fingers, and getting their constituents pissed off about something. If we don't speak up this could fall in our direction and we could lose a lot of rights.
I left comments on the USA Today article- I'd like to encourage others here to do the same when they come across something like this. Those in public office want to take a real "because I'm the mommy" stance and pretend like they are watching over and concerned with our safety. This is highly questionable. Often they just want to use power, while they have it.
There are more accidents and fatalities out there because the use of scooters and mopeds and motorbikes has risen and largely out of economic necessity and real physical logistic. Other than that, a selfish mindset may seek to run us off the road, because we are portrayed as a minor inconvenience.
I've seen other articles like this one the last several years and the legislators involved always seem to be trying to focus on riders who have previous DUI recortds. This is slanted and unfair- most riders do not ride simply because they can't legally drive a car anymore. I personally think the corporate powers are behind a lot of it- big oil and automakers- even down to the high cost of regular bicycles level.
We need to be ready to speak out- answer and comment on such articles, and be ready to write letters and e-mail our thoughts and experiences to legislators, particularly when it's in your own area. Also newspapers- you can e-mail any newspaper office in the world on the internet, and it would help if we could network, and have a campaign of comment and response, whenever are rights might be threatened by restrictive legislation.
I like to point out also that the citizens of other countries have for a long time had more free access to these alternative forms of transportation, while we, in the land of the free, are hindered by antiquated modes of thought. Our leaders are always talking about competing with foreign markets, while we continue to hurt our own citizens and workforce with elitist policies that serve the dwindling monied.
anyway, that's some of my thoughts....