News Rights

AMA News & Notes: January 2025

National and Regional News 

Pickerington, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association congratulates the 2024 AMA Motorcyclist of the Year Tim James, whose service as the Board President of Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) helped continue the growth of adventure and dual-sport riding communities throughout the United States.

BDR is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that creates and maintains off-highway routes for adventure and dual-sport riders. After first getting involved with the organization just over a decade ago as a volunteer, James has become increasingly involved with BDR in recent years to aid in its mission to grow the off-road motorcycling community as well as rural communities throughout the United States. 

BDR has been directly responsible for economic growth in rural communities across the country, as a 2022 study revealed that BDR riders contributed more than $60 million out-of-state funds to remote communities. That same study found that BDR riders generated $9.6 million in motorcycle sales and several more million in parts, apparel, services and training in 2022. 

As of 2024, BDR currently has 13 routes across the United States, with some spanning more than a thousand miles, along with six BDR-X routes — a shorter, loop-style route designed for riders looking for the BDR experience in a shorter timeframe. 

Looking toward the future, James noted that BDR has plans to create more routes — including some in Canada and Mexico — while maintaining its current collection of routes. For more information on BDR, visit ridebdr.com/.   

Washington, D.C. — On Dec. 18, Senators James Risch (R-ID), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Ted Budd (R-NC) introduced SB.5583 the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Full Funding Act of 2024. This legislation aims to correct inadequate annual funding for this program, increasing it from $84 million to $281 million.  

The American Motorcyclist Association helped create the Recreation Trails Program in the early 1990s. This program uses federal gasoline tax revenue attributed to motorized off-highway recreational vehicles to fund, develop and maintain trail infrastructure across the United States. As of 2023, the program has awarded over $1.6 billion to over 25,000 trail projects across the United States during the three decades of the program. This, despite the fact that off-highway vehicle enthusiasts have paid nearly $9 billion in gas tax during the same period.

Funding for the Recreation Trails Program follows the “user-pay, user-benefit” principle upon which the Highway Trust Fund was originally based. RTP has only been funded at $84 million annually since Fiscal Year 2009 despite a much greater amount of tax revenue being attributable to off-highway vehicles. In 2020, Congress required the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to provide a report, which found taxes on off-highway use of recreational vehicles are on average $281 million per year. The RTP Full Funding Act of 2024 seeks to ensure federal taxes collected from off-highway recreation are appropriately returned to the states for the Recreational Trails Program. 

The AMA, along with the Coalition for Recreational Trails, endorses SB.5583, the RTP Full Funding Act of 2024. The AMA will continue to support RTP funding and trail projects that promote the motorcycle lifestyle and motorcyclist interests. This legislation is an important step in the right direction to ensure future generations of motorcyclists have access to off-highway recreation.   

Also — On Jan. 4, President Joe Biden signed the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act into law, creating additional opportunities for motorized access on federal lands. This piece of legislation also aims to improve access to public lands for outdoor recreation, create new long-distance bike trails and restore campgrounds and modernize infrastructure, among other aspects.  

The EXPLORE Act also seeks to enhance opportunities for motorized and non-motorized recreation, expanding outdoor activities for enthusiasts on public lands. The law also allows for organized group recreation activity with motorized vehicles.  

State News 

New York City — The long-delayed congestion pricing toll for drivers entering the center of Manhattan has started. While several other cities around the world, including London and Stockholm, have similar congestion pricing schemes, this represents the first in the U.S. The daily toll for passenger and small commercial vehicles (sedans, SUVs, pick-up trucks, and small vans) paying with a valid E-ZPass will be $9 during the peak period and $2.25 during the overnight period. The toll for motorcycles will be $4.50 during the peak period and $1.05 during the overnight period.  

A credit will reduce the toll for vehicles using a valid E-ZPass and entering during the peak period via one of the four tolled entries: Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel, Queens-Midtown Tunnel, and Hugh L. Carey Tunnel. The credit amount will be up to $3 for passenger vehicles, up to $1.50 for motorcycles. No crossing credits will be offered overnight when the toll will be reduced by 75% from the peak period toll. 

Drivers will be able to use their E-ZPass tags to pay the toll as they currently do to pay tolls on other roads, bridges and tunnels. Those without an E-ZPass tag will receive a Tolls by Mail bill to the registered owner of the vehicle.  A discount plan is available for low-income drivers, and exemption plans are available for individuals with disabilities or organizations transporting people with disabilities, emergency vehicles, buses, and specialized government-owned vehicles. Visit portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-03612 for more details.  

Sacramento, Calif. — The Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission tour of Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area that was scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 15, and the meeting scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 16, have been canceled due to the fires burning in Southern California. Information and updates will be posted on the Commission website. 

Sacramento, Calif. — As of Jan. 1, 2025, it is illegal in California to park within 20 feet of the vehicle approach of any marked or unmarked crosswalk, even if a red curb is not present, or 15 feet of any crosswalk where a curb extension is present. California Assembly Bill 413, which was signed into law in October 2023, creates a new section of the Vehicle Code, CVC 22500(n), which prohibits the stopping, standing or parking of a vehicle within 20 feet of the vehicle approach side of any unmarked or marked crosswalk or 15 feet of any crosswalk with a curb extension anywhere in California. For more information on Assembly Bill 413, visit the California Legislature’s website. 

Also — Driver monitoring “defeat” devices have been banned under SB 1313 (Ashby). The legislation prohibits a vehicle from being equipped with, or a person from using, a device that is designed to neutralize or interfere with a driver monitoring system on a vehicle with advanced driver-assistance system features or autonomous technology. The law is intended to help address the issue of drivers overriding their driver monitoring systems while the vehicle is in motion, such as placing steering wheel weights to mimic hands placed on the wheel. These devices bypass the safety features designed to ensure that drivers are alert.  

And, with the adoption of Senate Bill 1107, the minimum liability insurance coverage for California drivers increases to $30,000 for bodily injury or death of one person, $60,000 for bodily injury or death of all persons and $15,000 for damage to property. Previous minimums were $15,000, $30,000 and $5,000 for those respective categories. 

Salt Lake City — The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation has announced the opening of the 2025 Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant cycle. The 2025 Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant application cycle is open through Friday, March 17.  

Here are the UORG grants offered for 2025: 

  • Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant (UORG) – Tier 1 is for new outdoor recreation infrastructure projects and helps communities build recreation amenities that support local economic development and funds projects from $30,001-$500,000. 
  • UORG Regional Asset Tier funds up to $1 million for large projects.  
  • Recreation Restoration Infrastructure Grant (RRI) funds are awarded to restore high-use and high-priority trails or repair or replace other types of developed recreation infrastructure on public lands. RRI grants are offered up to $250,000. 
  • UORG Mini-Grant is ideal for smaller projects. The grant awards funds between $5,000-$30,000. If your project requires only a small investment to complete your project, the mini-grant may be a good fit. 
  • Community Parks and Recreation Grant (CPR) provides funding to aid in the rehabilitation and construction of assets such as community parks, sports fields, pools, and playgrounds. CPR grants are offered from $5,000-$200,000. 

To help you in your project planning and application writing, staff has compiled a great list of resources found on their website. For information, visit recreation.utah.gov/grants. 

Twentynine Palms, Calif. — the public is reminded that the closure dates for the Johnson Valley Shared Use Area, which include the time required to conduct inspections, ensuring the Shared Use Area is safe for public access prior to reopening, are as follows: 

  • Feb. 13 – 24, 2025 
  • Aug. 14 – 25, 2025 
  • Feb. 12 – 26, 2026 
  • Aug. 13 - 27, 2026 

When the Shared Use Area is closed for military training, the adjacent Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation area remains open to the public. When recreating or off-roading in Johnson Valley, always be sure to observe the base boundaries and be aware of the Shared Use Area’s status. Military training is conducted within Combat Center boundaries year-round, including ranges acquired during the land expansion that border the Shared Use Area and the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area. 

For inquiries, or to sign up for email and/or text (SMS) notifications, please contact the Resource Management Group by emailing the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at: SMBPLMSJOHNSONVALLEY@usmc.mil. 

AMA News 

Pickerington, Ohio — Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Turn 14 Distribution is fast approaching — with the grand celebration of all things vintage motorcycling scheduled for July 25-27, 2025, at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio — and discounted tickets for AMA members are now on sale for motorcycling’s biggest and best vintage event! 

Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Turn 14 Distribution will, once again, be bigger and better than ever with a wide range of racing in various disciplines, North America’s largest motorcycle swap meet, vendor displays, demo rides and much more. Tickets are on sale now, with weekend passes starting at $70. Purchase your tickets today at vintagemotorcycledays.com/tickets/!   

Individuals who purchased a swap meet booth in 2024 may secure their spot in the motorcycle swap meet, and new for 2025 is the Swap Meet Fast Pass, available for purchase to those who secure three or more booths. Space is limited, so secure your spot now at services.americanmotorcyclist.com/vmd_swap_meet/. Booth sales will open to the public on April 1.

For more information on 2025 Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Turn 14 Distribution, visit vintagemotorcycledays.com/. Make sure to stay up to date on the latest VMD news by signing up for the bi-weekly VMD Newsletter at americanmotorcyclist.com/members-community/community/ama-newsletters/and following the official VMD social media pages on Instagram and Facebook.