On Tuesday, April 1, 1997, a group representing the varied positive aspects of motorcycling, met with Virginia's Governor George Allen at the capitol in Richmond, to celebrate the signing of legislation designed to enhance the state's Motorcycle Rider Training Program.

This bill, establishing the permanent Virginia Rider Training Fund, has been actively pursued for several years by the various motorcycle groups around the state. This year with the leadership of Tom McGrath and Alan Broom of the Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists (VCOM), the bill was passed by both houses of the legislature. The fund is supported by additional fees on motorcycle licenses and registration, and the moneys cannot be diverted to any use other than for rider education. Bruce Biondo, Director of the Virginia Rider Training Program (VRTP), stated that funding has already been earmarked to establish two new permanent training facilities and a mobile site which will bring rider training to the far reaches of the Commonwealth.

This legislation could not have been passed without the determination and assistance of the members of groups such as the Motorcycle Safety League of Virginia (MSLVI), ABATE, and GWRRA, who actively promoted the bill.

So it was that Tom McGrath and Alan Broom from VCOM; Bruce Biondo representing VRTP-DMV; Anna Marie Schwind and Ken Swartz of ABATE; and Keith Lindgren and I representing GWRRA met with Governor Allen to witness the signing of this legislation into law.

Governor Allen has been very receptive to motorcycling issues during the first three years of his administration, and stated he was very happy to sign this type of self-funding legislation. Simultaneously, he proclaimed May as Virginia Motorcycle Awareness Month. (He has done this for the past three years at our request.)

Following the official signing ceremony, we had a little surprise for Governor Allen. We had requested from GWRRA's Home Office a certificate for the Governor, making him an Honorary GWRRA Member. We presented this to Governor Allen, and invited him to attend Virginia's Rally in the Valley in October. While he said he wasn't sure about his schedule, he said he would really like to attend.

Recalling the GWRRA welcome mat we presented to him in 1994, Governor Allen commented "the welcome mat is

still out for motorcycle riders in the state of Virginia." So we now have a greatly enhanced motorcycle rider training program in Virginia, and the Governor is an honorary member of our Association, and is attuned to motorcyclists' issues.

Virginia is a great state in which to ride your Gold Wing. Why not plan your next trip to our area this fall, along with a visit to our Rally in the Valley on October 11-12? For additional information about what our state has to offer Gold Wingers, visit the GWRRA Virginia District website at http://www.gwrrava.org.

Remember, "The welcome mat is still out for motorcyclists in Virginia."

Reproduced here with permission of Nick Hoppner, Editor - Wing World Magazine. This article originally appeared on page 17 of the August 1997 issue.