The most effective way for us to have our voices heard as motorcyclists is to use them. Motorcycles and motor scooters make up less than 3% of registered vehicles in New York State. Aside from being statistically fewer, motorcyclists in the United States are largely viewed as hobbyists when compared to other countries where motorcycle and motor scooter practicality has made them a transportation staple. As such, we are underrepresented and outnumbered by car and bicycle interests lobbying for the attention of urban planners in the 20th and 21st centuries of North America. Nowhere is this more true than in New York City, which has made some of the most dramatic and progressive transportation decisions for the number of people they impact daily. Not just that, New York City has actively removed resources for motorcyclists like dedicated safe parking areas that still exist in other cities like Philadelphia and Washington D.C.
We need to make our presence known, in a positive way. We need to be visible as members of New York City and the region. We need to have not just the attention, but the actual support of those with legislative power. We ask you to please use the resources below to make your voice known and join together publicly so that we begin to be included in these important discussions of equitable transportation accessibility in New York and nationwide.
Write Your Representatives!
Writing letters for support of politicians brings our cause directly to those who interact with policy. Don’t just complain to the choir, alert those who you elected to represent you. Hold them accountable for issues that impact you. We’ve provided two basic form letters for this below:
Politician Letter (coming soon)
This letter is intended for City Councilmembers, Senators and anybody else with legislative power to speak on your behalf to the Transit Mobility Review Board. Feel free to personalize and include transportation and neighborhood details unique to why you need or choose to use your motorcycle for transportation and reducing congestion in New York City. Always get their support in writing and confirmation if they actually supported you by writing a letter to those who make the final decision. Call and follow up. Visit their office in person if necessary. It is their job to hear the concerns of their community and fight to support their needs. Please let us know when you succeed!
Identify who represents you in New York City via the following links:
Find your NYC Councilmember
Find your NY State Senator
Write the TMRB Directly!
Transit Mobility Review Board Letter (coming soon)
This is a template your representative can use to craft a letter of support for our fair inclusion to the TMRB.
Send your letters of support for at least a 50% motorcyclist’s discount on congestion pricing tolls to:
Carl Weisbrod, Chair
Transportation Mobility Review Board
Metropolitan Transit Authority
2 Broadway,
NYC, NY 10004
Tell Others!
Draw attention to this issue where you can, online and in person. This is an issue that will catch many motorcyclists off guard after it’s too late, because they aren’t talking about it. Many motorcyclists are not aware of how this actually impacts them. The purpose of this website is to help educate and empower motorcyclists. Please share it and use it! In the coming weeks it will contain more data on the issues that can be used by everyone.
PDFs you can print, post, advocate and educate with are provided below:
- Full page general use and in-store fliers
Please print these or send them to retailers who support motorcyclists to help raise awareness in and outside the community. We’d love to know who posts and where! - Half page general use handouts
Great to have in your bag for unexpected interactions or posting in places with less space. Many motorcyclists are not aware of the issues and this gives them something tangible to remember and learn more with. - Full Page Protest signs for events and public hearings
- 11×17″ Protest signs for events and public hearings
We will unite and mobilize for activism. If we gather for public protest we will provide as many signs as we can. You can also print your own when necessary to help the cause.
Continue to Educate Yourself!
In addition to the data we will continue to organize and reference on our site for motorcyclists, the following sources are actively covering local transportation and urban planning concerns for their unique interests. The list below is a mix of facts and opinions critical to determining where you fit in and where you are being excluded as a motorcyclist. We can’t vouch for the opinions given by some of these sites, but the facts stated speak for themselves.
- https://new.mta.info/project/CBDTP
- https://new.mta.info/press-release
- https://nyc.streetsblog.org/
- https://www.ridersalliance.org/
- https://transalt.org/
Let Us Know!
If you are a concerned resident, motorcyclists or a journalist who would like to ask questions or discuss the unique issues surrounding motorcycles and legally registered motor scooters in congestion pricing, please reach out!