The National Parks Bill And Meandering Motorcyclists

Riding the Going To The Sun Road – Glacier National Park

From Acadia to Zion our country’s most spectacular landscape treasures are protected inside the parks.

No map or brochure can prepare you for that first motorcycle ride and peering out over a guardrail at snowy mountain peaks, waterfalls that flow down the valley through the forests, and end in a clear blue lake carved out by glaciers. The mountain mornings always have a bite of cold as the sun takes its time to wake, while meandering through the incredible scenery.

I’m talking about National Parks in general and specifically Glacier National Park, Montana which in my view shines above the rest.

Glacier National Park – Going The Sun Road

It never gets old and I plan to ride through the million-acre paradise later this month and take a COVID-19 mental diversion through the park. Montana has plenty of mountain roads where motorcyclists can ride and absorb the landscape, but the crown jewel is the Going-to-the-Sun Road. It crosses the Continental Divide carves through the steep grade of rock and forest with roughly 50 miles of sweeping curves and hairpin switchbacks along with an occasional tunnel passage through the mountain.

The national parks are such a gift, one we’ve given to each other. One we’ve inherited and, with luck, will pass down to the generations that follow us.

Speaking of paying it forward…

Going To The Sun Road

The National Park System comprises 419 national park sites, but only 62 of them have the “National Park” designation in their names. The other sites fall into different National Park System categories like National Historic Sites, National Monuments, National Seashores, National Recreation Areas, and others.

You might be surprised to learn that the National Park Service accounts for 84 million acres of land at more than 400 different sites, but as of 2019, they were due for $11.9 billion (that’s a B!) in deferred maintenance and repairs. Fortunately, the current administration recently signed a bipartisan bill (Great American Outdoors Act) that will pay for repairs at national parks, permanently finance the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and in addition will create a lot of jobs.  The bill directs up to $6.65 billion to priority fixes and up to $3 billion for agencies such as the Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition, the bill will allocate $900 million each year to the conservation fund. The program – which has existed for half a century – has historically been plagued by funding shortfalls.

Lake McDonald

The Great American Outdoors Act enacted last week is clearly the most consequential funding for national parks, wildlife refuges, and public recreation facilities in U.S. history since the conservation legacy of President Theodore Roosevelt in the early 1900s.

As motorcycle enthusiasts, we can take heart that there’s always going to be those historic chalets, lodges, and miles of tarmac with beautiful landscapes that meander their way through the firs, aspen, and stone.

Photos taken by author.

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Going Fast Was A Way Of Life

I have a weakness for muscle cars.  

A Ford Hybrid Escape just doesn’t do it for me.  Over the years I’ve spent a fair amount of time wrenching a ’67 Camero, but these days it’s been on a mid-sixties Vette.  Given my experiences and looking over parts receipts I can expertly state that vintage auto’s are primarily a money sink hole.  None the less, it’s my sink hole and it’s how I elect to spend my hard earned $$.

But, along comes the BART riding ideals of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) who views the world through some hybrid reality-distortion field, imagining it as some sort of amazing green technology and will not rest until she has saved the planet for all of us!! 

It’s a misguided attempt to spur new car sales and help create jobs by the Washington lawmakers.  They have determined “we” need a nationwide automobile scrap program which would give U.S. tax dollars to consumers who turn-in older cars to have them crushed.  On the surface it sounds like a reasonable idea, but the unattended consequences of the bill will threaten vintage enthusiasts nationwide with the loss of valuable parts and part-cars for repair, restoration, and customization projects. The programs also risk destroying classic, historic and special-interest vehicles that are part of our American heritage.  Once passed how long do you think it will be before they amend the law to include vintage motorcycles?

Pelosi introduced a bill as part of the Economic Stimulus Plan and is looking for President Obama to sign it into law.  If you oppose the use of U.S. Taxpayer $$ for “Cash for Clunkers” then I suggest that you contact House Speaker Nancy Pelosi IMMEDIATELY.  You can call: (202)225-0100 or send an email HERE. To help guide any conversation below are a few talking points:

1. I am [calling/writing] because I oppose the use of U.S. taxpayer $$ and urge lawmakers not to include a “Cash for Clunkers” provision in the economic stimulus bill. Owners who turn in vehicles for crushing would receive a “minimal” payment to purchase a new car. This is a misguided attempt to spur car sales and claim that the country’s air quality or fleet fuel mileage is being improved.
2. “Cash for Clunkers” programs threaten enthusiasts nationwide with the loss of valuable parts and parts-cars for repair, restoration, and customization projects. The programs also risk destroying classic, historic and special-interest vehicles in our American heritage.
3. Cars turned in for scrap often barely run, or are rarely-driven second or third vehicles that have a minimal impact on overall fuel economy or emissions.
4. “Cash for Clunkers” programs will reduce the availability of affordable transportation and repair parts used by low-income drivers. It will also compete with the Salvation Army, the Purple Heart and other charities that rely on vehicle donations to raise money.

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

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