I dunno, what’s a SMRO? you may ask. If you didn’t have to, then good for you, and us.
SMRO stands for State Motorcycle Rights Organization. Usually ABATE but some states have different names.
I live in Iowa, so I belong to ABATE of Iowa. Here, that stands for A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education which is good, and I wholeheartedly agree with and endorse, but it started out as A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments, I like to consider myself still a member of that too. If I read their website right, ABATE in Kansas still uses the totalitarian one.
In Iowa, where I’m more familiar with some history, ABATE was started to keep mandatory helmet laws out of Iowa. While that is still a focus, they have a two pronged education program. Share The Road goes into Drivers-Ed classrooms and presents a program so future drivers will avoid running over us, and they also have a Riders-Ed program that teaches bikers. They have new, returning, trike and advanced classes. That’s where the aiming toward education comes from.
Now that you are a little better informed, here’s the sales pitch. If you’re not a member of the SMRO where you live, join. Every one of these organizations is happy to have more members, guaranteed. It would be really cool if you would join and maybe go to a meeting occasionally, even if you don’t, your membership dues and your willingness to call or email somebody if there’s a call to action would still be a huge benefit.
One of the problems we have, in Iowa at least, is the fact that the public hasn’t seen a serious helmet law threat in years. My oldest son is 30 and he’s never seen one. Anyone in his age range or younger has no idea that helmet laws are a thing, unless they travel to another state, in our neighborhood that would be Missouri or Nebraska.
I’d say the reason the public hasn’t seen a manditory helmet law is because of ABATE of Iowa’s work and relationships with legislators. Additional members will always help that out. If you’re riding around care free, it’s because of the hard work of ABATE. Membership for a year is only $25. If you do it online it’s $27.
Pretty reasonable.
One thing I want to make clear, ABATE is pro freedom, not anti-helmet. You choose to wear a helmet, that’s great. You’ll be welcome. There’s no reason The State should force you to wear one.
One more thing, I have the link to Iowa there. I’m planning a whole page soon with links to other state’s SMROs. In the coming year, I’m planning on joining some myself, neighboring states to start. I’ll keep you posted.
