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Bikers alone pay for their safety

As an enthusiastic 71-year-old advocate of motorcycling and overburdened taxpaying resident of Illinois who is concerned about the safety and educational programs provided for motorcyclists in Illinois, I was appalled by the front-page article on March 1, "Transit Down Bikers Up."

The Illinois cycle rider safety training program teaches novice and experienced riders alike how to safely, properly and legally operate a motorcycle. The monies used to pay for these vital programs come from a portion of the fees charged to motorcyclist registrations by the state for the "M" endorsement required on licensing and titling fees, not one cent from taxpayers.

Every penny of this collected money should be spent on the purpose for which it was collected, training and educating motorcyclists - as well as educating the public to "start seeing motorcycles."

Redirecting these funds to other uses such as senior or disabled transit riders is tantamount to highway safety robbery.

Dennis Lange

American Motorcycle Assoc. State Representative Motorcycle Riders Foundation

Rolling Meadows

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