Oregon Trail

2010 could turn into an incredibly good year for Oregon bikers. This is for two very important reasons, both of which happened in 2009.

Starting back in April, bikers across Oregon started subscribing to our network of activists. And they continued all year long. Now we have more subscribers in Oregon than in any other state. This map shows where they are: OR Campaign Volunteers.

That's a lot of potential, but it takes more than that. Another essential ingredient is advanced planning. In order for bikers to work as campaign volunteers, someone needs to direct traffic.

Specifically, someone needs to monitor the state legislature. We need to know how each member votes on helmet law repeal, especially if they are on a committee that must approve the bill before it goes out for a full vote.

Planning also includes knowing which of these incumbents has to run for reelection in 2010. Some of them will run unopposed, but the others will face challengers in the general election. And of those, some will face primary challengers as well.

Then there are the candidates who challenge the incumbents. Again, some in general elections and many others in primary races. We need to find out where they stand on universal helmet laws. After all, they don't have a voting record. Yet.

So who does all this planning? Fortunately for Oregon bikers, that would be a very special biker named Heidi, from Mid-Valley Cycles in Hubbard, Oregon. She's not only a member of ABATE of Oregon and BikePAC of Oregon, she's also leading our campaign planning effort. Working with bikers, legislators, and doing the homework we need so we can do our job.

Heidi is connecting the dots between potential and action. Without that, nothing happens.

The only remaining ingredient is campaign volunteers. And that's where Oregon bikers come in. It's not enough to read about what needs to happen. And it's not enough to know what needs to happen. It just needs to happen.

I have high hopes for Oregon in 2010, and I'm not the only one. But Oregon bikers won't need hope if they take action ... in the right place at the right time. Then all bikers across the nation will see where the Oregon Trail leads to: Freedom!

- RIDE2REPEAL@gmail.com