WASHINGTON — Rep. Michael C. Burgess, MD (R-Texas) and Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), joined by five of their caucus colleagues, sent a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Thursday, expressing concern with the agency’s current definition of a motorcycle in light of the emergence of a relatively new vehicle class that has characteristics of both motorcycles and automobiles. Reps. Burgess and Walberg are co-chairs of the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus and members of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

“As you know, NHTSA has long defined a motorcycle as a ‘motor vehicle with motive power having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground.’ While this was a clear characterization for many years, the recent emergence of a new class of vehicle that has attributes of both automobiles and motorcycles has created confusion,” the members wrote. “We respectfully request a response that describes whether NHTSA believes the current federal definition of a motorcycle is appropriate and if not, what NHTSA is doing to address this issue.”

Full text of the letter is below and also can be found here.

Background

• Autocycles have car-like features, including brake pedals, an enclosed cockpit and a steering wheel. However, but because they have three wheels, they’re classified as motorcycles.
• The current definition of a motorcycle could create ambiguity in motorcycle statistics by including autocycles and lead to changes in licensing, registration, and insurance rates.

April 11, 2019

Heidi King
Deputy Administrator
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Ave SE
Washington, DC 20590-0001

Dear Deputy Administrator King,

We write today to convey concerns related to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) definition of a motorcycle and to request NHTSA’s views on the current definition.

As you know, NHTSA has long defined a motorcycle as a “motor vehicle with motive power having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground.” While this was a clear characterization for many years, the recent emergence of a new class of vehicle that has attributes of both automobiles and motorcycles has created confusion.

This new class, commonly referred to as autocycles, typically has more characteristics of an automobile. In some cases, autocycle models have three wheels, a steering wheel, gas and brake pedals, car seats, an enclosed cockpit, and other car-like features. Because the current federal definition of a motorcycle is broad, many models in this emerging class of vehicles fit the definition of a motorcycle. This has the potential to create ambiguity in motorcycle safety statistics and alter licensing, registration and insurance rates.

We understand that there was a previous Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to classify autocycles as passenger cars. However, this proposed reclassification was never finalized.

We respectfully request a response that describes whether NHTSA believes the current federal definition of a motorcycle is appropriate and if not, what NHTSA is doing to address this issue.

Thank you for your work to improve the safety of our nation’s highways and for your consideration of this matter.

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