MEDIA ALERT

More than 23 million Americans will ride a motorcycle this year.  These riders now account for one out of every 10 U.S. road fatalities each year and the numbers keep rising.  With the warmer weather here and more motorcyclists taking to the road than ever before, May is the perfect time for national leaders to encourage responsible riding and to encourage all drivers to safely share the road.

Event will include a motorcycle riding simulator and several late model bikes. 

WHO:  U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters
            Rep. Michael Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) 
            Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) 
            Tim Buche, President, Motorcycle Industry Council
            Rob Dingman, President, American Motorcyclist Association

WHAT: National leaders join together to focus attention on motorcycle safety, including a news conference on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol.

WHEN: TODAY - Thursday, May 1, 2008 
              11:30-2 p.m. Motorcycle Safety & Training Displays Open to the Public 
              12 p.m. News Conference

WHERE: Garfield Circle on the south side of the Capitol. Adjacent to the Capitol Reflection Pool at the intersection of Maryland Avenue and First Street.

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 The Congressional Motorcycle Safety Caucus is a bipartisan group of Members of Congress committed to improving and advancing the safety of motorcyclists.