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How to organize a biker friendly lobby day

Fast Fred Rafts & Travels

Fast Fred is a wandering guide enjoying endless summers and sharing adventure along the way.
I began writing these motorcycle pages of articles, photos, and trips during 2000.

How to organize a biker friendly lobby day

  1. Recruit early! Make a goal of putting together a group of 10-15 dedicated bikers who would be willing to meet with legislators about motorcycle rights and other liberty issues.
  2. Make an appointment to meet with legislators. Go to ABATE of SC's Legislative Action Center to find the legislators for your district. You will be able to find the contact information for district offices of your legislators using your nine digit zip code. Call the district office and ask to speak with your legislator or staff member. Tell them that you are a constituent/motorcyclist and that your group would like to meet with the Representative/Senator about motorcycle rights or better yet the actual issues/bills of concern to your group.
  3. Prepare your materials. Download lobbying materials and sample letters from the ABATE of SC's Legislative Action Center. Ask friends who cannot attend the lobby day to also write letters to be hand-delivered during your lobby day. Prepare a number of packets to leave with your legislators' staffs. Letters are most effective when hand written always avoid form letters and especially petitions.
  4. Prepare your group. Meet at least once before your lobby visit to go over messaging, speaking order, and to answer any questions. Find tips on how to lobby .

How do I choose which legislator to lobby?

Your group will have a better chance meeting directly with Representatives rather than Senators. For ABATE Chapters that have large numbers of members from multiple districts, choose one or more legislators your group would like to lobby. The more meetings you can set up, the greater your group's lobbying efforts! ABATE of SC's Legislative Coordinator can help you target specific legislators.

What else should I consider?

You may want to approach other motorcycle rights organizations and see if they would like to cosponsor the event with you. This will have the advantage of increasing attendance at the actual event, increasing collaboration among motorcycle rights organizations, and also will provide you with some other leaders who can help you to organize the event!

If possible, involve other motorcyclists or liberty minded groups in the event.

Can I get press coverage?

This is the perfect occasion to notify the local media and let them know what you are doing! They should be very interested in local biker activists visiting Members of Congress on behalf of a national initiative. For your local area, all you have to do is write a press release and send it out to your local media contacts.

Once the lobby visits are over, am I done?

Not just yet. All those taking part in the effort should meet nearby the Capitol and share what they learned; I suggest over a nice meal and a cold beer at a location such as the Mellow Mushroom in Columbia. If possible, have all the participants fill out a feedback survey so you know how each visit went. Was their representative receptive? Will he or she support the bill?

Send a message to the Legislative and State Coordinator detailing your lobby day so they may follow up with those offices.

Next, follow up with a thank you letter to each office. Remind them what the visit was about, and any definite actions that they said they would take.

Fast Fred Ruddock with a Helmet Ticket in Polk County North Carolina

About Fast Fred

My life has been a dedicated blend of open road adventure and relentless advocacy for motorcyclists’ rights. I'm "Fast Fred" Ruddock, and my journey on two wheels began as a teenager. Over the years, I’ve owned 13 Harleys and several other motorcycles, machines that were far more than just transportation. They represented a freedom that I have fought to protect. Recognizing the power of information, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, skills I immediately put to use for the movement.

My commitment to advocacy led me to a complete immersion in ABATE of South Carolina (ABATE of SC). I quickly moved through the ranks, starting by developing the ABATE of SC website in 2001 and serving as the Berkeley/Dorchester Chapter Coordinator. This progressed to serving as Lowcountry Area Coordinator, where I successfully shifted our local focus decisively toward rights and rapidly increased membership. From 2003 to 2007, I served as the State Coordinator, where I helped coordinate several key legislative victories, including the passage of the Purple Heart license tag bill and the successful repeal of unnecessary handlebar height restrictions. My primary strategic goal was always to achieve widespread political influence by organizing a chapter in every single county.

On the national front, I extended my influence by serving as the State Representative on the board of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) for several years during the 2000s. This role ensured that the concerns of South Carolina riders were directly represented in critical federal legislative discussions. Crucially, I also worked to shape public opinion: I wrote articles related to motorcycle rights for various magazines and had a small column in Easyriders magazine for several years, using media to educate riders nationwide on the issues impacting their freedom.

My activism was not only about lobbying but also direct action and constitutional challenges. I participated in the Myrtle Beach civil disobedience against local helmet laws, contributing to the legal groundwork for the eventual overturning of that restrictive law through a landmark SC Supreme Court case. I also challenged helmet laws personally, fighting three tickets in court as an act of civil disobedience in several states. I lobbied in multiple state capitols with me friends across the country. My dedication continued after my ABATE leadership, as I served as the Director of Bikers Of Less Tolerance (BOLT) of South Carolina.

Today, while I also enjoy working as a river guide and sharing my travel adventures, my legacy remains rooted in the fight for motorcycle freedom. I have spent decades on the front lines, utilizing both political strategy, legal challenges, and national media to protect the rights of every person on two wheels.

My Other Adventures

I'm a professional whitewater guide and kayak instructor. I grew up rafting, sailing, and surfing, and I spend my North American summers guiding on world-class whitewater. I have spent much of my adult life riding motorcycles and paddling kayaks.

Raft with me: Check out Fast Fred Rafts for details.

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