Expressing support for the designation of May 2026 as "Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month".

Bill at a glance

• Official designation: H.Res. 1236 (119th Congress, 2nd Session)
• Purpose: Expresses support for designating May 2026 as “Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.”
• Sponsor and actions: Sponsored by Rep. Walberg (with co-sponsors Reps. Balderson, Norcross, and Van Orden). Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 29, 2026.

What the bill does

• The resolution formally expresses support for designating May 2026 as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
• It recognizes the motorcycling community and its role in the transportation system.
• It encourages motorcycle awareness among all road users, emphasizes the right of motorcyclists to share the road, and promotes rider safety through education, training, and proper gear.
• It notes public safety goals aligned with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) framework for Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, including licensing, training, and gear, and urges continued public reminders to watch for motorcycles.

Key provisions and language

• Preamble statements highlighting:
  • The size and importance of motorcycling in the United States (approximately 30 million riders, around 9% of the population).
  • Motorcycles’ role in the transportation mix and their fuel efficiency and impact on congestion and infrastructure.
  • The motorcycling community’s commitment to safety education, licensing, and public awareness.
  • Statistical context on crashes and fatalities (e.g., higher fatality rates for motorcyclists and common crash scenarios such as left-turn conflicts).
  • The shared responsibility of all road users to watch for and safely share the road with motorcycles.
• Resolved clauses:
  1. Support the designation of “Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.”
  2. Recognize motorcycles’ contribution to transportation.
  3. Encourage motorcycle awareness among all road users.
  4. Recognize motorcyclists’ right to the road and the safety obligation of other motorists.
  5. Encourage rider safety education, training, and proper gear.
  6. Support the goals of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.

Who is affected

• While the resolution is symbolic in nature, it explicitly targets:
  • Motorcyclists and the broader riding community (emphasizing safety education and gear).
  • All road users (drivers and pedestrians) to improve awareness and safe-sharing of the road.
  • State and local agencies and organizations involved in transportation safety campaigns, which may coordinate or align with May 2026 Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month efforts.

Procedural and timeline aspects

• The bill designates a month (May 2026) for awareness activities.
• As a House resolution, it expresses the sentiment and goals of the House but does not itself create new statutory requirements or funding.
• Next steps if advanced: may serve as a basis for accompanying public awareness campaigns, education initiatives, or formal declarations by other branches or states to observe Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in May 2026.

Potential impact

• Elevates public attention to motorcycle safety and rider education for a designated period.
• Encourages coordination among federal, state, and local stakeholders to promote safer road-sharing practices.
• Signals legislative support for continued emphasis on licensing, training, and protective gear for riders, potentially influencing related safety campaigns and outreach efforts.