In July, Virginia became the first state to protect the rights of motorcyclists to use public roads built or maintained with federal or state funds. The Illinois legislation follows the same approach. Signed into law Aug. 13, it also bars local governments from passing mandatory helmet laws.

The Virginia and Illinois laws are based on federal legislation successfully promoted by the AMA last year. Under the federal law, approved as part of a massive federal highway funding bill, states and cities nationwide are prohibited from banning motorcycles from any road built or maintained with federal funds. By extending that protection to state-funded roads, Illinois and Virginia essentially have eliminated the possibility of a ban on nearly any public road.

ABATE of Illinois was the driving force behind the new Illinois law that expands the protection of motorcyclists' rights. The campaign came in response to repeated efforts by Chicago officials to ban motorcycles from various city streets, including scenic Lake Shore Drive.

"Illinois and Virginia have taken major steps to protect the rights of motorcyclists," said Sean Maher, AMA legislative affairs specialist. "These laws can serve as model legislation for lawmakers in other states."