Meet Motorcyclist Troy Balderson

U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson, a Republican who represents Ohio’s 12th Congressional District, has been riding motorcycles as long as he can recall and carried his passion for two wheels with him in a political career in the Ohio Legislature before heading for the nation’s capital.

“I fell in love with it as a kid and continued to ride as I grew up and entered adulthood and even introduced my son to riding,” said Balderson, who estimated that he has been riding for 50 years. “My grandpa gave me a Suzuki [MT-50] Trailhopper when I was 6 years old, and I was instantly hooked.”

Balderson won his seat in Congress in a 2018 special election and was reelected in November 2020.

A member of the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus, Balderson supports legislation favorable to riders. He was named 2020 Champion Legislator of the Year by the Motorcycle Riders Foundation.

Balderson co-authored the Motorcycle Advisory Council Reauthorization Act, bipartisan legislation that extends the federal Motorcycle Advisory Council for six years. The MAC advises the Secretary of Transportation on infrastructure issues that affect riders.

He also sponsored a resolution in 2020 that established July 11 as “Antique Motorcycle Enthusiast Day.” The resolution was co-sponsored by U.S. Reps. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) and Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), co-chairs of the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus.

Let’s get to know him a little better.

American Motorcyclist: Tell us about your riding and racing experiences.

Troy Balderson: Growing up, I predominantly raced motocross, which I really loved. As I grew older, I eventually moved into GNCC racing. I’ve had a lot of fun with it all, and it’s a true passion of mine.

AM: What motorcycle(s) do you own?

TB: I currently own a 2018 BMW R 1200 RT. One bike I’ve always wanted to get hold of is a Penton 175 Jackpiner.

AM: What do you think of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, held in Ohio?

TB: I absolutely love this event. There’s a group of friends of mine who always rode together, and we made AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days into an annual trip.

I really cherish those memories. It’s a lot of fun to go and see those old bikes.
As I’ve entered a life of public service and am much busier than I was before, I haven’t been able to attend recently, but it’s great reconnecting with that group of friends and seeing how far motorcycles have come since I was a kid.

AM: What prompted you to become involved in politics?

TB: It’s always been a priority of mine to serve the people of my community. This value was instilled in me by my parents early on: that God gave us a mind, two hands and a heart, and we must use them for good.

We all have something to give back. It was a step out of my comfort zone to run for office, and it continues to challenge me as I’ve run for more prominent positions with larger groups of people I directly represent.

I feel blessed every day when I wake up to have the opportunity to do what I do.

AM: What is your record for motorcyclist support in the Ohio Legislature?

TB: Most notably, I supported sustained funding for Ohio’s Motorcycle Safety Education Program.

I’ve also done work throughout my career to help legally distinguish between three-wheel vehicles and motorcycles, since as we know there are many differences between the two. In the Ohio State Legislature, I helped ensure that drivers of three-wheel vehicles do not need a motorcycle license, only a driver’s license.

AM: Tell us about pro-motorcyclist legislation you have introduced or supported at the federal level.

TB: In addition to the Antique Motorcycle Enthusiast Day resolution and Motorcycle Advisory Council Reauthorization Act, I’ve been able to make a positive impact for fellow riders at a federal level through amendments made to the most recent surface transportation package.

Two of my motorcycle-related amendments ultimately were included in the final version of this bill. One would prevent the profiling of motorcyclists through the use of motorcycle-specific checkpoints.

The other would include motorcyclists in a study on safe interactions between automated vehicles and road users in two ways: It would make a distinction between motorcycles and bicycles—which isn’t currently the case—and it would ensure a representative of motorcyclist interests is added to the working group enlisted to assist in this study.

AM: How has does your motorcycling background affected your work in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Technology Committee?

TB: Motorcyclists literally have a seat at the table in Congress.

I personally understand the issues riders face because I’ve lived them, and I’m able to use this understanding to make a direct impact on legislation that affects fellow riders, like the amendments and legislation mentioned before.

We have a representative government, so it’s important our lawmakers accurately reflect the interests of Americans across the board.

With more than 13 million motorcycle-riding Americans on the roads, I’m proud to be one of the few motorcycle riders in Congress. My role has also allowed me to develop a great relationship with AMA and their team, as well as other motorcycle advocacy groups.

AM: How do you feel about the Back County Discovery Routes and the role that off-highway vehicles play in local tourism?

TB: I’m a huge advocate of Back County Discovery Routes, and there’s more I want to do to support it. I’ve been working with local leaders on this initiative, and I’m glad it’s expanding.

This initiative helps make a huge economic impact on local tourism and our economy in Ohio, so it will continue to be incredibly important as we try to recover economically from COVID.

Additionally, it just provides people an opportunity to experience the back country they might not normally see, while enjoying motorcycling and taking in the beauty of our great country. I want to continue opening up more routes for people through this initiative.

AM: What can motorcyclists expect from Congress in 2021?

TB: The Congressional Motorcycle Caucus wants to be the point in Congress for motorcyclists on all the issues above, like the Back Country Discovery Routes, highway concerns, motorcycle profiling, advocating for motorcycle safety and more.
Looking at the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I’m glad we were able to get major motorcycle priorities included in the most recent surface transportation bill. That was a major accomplishment.

Historically, this is one of the most bipartisan committees in Congress, so it’s my hope we can continue to work in a bipartisan manner to produce an infrastructure package in the next two years that includes the priorities of roadway users.

AM: What else would you like to say to fellow AMA members?

TB: Motorcycling is such a great joy, but people don’t always see or understand the positives of motorcycling, because they have concerns about safety. That’s why I believe motorcycle safety needs to be a bigger priority within our community.
I’d like to see more people take it upon themselves to get trained in motorcycle safety. There are introductory courses that are common, but I’d like to see folks expand their knowledge by going beyond the beginner classes.