New 'Motorcycle Fairness Act' Extends National Park Pass Coverage to Two Bikes Per Entry

The “America the Beautiful Motorcycle Fairness Act” (Section 1) is a short, straightforward piece of legislation aimed at clearing up a common headache for riders who use the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. Essentially, it clarifies the rules for pass use at federal recreation sites—like national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges—that charge an entrance fee per vehicle (Section 2).

The Two-Wheeled Loophole

Right now, the America the Beautiful pass covers the passholder and all passengers in one private, noncommercial vehicle. But what happens when that 'vehicle' is a motorcycle, and you’re riding with a buddy on a second bike? That’s where the confusion starts. This bill fixes that by amending the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (Section 2).

Under the new guidelines, if you, the pass holder, enter on a motorcycle, your pass doesn't just cover you and your passenger. It also covers one additional accompanying motorcycle and its passengers (Section 2). Think of it this way: if you and a friend both ride your own bikes to a National Forest campground that charges $20 per car, your single pass now covers both of you and your rides. Before, the second bike might have been charged a separate entrance fee, which felt unfair compared to a car full of people paying just one fee.

Real-World Benefit for Riders

This is a huge win for motorcycle groups and pairs. For years, riders who tour together have often felt penalized by the per-vehicle fee structure. A car carrying four people pays one fee; two motorcycles carrying two people often ended up paying two fees, despite taking up less space. This change levels the playing field. It acknowledges that when motorcyclists travel in pairs, they often do so on separate vehicles, and treats that pair of bikes similarly to a single car for fee purposes. The change is simple but significantly boosts the value of the America the Beautiful pass for thousands of riders.

Administrative Cleanup

To make sure this rolls out smoothly, the bill mandates that the relevant Secretaries (Interior and Agriculture) must issue new administrative guidelines for the pass program (Section 2). This means the federal agencies running these sites will have clear instructions on how to handle fee collection for motorcycle groups, which should cut down on disputes at the entrance gates and ensure consistent application of the rule across all federal lands.