Motorcycle riders get companion-bike pass coverage under federal parks program
H.R. 4386 — America the Beautiful Motorcycle Fairness Act · Filed by Tim Walberg (R-MI) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced Jul 14, 2025 · Passed chamber
Your members of Congress
Enter a ZIP to see where your representative and both senators stood on this bill.
Looked up on this device — your ZIP is never stored on our servers.
What it does
This bill amends the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to clarify that the America the Beautiful interagency pass (which grants entrance to national parks and federal recreational lands) covers not only the passholder and passengers in a single vehicle, but also—if the passholder is on a motorcycle—one additional accompanying motorcycle and its passengers. The change benefits motorcycle riders by allowing them to bring a companion motorcycle under a single pass.
Why we flagged it
The bill is a narrow, technical amendment to clarify entrance privileges under an existing federal pass program. It does not create new policy but rather removes ambiguity about how the pass applies to motorcycles, making it a definitional/clarification measure rather than a substantive policy shift.
What the text implies
- The amendment may create administrative questions about what constitutes 'accompanying' a motorcycle (proximity, timing, group composition) that the National Park Service and other agencies will need to clarify in implementing regulations.
- The provision applies only to per-vehicle fee structures; its effect on annual pass holders or other fee models is not addressed and may require separate guidance.
Who it affects
Motorcycle riders gain a tangible recreational benefit—the ability to bring a companion motorcycle under a single pass without paying an additional entrance fee. This expands access equity for a specific user group without restricting anyone else's access or imposing new costs on the public.