A major motorcyclist group is seeking money from the city of Casper for a media-blitz aimed at informing drivers about proper road etiquette.

The application to the city of Casper was submitted by Wyoming Central ABATE President Jerry Rodgers. The group is asking for $30,000 of "community promotions" funding - money doled out by the city council for projects that enrich the lives of Casper residents.

"We're hoping to do billboards - I've got people working on numbers for that and I'm going to contact the television stations and see what it's going to cost us to put a commercial on," Rodgers said.

Rodgers said he's seeking help from the business community, too, in the form of "space donations" so ABATE can place signs near busy intersections or high-traffic areas.

"Just donate us a little space," Rodgers said. "We're going to make the signs near Alcova out of plywood and they won't last forever but it's a place we can start. We're doing what we can to keep the costs down so we can get the word out for the least amount of money."

Rodgers helped organize a motorcycle-safety-awareness event last month prompted by the death of a motorcyclist who collided with a vehicle that failed to yield the right of way when making a left hand turn. His group also printed a handful of signs that read, "Look twice - save a life" on one side and "Ride with respect - pipe down in town" on the other.

"It wasn't just one of the motorcycle deaths - our guys are crashing because people aren't seeing them and they aren't getting away," Rodgers said. "Just because they don't make contact - God willing, it's only bumps and bruises, but when you get shoved into a curb on a motorcycle it's not much fun."

Though Casper Mayor Kenyne Schlager wasn't sure if council would approve the request, she said the group was invited to apply after she and other city officials met with Rodgers last month before the rally he organized.

"They want to come up with an annual campaign for motorcycles and vehicles. For community promotions [funding], we look for things that bring people into the community and improve the life of citizens," Schlager said. "I think it fits well."

Reach city reporter Pete Nickeas at pete.nickeas@trib.com or (307) 266-0639. You can read his blog at http://tribtown.trib.com/redtape.