Freedom of choice starts today

[pjc]

Re: Freedom of choice starts today

let's see,<br />mandates:::<br />:anyone at body of water edge (ie-dock)must wear USCG PFD all the time<br />:all persons aboard boat USCG PFD all the time<br />:all persons boating, certified swimming instruction card<br />:all persons boating CPR and EMT training cert<br />:all cage drivers helmet<br />:launching a boat-must wear helmet, safety shoes,shin guards,kevlar gloves<br />:fueling any gas powered equipment, nomex fire suit<br />:artificial lures while angling, must have hook point protectors in place if castin AND another angler(s) is/are in boat<br />:if Mexican food consumed before next BM, PrepH must be pre-applied to prevent unpleasant burning sensation <br />:if single, or cheating cad, install skin to protect from God knows what these days <br /><br />seriously--I wear the hat based upon my free choice that is based on a common sence evaluation of what weather, road conditions, or traffic conditions may present.<br />Ya can bet that on a cold one I gotta lid on for comfort.

 

[ob]

Re: Freedom of choice starts today

The helmet issue in Texas and every place else is driven by the same special interest fat cat lobbyist.As soon as it became fashionable for all of these aging Hagen Daas eating fat asses to ride their precious $25,000 Harleys and they decided that they didn't look rebel and cool enough on them while wearing a helmet ,and since most of these people are now in their 50's and have influential positions with which to platform their gripes,they change the laws once again to appease. I've been riding street bikes and now sport bikes for most of my adult life and believe me ,you're much safer wearing a full face helmet.Ever take a June bug in the eye socket at 70 mph?If you have then you know that the remote possibility of incurring injury from a helmet strap in the advent of a collision is far outweighed by the perpensity of rock or piece of debris tickling your medulla oblongata.<br /><br />These other excuses are rediculous on their face.Please explain to me what collision situation would cause a strap to decapitate its rider and not take the top of his head off otherwise.The defenders of the no helmet law just need to admit that they simply think they look cooler without them.Footbal players get twisted necks from helmets too and I don't see the NFL doing away with them.Maybe because they would be held responsible for the injuries incurred.In short,responsible experienced motorcyclist use them and the others are pseudo riders.

 

[pjc]

Re: Freedom of choice starts today

ob,<br />not taking shots at ya, but i been on two wheels since 12 or so. raced 'em, on track, race faced 'em on road, toured, commuted, and simply putted. lottsa bikes have windsheilds that take out the juneies, some dont, and yep, they hurt. also a hazzard is the bee or wasp that gets blown into a jacket collar for example. been there and done that. also lottsa junk laying in road to be avoided--now--. know what a gator is? stuff like that are where the experienced rider displays his/her skills by staying up and reacting with control of the situation. and anticipatating the possable situation.<br /> i do believe that all this protecto gear can and does instill a sence of invincability to folks and same believe that the can ride way over their "heads" so to speak.<br /><br />and i do agree that "you meet the nicest people on a honda" and "protect the enviroment, wear a helmet" is catchy for the rookie riders and pacifies the non-riding public--it is still my choice. and mine alone. <br />and what a person chooses to ride, be it an italian repliracer (witch kills lottas young kids cause they wanna be like racer x) or your example, $25k hog, is another area of personal choice. most any bike, like a boat, is to some degree a statement of that persons tastes.<br />what next in AMERICA, mandates saying no bikes over 250cc or air bags (beemer toyed with this, as well as others).

 

[ob]

Re: Freedom of choice starts today

Pat ,Then a person of your riding experience understands the added safety measure that wearing a helmet provides.If a rider wants to make a personal choice that is one thing.If he doesn't want to wear a helmet ,go for it.However when the State sends the message to a young beginner rider that IMO needs all of the safety measures that he can get,that riding without one it is quite safe and legal ,then that's another issue.This is the same State that will write me a citation for not wearing a seat belt.Where's the logic in that?there is no logic.Don't take my mention of Harleys personal.This also applies to the same interest group whether they be riding saddlebag BMWs or Vespas.

 

[pjc]

Re: Freedom of choice starts today

ob, you've made an excellent point regards now -vs- then. Is very true that now rider courses require safety gear to do same. and, right you are about the message sent. and i could go on blathering about what message is sent via mc ads showing fast riding, bla, bla. this is actually a very complex topic, much like discussing politics, etc.<br />the bottom line is that in PA, the pols responded to what they believed the public wanted, regardless of lobby groups, and so forth. thats how it should be IMO.<br />also to ralph, i've heard the organ donner and other stipulations. yea right. how about "if LOF in 3000 miles sticker is expired, and in auto accident, EPA clean air fine". (sorry, thats is real rediculus?, but??)<br /><br />A serious note now: when my boy was 18 months old, tooling around on his peddal three wheel "ninja" trike took a minor highside banging forehead on driveway. bump size of half golf ball poped up. me and bride goe to ER. nurse real suspect asking all kindsa stuff regards-"is there any history of child abuse in your family", (probably ment did i hit him)<br />Point is that here and now, not having your kids "protected" could be built into neglect or worse.

 

[DJ]

Re: Freedom of choice starts today

I don't give a rip about the helmet laws, pro or con. I do not think it's anyones business whether you wear one or not-especially the government.<br /><br />However, I do not want to be paying for some brain dead rider that could have prevented injury by wearing one. Rider beware. Ride at your own risk.<br /><br />I haven't drivena cycle in 10 plus years. It's just too risky anymore.

 

[braindead0]

Re: Freedom of choice starts today

If wearing a helmet is such a bad idea, why is it that EVERY motorsport out there, requires one.<br />

Apples and oranges, professional motorcyclist, nascar, drag racers all wear neck protection and other protective gear that mitigates the helmets rotational forces.<br /><br />Again, get some facts before assuming helmets safe lives. Not very long ago Australia had a big problem with motorcycle racers dying due to seperation of the brain stem from the brain. Turned out (according to their studies) that a heavy impact on the helmet chin bar is transmitted by the strap essentially right to the brain.. doing an excellent job of seperating the brain from it's stem.. instant death.<br /><br />If you're going to wear a helmet, wear a neck coller and chest gear with tie down points to secure the helmet to your body, it's the only way to be safe.

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: Freedom of choice starts today

I think its laughable, you MUST wear a seat belt whilst sitting in a reinforced steel CAGE, and some hopped up long haired hippie - with the aging reflexes of a fiftysomething old dude ... can go flying down the road with his brain box open to the attendant hazards of the road ... good god, the thought of thse punk kids in those noisy rice rockets .. yanno, the things with the dragster wide rear tire with some flapping T SHIRT .. THIN COTTON T SHIRT AND SHORTS .... lying on the gas tank, ripping down the road at god knows how many miles per hour .... no helmet, thin shorts and a t shirt, pair of sandals ... throwin themselves off the bike at 150 plus just makes me cringe<br /><br />wanna die painfully? ease yerself into a chipper shredder<br /><br />would be funny to see one of those moronic douchhe bags that go blasting down heavily congested thorofares at far triple digit speeds, slam into one of those massive all wheel drive cement mixers, fully laden, see chit streaks up the seat right to the keys ... which is where most of his face still sits, caught by the goofy chains that run from lip to cheek to nose to eyebrow to ear, all of it tangled as Mr Big Freakin Idiot Hero turns himself into a turrd stain on the bumper of the cement mixer ... (anger issues? who, me??)<br /><br />sorry, cant feel pity for morons too stupid to remain alive, Darwin sure wasnt kidding, it all boils down to competition for limited resources, which apparently include COMMON SENSE

 

[GodsBeast]

Re: Freedom of choice starts today

I still have a motorcycle endorcement. Wore a helment when off road. My issue with the helment was on road. The helment impaired my HEARING, and visual to an extent (fogging. I see both sides of the coin, that they can save ya, or cause a broken neck. On road, though I felt safer having the use of my hearing without the helment, but I always rode on road, like everyone was out to get me. <br /><br />Like others, though, I don't like laws made for insurance purposes, or the goverment sticking their nose in my business. I understand a law, manditory for eye protection on a bike. Something hitting you in the eye, can effect other drivers, when you lose control. My head going through your windshield is not going to hurt you any more, with or without a helment on. I think a helment should be a personal choise for an adult, till it can be proved that your not wearing one can effect someone else's safety. <br /><br />Read in a little common sense into this next statement, (I just don't want to wake up one day and have the Government tell me I have to use at least 10 sections of toilet paper to wipe my tush or I am going to get fined). Laws should not ALWAYS be made to protect you from yourself, once your an Adult. They can be taken too far.

 

[DJ]

Re: Freedom of choice starts today

GB,<br /><br />I agree. I do not think the gov't should be able to tell you to do those things-seat belts included. I also agree on eyewear. A bug in the eye at 75 is going to cause you to have a real bad day.<br /><br />However, you can bet I wear my belt. I know many a Police Officer that has told me that they have yet to unbuckle a dead guy.<br /><br />My Company has a very good, in my opinion, policy. If you are injured or killed in a company vehicle accident and you are not buckled in-they DO NOT pay.<br /><br />I like the helmets the Police wear. They do not restrict your hearing. There is a method to the thinking.

 

[GodsBeast]

Re: Freedom of choice starts today

Hey Djohns19, thanks for the reply! Hey I'm not trying to start anything, but now you wont be able to say that you have not heard a cop say he hasn't unbuckled a dead guy. I have, twice, one was decapatated that drove under a parked 18 wheeler on the shoulder. The other burned to death as a result of his crash. A Third was a woman, that was hit in the driver's door by a Pickup truck from Texas that ran a red light. And I didn't unbuckle the fouth one I know about, right off, but she was, very close to me, and she was hit in the driver's door also, by a Police Officer that was chasin a speeder. So even though the belt probably didn't contribute to any of their deaths (maybe the one that burned, he was trying to get out, but probably pinned by more than the seatbelt) they have a good use, and they are a smart decision (But now you've had a cop tell you they have unbuckled dead one's). <br /><br />Our department, has a policy if your buckled they cover 100%, if not buckled 80%. You may ask, why would a L.E.O. not be buckled? #1 the seat belt law does not apply to Emergancy Vehicles in this state. SOME officer's that patrol in slow, burglary type patrols, complain that the belt crosses their gun, when strapped in the holster. Hard to get your gun out if held in by the holster straps, and a seat belt on top of that. Again, a little common sense should be used. If you get in a pursuit, or in traffic, belt up, if your doing 5 mph at 2 am in the morning doing a burglary patrol, where you might have to jump out and give chase to a criminal, I don't belt up! I Know BAD COP, NO Donut! <br /><br />Oh, and I never rode a motocycle on duty, our department does not have any, but the Deputies have cycles and most Department Policies require they wear a helment, just for the appearence and INSURANCE. <br /><br />Even though the belt and helment have their uses, I glad you and others agree, that we shouldn't have to MAKE A LAW to protect ADULTS from themselves.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Freedom of choice starts today

Ray said-------<br />-<br /> would be funny to see one of those moronic douchhe bags that go blasting down heavily congested thorofares at far triple digit speeds, slam into one of those massive all wheel drive cement mixers, fully laden, see chit streaks up the seat right to the keys ... which is where most of his face still sits, caught by the goofy chains that run from lip to cheek to nose to eyebrow to ear, all of it tangled as Mr Big Freakin Idiot Hero turns himself into a turrd stain on the bumper of the cement mixer ... (anger issues? who, me??) <br /><br />Wow! Ray you really think that would be funny? You are one messed up dude. That has to be the most moronic post I have ever seen on this board