Erik Long
To everyone who's supporting this new statute: You're supporting the control of Government over your life.
WHERE DOES IT STOP? This is a slippery slope, folks. If bikes are
dangerous enough to require a helmet, maybe we should require elbow and
knee pads, too. In fact, maybe manufacturers should be building these
things with integrated roll cages and a parimiter frame, like on a
car. Y'know what? Bike riding is just too dangerous to the people who
ride bikes, so let's make bikes illegal altogether . . .
I am a 12 year veteran of the bicycle industry and a life-long cyclist. I can tell you that bicycle helmets have saved my life at least once. I think everyone should wear one when riding. That's what I THINK.
Here's what I KNOW: In a "free" society such as ours, it is absurd to require safety equipment for someone old enough to make their own decisions.
I make a habit of wearing a helmet any time I mount a bicycle, but I sometimes trade the helmet for a nice, warm, cap. In fact, I sometimes even leave the helmet at home just because I don't feel like wearing it. If that's a risk I decide to take, it does no harm to anyone but me.
If I feel a need to express that I don't care about the risk of riding without a helmet by not wearing one, that's my right. In fact, I do believe there was a legal document Amended to that effect a couple hundred years ago.
Nobody gets to MAKE you protect yourself from something that MIGHT happen. Thats your responsibility.
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:38:55 -0800
From: mbenno@yahoo.com
To: jon.ragsdale@comcast.net; obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Helmets will be mandatory in Vancouver, WA
Personally, I applaud this effort and wish PDX would step up, as a leader in the bicycle movement, and do the same. I'm not a safety natzi or anything, but I just don't see the need to not require helmets. I have three I'd be willing to donate to the cause.
----- Original Message ----
From: "jon.ragsdale@comcast.net"
To: obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 2:40:49 PM
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Helmets will be mandatory in Vancouver, WA
There is a story on the front page of www.kgw.com reporting that Vancouver has enacted a rule that in 30 days all cyclists will be required to wear helmets. Full story: http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_022608_news_vancouver_helmet_law_bicycle.2edad9de.html
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