Every time I read another specious newspaper editorial or report by some college professor or (especially) one by the National Traffic Safety Administration about how we “need” helmet laws, I wanna to find ‘em and smack ‘em upside the head with a motorcycle helmet.
Words pourin’ from the keyboards of folks who’ve never ridden a motorcycle! Newspaper folks trusting the internet for education (right). Balding, goateed professors frightened by anything leaning or loud. Suit and tie bureaucrats peerin’ squinty-eyed at their little numbers and graphs of “statistics”. Bah-Humbug!!
I ‘spose I should throw out a few statistics just to keep ‘em from thinkin’ I’m not keepin’ up? You need to know where I got ‘em? From the “web” (and experience) of course. Might be a bit dated, but newer figures won’t change ‘em much. Want to know my source, contact me.
Here ya go: More pedestrians die than motorcyclists. More people drown. More kill themselves (suicide). (shoulda taken up motorcycling, fewer of them commit suicide). Odds of dying in a car? 1 in 18,535; Walking our streets? 1 in 46,901; Riding a motorcycle? 1 in 99,568! There ya are, case ya like statistics. Do be careful walkin’ around out there, ya hear?
Those people in the first paragraph miss the Entire Point of motorcycles right from the git go! Motorcycles are transportation, they get great gas mileage, they’re cheaper operating than 4-wheel vehicles. More important? Guys ride ‘em and girls love the guys ridin’ ‘em! (lots of girls ridin’ ‘em nowadays too!).
But the entire point they’re missing? Motorcycling’s freedom!! Freedom of the open road, personal choice in using our roads! Traveling in a manner not found by car, truck, SUV (or airplane!) Freedom to simply be left alone, implementing our own Adult decisions!
Better than those folks above, motorcyclists recognize another element of freedom, Danger! Though it’s not nearly as dangerous as they (or the folks above) like to have ya think.
Ask any motorcyclist the number one reason for riding? They’ll tell you freedom.
Communing with natures smells, beauty in panoramic, uncluttered vistas. Not the view through the windshield of a 4000lb. steel and glass cocoon. Natures smells and textures experienced close up, first hand! Unencumbered by radios, cell phones, DVDs, GPS, coffee cups (or kids)!
Helmets (and laws) they cry! Put those helmets on. Fine! I tell people who ride the same thing. But I neither want or need that “advice” to become additional laws.
We already have helmet laws, ya know!? Pennsylvania law requires you that be 21yrs. old and/or have two years riding experience, Before riding helmetless! All people riding helmetless are adults. Adults used to be “allowed” to make (all) their own choices in life! Who am I or you (Or those folks above) to force Adults to “Protect Themselves” better!?
Lookin’ real close, you’ll find nearly every “study” quoting those scary “medical costs” from accidents (head injuries in particular) are funded by insurance companies. Shoot! They'd rather you leave All vehicles in the driveway! If you check close enough, you’ll find yer not payin’ for most of those injuries either.
Motorcycling is not cheap. The people who ride (can afford this little luxury) are just like you. Except they often carry more insurance than you, being mostly middle or upper-middle income people. Folks who can and do, over-insure their machines and themselves.
Many motorcycles run $15,000. and on up into the stratosphere. The specialized accessories that many buy, protective gear, chrome and doodads cost a pretty penny too!
So what Do we need to “protect” motorcyclists most?
EDUCATION!! Education for all four-wheel vehicle drivers. They (you) cause three quarters (3/4!) of all “motorcycle” accidents. Learn to See motorcyclists! That would really help. Remember, motorcyclists can (and often need to) do things quicker on that motorcycle than your car can.
Next? Help pass laws making motorcycle licensing contingent on motorcyclists receiving mandatory instruction. Pennsylvania is in the forefront with “rider education” courses. They’re “voluntary” (and free), they should be required!
Ya know, If anyone bothered with “sensible” statistics they’d know who’s having the accidents. Having been around the sport more that 40 years, I can tell ya.
There are two distinct groups:
First: “Kids” (under 30yrs old) riding high horsepower machines. Having less than two years experience and Little or No Training!
Second: Old f-rts (fastest growing group) buying big fancy machines. Chargin’ off into the sunset with less than two years experience and Little or No Training.
I Don’t Know About You..., I’d love more education crammed Into Motorcyclists heads! More than a helmet crammed on top of ‘em!
Cal Teeple, founder of the Observational Cogitation Consortium. On The Web At: wayneindependent.com/cal Still being ignored, accosted and contacted three stools down.
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Every time I read another specious newspaper editorial or report by some college professor or (especially) one by the National Traffic Safety Administration about how we “need” helmet laws, I wanna to find ‘em and smack ‘em upside the head with a motorcycle helmet.
Words pourin’ from the keyboards of folks who’ve never ridden a motorcycle! Newspaper folks trusting the internet for education (right). Balding, goateed professors frightened by anything leaning or loud. Suit and tie bureaucrats peerin’ squinty-eyed at their little numbers and graphs of “statistics”. Bah-Humbug!!
I ‘spose I should throw out a few statistics just to keep ‘em from thinkin’ I’m not keepin’ up? You need to know where I got ‘em? From the “web” (and experience) of course. Might be a bit dated, but newer figures won’t change ‘em much. Want to know my source, contact me.
Here ya go: More pedestrians die than motorcyclists. More people drown. More kill themselves (suicide). (shoulda taken up motorcycling, fewer of them commit suicide). Odds of dying in a car? 1 in 18,535; Walking our streets? 1 in 46,901; Riding a motorcycle? 1 in 99,568! There ya are, case ya like statistics. Do be careful walkin’ around out there, ya hear?
Those people in the first paragraph miss the Entire Point of motorcycles right from the git go! Motorcycles are transportation, they get great gas mileage, they’re cheaper operating than 4-wheel vehicles. More important? Guys ride ‘em and girls love the guys ridin’ ‘em! (lots of girls ridin’ ‘em nowadays too!).
But the entire point they’re missing? Motorcycling’s freedom!! Freedom of the open road, personal choice in using our roads! Traveling in a manner not found by car, truck, SUV (or airplane!) Freedom to simply be left alone, implementing our own Adult decisions!
Better than those folks above, motorcyclists recognize another element of freedom, Danger! Though it’s not nearly as dangerous as they (or the folks above) like to have ya think.
Ask any motorcyclist the number one reason for riding? They’ll tell you freedom.
Communing with natures smells, beauty in panoramic, uncluttered vistas. Not the view through the windshield of a 4000lb. steel and glass cocoon. Natures smells and textures experienced close up, first hand! Unencumbered by radios, cell phones, DVDs, GPS, coffee cups (or kids)!
Helmets (and laws) they cry! Put those helmets on. Fine! I tell people who ride the same thing. But I neither want or need that “advice” to become additional laws.
We already have helmet laws, ya know!? Pennsylvania law requires you that be 21yrs. old and/or have two years riding experience, Before riding helmetless! All people riding helmetless are adults. Adults used to be “allowed” to make (all) their own choices in life! Who am I or you (Or those folks above) to force Adults to “Protect Themselves” better!?
Lookin’ real close, you’ll find nearly every “study” quoting those scary “medical costs” from accidents (head injuries in particular) are funded by insurance companies. Shoot! They'd rather you leave All vehicles in the driveway! If you check close enough, you’ll find yer not payin’ for most of those injuries either.
Motorcycling is not cheap. The people who ride (can afford this little luxury) are just like you. Except they often carry more insurance than you, being mostly middle or upper-middle income people. Folks who can and do, over-insure their machines and themselves.
Many motorcycles run $15,000. and on up into the stratosphere. The specialized accessories that many buy, protective gear, chrome and doodads cost a pretty penny too!
So what Do we need to “protect” motorcyclists most?
EDUCATION!! Education for all four-wheel vehicle drivers. They (you) cause three quarters (3/4!) of all “motorcycle” accidents. Learn to See motorcyclists! That would really help. Remember, motorcyclists can (and often need to) do things quicker on that motorcycle than your car can.
Next? Help pass laws making motorcycle licensing contingent on motorcyclists receiving mandatory instruction. Pennsylvania is in the forefront with “rider education” courses. They’re “voluntary” (and free), they should be required!
Ya know, If anyone bothered with “sensible” statistics they’d know who’s having the accidents. Having been around the sport more that 40 years, I can tell ya.
There are two distinct groups:
First: “Kids” (under 30yrs old) riding high horsepower machines. Having less than two years experience and Little or No Training!
Second: Old f-rts (fastest growing group) buying big fancy machines. Chargin’ off into the sunset with less than two years experience and Little or No Training.
I Don’t Know About You..., I’d love more education crammed Into Motorcyclists heads! More than a helmet crammed on top of ‘em!
Cal Teeple, founder of the Observational Cogitation Consortium. On The Web At: wayneindependent.com/cal Still being ignored, accosted and contacted three stools down.
