I don't believe for a nano-second it is about choice. Nor do I believe for a nano second the slippery slope argument. Just like the smoking ban didn't drive businesses out, the sky didn't fall down and the government didn't come in and fuck your sister without lube. Just like the Brady bill didn't take all the weapons away from people. It's all focking bullshit scare tactics.

I am all for the helmet law as it serves the common good. All this BS about how the government wants to take things away is just that BS. I work for the legislative branch at City Hall. April 22nd is our next city council meeting. Come by and see how resolutions are discussed and passed/rejected.

If you are against a helmet law, let's hear some real reasons against it and not some BS scare tactics chicken little the sky is falling down slippery slope argument.

One more thing, I hear all this talk about freedom and how the government has no business controlling our lives. Yet you are the same people blaming the government for not doing something about this recession. The same people bitching about how the government failed the people. The irony is that lack of government regualations is what got s into this mess.

You want freedom, freedom has to be more than a crutch so you can have it your way. With freedom comes responsibility.

No. It isn't free...
Costs about a buck o five

+1 As quoted, took the words out of my head and typed them for me.
I'm not sure I believe in the domino effect also, but it sure seems that way sometimes. And why do I remember having this argument last season also?

The domino effect may be overstated.. but in a nutshell it's precedent..
Law bases on law and builds on law.

Rob, can you come explain that more clearly so I don't have to go pasting shit from the internet?

Not to mention.. Really how could anyone *not* think laws get more restrictive with time 9 times out of 10?

It's a lawmakers job to make laws.
Not review and remove laws.
THey make new ones...

Speaking of banning sportbikes or HP limits etc... No.. That's probably not around the corner.. but similar things have happened.. Not by law, it was "voluntary" but remember how the original Busa was faster than the next generation? I remember reading in magazines it was voluntary under threat of law (ie you slow those things down some yourself, or we are going to make a law)

I appreciate the freedom to do what I want when I want where I want as long as I trample on nobody elses rights to do the same.. and it bugs me as an american every time I see them take another one away. Even if I personally will not really be affected by it.

Valid point. I agree, insurance companies won't drop rates if helmets are mandatory. They'll just get better profits.

We have this discussion every season because the law still doesn't require helmets in IL. My assumption is that this argument will continue until it is law. And as stated before, once it is law, it isn't really conceivable that it will ever not be law afterwards.

From what I have read recently, that is a pure Libertarian argument and has true merits. Unfortunately, we don;t have a Libertarian government, or anything more than an insignificant portion of our population that votes Libertarian.

I know
Americans hate Liberty...
They speak highly of it.. but in the end they are all a bunch of commie bastards

You can't outlaw 'stupid'.

I have better peripheral vision with no helmet.

If I choose not to wear one so I can see better and ride safer, that is my choice.

I can understand that with a full face helmet, but how does an open face or a brain bucket limit your vision?

For that matter, a brain bucket (Harley style) wouldn't limit your hearing either.

Helmets are heavy and will break my neck killing me upon impact, if I choose not to wear one to be safer, that is my choice.

Now we are just getting into sarcasm! LOL!

Although I have heard that argument used before.

Now you're talking! I have cash for your used Corsair V. LOL

Ok, based on that approach, show me a logical argument for sportbikes being a legal mode of transportation?

Choice?
Freedom?
Because you won't speed or drive irraticaly on the street?

Where is the logical argument for it?

I mean, a 250 cc standard bike will provide a 2 wheel transportation just as good. But hey, why do you need only 2 wheels to get places, when 4 provide just as good of transportation, with hell of a lot more safety.

Where on the street do you need a bike with such power/weight ratio? Or such an uncomfortable ride position?

Banning sportbikes is more logical than the helmet law.

C'mon Jay. Trying to get something real here.

Banning cars would be more logical. They are the single largest killer in the United States other than natural causes.

But neither one of these points addresses helmets.

The logical argument for sportbikes is huge.

Just a couple of the top of my head if everyone rode bikes:
Reduced Congestion
Reduced Parking Space Requirements
Reduced Road Maintenance
Reduced Pollution
Increased average mpg
A heck of lot more fun...

I think Jay is right.
Wink..
That's not how govt see's things.. THey will never ban cars... They would ban bikes... You forgot a # of points in cars favor.. Side note, as far as I know most sport bikes make way more pollution than most cars... I also don't think they take increased fun factor into consideration

On my drive in I watched 2 people get red light tickets... and thought about how the slippery slope doesn't exist... Then I remembered how getting cameras in was an uphill battle (don't worry.. Daley has a hill climber) ... and it was a test.. yadda yadda... last I heard Chicago would have more cameras on the road than any other city in the world... That's in what.. 2 years time?...

Flash forward a bit.. Now they want cameras to run your plates and check your insurance everytime you go through an intersection... That would seem to me like the slope in action.

Whats next?
Cameras that monitor you and can tell if your cheating in a casino by facial expression? or a terrorist in an airport by mood and facial expression? No.. Wait.. I think that's already happening.. or happened.. 2 years or more ago (i heard about these systems 2 years ago... and I am not on the inside)

There is most definitely a slope.
They are going to control this.. Save us from ourselves in this way, and then look to figure out the next way they can do their job and save us a little bit more the next time.

I honestly don't think HP limits are that far off.. We already have speed limiters (as i said before.. voluntary.. but voluntary under threat)

Why do you need a 200hp bike that can go way faster than any police car? There is no reason for it. The only thing it does is endanger you, and poor little Timmy trying to cross the street while you go flying through his school zone at close to 200 mph high on meth and running from the police.

I am real. We need transportation. Ratio of Cars out on the roads to deaths related to them is miniscule in comparison to motorcycles.

And to your list of reasons for bikes, sure, it works for all bikes, but again, sportbikes aren't necessary, when a 250cc rebel will do all of that, with less likelyness of injury/death.

Do the Harley style helmets (1/2 helmet) even provide adequate protection in a crash? To me, its just something people wear in states where helmets are the law.

Sure. it protects the brain. thats whats most important, granted it doesnt protect the face, but for a person who hates being enclosed in a helmet, it does offer the important form of protection while still allowing some freedom to enjoy the ride.

Since bike size doesn't matter, how about honda spree's for everyone.

We have such BIG bikes BECAUSE WE CAN If someone buys a bike that they can't handle and die from it, it was THEIR choice.

Is everyone that much of a pussy that they need to be told what to do? Dammit, it's like askin yer woman where she'd like to go for dinner. 'i dunno'. Holycrap, make your own damn decisions candy asses.

NATURAL SELECTION PEOPLE.

Reminds me of a scene in I-Robot when he brought out the MV. OMG!

Iwear a lid because [B]I[B] choose to. Not because my mommy said i had too. Even though she tried.

Seriously
WTF [email protected]#

Why do you have to come out here harshing on my first bike?!
Really man.. That ain't cool!

I was in 7th grade... It was pretty cool to have anything with 2 wheels and a motor on the road back then (shit.. you know what.. in my book it still is )... and going down a hill you could hit 40.. (if the hill was long enough.. i bet i could have hit 60 in SF )

You'd be surprised at the tail you can pickup with a moped when everyone else just has bikes

I even got pulled over on it once.. Blew through a stop sign and a county cop pulled me over 1/2 mile down the road.. Literally RIGHT in front of my house.. With my Dad out in the yard raking leaves... Do you think he came out to save me? Talk to the cop? Do... Anything..? No..
He just waited till the cop was done chastising me and then did it again himself... I have to remember to call his ass in Florida over lunch and give him shit for that.

Thanks for the stroll down memory lane

Glad to help, had the pleasure of toolin around on one myself 20 some years ago. Sure been along time since dem days. Good times.

That what your neck is for. Turn it.

But helmets are really heavy and uncomfortable.

There's nobody stirring it... fail

Good lord. They are so light these days. And the fulcrum effect theory is bullshit if that is where you are going.

Don't helmets get hot?