Michigan SB297 and what happened....

[ebiker]

An OPINION sent to the MMA of Arizona and Abateofaz lists... Whether or not you as a motorcyclist agree, IMHO, it's worth a read:
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Fellow Freedom Fighters,

Yesterday, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm vetoed a bill that would have allowed adult motorcyclists to ride without helmets in that state.

We lost. Many will say we lost because of the blowback from the "Big Ben" incident. That may have been a factor, but the main reason we lost is because neither ABATE of Michigan nor any other SMRO can stand alone against the deep-pocketed and well-organized hired guns of the AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION's helmet law lobby...

http://pub42.bravenet.com/forum/3562429 ... ch/709910/

..especially when they are reinforced by the HEADS UP COALITION, yet another national lobbying force targeting universal helmet laws, consisting
of "... law enforcement agencies, healthcare practitioners, municipal leaders, students, insurance companies and MOTORCYCLE RIDERS":

http://pub42.bravenet.com/forum/3562429 ... ch/709911/

For years, we bikers have been given guidance similar to this excerpt from ABATE of Pennsylvania's website:

"In addition to joining a national motorcycling organization such as the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) or the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF), all riders should also join A.B.A.T.E., a state motorcycle rights organization (SMRO). While the AMA and the MRF work to protect your interests at the national level, A.B.A.T.E. works to protect your rights at the state and community levels."

Sounds like a reasonable split: AMA and the MRF protect our interests nationally, while ABATE does the same state by state. But somewhere along the way, the lines got blurred. Now, we have national helmet law lobbies attacking at the state level. Now, we have Washington politicians and bureaucrats (think Lautenberg and NHTSA) working hard to override the individual states' helmet legislation with federally-mandated universal
helmet laws and regulations. And now, thanks to the media spin on Big Ben, we have public outcries for mandatory lid laws from coast to coast.

Not every state has an effective SMRO. Not every SMRO has an effective professional lobbyist like Pennsylvania's Charles Umbenhauer. And, not every SMRO can muster grassroots resources sufficient to counter the formidable and growing political influence of the Triple A and their Heads Up allies. I'd wager that few, if any, can.

Like it or not, state helmet law issues are rapidly being absorbed into a national helmet law war. The AAA is spearheading the attack for the cagers, and the only entity on our side that might possibly be able to counter their moves is the AMA. (Sure, the MRF has a place, but nowhere near the base.) Here is a quote from page 59 of this month's AMA American Motorcyclist magazine:

"When our government relations staff members sit down to talk to the sponsor of some anti-motorcycling bill, they can casually point out that they're speaking for 273,000 enthusiasts who care very much about this issue. And that makes a big difference."

Well, it didn't make "a big difference" in Michigan.... And THAT, my brothers and sisters, is why we lost.

AMA, WHERE WERE YOU?!?

Bruce

[email protected]
http://www.ldrlongdistancerider.com/


Source:
http://pub42.bravenet.com/forum/3562429 ... ch/710600/
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[DSKYZD]

Here's my advice to the AAA. Get off the helmet issue and put your efforts into DRIVER EDUCATION AND AWARENESS OF MOTORCYCLISTS!

I will always wear a helmet because there's always that chance of me hitting the ground. There's a strong chance that I might even be knocked to the ground by someone in an automobile.

When there is a helmet optional law, what signal does that send to other drivers? If a biker (stupidiotically) chooses not to wear (sure, sure he should have the right blah, blah) why should car drivers be on the lookout or more alert toward single track vehicles if the single track operators don't care enough about themselves to wear decent gear?

Personally, I'm pretty much ATGATT, and I want car drivers to be more aware when it comes to motorcyclists.


DSKYZD

[sjbmw]

The helmet issue is one that is hard to get consensus from the motorcyclist community as a whole let alone the entire public.

Most riders wear helmets, not because the government forces them to, but because of personal safety reasons.

I would rather my AMA membership dues go towards other efforts instead of repealing helmet laws. That is one law I would never use anyway.

The Justice for all campaign, protection of health benefits for riders, and the rights for off road riding are more pressing issues.

[ebiker]

When there is a helmet optional law, what signal does that send to other drivers? If a biker (stupidiotically) chooses not to wear (sure, sure he should have the right blah, blah) why should car drivers be on the lookout or more alert toward single track vehicles if the single track operators don't care enough about themselves to wear decent gear
DSKYZD

Why shouldn't cagers be on the lookout for two wheel vehicles, after all we lookout for them! Helps to keep us alive.

AFA decent motorcycle "safety" gear goes, do car drivers really understand there is more to safety than simply wearing a helmet? Consider the parent who allows his teen to purchase a motorcycle and then insists the kid wears a helmet. So the kid dons a fullface helmet, tee-shirt, sneakers and shorts gets on his rice rocket and goes zipping thru traffic.

On the other side of the coin, we picture an unhelmeted Harley rider dressed in full leather gear, just putting along behind traffic about 5mph under the speed limit.

Is the HD guy any less a safe rider than the kid?

Ed..

[HiOSilver]

...So the kid dons a fullface helmet, tee-shirt, sneakers and shorts gets on his rice rocket and goes zipping thru traffic.

On the other side of the coin, we picture an unhelmeted Harley rider dressed in full leather gear, just putting along behind traffic about 5mph under the speed limit.

Is the HD guy any less a safe rider than the kid?

On what planet??? Come on Ed, I admit that you do see the teenagers riding without all the gear many times, but in the real world, the Harley rider is about a 1000 times more likely to be riding in shorts, tee shirt and flip-flops than in full leathers. I see it every day here in Phoenix.

[MikeCam]

Top 5 Reasons I'llk Keep my Money from ABATE/AMA

1. Don't represent me. They represent their own defined cause.
2. I'd be lumped in with the lumpheads.
3. I'd rather lobby for stiffer auto related safety requirements.
4. I'd rather lobby for stiffer driver related accident penalties.
and
5. I'm not much of a joiner anyway.

Still On Topic....

SamCam story. SamCam is my 10 y.o. daughter. Saturday past, we are riding in full ATGATT, etc. Stop for lunch and carry gear into restaurant. There are other bikers present. When two leave, visible through the front window getting onto their bikes, Sam announces, unprompted by me, "Gee dad, they're not wearing proper gear. I can't believe anyone is stupid enough to go riding in a t-shirt and tennis shoes. I feel naked without my pants (Aerostich Roadcrafter) and jacket."

Everybody in the restaurant could hear this plaintive voice, including the other bikers in the room.

She continued,"Dad, that one guy is not even wearing a helmet."

I looked out the window as those two bikers rode off. Both had helmets, one a 'beanie' style. I said, "They're both wearing helmets, honey. Some riders wear that style on purpose."

To which she replied with a tone of total disdain, "That's no helmet. It's not even a hat."

[ebiker]

...So the kid dons a fullface helmet, tee-shirt, sneakers and shorts gets on his rice rocket and goes zipping thru traffic.

On the other side of the coin, we picture an unhelmeted Harley rider dressed in full leather gear, just putting along behind traffic about 5mph under the speed limit.

Is the HD guy any less a safe rider than the kid?

On what planet??? Come on Ed, I admit that you do see the teenagers riding without all the gear many times, but in the real world, the Harley rider is about a 1000 times more likely to be riding in shorts, tee shirt and flip-flops than in full leathers. I see it every day here in Phoenix.

In a world far removed from Phoenix: I lived most of my life in Southeast Pennsylvania, where the riding season can be 10-11 months, depending on weather. I saw leather as the preferred riding garb of MANY long distance HD riders in more moderate weather as I have ridden with them on more than several occasions. Chaps, leather jacket, heavy leather boots, leather gloves and in some cases--no helmet, as per the legislative directive of 2003.

I will agree with you on one item, you won't see too many riders wearing leather clothing when the temperature in Phoenix is 114 degrees. Even if it is a dry heat

However, flip-flops worn while riding a HD.......?

[sjbmw]

Don't they kick the flip-flop wearing HD guys out of the poser club anyway?

[HiOSilver]

Yeah Ed, flip-flops. I was on the 17 near the 60 interchange and pulled alongside a guy on a harley dressed just like I described. I do believe that's the first time I have seen that on the open road, and I was shocked. You see stupid things all the time, but that was a corker!

I've always been a strong advocate of full protective gear - regardless of the weather - so I tend to notice what other riders are wearing. It has been my experience that the cruiser riders (it's not just Harley) tend to under-protect themselves. I think the majority of the folks pushing for relaxation of helmet laws come from that same group (no evidence, but I bet I'm right).

I'm not risk adverse, but I can't for the life of me come up with a justification for not wearing a helmet. If there's even the slightest chance that I could end up a living idiot like Gary Busey (see Dean-O's post), I'm going to protect myself!

[ebiker]

I'm not risk adverse, but I can't for the life of me come up with a justification for not wearing a helmet. If there's even the slightest chance that I could end up a living idiot like Gary Busey (see Dean-O's post), I'm going to protect myself!

In Gary Busey's incident, it had nothing to do with him not wearing a helmet, although California had no helmet law at the time. Gary's problem was his addiction to DRUGS!! Busey was *Zooming the planet* when he crashed his Sportster while showing off to spectators in front of a Harley dealership. In his condition, he had NO business being on a motorcycle---whether or not he wore a helmet!!

Self confessed drug user Gary Busey was already brain damaged before his fell down off his Sportster and hit his head!

Ed..