Conference noted::bicycle

1694.0. "A little less theory?" by BPOV04::MCCULLOCH () Thu Aug 09 1990 13:22

    
    
    Well, since I've been read only I wasn't going to jump in but I have
    to.  I'm usually pretty much middle of the road about these general
    safety laws.  If it takes little effort on my part, I pretty much go
    along with it.  Putting on my seat belt (mandatory or not) takes little
    time and has saved me twice.  This is beside the point.
    
    I'm 23 now and spent my childhood in CA, riding my bike with no helmet. 
    We did all the kid stuff: stood on our seats, rode on the handlebars,
    pulled skateboards/roller skaters, raced, jumped - if you can think of
    it, we probably did it.  No one thought of helmets then.  I hadn't
    thought of them until I found out that my best friend of those bike
    riding days was hit by a Chevy Blazer that ran a red light in the
    middle of the afternoon.  He was 17, a great student, athletic and
    bound for college.  Now, after 3 months in a coma, years of therapy,
    and 2 suicide attempts he has little short term memory (which makes it very
    hard for him to learn things), little use of 1 arm, slurred speech and
    brain damage.  He undoubtedly hadn't thought of helmets either. 
    However, if there had been a helmet law he WOULD have been wearing one. 
    He's that kind of guy.
    
    I realize that there are many people who want to reserve the right to
    injure themselves and I guess I agree with that right, yet I can't help
    but think of the time that I grew up in where safety just didn't seem
    to be thought of as much - or something.  There are tons of us
    middle-or-the-roaders who may not do the sport often enough to think
    that we can get hurt, or who just haven't gotten around to buying a
    helmet yet - for several years.  It seems that if there were a law to
    prod us into action many of us would be safer. Since my friend's accident I
    have pressured 2 people into buying hel*-mets (as they call them) and
    with my new bike I just bought one.  I'm sorry if this is too long and
    I know everyone knows of someone who's had an accident but I just had
    to add a laypersons perspective.
    
    
    I just had a thought:  perhaps a helmet law vcould be enforced locally
    by town/county police - if they see you your bagged, like every other
    crime and the money from anyone fined goes into some sort of
    subsidizing of children's helmets and/or bike education in the
    elementary schools.  Did someone say this before?
    
    Kristine        

    
    
    moderator, I meant this to go in the helmet 1988 note - can you move
    it?
    
    Kristine