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Friday, February 08, 2013

Maryland Bill Mandating Bike Helmets Gets A Cold Shoulder From Cyclists

Their national association says you should wear one, a federal watchdog says you’re more likely to be killed without one and 21 states insist that kids use them, so it figures that most cycling advocates would salute a proposal to mandate that everyone use bike helmets in Maryland.

They don’t.

This was not a happy decision for cycling groups deeply entrenched in the karma of safety first, because they all agree that strapping your head into a plastic foam cocoon is the single best protection against going kerplunk.

But they worry that a House of Delegates measure requiring helmet use for all Maryland bicyclists would keep some people from riding at all. They also argue that there is safety in numbers, too — the more drivers see cyclists on the road, the more apt they are to be alert for them.

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16 comments:

Anonymous said...

why would you NOT wear a helmet?

Anonymous said...

i have to wear one on a motorcycle.
if they are on public roads so should they.

Anonymous said...

It;s the same old "I,m from the government and I'm here to help you!" Once the foot is in the door, it will be followed by more regulations and laws that they will claim are "unintended" consequences", just like OBAMACARE..

Anonymous said...

Because you should make that choice by yourself not told what to do by the goverment.

Queensgirl52 said...

I'm fascinated by parents who don't wear helmets while riding with their helmet-wearing kids. For one thing, they're setting a bad example. More important, what becomes of the kids if the parent falls and is seriously injured? A helmet saved my husband from a serious head injury years ago, and he wouldn't think of riding without one.

Anonymous said...

Keep it a personal choice in the "Land Of The Free"

Anonymous said...

That is a good question???

Another good question is

Why should the government profit from somone not wearing a helmet though a fee, tax, penlty???

What business is it of the governmet if someone busted their head open???

Anonymous said...

you would wear a helmet if you decided that you wanted to wear a helmet not because the government told you to and if you hurt yourself because you did not wear a helmet it would be your own fault and you would pay for your own medical care instead of whining that it was someone elses fault. if you did get hurt you would not in turn sue the manufacturer of the bicycle because you made your own choice. novel concept.

Anonymous said...

Commerades,get your helmet or you will be arrested and all your guns taken away!

Anonymous said...

11:35,
I rode bikes for 30 years without a helmet or a scratch! It's probably following the Rules of the Road, defensive driving techniques, and making sure of every move. Oh, and I've driven cars and trucks for 42 years now and NEVER hit a bicyclist!

Some sort of record, I know!

Anonymous said...

Yeah 11:58 but if his head is busted open and he has no insurance you and my rates go up so make up your mind and don't be a hypocrite.

Anonymous said...

"If he is like to die then he had better do it and decrease the surplus population." I agree with Scrooge on this one...

Anonymous said...

Why aren't these legislators working on something important? Bunch of dipwads!

Anonymous said...

Hey you're not allowed to drive & talk on a cell phone either, but 4 out of every 5 drivers I see are doing exactly that. I even saw a guy on a motor scooter make a left at the light with a cell tucked under his chin on his shoulder, just yaking away.

Anonymous said...

At 71 I've never worn one & I lived...

Anonymous said...

They need to make them tag and register bikes to ride on the road as well and let the bicyclist help pay for the roads they act like they own when they ride on them.