A No Brainer. Biking without a helmet.

[homme de fer]

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I have a question that would directly impact how I respond to this. If you are in a collision, who pays for your medical coverage? your insurance or OHIP? I've heard different stories.

I believe it is the insurance companies. I believe they (insurance companies) are lobbying for helmet laws to protect themselves from the liability. Recently, on another forum discussing helmet laws, I made the suggestion that perhaps if riders wanted to go without helmets, insurance companies should attach riders to the policy stating that riding without a helmet releases them (the insurance company) from any liability related to head injuries in case of an accident. Or, perhaps riders should state whether they will ride with a helmet (or not) when purchasing insurance and pay the higher premiums associated with the higher medical bills when riding without a helmet.

Personally, I ride ATGATT and, having tried riding without a helmet, would much rather ride with one regardless the law. When I see others riding without helmets, I respect their right to choose, and carry on.

 

[Chaos]

I believe it is the insurance companies. I believe they (insurance companies) are lobbying for helmet laws to protect themselves from the liability. Recently, on another forum discussing helmet laws, I made the suggestion that perhaps if riders wanted to go without helmets, insurance companies should attach riders to the policy stating that riding without a helmet releases them (the insurance company) from any liability related to head injuries in case of an accident. Or, perhaps riders should state whether they will ride with a helmet (or not) when purchasing insurance and pay the higher premiums associated with the higher medical bills when riding without a helmet.

Sounds reasonable to me. There must have been a reason to take the course of action the gov't did, safety notwithstanding.

 

[daught]

I used to think I didn't need safety gear when snowboarding. Then I moved to Alberta and went to the real hills. Now you wouldn't catch me without it. Only takes a split second for something to happen

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Right, so you carry a beacon, shovel and probe at blue mountain? Gotta be safe.


Sent from the future using my GOLDEN iPhone 30 SS

 

[regder]

I'm all for having mandatory helmet laws, but I also understand the other side. Riding without a helmet is an incredible experience. Once you try it once, you can fully understand why someone may want to ride without one.

 

[RockerGuy]

I'm all for having mandatory helmet laws, but I also understand the other side. Riding without a helmet is an incredible experience. Once you try it once, you can fully understand why someone may want to ride without one.

I do it all the time around my neighborhood. After finish washing my bike. Won't really do that on public roads, with all the people out there to kill ya

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[Jock Macdonald]

you think riding without helmet is incredible, wait til you try crashing without one...

now that's incredible...

 

[Mongrel]

Taking reasonable precautions is just good sense, but I think that if we all wanted to maximize our chances of being safe none of us would be riding motorbikes in the first place. They're plenty lethal even if you are wearing a helmet.

 

[regder]

you think riding without helmet is incredible, wait til you try crashing without one...

now that's incredible...

We all have our own risk threshold that we deem acceptable. How many people do you hear saying bikes are dangerous as hell? They are, but we have accepted that fact and continue with our lives.

Your statement can just as easily be applied to riding bikes as a whole.

 

[Golluk]

After riding on a motorcycle with a helmet, and getting back into riding a bicycle, bicycle helmets look like beanie helmets to me. I really don't have much faith in it protecting me all that much.

 

[Mongrel]

You can get bike helmets that are actually pretty robust - similar to 3/4 motorbike helmets.

Of course in my case those ones are even hotter to wear. :violent2:

 

[Jock Macdonald]

I've had one accident in 35 years of riding and that only scratched my helmet. So I still have 2 ears. But I have had many many close encounters of the third kind (contact) with various flying insects and the odd chunk of gravel. Aside from the horror of having a dying wasp in your mouth, eye, ear, nose it fricken hurts at 120 kph just to hit them.

Since people in this province subsidize the medical care of each other we do have the right to insist people take reasonable steps to reduce injury. Regardless of how lethal bikes may be with or without a helmet (where did you learn to drive btw?) we have the agreement of those with whom we share the road that it is an acceptable risk, given we wear protection.

You are absolutely right that it is a personal choice matter, but that choice should be to move where you can enjoy the risk you wish to take without the costs coming out of other people's pockets. Until you can opt out of OHIP, that place is not Ontario. And I'm glad it's not.

As far as the religious argument that Sikhs are forbidden to remove their turbans outdoors, it occurs to me that motorcycles did not exist when this religious doctrine was formulated and therefore some Sikh religious leader should actually figure out how it is ok to do so to protect the members of that church from harm. Doing otherwise just makes Sikhs even more different and actually weakens the multi-cultural efforts this country is making. See above for the comments of those who find it a good reason to express religious intolerance.

If a Sikh is on this forum I'd like to hear his views 'cuz I have no idea why it's even an issue for them. ( the turban thing, what's that do if you take it off?)

Jock

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