Yeah.....here in Cow Hampshire no helmet lawe. "Let those who ride decide" they say. But if someone goes head over butt on their harley and ends up a rutabaga for the rest of his life, can those who pay decide not to?

Chip Bergeron

I always love your wit and you always make a great deal of sense, Patrick. Thank you. Love and peace,

Regis

Probably doesn't have any insurance either. Here in Houston, they let those helmetless guys ride on the HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lane for free when they can easily weave in and out of rush-hour traffic and get down the road much faster than wide vehicles by splitting hairs and cutting off traffic. When I asked if highly modified vehicles like mine could go on the HOV lanes, I was told that it would take an act of Congress. Apparently a lot of congressmen ride motorcycles.



I was once was against seatbelts and drove 30 years without them. Now I see the requirement is one of saving lives. Unfortunately, Houstonians do not see red light cameras as saving lives since they voted against them. I am waiting patiently to be T-boned by one of our famous red light runners without insurance. They, too, should be wearing helmets for the way they drive.



Ron

Thought-provoking and clever and wryly philosophical piece, Patrick!
Christine

Wearing helmets makes so much sense....it's the law here too!

Anna

These people that think they can do whatever the hell they want to do irregardless of consequences should definitely be made to handle the results on their own. I ride a bicycle and belong to a club and no-one is allowed to ride without a helmet. As a matter of fact, I personally have been witness to three accidents that, were it not for the helmet they wore, the three would either be dead of wheelchair bound for the rest of their lives.
Mark

SOME WILL LAMENT AND SAY, 'THIS IS SO SAD...HE LEARNED THE 'HARD' WAY...WHEN ORDINANCES 'MAKE SENSE' THEY SHOULD BE ADHERED TO. BUT I AM LOOKING AT THIS IN A DIFFERENT WAY. WHY? BECAUSE AIRPLANES HAVE CRASHED AND ONLY ONE PERSON LIVED TO TELL THE STORY AND...NATURAL DISASTERS HAVE OCCURRED AND OUT OF THE RUBBLE...BABIES HAVE BEEN FOUND ALIVE AFTER SEVERAL DAYS. I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD THE TESTIMONIES YOURSELF; '...I SHOULD HAVE BEEN GONE, BUT GOD...'. GOD IS TOTALLY IN CHARGE OF LIFE AND DEATH, SO...WHAT I AM SAYING IS, IT WAS HIS TIME TO GO. THANKS FOR SHARING. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...
JOYCE * HIS INSPIRATIONS

well said! we fight to get all folks, especially kids, to wear helmets when riding horses as well

PAT SERIOUS SENTIMENT!

I've always thought the answer was simple - rider with No helmet & head injury -
no one is responsible, including Insurance Companies -
Waiver Clause = No Helmet = No Coverage!

Freedom of Choice to Accept Consequences! Tom.

Back in the sixties I had a friend who went flying over a car and hit head first on the pavement. He was crippled a lot of years before he died. No helmet laws back then, but it wouldn't have hurt. Good poem, Patrick.
Lowell.

Been on a bike and it sure is an escapist haven but I would say yes wear a helmet just as a matter of common sense not of law.

George

i heard about this.....poetic irony taken to new extremes. kind of a fine line all this though. i agree that some laws make sense....but really, do we have the right to be stuck on stupid without the nanny state intervention. wide open for debate and i somewhat understand both sides of the argument. it's usually times like this where i say: imperfect solution for an imperfect world.

Wore a helmet but severed my achilies heal on a car bumper. Can't win.

Don't come to Jersey, helmet laws are STRICTLY enforced...but go over the bridge into Delaware & no law there...e