| Author | Message | ||
     Gravedigger |
Thought this might be of interest to some members of this board. Seems to have been a lot of motorcycle related fatalities recently in the Chicago area. Alderman proposes city helmet law September 30, 2004 BY FRAN SPIELMAN AND MARK J. KONKOL Staff Reporters Advertisement Motorcyclists roaring through Chicago streets would be forced to strap on helmets at the city limits under a powerful alderman's proposed crackdown being embraced by Mayor Daley. In response to a wave of fatal motorcycle crashes, Ald. Edward Burke (14th) on Wednesday pitched a city-only helmet law, which Daley says should be extended to bicycle riders and in-line skaters. "Why not? Anybody who's on something like that should always wear a helmet -- even Rollerbladers. If you hit your head, you're going to be seriously injured," the mayor said. "Everybody wants to look nice when they're on motorized vehicles and bikes and skateboards, but a lot of head injuries come from it.... Why should we pick up all the [medical] bills for these people?" Cheryl Pearre, state legislative coordinator for ABATE of Illinois, said a city helmet law would be illegal, pointing to a 2000 law stating: "No unit of local government, including a home-rule unit, may enact an ordinance requiring motorcycle users to wear protective head gear." "If they want to go through with it, we would be more than happy to go to Springfield during the veto session and seek $25,000 in punitive damages for unlawful stops and citations," Pearre said. She said fatigue, loss of hearing and reduced peripheral vision are all reasons bikers don't like helmets. "When you boil it down, it's about your body and your body alone. It's a matter of personal freedom," she said." No state helmet law State Sen. John Cullerton (D-Chicago), who has made several unsuccessful tries to pass a state helmet law since 1989, wants the city to go for it. "It's questionable whether [the law stopping towns from passing helmet laws] is legal. I encourage the City Council to pass the ordinance," he said. "If it forces the matter to court, and the Supreme Court ultimately has to decide, so be it. The only thing that can happen is we save lives.'' Since April, seven people have died in motorcycle-related crashes on Chicago area highways, Illinois State Police said. And the National Center for Statistical Analysis reported motorcycle accidents killed 143 people statewide in 2003 compared with 97 deaths in 2002. Woman on motorcycle killed On Monday, a 21-year-old woman died when her friend's motorcycle skidded near Division Street on the Kennedy Expy. She was not wearing a helmet. On Wednesday night, a biker was hospitalized in critical condition after a hit-and-run collision at a Logan Square intersection, police said. It was unclear whether the biker was wearing a helmet. Burke said if Chicago can mandate that bicycle messengers wear helmets and bright-colored safety vests, the city can use its sweeping home-rule authority to mandate that motorcycle riders wear helmets. Some bikers say the alderman's heart is in the right place but that a city helmet law would be ineffective in saving lives while stealing individual freedom. What's more troubling is that local roads are filling with "too many idiots" riding high-powered cycles without proper training, biker Brent Watters of Cicero said. "They're doing wheelies at 100-plus miles per hour. Ask the coroner. They're nothing but organ donors," said Watters, who admits he doesn't always wear a helmet. "Is a helmet law needed? Probably. Will it be effective for what they're looking at? No." | ||
| Nedwreck |
I wear a full face helmet because I promised my mom she'd be able to give me an open casket funeral. =) I'm strongly opposed to helmet laws but you won't ever see me ride without a helmet. I guess I'm one of those weirdos that doesn't like the gub'ment telling me what to do. Bob | ||
| Bomber |
Illinois had a helmet law for about a year in the late 60s, I believe -- other than that, helmet law free -- (even then you could get away with wearing a surpllus jet fighter helmet, with the built in shades! pretty cool stuff!) Adlerman Burke is also the fella that tried to pass an ordinance requiring the horses pulling carriages downtown Chicago to wear diapers -- I would say that he crawls out of the woodwork now and again with hare-brained ideas, but he never actually crawls INTO the woodwork, he's always out there, front and center, railing about something or another lots of fatalities this year here in the greater chicagoland area -- don't know to what to attribute them, but it will bring the loonies out with ways to save us from outselves, that's for sure me, I wear a helmet | ||
| Outrider |
Wish you all the luck in defeating the proposed helmet law in Chicago. Nothing worse than losing another freedom to the Socialists. | ||
| Bomber |
I doubt it will pass -- electioneering from a local politico is all . . . . even if it does, Municipalities do not have the power to envoke a law like that -- it'll be struck down pretty darned quickly sigh -- like the LEOs in Chicago don't have enough to do already | ||
| Daves |
"Since April, seven people have died in motorcycle-related crashes on Chicago area highways" Given the population and traffic in Chicago I don't think that's that too bad of a number. Were all the riders that were killed helmetless? There have probably been that many motorcycle deaths here in the Fox Valley since April with about a million less people. Helmet laws suck. Dave | ||
| Outrider |
Yeah, not to mention Chicago's Anti Gun Laws didn't do much to save lives either. If a house-to-house search were made, I would venture to guess all the prisons in the US could be filled with folks from Chicago in possession of illegal firearms. LOL | ||
| Chainsaw |
Make cagers wear helmets and 5 point harnesses. It works for NASCAR, and would keep people from smoking a cigarette while sucking down a latte and fumbling with a cellphone, all whilst steering with their knees. If we can save just one cager...  Better yet, ban all personal transportation in Chicago that gets less than 40mpg! That would make the streets less crowded and safer for the bike messengers and MC's. The reduction in pollution citywide would be to the health benefit of the entire population, thereby saving the city from picking up more medical expenses. | ||
| Biknut |
helmet laws suck. more people get head injuries in cars. make them wear helmets. | ||
| Midknyte |
I believe in choice. And most often, I choose to wear mine... | ||
| Vjb77 |
Solution...everyone must take and pass the state safety course before you get your 1st class M license. | ||
| Midknyte |
Been discussed on another board, and the revelation and desire is for expanding the MSF courses so you can actually even get into one period. | ||
| Daves |
Vjb, Not to undermine the value of riders education but how would that "solve" the problem? Who's to say that all 7 riders had not taken the course? The only "solution" to ending ALL motorcycle accidents is to ban all motorcycles. Til then, we will always have accidents. I know people that have taken the courses provided by the MSF and still went out and crashed. Dave | ||
| Outrider |
The only "solution" to ending ALL motorcycle accidents is to ban all motorcycles. Variations of this theme have been tried and a few were reversed in this country mostly due to legislative action from the AMA, Abate and a few other organizations. Someday, some socialist will find a way to make in roads into coercing the public into voting us out of existence if we continue to irritate the mainstream. If we are lucky, perhaps Sex will be safe by then once again. | ||
| Vjb77 |
Dave, My $10 will get you $20 not one of the 10 (not 7) deadly accidents in Chicago in the last 90 days had been through the state course, beginners or advanced. Accidents happen, yes but these weren't accidents. Anyone who sits through one of those classes becomes a better rider, no contest. I'd been riding since my early teens and I corrected many of my reoccuring mistakes. ...Midknyte, this is the perfect opportunity for King Richie to wield his mighty sword and get something worthwhile done other than flowerpots and hand-outs! (Message edited by vjb77 on September 30, 2004) | ||
| Daves |
Well I don't know the details on the accidents in Chicago but I'd gladly take the bet that at least one of 10 had taken a MSF approved course. You say that these were not accidents? They planned on crashing and dying? Maybe avoidable but accidents all the same. I, myself, would be very leary of anyone in politics that is referred to as "King" I think that riders education is a good thing. Maybe we should have required track days too! They will make you a better rider also. Dave | ||
| Glitch |
Chainsaw, They should do that here in Atlanta. We have a helmet law here. People still die in motorcycle accidents. I wonder how many of those people in Chicago died of head trauma. Motorcyclists roaring through Chicago streets would be forced to strap on helmets Well then just stop roaring through, try lane splitting or zipping... (Message edited by glitch on September 30, 2004) | ||
| Buellkowski |
Helmet laws are lobbied by insurance companies to limit their damages. They're also handy for saving costs for public emergency personnel. I wonder how many riders would don helmets if they knew the flight-for-life pilot needed a credit card up front, and if their insurance companies wouldn't pay their medical bills for any head trauma? Laws or no, wear a helmet and do us ALL a favor. | ||
| Ted |
ohh boy what a can-o-worms! IMO sometimes you have to protect bozos from themselves. Its no different than seatbelt laws. Also its not only the rider thats "impacted". Insurance rates, lawsuits,& medical resources are factors. On the other hand people waiting for organ donations ,love areas like Chicago. Are helmets the end-all of safety? No, but its level of safety. | ||
| Daves |
I'm not anti helmet. I'm pro choice. I have good insurance If helmets save so many, then why don't they require car drivers to wear them? Plenty of head injuries there. Just think how much money that law would save the poor insurance companies(which would, I'm sure , pass that savings onto their customers, hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha)and public and private health care industry. It has everything to do about power,and making laws that only a minority of the people would have to follow. Think they could ever pass a helmet law for cars? Maybe, they forced the seat belt one down our throats. In Iowa, it is illegal to wear a helmet in your car? | ||
| Raceautobody |
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| Outrider |
Where would helmet laws stop? I was clueless of the number of folks that die in and around the home from head injuries received in normal daily living until my Mom died from injuries received falling down the basement steps. My point is Government can regulate up to a point, but after that they have overstepped their bounds. I can't fault good training concerning both safety and responsibility. Yet, I feel if more practiced what they learned incidents of all kinds will be reduced to the manageable level that can be self governed. Anyone remember the "OSHA Cowboy" cartoon that got passed around back in the late 1970's? If you do, you should understand what I am saying. | ||
| Dasbuell |
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| Ftd |
"I believe government oversteps its legitimate role when it excessively interferes with personal freedom. That interference includes regulating an adult's decision about his or her well-being if such decisions do not endanger the life or safety of others. Reasonable adults should be trusted to make reasonable decisions." These words of wisdom were uttered by FL Gov Jeb Bush after he signed the helmet repeal bill (5 yrs ago). I think he hit the nail on the head! Frank | ||
| Mikej |
 Any questions? And here's the OSHA Cowboy: http://www.sam-hane.com/sass/oshacowb.htm http://www.hsegroup.com/hse/text/cowboy.htm | ||
| Buellkowski |
Frank, is that the same Jeb Bush that signed "Terri's Law?" Interesting... | ||
| SouthernMarine |
What a crock. Fatigue? Never had it on my bike. I have more of a problem with fatigue in my car than on my bike. Loss of hearing? Please, that's a lame excuse. If they're not wearing hearing protection, then they're going deaf and either way they will have loss of hearing. The only one they can argue is the loss of peripheral vision. On that note, there have been times in my van that I've seen less than I could if I were on my bike. People can wear or not wear them, their choice. But I'd honestly 8itch slap the first one that complained how they got a head injury from an accident and that it was the person's fault who caused them to have the accident. Doesn't matter if the other person is to blame for the accident/crash or not. The motorcycle rider should have been wearing a helmet. | ||
| Midknyte |
Frankly, with seat belt laws on the books for as long as they have been, I don't know how a helmet law hasn't followed sooner. | ||
| Chainsaw |
Glitch: I used to live in Atlanta (ok, Norcross GA, Tucker GA, Marietta GA, and Kennesaw GA) My preferred means of transport across Atlanta now days would be something armored with a machine gun mount. Everyone down south drives like they're auditioning for a NASCAR slot. | ||
| Chainsaw |
..oh yeah, more on topic... I've got 50,000 miles on MC's. Maybe 25 miles have been helmetless. (lent to various female passengers) I'm what you call "Pro-choice". If someone wants to ride without one, let them. Someday I may need a new liver. |
