http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/07/04/new.york.motorcyclist.death/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

Quote :

"Bareheaded motorcyclist dies in helmet protest (CNN) -- A bareheaded motorcyclist participating in a ride to protest mandatory helmet laws was killed when he was thrown over the handlebars in Onondaga, New York. Philip A. Contos, 55, of Parish, New York, was on a ride organized by the Onondaga chapter of American Bikers Aimed Towards Education (ABATE), state police said Sunday. Contos hit his brakes, began fishtailing and lost control of his 1983 Harley Davidson. He shot over the handlebars, hit his head on the pavement and was taken to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, New York, where he was pronounced dead. State police say evidence at the scene plus information from the attending medical expert indicated Contos would have survived had he been wearing a helmet as required by state law. Asked about the apparent irony of Contos' death, the statewide president of ABATE, Thomas Alton, said, "We are riding at an increased risk and accept that. ... This individual was a seasoned rider, not a newbie. He made an adult decision. A full decision to ride in the manner he rode in." Another New Yorker who has been a motorcyclist for over 50 years, Joseph Costantini, said, "I would never ride without a helmet -- even in a state that says you don't have to. I understand where the protesters are coming from because ultimately it's a matter of choice. For me, I would wear a helmet no matter what. ... Must feel great to ride without a helmet because sometimes it's uncomfortable. ... I'm sure his family isn't going to be happy." "This is another sad and tragic example where we have lost someone due to the lack of wearing a helmet," said Jonathan Adkins, communications director for the association. According to Alton, a large percentage of motorcycle fatalities are due to inexperience and drivers not seeing motorcyclists when switching lanes or making turns. ABATE of NY Inc. is organizing a memorial "to honor an individual who rode for freedom and risked his all for freedom," he said. A formal date is still to be determined. Annual motorcycle deaths have more than doubled since the late 1990s with 5,290 in 2008, based on a report issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration."

7/5/2011 9:45:29 AM

A traffic jam when you're already late?

7/5/2011 9:49:56 AM

Quote :

"ABATE of NY Inc. is organizing a memorial "to honor an individual who rode for freedom and risked his all for freedom," he said. "

really

Risked his all for a Darwin Award is more like it

7/5/2011 9:51:02 AM

Gene pool is one person cleaner

7/5/2011 9:53:33 AM

the bigger a girl gets, the more invisible she is to me

7/5/2011 10:05:08 AM

eh, its good to hear that Darwin is still getting people.


You can cure all sorts of diseases, except stupidity.

7/5/2011 11:07:49 AM

Dude really was like a modern day Freedom Rider.

7/5/2011 11:09:28 AM

ATGATT

7/5/2011 1:02:23 PM

I hate being forced to ride with a seatbelt or forced to ride with a helmet.

It's my responsibility.
It's my life.

If I die... oh fucking well.
If the family members are sad... oh fucking well everybody dies.


I grew up not wearing a helmet on bicycles, now they're mandatory? fuck that noise. stay out of our freedoms for the sake of "protecting" us.

7/5/2011 1:09:29 PM

troll

7/5/2011 1:11:00 PM

Bicycle helmets aren't mandatory

Full-face motorcycle helmets keep you from running your shit into oncoming traffic when a rock hits you head-on at 80 mph

You can ride helmet-free until your little heart bursts with joy on your own property

If you don't like helmets, don't ride on the road, bro

7/5/2011 1:14:58 PM

Quote :

"If you don't like helmets, don't ride on the road, bro"

That's the stupidest line I've ever heard.

You leave no option for people that don't like helmet AND love to ride on the road.

Wearing helmets doesn't guarantee your survival in a motorcycle accident. It just improves it.

Ask Sinna.

7/5/2011 1:19:56 PM

I wish you'd ask him.

7/5/2011 1:24:27 PM

Quote :

"You can ride helmet-free until your little heart bursts with joy on your own property"

7/5/2011 1:25:11 PM

What a waste of a wish.

7/5/2011 1:25:20 PM

Quote :

""You can ride helmet-free until your little heart bursts with joy on your own property""

Try it.

7/5/2011 1:25:59 PM

I, for one, will not. God only gave me one noggin and I intend on protecting it from blunt force trauma.

7/5/2011 1:27:51 PM

Quote :

"You leave no option for people that don't like helmet AND love to ride on the road."

Because there is no option. I like to ride twice the speed limit, but legally I can't. So I don't. It's not your road, it's everyone's road. If you're going to do dumb shit that endangers others, like ride without a helmet, stick to your back yard.

Quote :

"Wearing helmets doesn't guarantee your survival in a motorcycle accident. It just improves it."

What a groundbreaking revelation

[Edited on July 5, 2011 at 1:28 PM. Reason : The fuck do you mean try it]

7/5/2011 1:27:53 PM

Lol what the fuck do I mean?


Try riding around in circles on your own property. See how much fun you have.

7/5/2011 1:33:51 PM

I spent a pretty large portion of my life dirt bikes around my own property, most of the time helmet-free

It was pretty awesome

7/5/2011 1:35:06 PM

My grandma has 20+ acres I could ride around on if I wanted to. I think I'd do alright in the fun department

7/5/2011 1:35:06 PM

He died fighting for the right to die in a motorcycle accident.
How many more deaths will occur before we end the madness and let people make their own decisions about motorcycle safety?

7/5/2011 1:35:24 PM

Quote :

"My grandma has 20+ acres I could ride around on if I wanted to. I think I'd do alright in the fun department "

That isn't your own property. That's your grandma's property.

7/5/2011 1:36:42 PM

Is that post for real

7/5/2011 1:38:49 PM

Are you that dense?


The post makes it obvious that not all people have their own land.

7/5/2011 1:42:58 PM

Quote :

"If you're going to do dumb shit that endangers others, like ride without a helmet, stick to your back yard."

how does riding without a helmet endanger anyone other than yourself?

7/5/2011 1:43:07 PM

That only argument, which isn't really an argument, is... it hurts families that needed that dude to pay all their bills

7/5/2011 1:45:02 PM

Here's the thing, hot shot: you can't do anything you want, wherever you want. You want to ride a motorcycle on public highways? Follow the applicable laws. You want to ride a motorcycle without following these laws? Do it on private property or face the legal ramifications. Don't have access to private property and you don't want to wear a helmet? Tough shit, don't buy a motorcycle.

Quote :

"how does riding without a helmet endanger anyone other than yourself?"

You missed the part where I addressed that

[Edited on July 5, 2011 at 1:46 PM. Reason : No helmet laws would likely increase my heath and auto insurance too, so fuck that]

7/5/2011 1:45:50 PM

Actually, someone made a good point. If a rock flies up and hits you in the face and knocks you off your bike you could cause other people to wreck their cars. makes sense to me.

7/5/2011 1:48:00 PM

Quote :

"you can't do anything you want, wherever you want"

Thanks for subscribing to the United States of America Thanks for getting butthurt and using the law to describe what's right and what's wrong. Laws are never wrong.

7/5/2011 1:48:48 PM

Relevant: I've had a fucking bird hit me in the face at 60 mph

[Edited on July 5, 2011 at 1:49 PM. Reason : Laws are wrong all the time. This one isn't. Do you even own a bike? You seem to be lost here]

7/5/2011 1:48:51 PM

Quote :

"Actually, someone made a good point. If a rock flies up and hits you in the face and knocks you off your bike you could cause other people to wreck their cars. makes sense to me."

See: motorcycles with windsheilds

7/5/2011 1:51:11 PM

My bigger issue is that it affects the insurance rates for everybody. I could really care less about your safety but since your less safe the risk is much higher and rates go up to cover that increased risk.

7/5/2011 1:53:15 PM

Windshields don't protect your face, guy. Especially not metals ones like you posted. That thing would slice your head clean off, btw.

7/5/2011 1:53:37 PM

Insurance is a scam, dude.

7/5/2011 1:54:14 PM

sigh

[Edited on July 5, 2011 at 1:55 PM. Reason : you guys are easily trolled]

7/5/2011 1:55:08 PM

I, for one, thinks geniusboy should be allowed to ride a motorcycle without a helmet.

7/5/2011 1:55:36 PM

Quote :

"Windshields don't protect your face, guy. Especially not metals ones like you posted. That thing would slice your head clean off, btw."

While common sense windshield do exist on motorcycles, that picture I posted is a joke picture. You can't even see through that windshield. Got damn your stupid.

7/5/2011 1:55:51 PM

Quote :

"While common sense windshield do exist on motorcycles,"

And they don't protect your face from projectiles

7/5/2011 1:56:58 PM

I, for one, thinks geniusboy should be allowed required to ride a motorcycle without a helmet.

7/5/2011 2:01:01 PM

Quote :

"you guys are easily trolled"

So true

7/5/2011 2:02:17 PM

Exercise safe distance from the car in front of you.
Look out for dive bombing birds.


Riding without a helmet requires a little something that America has taken away from the public: responsibility.

7/5/2011 2:02:44 PM

I'm pretty sure GeniuSxBoY has in fact had a lobotomy.

7/5/2011 2:04:14 PM

I hope someone burns down your pizza joint and takes a dump on the ashes

7/5/2011 2:04:43 PM

If by lobotomy, you mean a solid education.

7/5/2011 2:05:03 PM

Quote :

"I hope someone burns down your pizza joint and takes a dump on the ashes"

That'll solve everything.


I get $1,000,000 to open up a new restaurant.

7/5/2011 2:05:52 PM

you know... from the mandatory insurance you make me buy

7/5/2011 2:07:13 PM

7/5/2011 2:07:32 PM

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-04/india/29735331_1_kidney-transplant-eye-surgery-girl-ends-life

Quote :

"For days, Mumpy would listen quietly as the elders discussed how only an eye surgery could save her father's vision and a kidney transplant her brother's life. But both surgeries were beyond the family's meagre means. So, Mumpy hit upon a plan, which to her 12-year-old mind seemed the answer to all troubles. She would kill herself, which would save the dowry, too, and her organs would give her loved ones back their lives. Mumpy did stick to her plan. But the suicide note in which she had scribbled down her wishes was found the day after she was cremated."

7/7/2011 10:20:16 AM

^you gonna defend your TSA anti-terrorism post?

7/7/2011 10:24:52 AM