Audioholics, weigh in.

[Johnd]

Morons

Succint. Direct. Perhaps even harsh. And, in the end, justified verbiage given your story.

 

[Alexxus]

K, this thread has been going on so long, it won't bother anyone if I put my 2 cents in. Or will it? lol

Seatbelts are compulsory in my country. I never wear a seatbelt while driving in town, because in my opinion a) seatbelts are mainly protecting you from head-on crashes, of which there is not much chance in a busy town, at least not violent ones b) there's high chances of side collisions in towns, in which case the seatbelts are not really helping, rather the other way around and c) because the seatbelt is crumpling my clothes and I hate that. I DO wear it once I get outside the town. I know this was not about seatbelts, but I think my attitude resembles Sheep's (and as you see I got arguments too, just like he does ). Well, I've paid fines for not wearing my belt quite a few times, and I never complained about it, because it's my choice.

I used to ride a bike to work and back too, but I gave it up years ago, because the traffic is nowadays too dangerous for that, helmet or not. All that discussion about being able to avoid an accident by pure skill, is a complete waste of time, in my opinion. An accident is by definition something unexpected, and one accident that could always happen to you is to be hit from behind. Now how on earth are you going to skillfully avoid that? Or pushed from the road by a car overtaking you. What are you going to do about that?

Sheep, I know we're talking about you riding on a sidewalk, but how could they know you were going to ride on the sidewalk the whole day? I think that was their logic there.

Bottom line is, you chose to ignore the laws, you gotta pay for it. You wanna change the law, get a few hundred people thinking like you, start a party and then lobby for that particular law change (although I got a feeling that in the process you might start getting interested by some other issues, like how to get rich quickly).

 

[Johnd]

K, this thread has been going on so long, it won't bother anyone if I put my 2 cents in. Or will it? lol

Not me.

Sheep, I know we're talking about you riding on a sidewalk, but how could they know you were going to ride on the sidewalk the whole day? I think that was their logic there.

But are we? Just because it keeps getting written, that does not make it so. I know Sheep purported this statement, but did he in fact do as he wrote? There are many intersections on the route he mapped, and unless he walked his bike across each and every intersection, he did, in fact, ride in the street. This is notable only because intersections are by far the most dangerous places to drive in most any urban setting.

Bottom line is, you chose to ignore the laws, you gotta pay for it. You wanna change the law, get a few hundred people thinking like you, start a party and then lobby for that particular law change (although I got a feeling that in the process you might start getting interested by some other issues, like how to get rich quickly).

Yes. I'm with you on the seatbelt thing too, btw. It is the law, and it is prudent to wear them. Against my better judgment, I usually do not wear one...hopefully not to my own demise.

 

[dem beats]

I love it

The best part of threads that get this long where people start doing their best to not take it personaly.

I now have seen the mention of special interest groups.. That's step one to some good mud slinging.

We will be hearing Godwins law in no time I'm sure.

Someone earlier said it best when talking about his brakes locking up. You cannot avoid many painfull accidents. A helmet, wheather or not impeding on your natural skills and diminishes awareness helps to protect. It's your OWN FAULT if you get cocky and crank up the go fast juice when you strap gear on. I should know I ride a crotch rocket, track and no track. I have taken to the bad habit of not strapping down a mellon protector. The reason.. I don't have one good enough to argue. It's a daily driver, but fast enough to kill me in gear 100 times over, I take side streets and have Endod not by want but in reaction to a much more skilled rider popping a stunt endo too close and his rear tire ended up in my gas tank. I have slipped on oil, parking lots and city streets are not good 2 wheel fun pedal or otherwise. I got lucky and noticed a noise thanks to a passanger on the back brake.... it was metal on metal and I had no perceptual was of knowing as the brake went from fine to bad in one ride... I think sand made it's way into the caliper and was causing some friction.... one hard brake and lockup on an incomming turn.

Anyway... enough of that.

Have you ever seen extreme blunt force trauma from slow moving vehicls or the likes. In the trauma center I once saw a worked clipped at 10(maybe) miles an hour in the thigh by a posiutrack bobcat. The muscle died inside the skin. If he would have been bumped in the head.... yeah.

You said no politics Sheep and now all you are arguing is if the law was right or wrong... politics and law have 3 main branches here in the US judicial, enforcement and executive. Thats socialstudies back in highschool. If you don't see how this is now only about politics and nothing to do with right and wrong fair and unfair and you want to cut out politics we have only a few things we can say.

#1 wear protective gear or don't. You will be hurt more if you don't than if you do. Gear does not cause acidents, people confidence or "over cockyness" would make your more likely while wearing good gear.

#2 it sucks you were fined and those cops were bored jerk off's and hypocritical, did you expect different. Take psych classes to find out why cops become cops.. it's not the pay.

#3 The "old guys" who have been riding "since before you were born" may be old and tired and lost the lust for life and wind in their hair(or lack there of, sorry, i think wind on scalp would feel amazing but mmy skull is misshaped due to a birth defect, hair club for me if I ever loose it)... but you know what, they just don't want you to be hurt. They may have learned something in their time since they have been hanging with moses and stuff.

I don't take everything more experienced people say as gold.. There may be a better way or different way.. I do however take advantage of their WISDOM. Experience is the most valuable thing you can ever take from someone remember that... or don't

 

[MDS]

Seatbelts are compulsory in my country. I never wear a seatbelt while driving in town, because in my opinion a) seatbelts are mainly protecting you from head-on crashes, of which there is not much chance in a busy town, at least not violent ones b) there's high chances of side collisions in towns, in which case the seatbelts are not really helping, rather the other way around and c) because the seatbelt is crumpling my clothes and I hate that.

Holy cow, worrying about your clothes getting crumpled? Now there's a good rationalization for choosing not to wear a seat belt.

Here's my standard analogy for people who don't want to wear a seatbelt:

Ever used a can of spray paint? It has a little BB inside and as you shake it violently the BB flys around the inside of the can banging off the walls over and over. If you are in a car, not wearing a seatbelt, and you encounter any impact, YOU are the BB.

 

[Sheep]

But are we? Just because it keeps getting written, that does not make it so. I know Sheep purported this statement, but did he in fact do as he wrote? There are many intersections on the route he mapped, and unless he walked his bike across each and every intersection, he did, in fact, ride in the street. This is notable only because intersections are by far the most dangerous places to drive in most any urban setting.

Every intersection I cross on my way to work has a walk signal (Busy streets). I don't go unless that signal is on, and all traffic knows I'm crossing.

Sheep, I know we're talking about you riding on a sidewalk, but how could they know you were going to ride on the sidewalk the whole day? I think that was their logic there.

Innocent until proven guilty. I also DON'T support your theory about seat belts. The destructive force of a car is much higher then a bike, and in my area you can't trust drivers for anything, including parking lot performance. I was rear ended a few months back waiting at a merge light. The lady had stopped behind me (watched in my mirror) but then she let off the brake, and literally idled into my car. No damage, but even the jolt from that was significant. However, if I'm not safe riding my bike down a sidewalk, there is bigger problems that need addressing then me on my bike without a helmet. If I'm not safe on the sidewalk, how is that any different to anyone else?

I think this is one of the few large... discussion threads, that hasn't become personal...

MDS you smell

SheepStar

 

[stratman]

Damn it, wear the friggin' helmet! And lets end this thread, it's giving me a headache (maybe I should wear a helmet.)

 

[Sheep]

Sheep, I know we're talking about you riding on a sidewalk, but how could they know you were going to ride on the sidewalk the whole day? I think that was their logic there.

Really? So the Earth is he center of the universe? We would get no where if people were not questioned. That goes for ANYONE.

SheepStar

 

[Alexxus]

Freakin' hell, this thread gets longer faster than I can read it

The best part of threads that get this long where people start doing their best to not take it personaly.

I now have seen the mention of special interest groups.. That's step one to some good mud slinging.

We will be hearing Godwins law in no time I'm sure.

#2 it sucks you were fined and those cops were bored jerk off's and hypocritical, did you expect different. Take psych classes to find out why cops become cops.. it's not the pay.

#3 The "old guys" who have been riding "since before you were born" may be old and tired and lost the lust for life and wind in their hair(or lack there of, sorry, i think wind on scalp would feel amazing but mmy skull is misshaped due to a birth defect, hair club for me if I ever loose it)... but you know what, they just don't want you to be hurt. They may have learned something in their time since they have been hanging with moses and stuff.

I don't take everything more experienced people say as gold.. There may be a better way or different way.. I do however take advantage of their WISDOM. Experience is the most valuable thing you can ever take from someone remember that... or don't

Hehehe, this is way better entertainment than re-reading my Ben Elton books.

Holy cow, worrying about your clothes getting crumpled? Now there's a good rationalization for choosing not to wear a seat belt.

Did you read everything I wrote about that?

Really? So the Earth is he center of the universe? We would get no where if people were not questioned. That goes for ANYONE.

I didn't quite get your meaning. I was just trying to explain their point of view, as I saw it, which was that at any given time you could have gone riding on the street, if you so wanted, and your helmet would not have been on your head.

 

[MDS]

Did you read everything I wrote about that?

I sure did. Did you read my simple explanation for why your first two claims are indefensible with zero facts to support them? The only thing you didn't use as an excuse is the oft repeated idea that 'I want to be thrown clear' if I am in accident. Remember you are the BB.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

I want your opinion.

He then asked for my drivers license and went on the radio calling for information or something stupid. I though they were just going to check my record (which is clean btw) or were looking for a possible stolen bike. Turns out, I was receiving a ticket. A ticket for not wearing a helmet.

While the fat cop (1 was fat.. must've been his first day) was on the radio, the other explained to me how bikes fall under the motor vehicle act and began listing laws that I had broke.

They claimed this was for my safety and how a car could strike me at any time.

At the end of the day, I had a ticket for 30 bucks for not wearing a helmet on a vehicle that isn't registered or licensed in anyway. 30 bucks that could've bought me a new helmet, preferably with spikes, so I get another ticket for having a dangerous helmet, and how I would have to remove it.

What do you think about my Countries *** backwards policies?

SheepStar

LOL.... funny story!!

Chalk that lesson down as one of the many benefits of living in a Canadian Nanny State. Canada's socialist HC system is already stretched enough with excessive demand, so you can hardly blame the cops for trying to protect your noggin' from injury.

 

[Alexxus]

The only thing you didn't use as an excuse is the oft repeated idea that 'I want to be thrown clear' if I am in accident.

Yeah, but then again, it beats the hell out of the idea 'I will avoid any possible accident by the sheer expertise in car handling that I posses', eh? Hehehe

OK, I didn't really say I was absolutely right, did I? But honestly now, I live in a city where traffic usually moves along at 20, maybe 30 miles an hour. To give you an idea, I have about 3 miles to drive from home to work and it takes me around half an hour if it's not busy. Now, after sweating in my car for half an hour waiting at traffic lights, I don't really feel like climbing down from it looking like I slept in yesterday's outfit, if you see what I mean

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

Come on Sheep, you live in Canada, where big brother tells you what you can't do.

HaHa.... It figures you'd see this exactly as I did!!

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

I should be telling you to wear one walking around.
SheepStar

Hmmmm..... there's a thought!! Pedestrian helmet laws sound like perfect legislation for every Nanny State.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

Please leave politics out of my thread. I don't want to see the words liberal, conservative, or any alteration of the two.

SheepStar

You start a thread to complain about liberal Nanny State regulations, and then you ask us to keep politics out of it?

hahahaha.......

You started a political thread, and didn't even know it!!

Kids these days

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

Well, Sheep, it seems you're the one starting the political thread discussing what you consider to be unfair laws. And you did say you wanted our opinions.

But I guess you only want to hear what you want to hear. Have at it.

Geesh....so now Tomorrow is reading my mind too?

 

[masak_aer]

It's never fun to get a ticket for something you think you don't deserve. Now get this: a woman fearing she would be on labor sped to a nearby hospital, all by herself, got caught speeding (57 on 35 zone)and was fined for more than $1000.
Several more were caught and were fined for about the same amount of fines (they named it FEES). Now i am driving like a 85-year-old. Geez, living in VA is expensive.

 

[Matt34]

It's never fun to get a ticket for something you think you don't deserve. Now get this: a woman fearing she would be on labor sped to a nearby hospital, all by herself, got caught speeding (57 on 35 zone)and was fined for more than $1000.
Several more were caught and were fined for about the same amount of fines (they named it FEES). Now i am driving like a 85-year-old. Geez, living in VA is expensive.

I feel for ya man, I've been reading about that non-sense regarding traffic tickets in VA.

 

[The Dukester]

Several more were caught and were fined for about the same amount of fines (they named it FEES). Now i am driving like a 85-year-old. Geez, living in VA is expensive.

They don't call it "The Communist State" for nothing! I can say that; I was born there

 

[Dolby CP-200]

Geesh....so now Tomorrow is reading my mind too?

Well he is, tomorrow! Don’t we have a Yesterday on the forums somewhere?

Sheep, How you doing on the bike any accidents any problems with techniques or skills in handling the machine?

Does anyone know of any good links on Youtube for this year’s “Tour De France” I’d like to watch each episode after the other following the gulling contest in the summer heat.