Motorcycle Bills Dying on Both Sides of Us
Can you tell these folks aren't in Nebraska?
If you live in Colorado there’s a good chance you occasionally ride in Utah and Nebraska, east and west of us. This current legislative session they’ve both had some potentially good bills introduced that have to do with motorcycles, but it doesn’t look like anything will make it into law.
In Utah they have a bill that would allow lane-splitting. Lane-splitting is when bikes go down the road between cars when the cars are stopped or slowed way down in traffic jams. California is the only U.S. state that currently allows this, and it works fine there. More than that, the rest of the world does it and it works fine all over the world. Go to Paris or Rome or just about any place of your choosing and see how well it works. Why do we have to be the dummies who think there’s something wrong with this?
Well, Utah is going to stay a dummy. According to a story in the Deseret News, “Several members of the House Transportation Committee said they had safety concerns about HB281, and they voted 7-1 to table the measure until more study is done.” Can you say “dead”? Why this euphemism about “tabled”? Well the guy who introduced it–a Republican I will note–said he’ll reintroduce it next session. Till then . . .
Over in Nebraska they’ve been kicking around the idea of repealing their helmet law. I don’t care how stupid you might think anyone is to ride without a helmet, I simply believe it should be the rider’s choice. I always wear a helmet these days (not true in my younger days) and so this law would have no effect on me, but I just don’t think it’s the government’s place to forcing us to be “safe.” Why don’t they outlaw using cell phones when you’re driving? They’d save more lives that way, if that was truly what they cared about. Of course they’d save even more lives if they just outlawed motor vehicles. You know what they say: If it saves even just one life . . . !
So will you be able to ride lidless in Nebraska soon? Not likely. As in, fat chance.
They do apparently have the votes to make it happen, if it could just come to a vote. But guess what? The opponents are filibustering it. Who cares what the majority wants, if we can keep it from coming to a vote the minority rules! I couldn’t have been more pleased when the U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid changed the filibuster rules there. The Republicans screamed bloody murder but you better believe they’ll be overjoyed for what Harry has done the next time they’re in the majority.
But hey, it’s just like baseball: There’s always next year.
Biker Quote for Today
“The motorcycle, being poorly designed for both flight and marine operation, sustained significant external and internal damage,” police noted.
Tags: motorcycle legislation
February 16th, 2014 at 7:40 am
First – lane splitting. I’ve lived in CA and in Europe, and I ride 35k miles/year, and I HATE lane splitting. Absolute anarchy on the roads, and don’t let anybody tell you it isn’t a safety issue. I’ve seen the consequences first hand and they ain’t pretty.
Next – helmets. Yes, I respect choice, but NO, I don’t respect all choices. If a rider wants to ride without a helmet AND will accept all of the consequences, fine. But no, they want me to pay for their hospital bills, too. Nope, not buying the BS about freedom, because real freedom comes with responsibilities – and the “choice” riders never man up to them.
February 17th, 2014 at 10:09 am
Dan, how do you really feel?
I agree that there is anarchy on the streets in Europe but don’t you find it amazing how they do things that would never be tolerated here and live to do it again tomorrow? I think we ought to loosen up a little, but I don’t expect that to happen.
As for the helmets, the same can be said about people who gorge themselves on sugar and fat and then expect their insurance carriers to pay for their triple bypasses, etc.
I guess we’ll agree to disagree.