Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge NY motorcyclist dies on ride protesting helmet law

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ONONDAGA, N.Y. (AP) — Police say a motorcyclist participating in a protest ride against helmet laws in upstate New York died after he flipped over the bike's handlebars and hit his head on the pavement.

The accident happened Saturday afternoon in the town of Onondaga, in central New York near Syracuse.

State troopers tell The Post-Standard of Syracuse that 55-year-old Philip A. Contos of Parish, N.Y., was driving a 1983 Harley Davidson with a group of bikers who were protesting helmet laws by not wearing helmets.

Troopers say Contos hit his brakes and the motorcycle fishtailed. The bike spun out of control, and Contos toppled over the handlebars. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Troopers say Contos would have likely survived if he had been wearing a helmet.

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Information from: The Post-Standard, http://www.syracuse.com />

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http://news.yahoo.com/ny-motorcyclist-dies-ride-protesting-helmet-law-143217859.html

on another forum it was argued as to whether this is irony or not.?

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Irony!

And bad luck!

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yes.

Someone also posted this picture that makes me chuckle eveytime I look at it.

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Isn't anemic when you have too many white blood cells??

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Isn't anemic when you have too many white blood cells??

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Isn't anemic when you have too many white blood cells??

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That's Leukocytosis. I've had it for several years now (not too sure why).

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Ya want MY guess on that, Thanasis?!

(...you're just not drinkin' enough Espresso and eatin' enough French Fries!!!!!)

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Ironic is when a bunch of PETA-types try to liberate hogs in Germany, and in the ensuing rush to freedom, are trampled and mutilated by the hogs.

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Forgive my cynicism, but the guy died for nothing, and their effort is a might naive. A few hundred motorcyclist with no helmets will do little to nothing to influence a NY lawmaker. While I admire the rider's desire to make change, that isn't how it works today. It's no different than 20 or 30 people protesting war on the village green. It's a wonderful thing, but it accomplishes nothing. When you get up to 3 or 4 million protesters, now you might have some sway. I don't see that happening over NY helmets.

To change that helmet law would require at first boatloads of money pushed around to the the favorite causes and interests of the power brokers in NY legislature as offered by talented and effective, seasoned lobbyists. Even then, the deep pockets of the insurance industry lobby are going to make it a very steep slope to climb. Then there's the problem of re-election vs. repealing a safety law. Imagine the TV commercial spin of "Joe Blow is up for re-election. He's the guy who caused 122 no helmet motorcycle fatalities since 20XX by introducing the bill to repeal the helmet laws." Cut to weeping widows and orphans video footage, & zoom in on on little Jimmy: "If only Daddy had worn his helmet... we wouldn't be surviving on lawn clippings and grubs for dinner"

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Excellent analysis, Martin!

(...and no, you were NOT being "cynical" here...you were just being a realist)

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I consider it 'culling the weak from the herd'.

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Hmmmm, I like that!