Did anyone participate in the Philadelphia ABATE toy run on Sunday Nov. 8th? I thought I saw a GS there, but it went by pretty quick. That and there were an estimated 100,000 bikes there according to the organizers!

If you didn't go, get out there next year. It was amazing. Everyone was lined up on Columbus Ave and then had a closed-road run to Children's Hospital to drop off the toys for the kids. Once the first bikes started rolling, it was two hours before the end of the line started moving.

Picture everything from mini choppers to Boss Hoss v8 engined bikes and custom cruisers to sport bikes riding through the city and ending in a parking garage. LOUD!

Visit www.delawarevalleyabate.org for information.

where are u from dude? im not far at all from cc philly..

ABATE are also the assholes that lobbied successfully to get teh helmet law repealed in PA. At least this is a good cause.

jake

QuoteABATE are also the assholes that lobbied successfully to get teh helmet law repealed in PA. At least this is a good cause.

jake

so what? why do you have a problem if other people don't want to wear helmets? your smart and you want to wear your helmet then thats great, but not everone ealse has to feel the same as you do. where I live there is a manditory helmet law, and even if there wasn;t I would still always wear a full face snell aproved helmet so I'm on your side for always wearing a helmet, but I don;t think it should be manditory. its like those super religious christans who tell you that your going to hell if you don;t convert and live a sin free life this second. you know what, you beleive what you want, and I'll respect that, but why do you feel that you have to push your beleifs on me, and the rest of the world. somone ealse not wearing a helmet doesn't affect you...

I got the impression that jake was just expressing his opinion, not pushing his beliefs on anyone?  :dunno:

+1 on the good cause!

I just read what I wrote, and don't misunderstand, I'm not racest, or... relig-ist, or what ever you wanna call it. I'm just saying that you can beleive what you want to, and I will respect that, just don't force those beleifs on everone ealse.

I absolutely 100% agree with not forcing one's beliefs on others....won't disagree a bit! I just didn't see where jake was doing that?  :dunno:

And I agree with wearing helmets! I would, law or not....same with seatbelts. When the first seatbelt laws came into existence, I was appalled...get the govt out of my lap!

I still prefer to err on the side of personal rights and freedoms... but it's sobering to compare accidents with/without helmets/seatbelts.  

Damn.../end threadjack. 100,000 bikes! THAT would be an awesome sight...and with 100,000 toys for the kidlets!  

Why don't you try reading the ABATE site a little bit?  They lobbied the hell out of the state to get them to repeal the helmet law and they did it using one or two studies from the mid 1970's about the effectiveness of helmet laws.  I've done  research into helmet laws around the US and have  read all the NHSTA data reports on helmet effectiveness.  This is just another example of politics winning over scientific data and common sense in PA.  So yeah, I don't have fond feelings for them.  

And you don't need to give me the everyone's free to do what they wish speech.

he wants there to be helmet laws so that EVERYONE has to wear a helmet. but no helmet laws alow him to wear his helmet, and those that don't want to, not to. win win. so the way I see it, is that he wants helmet laws so that everyone has to do what he does... not everyone beleives that helmets are nessasary.

QuoteWhy don't you try reading the ABATE site a little bit? They lobbied the hell out of the state to get them to repeal the helmet law and they did it using one or two studies from the mid 1970's about the effectiveness of helmet laws. I've done research into helmet laws around the US and have read all the NHSTA data reports on helmet effectiveness. This is just another example of politics winning over scientific data and common sense in PA. So yeah, I don't have fond feelings for them.

And you don't need to give me the everyone's free to do what they wish speech.

look man, I'm not debaiting you on the fact that helmets save lives ok. I completely agree. like I said I would never wear anything less than a snell fullface, I just don't think that everyone should have to. if they decide that they wanna risk there lives in some respect, then let them.

1) No I didn't do the ride. I am stuck up here in NY. *sigh* I would love to participate in something like that though.

2) Helmets should be mandatory. Why? Because laws have an obligation to protect people. Driving - especially motorcycle riding - is a privalege, not a right. . In many instances, the government needs to choose safety over personal freedoms. We're free to ride but bike, but should be required to wear headgear for safety. Equivilent to seat belts. This isn't a debate thread, there are enough of those...haha. But +1 to Jake.  

Well...  Since we're heading down this path...   :mrgreen:

Saying you don't want to wear a helmet because you don't want to wear one is one thing.  Saying you don't want to wear a helmet because they're "dangerous" or "cause an increased risk of neck injuries" is something entirely different.

As far as I'm concerned ABATE's credibility as an organization went out the window as soon as I read some of their member's crap on how helmets "are more dangerous".  That, and you can't base helmet effectiveness solely on fatality rates.  A helmet isn't going to help much if you hit a semi head-on or ride drunk into a bridge abuttment.  After all, according to NHTSA, 37% of motorcycle fatalities nationwide involve alcohol.  

While I may not agree with their method of operation, I'm a believer in preserving their right to kill themselves if they so wish.  It's a free country after all.  You can't protect people from themselves.  If they don't kill themselves on a bike they're sure to stick a fork in a lightsocket, or clean a loaded gun sooner or later.  

They can go right on ahead and laugh, but I'll continue to wear most of a cow (poor cow), helmet, boots, and gloves.  We know who is more likely to visit the E.R.  

The ABATE group out here consists of low-rents and barflies on Hardly Ablesons.  Not the type of people to associate with if you want to ride to an old age.  

ME?  STEREOTYPING?  That can't possibly be right.  You have it all wrong!   :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

The problem is:

a) Joe Yahoo kills himself because he wasn't wearing a helmet
b) Joe Yahoo's insurance pays for the bike, the hospital, the ambulance, yadda yadda
c) EVERYONE's rates go up.

Granted, there are accidents where the hospital bill would have been cheaper (and the outcome the same) if he wasn't wearing a helment (my uncle) and some of the hospital cost can be offset by the person's medial insurance. But in general, that 100k or more is going to be split between everyone else who's still alive.

I propose having two options. One, you wear a helmet. Two, you CAN'T get medical coverage on your insurance, and you/your family get stuck with any bills. (I'd of course go further and say you'd have to ride at least a liter-bike, forcing darwin's hand.) Not wearing a helmet is your choice, but that shouldn't punish everyone who does.

Weaslenose, I'm in lower DE, near Bethany. I was visiting family near Media and decided to join in the ride. It was pretty cool. Personal feelings about various types of bikes aside, everyone rode their bike there, no trailer queens. The point of the post was that it was a cool event that collected 100,000 toys and promoted a positive image for bikers (even the Pagans were there).

It's a shame this post turned into a helmet debate, I think there is enough of that out there.
My personal opinion is helmets help protect. I live in Delaware and don't "have" to wear one, but I always do. I've wrecked my bicylce enough times to know that protection is important. Personal opinion is just that. People's minds are made up one way or the other and there is not going to be much said that will change that.

Quote from: dionysusThe problem is:

a) Joe Yahoo kills himself because he wasn't wearing a helmet
b) Joe Yahoo's insurance pays for the bike, the hospital, the ambulance, yadda yadda
c) EVERYONE's rates go up.

This is why I agree with helmet laws like Texas'.  Helments are mandatory, unless you're over 21, have completed a motorcycle safety course ( ) and have at least $10,000 of personal medical insurance ( )