Have we become a nation of kittys

[Mule Packer]

About 40 years ago, I rode my bike to work. Then one afternoon, while peddling home, some pimply-faced teenage punk tried to "bump" me with his little "rice-grinder" pickup. Yep, swung clear over to the edge and then turned immediately in front of me, trying to clip me a bit. Caused me to peel off into the gravel on the side of the road. I saw him look in his rear-view mirror, laughing his head off. Trying to impress his girlfriend I guess. That's probably the closest I've ever been to "road rage." Probably a good thing I wasn't carrying.

Anyway, that cured me from riding my bike to work. Never did wear a helmet, pads, nose guard, or shin guards.

 

[cussedemgun]

Yep, I too remember - - -

They have taken the fun out of riding a bike for cryin' out loud! We have become a nation of kittys.

I too rode a bike for 1/2 my life before I saw a 'bike helmet' & that included a few miles on a motorcycle. In them days, there was no air bag or seat belt in my car either.

The last 50 years we have been trying to be our brother's keeper to the point of enough safety gear so as to idiot proof everything. Do you remember back when a driver or rider was responsible for their own safety?

We have gotten so good at protecting idiots from their own follies, it's no wonder we are becoming a nation of idiots.

I am for removing air bags & seat belts from cars & replace them with a shotgun barrel in the steering column. I bet drivers would remember their oldie time manners pert-quick.

Guarenteed to end road rage if nothing else!

 

[Xfuzz]

My niece was dressing her boys 6 and eight to ride thier bikes
while at my brothers place on the lake.
Country road ...no traffic.
She had em suited up like they were gonna go play hockey.
I laughed and she was P.O.ed.

I remember standing in the front seat of the car at about 6 years old...
Steel dashboard with the oldman blastin down Telephone Road swillin a beer......times have changed indeed.

 

[keith44spl]

Never let my youngin's ride bikes on the road.....Jest too darn dangerous!






.

 

[perrazi]

when i grew up riding biles,there was no such thing as helmets for bikers. did see a couple of junior high football players wereing theirs when riding bikes though. think that was because it was easiest was to carry it. we used to catch a ride on the back of the city buses too. if bike helmets existed elsewhere,they didn't in our town. this whole wussification process started longer ago than 20yrs too.

 

[vigil617]

Helmets are like self-defense pistols, my friends.

You never need one 'til you need one.

 

[tomtheturner]

We purposely bought a house that sits on a cul de sac, so that when our children were young they would have a safe place to ride their bikes, and big wheels. The neighbors were all considerate of each other and when anyone's children were on the street riding, playing ball, whatever everyone slowed way down, and were careful.

Now, 35 years later people from all over bring their children to our cul de sac to play, and ride their bikes, trying to find a safe place for their children. It is the only place in the area that is not a through street. We have to be very careful though. Delivery trucks {UPS} people who turn onto the street by mistake, teenagers can be speeding up our short street at any time.

Tom

 

[badge]

I don't like 'em but they will save you from a life of drooling and soiling yourself or worse. I feel it should YOUR choice to wear a helmet and not imposed upon you from the state. I wear a helmet ridin' the motor as I would have been forever changed had I not.

 

[chud333]

Broke my arm falling off a bike as a kid.
That is just part of growing up. I also
remember riding in the back window of dads
big old Chrysler on trips as it was a good place
to sleep and get away from my 2 brothers for
awhile. Safety knobs on doors and safety plugs
on electrical outlets on everything in the house
now are the norm. Trophies for all participants.
The dumbing down of America has been joined
by the same group that won't let kids be kids.
Sad state of affairs.

Chuck

 

[SW_shooter]

I would agree with the OP that it seems people are more protective and safety conscious than when I was a young lad. I grew up in a small midwestern town where I could ride my bike without a helmet. I rode all over town every day of the summer from home to the Municipal swimming pool to my friends homes and back to my own home. Never even worried about getting hurt. My friends and I did all sorts of crazy stunts on and off bicycles and safety was never a concern, we were young dumb and eager to have some fun.

Now it seems society is very safety conscious, (cajun may not appreciate this but...) I blame lawsuits and people suing for large settlements from companies who manufacture items. It seems every time a kid (or an adult) gets hurt they immediately blame the product or the manufacturer and sue. If and when I got hurt as a kid my dad would look at me and tell me how stupid I was for pulling such a dumb stunt (as he and mom fixed me up).

 

[bettis1]

Where helmet laws are enforced it has had a negative effect on the organ donor industry. Of course, that can be good or bad...depending upon which side of the "need" you are on.

Bob

 

[novalty]

Two words: Deductible, Coinsurance.

 

[snubbyfan]

When I used to ride a lot I'd wear bike shorts, jersey, a wind breaker and helmet when commuting to and from work because of all the idiots that think it's funny to throw stuff and swerve into the guy on a bike.
When riding on a smooth level bike trail, I'd leave the helmet home and wear the bike shorts and a tank top or a t-shirt.
I'd wear the helmet when my buddies and I got together to do stupid things on our mountain bikes. Things like falling off of mountains, jumping flights of steps, wheelie drops off high walls, getting scary air and whatever else we could think of.
As a youngster we never wore helmets and still had lotsa fun on our bikes. We just learned that when we crashed to not go head first. It became reflexive to drop a shoulder and roll with it.

 

[35Rem]

I've been reading Caj's post for a few years now. I'm not so sure he couldn't have benefitted from wearing a helmet in his youth...

I'm not sure he shouldn't be wearing one now!

 

[arjay]

It's partly tied to increased lawsuits,but I suspect it's our ability to keep the severely injured alive . That kind of medical care is incredibly expensive and we provide it whether the victim has the means to pay for it or not.

 

[Marshwheeling]

Helmets for me, always (almost) on a motorcycle, most of the time on a bicycle. I have had five, maybe six concussions in my life, the first 2 or 3 playing kid hockey, no helmet (so you gotta know how long ago that was). The last three on motorbikes, with helmets. Without a helmet, any one of the last three could have left me drooling into my bib. The last one broke the chin bar and separated a kidney from its fascia.

On a bicycle, I like to run my Aussie on a leash. But if he decides its time for his business, he can stop without warning. If I am not prepared, he can put me on the ground in an instant. I definitely do not want to end up drooling into my bib with my hair full of dog poop, so amo wear the helmet.

 

[ladder13]

meow

 

[medxam]

Caj and all,

I really agree with the horrible "wussification" of American kids! Wind chaffing? You have got to be kidding! However, after practicing Forensic Pathology for 40+ years, I have had to deal with the tragic deaths of too many youths who died of head injuries from bike, ATV, skateboard, you name it injuries. Helmets do save lives and do help prevent serious head injuries!

As others have commented, it is a different world out there today. Back in the 50's, we had little traffic to worry about in our neighborhood and many streets were not even paved. Skateboards, which are probably more dangerous than bikes, were not even invented. I am all for letting kids be kids, but protect their fragile little heads when there is a danger of them coming in contact with hard surfaces. Even if they survive a serious head injury, you don't want them getting coloring books for Christmas for the rest of their lives!

medxam

 

[PatAz]

With some of the moron blue haired drivers we have, I'd want to be seen too.

 

[luangtom]

I believe we are trying to become a gender-neutral country. We are allowing our little boys to become more and more feminine by their attire, their daily activities and their demeanor, all pushed by the politically-correct media. I see young people never wanting to leave the apron-strings because their parents have never made them do anything without assistance from said parents. Me, I made my sons shovel snow and mow the lawn while they were growing-up. No more, neighbors hired another kid to do it, so their kids did not have to do it.

So, it is not surprising to see mothers get frantic over their youngsters not wearing a helmet, knee-pads or whatever other device the media deems as a necessity.

I rode a motorcycle for three decades and wore a helmet only when state-laws demanded it in the state I was riding in. My own state did not require it at the time I rode there. So, I did not. My butt and thighs were worn to blood, but never my head. Seems my butt always contacted the pavement first when I had to dump it. And, I am still alive.......