It’s time To Ban The Motorcycle. Really?

A journalist named Hugh Curran from the Sun Sentinel , a newspaper in Florida, wrote the article below. Difficult to be more ignorant than him about motorcycles. If I reproduce part of it it’s because he deserves to hear from you and know your feelings. You can do it in comments below. In your comments, please be respectful. Just educate those like him who are uninformed. Below is his rant. ..(photo courtesy Steven Stone Photography)

 
“What if I were to tell you that the fatality rate for those of us who drive a car or truck is 14 out of every 100,000 drivers? That’s a distressing statistic but it’s far below what it once was. Now, what if I were to tell you that there’s a vehicle on the road today that increases your chances of being killed while driving it by more than 500 percent, producing an average of 72 fatalities for every 100,000 users? Continue if you want to read more stupid.

92 Responses to “It’s time To Ban The Motorcycle. Really?”


  1. 1 Xander Jun 28th, 2011 at 1:14 pm

    My favorite part was definitely the argument that motorcycles should be illegal because of the emotional distress they cause to everyone else. I really liked that one.

  2. 2 Jason Jun 28th, 2011 at 1:19 pm

    I want to ban “pooping”…because it smells and there are billions of people doing it too…

  3. 3 Jason Jun 28th, 2011 at 1:20 pm

    …not to mention the greenhouse gasses it must produce!

  4. 4 Big Mike Jun 28th, 2011 at 1:28 pm

    Guns don’t kill people, people do. The same is true of motorcycles. Motorcycles aren’t unsafe, but some riders are and many, many cars and trucks are the cause of motorcycle related fatalities.

    I live in an area where bicycles abound. Many bicyclists are killed every year getting tagled up with a car or truck. Funny how here it’s the cars fault. They have restricted motorized vehicles off of some of the very streets they pay taxes on through gas taxes, and I have yet to hear anyone from the local news agencies or local goverment calling for an end to the bicycle. Is there ever going to be a moment in my lifetime when people are going to be allowed to make there own decisions and live with the consequenses of those decisions?

  5. 5 deadwood1783 Jun 28th, 2011 at 1:38 pm

    Not even the the former Soviet’s nor current “Chi-Coms” can compete with this control freak. “Any man who would give up one ounce of Liberty for one pound of safety deserves to be neither safe nor free”. Where do these people come from. This country, and all business, including the one this nut works for were built by risk takers. Should we “outlaw” bathtubs as well. Whats the statisics on injuries and deaths from falling in bathtubs,,or stairways… You have NO right to protect me from ME.

  6. 6 Arie Jun 28th, 2011 at 1:58 pm

    Jackass.

  7. 7 Luis Jun 28th, 2011 at 1:59 pm

    This is the same mentality that has people wanting to seal their kids away to protect them from even feeling any sort of adversity.

  8. 8 rob Jun 28th, 2011 at 2:05 pm

    Let’s also ban cigarettes,beef,guns,bicycles,helicoptes,alcohol;etc.And lousy newspaper columnists from from insignificant markets.

  9. 9 Shawn Jun 28th, 2011 at 2:09 pm

    What a stupid article. Isn’t it time that we stop trying to worry about what other people are doing and worry about ourselves for a while? That would sure be nice.

    Motorcycles are dangerous? Sure. So is everything else that we do. Maybe if we all live in special bubbles with padded everything, we will never get hurt.

    Then what? Do we get to live forever? No? Then I guess maybe it’s the way we live that matters. What good is having a life if you don’t get to live it the way you want?

  10. 10 SHOT Jun 28th, 2011 at 2:28 pm

    Unbelievable way to much time on his hands (get a Job)

  11. 11 neil Jun 28th, 2011 at 2:32 pm

    Well hugh, maybe you should be looking at banning WARS.They seem to be very dangerous and are the cause of deaths in the thousands. And not to mention the cost that go into the Billions. And why do they give up their lives????? Oh yeah…. so people like us have freedom of choice and dont live in a DICTATORSHIP..

  12. 12 J Jun 28th, 2011 at 2:33 pm

    Just keep your 16 year old daughter and the family Prius on her side of the dotted line and we wont have these stats. Taking motorcycles off the market, would be like closing McDonalds because your wife is fat…. She did it to herself, no one force fed her. Dont close the business because you think their product is dangerous, get her a shake weight and JUST DONT BUY IT!! It’s really that simple… I will say you have balls for writing such a stupid article… can you imagine the outrage and anger of 10’s of 1000’s of angry villagers that would be on your door step…. idiot….

  13. 13 TK Jun 28th, 2011 at 2:33 pm

    A few weeks ago, a friend was hit by a car and suffered a punctured lung and a partially collapsed lung, two shattered vertebra, a broken scapula and clavicle, five broken ribs — some in multiple places — and has lost feeling in his lower back and left leg. He’s 23.

    Duh!!! he needs to read what he has written, he was hit by a CAR. maybe we need to ban cars.

  14. 14 Toby Jun 28th, 2011 at 2:43 pm

    The Sun Sentinel is a Tribune Co. paper, but it’s focus is decidedly old people and “enquiring” minds. It has a USA Today-like presentation with large lettering. Although competitive due to the dumbing down of America, not to mention the narrow demographic it is aimed at, the paper is not taken as seriously as say the St. Pete Times or even the thoroughly beaten down Miami Herald. Check out their site and you will see salacious stories that border on Elvis sightings.

    Don’t miss the story about a Man arrested for trying to have sex with a dog or the woman who sprayed breast milk on an Ohio cop. Enough said…

    http://www.sun-sentinel.com/

  15. 15 Jeff Nicklus Jun 28th, 2011 at 2:47 pm

    If you ever wondered which side of the fence you sit on, this is a great test!

    If a Republican doesn’t like guns, he doesn’t buy one.
    If a Democrat doesn’t like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.

    If a Republican is a vegetarian, he doesn’t eat meat.
    If a Democrat is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone.

    If a Republican is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.
    If a Democrat is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.

    If a Republican is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.
    A Democrat wonders who is going to take care of him.

    If a Republican doesn’t like a talk show host, he switches channels.
    Democrats demand that those they don’t like be shut down.

    If a Republican is a non-believer, he doesn’t go to church.
    A Democrat non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced.

    If a Republican decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it..
    A Democrat demands that the rest of us pay his.

    If a Republican does not like motorcycles he doesn’t own one.
    Democrats demand that all motorcycles be banned.

    Well that about sums that up now doesn’t it?

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  16. 16 RT Jun 28th, 2011 at 2:47 pm

    His argument that health insurance costs are being driven higher by motorcyclists deaths. Yeah I am sure those 4,000 yearly motorcycle deaths are really a drag on health insurance costs, say compared to the 625,000 heart disease deaths each year. Maybe we should be banning McDonalds before we start talking about motorcycle safety.

  17. 17 J Jun 28th, 2011 at 2:50 pm

    Agreed RT!!!!

    Chris…. your an idiot…. Maybe the Sun Sentinel is hiring!!! You two could share a small corner office near the bathrooms… go play in traffic

  18. 18 FXRocket Jun 28th, 2011 at 2:55 pm

    I think his efforts are in the wrong place….how many distracted drivers cause these accidents and were at fault? I think DMV should start teaching how to drive with motorcycles on the road… I know we traing to Ride with Cars…

  19. 19 SHOT Jun 28th, 2011 at 3:00 pm

    Maybe everybody should realize the world is a dangerous place your world could change in a matter of minutes just stepping out your front door. But what are you going to do hide in the house your whole life because of what might happen. You choose to do what you want because thats what you want to do dangerous or not and so many people lost there lifes just so we have that choice called freedom. Unfortunatlety bad things happen sometimes when people have the choice to do what they want.But that dont mean that we should take away our choice to do things that we like.

  20. 20 Eagle Jun 28th, 2011 at 3:03 pm

    It’s all typical left wing banter, half the facts and all about what they can impose on the unknowing. One question, How many of the motorcycle fatalities are caused by CARS? I have lost 6 friends in the last three years, ALL from “people” driving CARS! Questions?!?

  21. 21 yank Jun 28th, 2011 at 3:09 pm

    I really don’t understand this sort of mentality where people think we need to be governed for everything in our lives. This country was founded on some basic freedoms. Of course this person has no clue to what it means to ride but because he lives in this country he can speak his opinion. I am really tired of people or government telling me how to live my life and what is safe for me to do or not do. I pay my taxes I respect those i deal with and I love my freedom to choose what i enjoy. Problem is most people are so passive that before they know it, their freedom has been taken from them right under their feet because they do it a little at a time.

  22. 22 Uncle Monkey Jun 28th, 2011 at 3:09 pm

    Using Mr Curran’s logic we should ban walking. From 1999 to 2009 51,708 people were killed and another 703,700 people walking were injured in traffic accidents with cars.
    Perhaps Mr. Curran would benefit from examining motorcycle fatalities in countries that rely heavily on motorcycles and scooters to relieve vehicle congestion. Ironically the DOT report he cliffnoted was about educating drivers, not punishing riders.

  23. 23 chopperfreak29 Jun 28th, 2011 at 3:47 pm

    So how do Jeff Nicklus and Eagle know that this guy is a democrat or left wing?LOL I didn’t read that part of the article I guess. Just so you know guys, stupid is equally spread out through the political spectrum and it doesn’t help when people over-simplify a problem. Whether that’s you or the author of this article. Just for the record, I do not agree with, nor support anything stated in this article.

  24. 24 TRexSG Jun 28th, 2011 at 3:52 pm

    We better ban stairs, cars, doctors, peanuts, McDonalds, dogs, saws, bridges, buildings over one story, airplanes……………………………………………………

  25. 25 phil stratton (UK) Jun 28th, 2011 at 4:12 pm

    Does this mean he would like to see all police motorcycles taken off the road ? All people in the motorcycle industries throughout the world made jobless ? Can I also assume that if he thinks bikes are dangerous , can he also ban the car , as quite often these are the cause of biker injuries.And while he is on a roll , how about the gun ?
    Ride free,
    Phil (UK)

  26. 26 Jeff Nicklus Jun 28th, 2011 at 4:18 pm

    chopperfreak29,

    ………”So how do Jeff Nicklus and Eagle know that this guy is a democrat or left wing?” ……….

    DUH …. We have a brain!

    Are you serious? The mentality of Hugh Curran is taken right out of the leftist play book! Open your eyes before it is too late people!

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  27. 27 Steve Carr Jun 28th, 2011 at 4:24 pm

    I’m not sure of the numbers of people that fall down stairs and get killed are, but I’m sure they are close to the same numbers he has posted per 100k people.

    I WANT STAIRS BANNED IN THIS COUNTRY NOW!!!

    Please send you anti stair movement donation to:

    http://www.thisguyisanass.com

    Steve Carr

  28. 28 just my opinion Jun 28th, 2011 at 4:26 pm

    American’s are supposed to have the right to make choices that fit themselves.

    Just because some one likes driving a smart car does not mean because I choose not too, that those little death traps should be made illegal.

    Just because someone chooses to smoke cigarette’s but I choose not too does not mean they should be illegal. By the way cigerette’s have killed more people that all auto’s and bikes combined. But I still believe if you choose to smoke that is your right to do so.

    Just because you may enjoy drinking excessively and I choose not too does not mean you should be banned from enjoying your choice to be hammered.
    [ so long as you don’t kill me riding my motorcycle while you are hammered ] Please don’t drink and drive but otherwise enjoy your self it is your right to do so.

    Truth be told many things we humans do are not neccesarily good for us. But we should have the right to choose what is enjoyable for ourselves and what is not. If we start banning all choices we make because they are not good for our health or our overall well being than we can start by closing all fast food joints then cigerettes must follow and alcohol but lets not forget guns, knifes and what about inline skates I bet they have killed a couple people. I know some have died from bungee jumping and hang gliding. amusement parks have killed people as well lets close Disney down. Cooking can be dangerous too if you are not properly trained so that should also be banned unless you are professionally trained to cook.

    People like this guy that wrote this artical are the real problem with our country. They believe that they should have the right to pick and choose what others do. But that to me sounds more like communist China not the good old USA because here we do have the right to choose. Maybe this guy could do us all a favor and just stay home. [ It is much safer there and his ignorant thought can keep him company.]

  29. 29 Jeff Nicklus Jun 28th, 2011 at 4:31 pm

    Here you go …. if anyone would like to communicate directly with Mr. Curran his email address is:
    kanga573@aol.com

    Next he will want to ban E-Mail!

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  30. 30 Heavy Metal Jun 28th, 2011 at 4:47 pm

    The scary part to me is the douche bag who wrote this article really believes he is offering up a good safe way to reduce deaths. I’m willing to risk riding motorcycles and I not only ride them for pleasure but I ride them for lower fuel costs when I’m traveling alone or commuting to work. I’m more concerned about getting run over by a texting teenager than anything on the road right now.

  31. 31 Seymour Jun 28th, 2011 at 4:58 pm

    Florida is such a backwards state (I am allowed to say that). Trust me, Florida is always the last state in the nation to change anything, but they would be the First to ban motorcycles. And it would happen REAL fast if Florida’s Republican governor Rick Scott thought it was a good idea…

  32. 32 tejasandre Jun 28th, 2011 at 5:07 pm

    lets ban the aging process too.. that gets tons of people.

  33. 33 Richard Jun 28th, 2011 at 5:09 pm

    At jeff nicklus….you sound like a typical ignorant conservative. You’re doing the same thing that the “no mind” idiot curran did. You open you mouth and spew a bunch of crap that you know nothing about. That makes you a “no mind” also.

  34. 34 fuji Jun 28th, 2011 at 5:17 pm

    Obvious! A biker has expressed their displeasure at this clown while driving or lack of. Retribution?

    I’m sure he could lie on a stack of Bibles in court that he has NEVER ! used any personal device while driving, work related. LOL

    Write a deserving article about Alcohol,Cells, Applying makeup, Eating, Cages as road weapons Etc involved in traffic accidents.

    No accolades from the front office there, old news right ?

  35. 35 fuji Jun 28th, 2011 at 5:20 pm

    Sent the clown an E-mail

  36. 36 Conrad Nicklus Jun 28th, 2011 at 6:37 pm

    Richard,

    Apparently you have your head up your ass and can not see what point my father was trying to prove.. I dont see how he “opened his mouth and spew a bunch of crap that he knows nothing about.” .. Go back to school and learrrnnnn.

    Conrad

  37. 37 Richard Jun 28th, 2011 at 6:58 pm

    Conrad,
    Like father, like son!

  38. 38 burnout Jun 28th, 2011 at 7:32 pm

    Yeah, lets ban deer, Hooters billboards, armadillos, trees and those annoying traffic lights that so many cagers pay NO attention to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t fix stupid and ya SURE can’t legislate it!! peace

  39. 39 Patrick Jun 28th, 2011 at 7:36 pm

    Richard, did you read the article? Guess not because you only comment on those that did. Make a point, don’t attack those that do.

  40. 40 Nobody Jun 28th, 2011 at 7:38 pm

    Ball park numbers say 3500+ people die in drowning incidents every year.

    Logically we should ban water…

  41. 41 Mike Greenwald Jun 28th, 2011 at 7:42 pm

    Richard,
    Please explain.
    Mike

  42. 42 Craig Kozloski Jun 28th, 2011 at 7:46 pm

    Considering government seems to be on a mission to protect us from ourselves, the idea is goofy enough to be seriously considered. Sadly schemes and plans like this abound.

  43. 43 Nobody Jun 28th, 2011 at 8:01 pm

    And here’s some numbers for everyone to digest

    http://danger.mongabay.com/injury_death.htm

  44. 44 Rob the Bob Jun 29th, 2011 at 12:10 am

    I believe a lot of his drivel is to rile people up to sell more newspapers. You see what he’s done to make us take notice,
    eh???

  45. 45 fausto Jun 29th, 2011 at 5:31 am

    This article reminds me of the `lets burn the witches“ campaign and more recently the global attention received by the moron who wanted to burn a pile of Korans.

    Most of the blame should fall on the newspaper editor for allowing such a ridiculous article to be actually printed.

  46. 46 dmj Jun 29th, 2011 at 6:48 am

    “Floridians will still have to pay $190 million to cover unpaid costs associated with motorcycle crashes this year alone”

    Sounds reasonable to me, kickstands up at 8, lets ride.

  47. 47 Mark Pavlica Jun 29th, 2011 at 7:34 am

    If someone try’s to take away my Motorcycle or my privilege of riding it they are going to meet two other things that I will not ALLOW to be took away. My family and my guns. Careful what you wish for.

  48. 48 Saint Jun 29th, 2011 at 8:05 am

    ciggs have a fatality rate of over 400,00o a year, why dont you go work on that one. Let us worry about 72 out of 100,000. Holy Crap is this article real?

  49. 49 Dave Blevins Jun 29th, 2011 at 8:25 am

    Article reads like silly nonsense, statistics are mostly meaningless because they can be used to drive any point you wish…
    Such as,
    Statistcally speaking, the average life span of Americans has has in fact increased 32 percent since the invention of the motorcycle.
    See.
    It seems news writers love statistics for this reason, you can support any argument (even both sides of one) using the same stats, by merely changing case points and perspectives, omitting crucial information, adding unrelated information, and targeting the specific audience you want to influence. Politicians do this constantly, and we all see how well it works for them.
    Just crap to sell news, it means nothing.

  50. 50 Boss Hawg Jun 29th, 2011 at 8:53 am

    @ Richard….as Mike Greenwald asked….

    Please explain.

    Boss Hawg

  51. 51 cooldaddy51 Jun 29th, 2011 at 9:00 am

    I think I will do a little research myself. Like , where does this guy live. Mmmm time for a road trip.

  52. 52 Rob Campbell Jun 29th, 2011 at 9:04 am

    Put me in mind of “A Modest Proposal”, an essay in which Irishman Jonathan Swift suggested feeding Irish babies to the Englilsh.

    The full title is “A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People in Ireland From Being a Burden on Their Parents or Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the Publick”. Written as a lampoon on British policies and economics in the face of 18th century Irish struggles, it was taken seriously and Swift’s life was in danger.

    In fact, next to the above linked article is a link to his follow up in which he opens with “In my June 13 column I modestly proposed…” I actually only just went and found that piece. Might be worth given a look to.

    And I agree with everything y’all have said.

  53. 53 Zoomer Jun 29th, 2011 at 9:05 am

    Cars, guns, and motorcycles don’t kill people. These are all tools developed to make our lives easier. STUPIDITY kills people. Therefore it seems perfectly logical to simply OUTLAW stupidity. And I think this idiot just tried and convicted himself.

  54. 54 John Y Jun 29th, 2011 at 9:15 am

    When motorcycles are outlawed………..

  55. 55 Paul Jun 29th, 2011 at 9:23 am

    I truly feel bad for the 72 fatalities per 100,000, but that’s still less than 1/10th of a percent. I’ll take those odds.

    Let’s ride.

  56. 56 Ted Tine Jun 29th, 2011 at 9:34 am

    It seems like another politician with nothing to do…Can’t fix stupid.They have beat everything else in the system to death, I guess there only is the motorcyle rider left. Why don’t they teach car driver’s how to be more aware of motorcycles.When the goverment’s people start telling me what, where and what I should be allowed to drive it’s time to get rid of them, all of them!

  57. 57 fluke Jun 29th, 2011 at 9:36 am

    I doubt the author is stupid enough to believe what he wrote, but he is intelligent enough to write an article that creates traffic and clicks on his employers website through offended a large group of people who are affronted by his stupid article.

    Online journalism 101: The truth isn’t important, website traffic is.

    The more people pay attention to this kind of stupid journalism the more we will get.

  58. 58 Jeff Nicklus Jun 29th, 2011 at 9:38 am

    Boss & Mike Greenwald,

    Leave poor Richard alone …. he obviously has been drinking the Obama Cool Aid ……. he can’t help himself, it is “Bushs” fault.

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  59. 59 Karen Jun 29th, 2011 at 9:38 am

    I agree with so many of you here..
    My eight year old son was runover and killed by a CAR a neighbor was driving. So do we outlaw the automobile because of human error? Or hey lets just outlaw driving and walking. This guy clearly has his own personal issues with motorcycles and he has that right. It is his thought process that is frightenening. Maybe we should outlaw ignorance. People continue to amaze me and not in a good way.

  60. 60 tom wroblewski Jun 29th, 2011 at 9:59 am

    Somewhere a village is missing it IDIOT…..

  61. 61 Kirk Perry Jun 29th, 2011 at 10:02 am

    I ride with an 8oz. ball-peen hammer jammed in my back pocket, and a jumbo “tourist repellant” mace pen in my shirt pocket and a Buck knife on my belt to finalize my comportment.
    My objective being to avoid vehicle bumpers. People don’t kill you in traffic, bumpers do. Ban freakin’ bumpers man.

  62. 62 Jeff Nicklus Jun 29th, 2011 at 10:07 am

    Karen et al,

    If you will go to the Sun Sentinels’ website and read some of the items this nut case (Hugh Curran) has written, the car you mention is also in his sights …. I quote:

    …….”The automobile has covered our cities and countrysides with streets and highways, depleted our natural resources and poisoned our air. We loved the automobile so much that we designed our lives and nation around it. And now that we can’t live without it, we begin to realize we can no longer live with it”…..

    Today he would have the motorcycle banned tomorrow the automobile the next day who knows? This guy and his fellow “thinkers”, as I have said before, are dangerous to this country and our way of life.

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  63. 63 Daytona rider Jun 29th, 2011 at 10:13 am

    I think a biker must have knocked hughs daughter up. If he likes to ride in a cage so be it, but he has no right to make that choice for everyone else! His dad must have jerked off in a flower pot, and gave birth to a blooming idiot! Hugh… You’re the stupidest SOB ever to pick up a pen

  64. 64 CafeSportyTC Jun 29th, 2011 at 10:27 am

    this guys ignorance is astounding. im not going to go into too much of a conspiracy theory but, what do you do when you want to control the population? you ban travel , take away the ability to travel and it is much easier to control the public. This guy sounds like a proponant for tyranny. He buys into the global warming horse poo , wait sorry there calling it climate change now becuase for the last 10 years we have actually been cooling…. hmmm what a thought , could it be possible that the earth goes through cycles? irrellevant i know , this guy want to ban things that dont fit in with his idiology, and if some are to blind to see that his idiology is that of the far far left than that sucks for them… one day they’ll wake up and wonder where their freedoms went….

  65. 65 RGU103 Jun 29th, 2011 at 10:34 am

    just what I need , another person to protect me from myself

  66. 66 ray c wheeler Jun 29th, 2011 at 10:54 am

    Since his e mail is posted, sent the idiot a lovely heart felt message!

    Ride for your LIFE!!

    ray usa

  67. 67 Michael Schacht Jun 29th, 2011 at 11:14 am

    Why stop there? Bicycle injuries far outnumber motorcycle accidents. Bicycles should be banned as well. Any idea on the statistics for injury while on horseback? I think it may also qualify. Skateboards have to go and snow skiing; well nothing needs to be said about that. Ban it. The elderly should also be banned from walking past the age of 75! Do you know how many hip injuries occur daily from just walking, or how expensive and hard on the system those injuries actually are? Hey wait, there’s more………

  68. 68 Dudley Duffus Jun 29th, 2011 at 11:43 am

    I think that cows should all be killed….. they fart and produce methane gas. Al Gore said that we are all going to die when the planet craps us out because of global warming.

    Now I have to decide…. should I commit suicide, or go bowling?

  69. 69 Danny Ray Lee Jun 29th, 2011 at 11:54 am

    I suggest you focus on Golf. Lightning kills Golfers. Young men outside. Lightning kills more young men outside than others. How about Cancer. Find a cure. Freedom os self expression, i appreciate yours please appreciate mine. Lastly, FREEDOM, focus on FREEDOM. People like you want to end it.
    Thank You for your article. It solidifies our understanding that people like your are the ones running us down and killing us, adding to the statistics….
    Sincerely
    Danny Ray Lee
    ps; I’m a rehabilitated criminal, a veteran, a son, a brother, a father, a man and a WARLOCK. l expose myself and I do vote and have an opinion just like you.
    Thank You for your article.

  70. 70 ROGUE Jun 29th, 2011 at 12:15 pm

    This just sent to me by Big Wayne

    surely, it is. it may only be marginally or incrementally better, since manufacturers (according to the Fed’l Motor Vehicle Safety Std 218 ) need certify only up to 14 mph .

    more to the point on YOUR essay: if outlawing motorcycles will save ~4500 lives per year, then outlawing cars will save ~45000 . it is obvious that cars should be outlawed – yours excepted, of course . . .

    From: Kanga573@aol.com [mailto:Kanga573@aol.com]
    Sent: Tuesday, 28 June, 2011 18:18
    To: BigWayne
    Subject: Re: helmets, motorcycles …

    But surely you will admit that your head is better protected WITH a helmet than without it!

    My follow-up: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/citylink/upfront/sfl-auto-erotica-its-still-time-to-ban-the-motorcycle-20110627,0,2043379.story

    ps: using a modern statistical analysis called causal inference, the reduction in crime in NY wasn’t due to giuliani’s tough-on-crime stance, it was due to an increase in abortions in the late ‘60s .

    pps: pedestrian fatalities outnumber motorcycle fatalities. outlaw shoes ? mandate helmets for walkers ?

  71. 71 Mike Infanzon Jun 29th, 2011 at 12:38 pm

    I passed this along to a non-riding evengelical pastor type friend of mine…. his response? “Put the guy in a sound proof room with a bunch of bikers and see if they can change his mind”. My wife wrote the guy an email and very logically put that it’s a majority of distracted drivers causing the accidents/fatalities.

    My suggesstion? Everyone take an extra day or so during Biketoberfest this year and travel south for a protest ride.

  72. 72 Wild Bill Jun 29th, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    Motorcycle deaths and fatalities caused by whom???? Most deaths and fatalities of motorcyclists are cause by the ignorance of Car and truck drivers. It ismy firm belief that to be able to drive a car or truck you should ride a motorcycle for two (2) years prior to leagally operate a four wheeled vehicle. It is also my opinion that a motorcyclist is a far safer operator than other operators on the road. We have to be to survive the idiocy on the blacktop…

  73. 73 Richard Jun 29th, 2011 at 3:32 pm

    Explain myself….OK, I just get so tired of people who have to politcize everything. Instead of addressing the article the writer I responded to attacks all Democrats and tries to present the repubs as perfect saints and we know that is crap/BS. I have found that these kinds of opinions represent an extreme lack of objectivity and fairness; and an inability for critical thinking.

  74. 74 Major Ma Jun 29th, 2011 at 3:58 pm

    Statistics tell us 87% of all people die in bed, does that mean we shouldn’t go to bed?

    Statistics can tell us whatever we want them to, it’s all in how you read them.

    I am a 64 yo great grandmother who has been riding motorcycles since 1965, I still ride every day I can, I am never in fear of my days riding. [now on the trike] However I am at deaths door every time I am behind the wheel of my pick up, [we call them Utes] not because I have little confidence in my driving, I just fear the ignorant drivers on the road who have little respect for other road users and none for motorcyclists.

    Live to Ride an Ride to Live

    Ma…xxx Brisbane Qld. Australia.

  75. 75 Jeff Nicklus Jun 29th, 2011 at 5:14 pm

    Richard,

    ….” I have found that these kinds of opinions represent an extreme lack of objectivity and fairness; and an inability for critical thinking.”…..

    As a liberal I would expect you to say nothing less! Objectivity and fairness…. I think I am going to barf! Let’s see, in the Liberal dictionary “objectivity and fairness” is defined as the lowering of one’s standards to societies lowest common denominator. Just a note Richard: Life isn’t fair nor was it intended to be, so get a grip.

    One last item Richard: If you think that Mr. Currans article was not politically motivated then I am willing to bet you still believe in the tooth fairy.

    I wish each of you a happy and a safe weekend celebrating our Nations Birthday. I am out of here for the next week …. so hold the fort down!

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  76. 76 don waldie Jun 29th, 2011 at 5:20 pm

    What a dumb ass he needs to ride and see bikers are safe the people in the cars are thye ones they need to band…………………

  77. 77 ZEKERS Jun 29th, 2011 at 5:39 pm

    BAN CARS IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!! ITS THE CARS THAT ARE KILLING MOTORCYCLISTS. BAN THE CARS AND THERE WONT BE ANYMORE FATALITIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IDIOT.

  78. 78 martin Twofeather Jun 29th, 2011 at 6:38 pm

    Zekers is absolutely correct,we need to band his car so’s to protect us from him……..

  79. 79 Conrad Nicklus Jun 29th, 2011 at 6:42 pm

    Richard probably doesnt even understand its our nations birthday this weekend, that is too much for his little liberal heart to fathom.

    …..I have found that these kinds of opinions represent an extreme lack of objectivity and fairness; and an inability for critical thinking…..

    SO, by attacking someone do you mean it is fair and has an objective?? I mean, I am lost here as to how you consider this to not be a hypocritical comment on your part.. then again, that is expected from a Liberal.

  80. 80 M Stazy Jun 29th, 2011 at 7:43 pm

    Whats funny is he is using the fact that cars / trucks have a far less death rate associated with them but for the most part is was a car / truck that caused the death of the motorcycle rider..

    So with that factored in how about the people that are driving the safer vehicles pay freaking attention and keep us riders alive..

    Just Sayin..

  81. 81 Jim denny Jun 30th, 2011 at 9:59 am

    He makes good points and it’s well thought out but to be fair he should also do the exact same statistical comparison to drunk driving and deaths/accidents to reveal that they are much higher per capita and call for a ban on alcohol.
    We say how well that worked in the ’30s!

  82. 82 Alex Faber Jun 30th, 2011 at 10:44 am

    your maths is incorrect.

    14 to 72 is an increase of 400%. since 14 to 28 is a 100% increase, and so on…

    perhaps if car drivers used their eyes and signal lights more frequently, the death rate of motorcyclists would match that of cars.

  83. 83 b stark Jun 30th, 2011 at 2:37 pm

    It’s time to ban four wheeled vehicles, too many innocent motorcyclists are killed by cars, trucks and other passenger vehicles every year and it’s time the American people put their foot down and put a stop to four wheeled vehicles on the road. These many wheeled murder machines are ruining the fun and safety of our roads not to mention contributing about 98 percent of the traffic during out commutes. Passenger vehicles waste thousands of dollars from our emergency response crews as well as insurance companies and hospitals. The maniacs crazy enough to drive these things are also crazy enough to text, talk on the phone, eat, apply makeup and even put in contacts while driving. The ability to drive is a privilege not a right. A privilege given to those responsible enough to use it. I say it’s high time that us as reasonable people push our government to restrict all vehicles with more than three wheels to off road areas or designated tracks.

  84. 84 aaron Jun 30th, 2011 at 5:15 pm

    …and this just in: living will ultimately result in death. I propose we sterilize everyone to prevent future generations from suffering this horrible fate. 😛

  85. 85 David Wesley Jun 30th, 2011 at 8:52 pm

    Everyone has their opinion but this guys stats are way off and totaly one sided.

  86. 86 live2rideaglide Jul 1st, 2011 at 1:59 pm

    It’s time to ban uninformed , slant-sided pencil pushing , preppie ,politically correct liberal buttheads who think they know what everybody else should be doing . Who died and elected this eliteist God of everything and everybody. This type of crap journalism does’t deserve a reaction, but here’s mine DROP DEAD. Ignorance kills more people than anything and this snot is the East coast distributor of same. iF YOU SUV DRIVING PRICKS WILL PUT YOUR PHONES DOWN AND PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOUR DOING WHEN YOU DRIVE TO THE CLUB the death rate for bikes will nosedive.

  87. 87 harleysrfun Jul 1st, 2011 at 5:40 pm

    i am tired of one person wants something and the rest of us have to eat it up, No way, if the van people or car people would stay off the cell phone and concentrate on their driving, i think it would help us motorcyclists. How dare you shove your opinion down anyones throat, experienced riders are way safer than beginners, take a safety course, and stay in your lane. MOTORCYCLES RULE!! harleysrfun!! find another job loser!!

  88. 88 Jim Compton Jul 4th, 2011 at 9:21 am

    Sent to Mr. Curran’s e-mail:
    Greetings Mr. Curran,
    I am responding to your op-ed piece that came to my attention via the cyrilhuzeblogdotcom site that I subscribe to. I understand that your writings are done not necessarily to “inflame” your readership regarding any particular topic but merely to get people to “think” upon certain things. That, under our constitution, is your right. However, there are those amongst your readership who will not take the opinion piece at face value but will feel obligated to act upon it. Sadly, there are many who wish to legislate practically anything and everything in America today that they feel intrudes upon their personal comfort zone.
    I would refer you to an article by another individual in a local newspaper where I live that wrote against lane-splitting or lane-sharing recently here in Sacramento,California. This individual also was not a motorcyclist/biker and his opinion piece was to object to the practice. This, very literally created an avalanche of follow-up articles and letters to the editors which was, I’m sure, very good for the paper’s business. The problem, is being Sacramento, the state capital, that some over zealous legislator could pick up on the discussion and decide that yes, lane-splitting should be declared illegal in California. What this would result in would be an increase in motorcyclist’s deaths as we here in California that do participate in the practice do so for safety reasons. I myself have personally used the technique to avoid incidents that would have normally caused an accident. (i.e. overaggressive drivers, being rear-ended, etc.) Additionally, the law enforcement agencies who use motorcycles are taught this technique as a method for accident avoidance, among other reasons.
    Regarding the “facts” mentioned in your article.
    More pedestrians than motorcycle riders were killed in motor vehicle accidents, for example, in 2003 – in fact, 63% more, according to the National Safety Council. Of the 44,757 deaths due to motor vehicle accidents, only 3,676 (8%) were motorcycle riders. So, do you also advocate the elimination of pedestrian traffic given this statistic?
    In relation to your comment about catalytic convertors the EPA established new regulations in 2003 regarding motorcycles and reduced emissions levels. By the year 2010 new models will have to have devices with reduced emissions and catalytic convertors are but one means by which these reductions will be accomplished.
    Your citation of the economic impact of uninsured motorcyclists upon society also is dubious. The source used is a news report from a Florida T.V. station. Given that the climate of Florida, like California, is conducive to motorcycling it would follow that there would be more incidences of bikers insured and uninsured involved in vehicular wrecks. However, those are extreme instances and not reflective of a national average. In the colder climate states your logic fails as ridership falls off in the winter months. And, if you wish to highlight uninsured motorists why not concentrate on those automobile drivers who are not only uninsured but unlicensed? I will leave it to you to research the statistics but that segment is responsible for more financial costs to taxpayers than motorcyclists could ever generate.
    And your reference to motorcyclists receiving “untold billions’ in insurance payouts, really, you need to either cite your source or refrain from comments such as that as it is doubtful that there are enough of us bikers that we would cost “untold billions” in anything.
    Finally, yes driving is a privilege not a right under the current constitution. However, though it was delineated in the Articles of Confederation it was omitted from our current constitution. It was eliminated from the current constitution not because of oversight but because it was considered such a fundamental elemental right of the citizens that restriction of travel within / amongst states was unthinkable to the founding fathers.
    Might I suggest to you, Mr. Curran, a different op-ed topic you could highlight. Why not lobby in your opinion pieces for the elimination of automobiles? If cages
    (which bikers call automobiles) could be eliminated from the roads of America, all your previously listed objections to motorcyclists/bikers would be eliminated! Also, there would be no deaths to pedestrians, bicyclists, toddlers being backed over in their own driveways, the list is endless. In addition there would be essentially no smog as bikers contribute only 0.06% to air pollution. America would also no longer be held hostage to countries supplying us with oil products as the mileage for motorcycles/scooters already far exceeds that of any automobile.
    As mentioned previously, Mr. Curran, it is your right to express your opinion about pretty much anything you wish. However, when you write an opinion piece and cite ambiguous or erroneous statistics as substantiation for your opinion you do no favor to your readership. If you have the opinion that motorcycles should be banned then in honesty to your readership say that it is your opinion, period.
    Respectfully,
    Jim Compton

  89. 89 Jim Biggs Jul 5th, 2011 at 7:57 am

    Hmmm… Seems to me that if I worked in a dying medium I would do everything I could to draw attention back to it. Say… print incendiary stories to generate any kind of interest for example. Lets not play his game and move on. Nothing to see here…

  90. 90 nicker Jul 6th, 2011 at 12:00 am

    Curran isn’t the first who would do away with MCs and he won’t be the last.
    Former Sec. of transportation Joan Claybrook had the same agenda (the MMA told her to go pound sand).

    Why do they do it? Who knows?
    Just more social engineering to “make life better for the huddled masses yearning to be free.”
    And so, by definition, that would rule out most conservatives, leaving the typical bed-wetting Allen Alda types…. Liberals.

    Regarding Richard’s comment:
    RE:
    “…At jeff nicklus….you sound like a typical ignorant conservative. You’re doing the same thing that the “no mind” idiot curran did. You open you mouth and spew a bunch of crap that you know nothing about. That makes you a “no mind” also.

    Dude, what part of Jeff’s argument doesn’t square with reality……???
    Rings true to me.

    -nicker-

  91. 91 President General Philippe El Pringels Aug 8th, 2011 at 12:05 pm

    Ban everything yes that’s the ticket !! ohh wait whats that sound clip clop clip clop click poof Bang !!
    damn I was just in an amish horse buggy drive by !!! damn ban those too!!

    I don’t even have a bike, and im determined to own one some day. Its my money, my choice and my right to do so. Damn hope we don’t have what I term now is the far left demo crapic Libra-nazi

    A total contradiction of terms but equally fitting, do as we say not as we do, hey you don’t look behind the curtain where the politician is showing is bits over the net.

    If I was President the 1ts federal law and left wing DCLN > look above < official order would be mandatory cage training of motorcycle awareness but the DCLN vetoed me down and impeached me because I went against there supreme logic of that they demanded that all small com-packed cars and all SUV driven by soccer moms; the vehicle in question must be covered in a burka made for said vehicles.

    President general for life Philippe El Pringels, on a stick

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