Effective September 4, 2003, motorcyclists over the age of 21 will no longer be required to wear a helmet.

This is an interesting development to me. When I was younger, I had a mighty Honda Hawk motorcycle. I rode that thing everywhere and I hated that I had to wear a helmet. So, a friend and I rode our bikes over the Ohio state line where there was no helmet law, to taste a little of the freedom that we felt we deserved. Man, I couldn’t wait. A soon as we got across the state line we pulled over, took off the helmets, and went for a ride. The first thing I noticed was the freedom of the wind in my hair – and I had a lot of it then. A whole lot of it. It was everywhere. And then I noticed how loud it was. All that wind and other outside noises. And then it happened – whapped by some kind of bug at 40mph. Square in the cheek. Now that was some stinging pain that I wouldn’t forget any time soon. And I pulled over, put on my helmet, and never looked back.

I have since sold that bike and don’t feel it’s worth the hassle of fighting with my wife over getting another one. Maybe after the kids are grown I’ll take that fight up again, but until then I’ll just admire all of your bikes out there from over here. So for me, that one small taste of the freedom I had craved ended up being enough. I actually liked the feeling of security that I got from wearing my helmet. I know, I know – they’re hot and leave you with a bad case of helmet head, but I would still rather wear one than not.

So I guess that’s what this new law is all about; you now have a choice. The state of Pennsylvania now feels that you are responsible enough to make your own choice when it comes to your safety. While I am sure that many of you can’t wait to rip that thing off your head, I am just as sure that many of you are quite happy with that thing right where it belongs – on your head.

But now I have to be prepared to answer a question that I am sure to hear coming from the car seats in back of me some time after September 4th; Daddy, why doesn’t that man have his helmet on? While this may not seem like a big deal to you, it is to me. See, as a parent, I am responsible, no, accountable for my kids and their actions up until they are legal adults. The same state that is granting you your freedom is also the same state that tells my kids that they do have to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle. A bicycle, which is not capable of going anywhere near as fast as your motorcycle. So I have to explain to my girls that although they are required to wear their helmets while peddling around in circles in our driveway, you are no longer required to wear your helmet while doing wheelies in heavy traffic on route 19 in Cranberry. That’s right – wheelies in traffic, during rush hour, on a very crowded route 19. I am the guy that you were next to in traffic when you did it. I didn’t get it as hearsay. I watched you do it myself. In disbelief.

I am not a fan of the newer bikes I see. They even look pretty uncomfortable to me. To me, a real bike is something along the lines of a Sportster or Fat Boy. Those are bikes. Real bikes. And they sound like pure testosterone. The others are rice rockets that seem to be ridden by irresponsible young men that have no regard for anyone but themselves. It will be those guys that lose 25% of their friends due to fatalities from not wearing a helmet. Maybe that’s best though. Most of you that I have seen on the rice rockets don’t seem to have too much regard for me and my family’s safety anyway.

To the rest of you out there that do ride responsibly, enjoy your new freedom. I’m sure you will make the choice that is right for you, and for the first time in a long time, you now have the ability to choose. Congratulations.

Hey Pennsylvania, does this mean you’re going to get rid of those pesky seat belt and drunk driving laws next?