[Scooter]

Far be it from me to impose my standards on anybody else, but I just can't let this one go.........

Went for a short ride tonite. I've got my boots and jeans on, and in the garage, I put on my Fieldsheer armored jacket, full face helmet and gloves. I crank up the bike and away I go. Found some nice twisties and ran it out. Cleared the mind after a hard week.

On the way back, I'm on the interstate in light traffic, cruising about 75, and another bike passes me in another lane. That's when I about drop my teeth!

The guy is riding an obviously brand new Trophy (paper plates) wearing sandals, a polo shirt and shorts doing about 85. No helmet, of course. But, that's not all. On the back, is his (approximately) 8 year-old daughter in sandals, a sun dress, and, you guessed it, no helmet, hanging on for dear life.

Now, here's my dilema. As I mentioned above, I don't feel comfortable imposing my standards on anybody else, but what this guy was doing was criminal. I wanted to follow the guy home and whack him upside the head. "Not appropriate behavior" doesn't even BEGIN to cover it, as far as I'm concerned.

So, my friends and fellow enthusiasts, cousel me. What would YOU have done?

------------------
"After all, we ARE professionals, here."

 

[EvilGuy]

see if you could ride with him til you both stop or if you could tell that they were in danger, wave him over and tell him that he needs to cool it off esp with a child on the back and suggest him to get safety gear. i wouldnt want him to get pissed and race off and put them in more danger...

------------------

 

[Hurricane]

That'd weird me out, too. I won't even let my wife on the back of mine unless she's fully geared up, and I probably wouldn't even ride my 8 year old daughter on the bike, that is- if I had a daughter- and certainly not gear-less and at those kinds of speeds.

That's just irresponsible, but I'm not sure what you could have done. As much as it goes against every fiber in my being to say so- EvilGuy may be right on. If it were possible to meet him at a stop, you might have been able to say something like- "nice bike, hope you guys are being real careful out here..." 'Cause if you start chastising him, he's gonna get angry at least on some level, and that's going to negatively affect his riding.

Or, memorize the plate number or at least part of it (some of those temp plates are HUGE!) along with a descripition of the bike- pull off to the next available phone, and call the police/highway patrol. None of us really enjoy the presence of Johnny Law, but that guy sounds like he needs a good talking to.(or beating) Wrecking a bike when it's just you is one thing- but when you've put a child's life in danger is completely another. I hope they made it home safely.

Not to mention, even if they did get home just fine, that kid could potentially grow up to ride motorcycles herself, thinking it's ok to pull crap like that.

That just sucks.

'cane

------------------


[This message has been edited by Hurricane (edited August 04, 2000).]

 

[Twistiesman]

Things like that is really beyond me! I do not understand it. Why do people ride without have the proper gear on? Do people not understand what can happen to them and you need to ride like this could be the day that you go down? If the guy wants to be a fool and do it then that is his life but he should never take the chance with a kid on the back! That reaaly pisses me off!

I have a 4 and 8 year old and they have never been riding on the bike cause I do not have a riding jacket and helmet for them. My 8 year old wants to go bad but he will not untill I find a used jacket for him.

As riders we do need to educate others who have not thought about what could happen. Most riders will not listen but we need to try and hopefully the will understand and wear the proper gear before it is too late!

------------------
Dave
Too many curves...so little time

 

[RCjohn]

I saw a similar thing in Knoxville a couple of weeks ago. They had helmets, its the law. But a young girl in shorts sneakers and tanktop. I was so pissed off. It's fine if you want to be an idiot but don't put you child in that kind of danger. If I had been on my motorcycle it would have been hard not to catch him and educate him. Catching them and educating them would not do any good. I believe that you folks are correct that it would be more dangerous.

It's probably the same dumbasses that smoke in the car with the kids present. If this offends any of you, tough sh*t. I was one of those kids that put up with the smoke in the car and I have some lung damage that is IMO due to it.

------------------
John

"If Harley made an airplane... would you fly in it?"

 

[swdunn]

Call me an a** if you like but if he was in his legal right to be without any safety gear, who am I to judge him for not putting value into his life or the life of his passenger.
I am a person who believes in assessing blame where blame is due. If he crashes and burns it's tragic but he could have protected himself had he chosen to do so.
Every day we ride, someone looks at us and thinks we're crazy for even riding a motorcycle, because those things get people killed. Well HELLO bikes don't kill people PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE.
Life is full of decisions and each individual has to be prepared to accept the consequences of their decisions. As far as the kid, hopefully she was his daughter and his responsibility.

------------------
'99 GSX-R 750
Stress relief at it's best....

 

[colin409]

There you are jumping to conclusions. You don't know that she was eight. She could have been nine. Hell, she could have even been his midget girlfriend for all you know. No, but really I agree with swdunn. It's OK for us to sit here and say he is stupid, but as long as he wasn't getting caught it was his choice to make. That's what this country is all about, choices, even when they are bad choices. By the way, my favorites are the parents with their kids jumping all around the back seats of their car.

------------------
Colin
FloridaSportbikers
My Home Page

 

[RCjohn]

swdunn and colin,

Please tell us you don't have children and don't plan to soon.

I don't think anyone is questioning the legality of the act, just the sanity. Choice is one thing but placing a minor in that type of danger is another. No one suggested laws to prevent this, just suggested that a law officer might help by educating the guy.

It's not against the law to give my four year old nephew a loaded pistol and send him into my brothers backyard unsupervised to shoot at stuff but it would be stupid.

I used my nephew as an example because it would be illegal in my backyard.

------------------
John

"If Harley made an airplane... would you fly in it?"

 

[VYPIR]

I would have turned the Mutha***** in. Not only is this a huge act of stupidity, it is child endangerment. This moron is not mentally qualified to be a parent. I just hope the little girl will survive the the foolishness of that idiot.

------------------
You get the best thrills on two wheels!

 

[Hammer]

The guy is an idiot. Choices are one thing, but the child is too young to make choices for herself, and he is obviously too stupid to make them for her. There are probably laws already in effect to cover this. Just like the laws about kids and seatbelts, there is probably a law about kids and bikes. Might be something to ask in case you see the dork again.

------------------
That don't fix it? Get a bigger Hammer
1993 GSXR 1100

 

[F4Missile]

*Cough* Moron *Cough*

Obviously the guy is an idiot and that is too bad because it gives motorcyclists a bad reputation. I guess there is always someone out there who is gonna be stupid.

Also, I saw one of the guys I ride with last night, and he was wearing his helmet but he only had on a tank top, shorts, and tennis shoes. See what I mean?? There is always one.

------------------
If ya smmmmeeeeeellll what The Rock, is cookin'??

 

[colin409]

John,

I would never let my child near my bike without a helmet. I don't ride without one, so why would I let my child do it? It goes without saying that this guy is an idiot, I'm just saying that he has the right to be an idiot.

By the way, I know it is against the law in all states to allow a minor to operate a handgun unsupervised. It is a federal law that in order to operate a hangun unsupervised you must be 21 years of age. If you let your child operate a handgun usupervised then child services will be all over you. Unfortunately their is no such law regarding helmet use for minors in many states.

Going after some idiot and trying to educate him is more than likely going to elude an idiotic response. In my opinion it is not worth loosing my life to try to save a child that is doomed to be raised by an idiot regardless of what I say or do.

I hope you don't have any children as of yet, as it would be a real shame for them to have to go without a father, because you tried to heroically save a girl from the inevitable.

------------------
Colin
FloridaSportbikers
My Home Page

 

[RCjohn]

Colin,

I like the doomed kid point. Thanks for the info on unsupervised minors with handguns. I was not aware of it. Glad it's there.

BTW I have no children and was just giving you a hard time. I also do understand your point. I think we actually have the same opinion of the situation, it's just pisses me off to see children put in that kind of danger. Makes me think back to when we used to ride on the tailgate of Dad's truck when we were in elementary school, but only on the Freeway :rooleyes: . What was he thinking.

------------------
John

"If Harley made an airplane... would you fly in it?"

 

[rponiarski]

Yes, it is his right to be an idiot, but not to put a child at risk. Neither my 12 year old son, nor my 10 year old daughter ride without gear, helmet, jacket, jeans at least, boots and gloves. My daughter doesn't go often, but my son and I are out every week and won't even think about riding without gear on...I hope they make good riders one day as well.

Richard

 

[GreenNinja]

All I can say is ARIZONA law REQUIRES helmets on ANYONE under the age of 18.

If he was in AZ you could have tried to get a cop (or SOMEONE) to pull him over or notify the authorities and im sure they would have came down on him like Dogs on a Rabbit.

The guy need to have his 'M' endorsement revoked.

------------------
Fear Green.

 

[Rug Burn]

Why do we live in a society that needs laws to dictate personal safety for the people? That is the truely sad thing IMO. Why does there need to be a law to tell that guy that it is foolish, stupid, idiotic, and careless for him to have a child on the back of a motorcycle with anything less than a helmet on? I agree that his child is his responsibility--responsible being the key word. Responsible for a life that is not yet capable of making sound choices for herself. If he doesn't value his childs safety and welfare...maybe someone else would.

------------------
Clark

 

[jimmyjr]

That guy needs a REAL beatin'. So do all the other retarts who ride w/out all the necessary gear.Only this guy decided to endanger the life of a little girl..My 4 year old son goes riding with me ALL the time, and I would NEVER EVER even think of letting him on the back w/out all his gear: Full motocross gear(kneepads, elbowpads, chest protector, goggles, and his lid...I'd make him wear gloves, but I can't find a pair small enough for him...Even the xs kids ones have LONG fingers and would compromise his grip onto the "buddy belt" that we use when we ride...Those things are AWESOME for kids..P.S. You should have bitch slapped that guy after following him home.....Too bad you had to see that.....

------------------

 

[Guest]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Aril, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Why do we live in a society that needs laws to dictate personal safety for the people?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Because most people don't know whats best for them!

Because it is my F**kin tax money that pays for the truck(s) that scrape people with no helmets off the ground! That was just a joke...


OK in response to the origional question, I would take the guys plates and report him. There must be some sort of Child neglect law or something?


------------------
Whatever that little sheep said is a damn lie !!

[This message has been edited by Squidwannabe (edited August 08, 2000).]

 

[DoubleAught]

While I share in your concern for the well-being of a child in the custody of irresponsible parents, here's something to think about - I recently read in the paper that it is becoming more & more commonplace to prosecute parents who refuse to maintain their children on Ritalin, which is something I never would have done to my son. At precisely what point should the gov't act "in the best interest of the child"?
P. S. Squidwannabe, now that Canada has declared war on the U. S. by using its' military to board a ship owned by a US corp., you know we'll be invading soon. I plan on riding my bike to the invasion, and will need a list of places to go & things to do. Cooperate, and I'll tell 'em to go easy on ya!!

------------------

 

[swdunn]

"Far be it from me to impose my standards on anybody else"


"I don't think anyone is questioning the legality of the act, just the sanity."


"I agree that his child is his responsibility --responsible being the key word."


"Choices are one thing, but the child is too
young to make choices for herself, and he is obviously too stupid to make them for her."


Hmmmmm...
So let's say you walk into Walmart and buy a television, when you get home and open the box what do you find inside (besides styrofoam)? Give up ?... An instruction manual. Almost everything you ever acquire will come with an instruction manual.

If anyone still has the original instruction manual that came with their kid can you fax me a copy of it, I think I left mine at the hospital, both times, RCjohn (I have two great sons-FYI).

Yeah the guy made a bad decision and hopefully it didn't get anyone hurt. I do have a solution to the moronic parent infestation problem though. Here goes:

At birth the Government will sterilize all neonates.

In kindergarten the Government can show films of bad traffic accidents and what happens to kids who were not in seatbelts or didn't wear helments during motorcycle wrecks.

In sixth grade the Government can show the trial of the fourteen yaer old girl who was recently arrested and charged with second degree attempted murder here in Osceola County, FL. fro putting her newborn baby in a trash can and leaving her for dead.

In twelth grade the government can make it a requirement of gradutation for all students to attend a scared straight program and learn that most of our convicted felons are the children of dysfunctional families.

After high school it will be mandated by the Government that if you want to apply to have children you must be a college graduate.

In college the Government will make it mandatory that applicants for parenthood take classes in Domestic Relations, Stress Management, and other basic classes like How Not to be a Moronic parent.

After becoming a college graduate an applicant will have to take the full four hour psych test, personality assessment, and pay the appropriate Government authority an outrageous fee at which time their sterilization could be reversed and they will be free to have kids.

So what do ya think ?


------------------
'99 GSX-R 750
Stress relief at it's best....