NY motorcyclist dies on ride protesting helmet law

ONONDAGA, N.Y. (AP) — Police say a motorcyclist participating in a protest ride against helmet laws in upstate New York died after he flipped over the bike's handlebars and hit his head on the pavement.

The accident happened Saturday afternoon in the town of Onondaga, in central New York near Syracuse.

State troopers tell The Post-Standard of Syracuse that 55-year-old Philip A. Contos of Parish, N.Y., was driving a 1983 Harley Davidson with a group of bikers who were protesting helmet laws by not wearing helmets.

Troopers say Contos hit his brakes and the motorcycle fishtailed. The bike spun out of control, and Contos toppled over the handlebars. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Troopers say Contos would have likely survived if he had been wearing a helmet.
___
Information from: The Post-Standard, http://www.syracuse.com

Karma's a b*tch, aint it???

I don't think that's Karma. He didn't do anything wrong. I'd call it sad irony.

You don't have to wear helmets here in PA. I see alot of motorcyclists riding without helmets.

I believe in the helmet law. People say it's like a Nanny State. I say no more than the seat belt law.

They make helmets for a reason. It's sad that this guy and others think that they can cheat death. That perhaps they are so 'manly' that they don't need a helmet. I wonder if his death will convince any of his fellow protestors that they need to wear a helmet afterall.

Again, the very definition of IRONY!!!! There's no helmet law here in Ohio, either. I've never understood that.

I figured this may be the right place to ask, are motorcycles / motor scooters allowed to go in-between lanes on the road?

All the time when I'm on the expressway stuck in traffic there's always a motorcycle that goes ZOOOOMMM right in-between everyone. Some other drivers get pissed off at this and they start honking.

I figured this may be the right place to ask, are motorcycles / motor scooters allowed to go in-between lanes on the road?

All the time when I'm on the expressway stuck in traffic there's always a motorcycle that goes ZOOOOMMM right in-between everyone. Some other drivers get pissed off at this and they start honking.
I don't think they are. A motor scooter did that to me the other day too.

Ugh, that's yet another annoying thing about traffic. :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Karma Natural selection's a b*tch, aint it???

FTFY

FTFY

Thank you.

I don't like motorcycles to begin with but a few weeks ago a supervisor in my office was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident. Apparently he and his wife were turning a corner at 25MPH and hit a sign. He has 6 broken ribs and a broken collar bone. I felt horrible when I heard the news, but I think he's supposed to be back to work in the middle of the month. Thank God they were both wearing helmets, because I don't even want to think about what could have happened.

I remember when that happened. I'm so happy he's going to be OK!!!

Ironic..... I think that's a sign.

Anyways, I don't think that it should be a law to wear a helmet. I agree that people should wear them, but it should be more of a common sense thing. Its kind of like making a law that states you're not allowed to stick a fork into your toaster. We all know that its dangerous, but I don't think that the cops stating its illegal will actually do anything about it. It seems the minute that something is said to be illegal, everyone wants to do it, and then they go out of their way to sneak past the cops. It sounds childish, but I know a lot of people that are that way. They are told to do something for their own good and they automatically think "who are they to tell me what to do? iIt's my life." and then rebel just to prove a point. Like I said, stupid and childish, but that's just how some people are.