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Yearly Obligation

15 August 2009

Yearly Obligation

At some point every year, something prompts me to go into my bike helmet rant. It sually comes on when I see families with children all riding without helmets. But this year's rant came on after seeing a young 20-something friend riding his road bike without a helmet yesterday. The rant, which he heard already, usually involves me stating something about how I would not be here today had I not been wearing a helmet six years ago when an 82-year-old driver took an illegal left turn and T-boned me with his pickup truck in broad daylight.

Invincible 20-somethings just laugh at me when I do the rant so I will take a different approach.

YO! Biker dudes!! Listen up! Seriously, I couldn't care less if you have a death wish and refuse to wear a helmet, but I speak for the rest of humanity. You may not care about me OR yourself, but I care, even if YOU don't. If you won't wear a helmet for yourself, then do it for ME.

1. I am the driver who hit you. I know I wasn't paying attention, and I would do anything to get that one moment back. Had you been wearing a helmet, I would be able to tell you how sorry I am. But now I carry the burden of having killed you.
2. I am your friend who made the sudden movement that caused your accident. I swear I didn't do it on purpose. I carry the burden of being responsible for your death.

3. I am your parents. I will never get over losing you. [In the event that you survive] my life is ruined, as I will spend the rest of my life taking care of your brain-dead body.
4. I am the EMS worker arriving at the scene. Once again, I have to shake my head in dismay at another life wasted because of no helmet. Why won't these cyclists and motorcyclists ever learn? We could have had a great conversation in the ambulance if you were still alive.
5. I am the first person to arrive at the scene where you wiped out. I had to see your brains scattered on the road.
6. I was the driver in the other lane who had to watch when your head hit the ground. I haven't been able to get a good night's sleep since.
7. I am the undertaker. I had to put back together your head and your face so that you would look presentable at your funeral.
8. I am your family. We always thought you were smarter. Not only do we have to live with the fact that you are dead, but also the fact that you were stupid.
9. I am the kid who looked up to you and thought you were cool. I'll be the one following in your footsteps.
If you still refuse to wear a helmet, at least become an organ doner and carry that information with you when you go biking. Because the one person who may benefit by your death is the person who ends up living with one of your organs.

At some point every year, something prompts me to go into my bike helmet rant. It sually comes on when I see families with children all riding without helmets. But this year's rant came on after seeing a young 20-something friend riding his road bike without a helmet yesterday.

Tags: 
cycling, safety, helmet

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