Overseas News
Biking around the world
Kneck braces for bikers?
St. Louis University biomechanist Jack Engsberg is designing a shield that would protect both the head and neck. The shield is a molded fibreglass sheath, reinforced with steel rods that shepherd impact forces from a skullcap to the shoulders, bypassing the neck.
"Clearly, this prototype is not something that someone would wear," Engsberg concedes.
There are some benefits to the design. Most helmets tightly wrap the head and, moreover, require the head to hold up the helmet. With the shield, on the other hand, there's about an inch of space separating the head and the skullcap, offering greater freedom of movement. Engsberg said a refined version could be made more breathable with an apple-pie lattice of fibreglass strips.
He noted that motorcyclists could buy helmets and armoured jackets - but that no one had protected the neck by uniting the two concepts.
The researchers say the shield also could help horse riders. In a 1995 equestrian event, actor Christopher Reeve was thrown from his horse and landed on his head. He broke his neck and suffered a severe spinal cord injury even though he was wearing a helmet and protective vest.
More on this wonderful idea here http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/living/17095952.htm
Michigan USA
Backers of a long-running quest to free Michigan motorcyclists of the requirement that they wear helmets launched a renewed effort Monday -- hoping to sway skeptics by paying a fee for bareheaded riding that could bring the state $25 million.
One important skeptic: Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who vetoed the last attempt to make helmets optional in the state. Granholm thinks the law saves lives, spokeswoman Michelle Begnoche said.
The latest no-helmet plan would create a license plate sticker to certify a rider was at least 21 and had personal injury insurance and two years of motorcycle experience.
The stickers would cost $100 a year or $200 for three years, and would raise as much as $25 million for the cash-strapped state government, said state Rep. Barbara Farrah, D-Southgate, the bill's chief sponsor.
Australia
The Queensland Police Minister Judy Spence has accused hospitals and charities of giving "bikie gangs"a "veneer of respectability" by accepting their donations from charity runs. She brands all motorcycle Clubs as outlaw groups.
The Australian Motorcycle Rider Association made the comment that not all club riders were in criminal gangs, and should not be painted with that brush.
Nevada USA
ABATE of Nevada supports the helmet modification bill, SB49, that would allow freedom of choice to riders 18 & older.
Des Moines Iowa USA:
ABATE members killed two helmet bills this year by getting themselves to the capitol and talking to their legislators, some of whom they have helped during their election campaigns. One legislator who kept trying to get a helmet law passed in Iowa did NOT get re-elected.
New Jersey
Assembly Bill 3701 was introduced by Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose (R-Sparta), and it would establish a Lane Splitting Task Force to focus on whether to allow motorcycles to ride between lanes of vehicle traffic during times of congestion.
Portugal
Up to 600 Portuguese motorcyclists have travelled the length of the country, distributing appeals to help find missing Madeleine McCann. Members of the Motards da Praia motorcycling club in the village of Praia da Luz rode wearing crosses made of ribbons - yellow in honour of Madeleine and a green ribbon. In Portugal green is the colour of hope because of its association with spring. The riders have distributed pictures of Madelaine to ensure their whole country knows of her disappearance.
Thanks to Bill BISH of NCOM USA for this information.
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