WA - Seattle lifts bike helmet law due to racism

[Anti Federalist]

Well, I'll be dipped.

Didn't think there was one, but there it is: a trump card to "Safety uber alles".



With a Commitment to Equity: Board of Health Updates King County’s Bike Helmet Policy

https://publichealthinsider.com/2022...helmet-policy/

Public Health Insider

Bike helmets save lives and help prevent serious injuries. A review of several published studies estimates that bike helmets provide a 63-88% reduction in the risk of head and brain injuries for people who ride bikes. As part of the movement to encourage the use of bike helmets, the King County Board of Health passed a law in 1993 requiring anyone riding a bike to wear a helmet.

However, data presented to the Board of Health has shown racist and discriminatory enforcement. Seattle Police Department data collected and analyzed by Seattle Neighborhood Greenways and the Helmet Law Working Group shows that police disproportionately gave helmet law citations to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color cyclists.

Their analysis found that Black riders were nearly four times as likely to be cited by police for not wearing a helmet while biking compared to White riders. Further, in Seattle, nearly half of the citations issued for biking without a helmet were given to people living homeless.

In light of this data, and in alignment with the Board of Health’s declaration of Racism as a Public Health crisis, on February 17, 2022, the Board of Health repealed the King County bike helmet law while affirming the importance of helmets in preventing serious injury and death. In a companion resolution passed in the same meeting, the Board of Health emphasized the importance of helmet use for bikes, scooters and other similar vehicles and committed to work with community partners to expand access to low and no-cost helmets, provide education on helmet safety, and support the improvements for safer bike infrastructure.

To help support more equitable access to helmets, the King County Council allocated $221,000 in the supplemental budget passed in November 2021 to support Public Health’s work distributing free helmets to those who may have trouble accessing them and promoting bike safety.

“As a cyclist, I know the many health, social and environmental benefits of biking. As a former ER doctor who has treated people with preventable head injuries, I also know the importance of wearing a bike helmet. And as Health Officer, I appreciate that community partners have highlighted the negative impacts of discriminatory enforcement of the helmet law. The bottom line is that Public Health continues to strongly recommend and encourage helmet use, especially by children.”
Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County

During testimony to the Board of Health in June 2021, a Real Change newspaper vendor who lives homeless reported having been stopped by police twice for not wearing a helmet while biking: “I don’t think it has to do with protection or anything else, it’s just total harassment. …I don’t see that this is really fair to the entire population. I don’t see why some can ride without helmets and others get stopped and harassed.”

“There is no question that bike helmets are a vital part of protecting the public’s health. I’m particularly grateful to King County Council for dedicating funds to support our work to expand bike helmet usage and bike safety,” “When we declared racism a public health crisis, we committed to working closely with BIPOC communities to promote public policies and practices that ensure better health and safety for all without doing harm to Black and Brown people. The recent action from the Board of Health removes a policy that has resulted in racist enforcement, while re-emphasizing the importance of wearing a bike helmet coupled with County resources to make bike safety more accessible for all.”
Dennis Worsham, Interim Director for Public Health – Seattle & King County

Free bike helmet resources

Wearing a properly fitted helmet while riding a bike is vital to protecting against potential head injuries. Public Health and the Board of Health strongly encourage everyone to wear a helmet while riding a bike. Many programs and organizations in King County provide free or reduced-cost bike helmets, and King County Council has allocated additional funds to support expanded access to low and no-cost bike helmets.

Check out our list of where to find free and low-cost helmets in King County. Learn more about proper bike helmet fit and other bike safety resources on our bicycle safety webpage.

Originally published February 17, 2022.

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[dannno]

They will probably just create a new law that says only white people need to wear bike helmets, because that isn't racist. They will also be required to wear them at all times.

[otherone]

Tomorrow's headline: "Racist pavement assaults unprotected BIPOC children"

[pcosmar]

King County
nuff said

[TheTexan]

They should probably stop prosecuting violent crimes because it leads to a disproportionate number of black people getting arrested

[TheTexan]

They will probably just create a new law that says only white people need to wear bike helmets, because that isn't racist. They will also be required to wear them at all times.

A quota system would also work. Every time a black person gets fined for wearing a helmet, a white person must also be fined at the same time

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

I said a long time ago that I would never visit that loser city ever again.

[sparebulb]

Good.

Seat belts are racist as well.

Not to mention open container laws.

This is a silver lining.

There are not likely to be very many more.

[dannno]

Good.

Seat belts are racist as well.

Not to mention open container laws.

This is a silver lining.

There are not likely to be very many more.

Drug laws are extremely racist.

[TheTexan]

Drug laws are extremely racist.

They used to be sure - its why they were created. But are they still?

[tebowlives]

Drug laws are extremely racist.

They used to be sure - its why they were created. But are they still?

Speaking of, I'd like to know where they get the marijuana use is the same between blacks and whites yet blacks are arrested more often. I understand the crime in the bad neighborhoods draws the police but I don't think the usage rates are the same. Here are some facts and we know 70% of black children are raised in a single parent environment.

Children who live in a fatherless home are 279% more likely to deal drugs or carry firearms for offensive purposes compared to children who live with their fathers.

75% of children in chemical dependency hospitals are from single-parent families.

When compared to children in intact married homes, children raised by single parents are more likely to have emotional and behavioral problems; be physically abused; smoke, drink, and use drugs; be aggressive; engage in violent, delinquent, and criminal behavior; have poor school performance; be expelled from school; and drop out of high school.

[Anti Globalist]

What law will Seattle get rid of next?

[Anti Federalist]

They should probably stop prosecuting violent crimes because it leads to a disproportionate number of black people getting arrested

A quota system would also work. Every time a black person gets fined for wearing a helmet, a white person must also be fined at the same time

I like this idea.

It should be applied to felony crimes as well.

Every time a colored person is arrested for murder, a random white person must be arrested for murder as well.

You are a Great American©

[Brian4Liberty]

...Their analysis found that Black riders were nearly four times as likely to be cited by police for not wearing a helmet while biking compared to White riders. Further, in Seattle, nearly half of the citations issued for biking without a helmet were given to people living homeless....

They should probably stop prosecuting violent crimes because it leads to a disproportionate number of black people getting arrested

But how would you know it is "disproportionate"? You would first have to know what proportion of bicyclists without helmets were black and/or homeless.

[dannno]

Speaking of, I'd like to know where they get the marijuana use is the same between blacks and whites yet blacks are arrested more often. I understand the crime in the bad neighborhoods draws the police but I don't think the usage rates are the same. Here are some facts and we know 70% of black children are raised in a single parent environment.

Children who live in a fatherless home are 279% more likely to deal drugs or carry firearms for offensive purposes compared to children who live with their fathers.

75% of children in chemical dependency hospitals are from single-parent families.

When compared to children in intact married homes, children raised by single parents are more likely to have emotional and behavioral problems; be physically abused; smoke, drink, and use drugs; be aggressive; engage in violent, delinquent, and criminal behavior; have poor school performance; be expelled from school; and drop out of high school.

Because smoking herb these days is like social drinking.. I went to a white suburban high school and a largely white suburban University, pretty much everybody smoked herb.. but a lot of people who smoke herb do not use hard drugs. Tupac and Dave Chappelle taught us that.

[tebowlives]

Because smoking herb these days is like social drinking.. I went to a white suburban high school and a largely white suburban University, pretty much everybody smoked herb.. but a lot of people who smoke herb do not use hard drugs. Tupac and Dave Chappelle taught us that.

I don't think there are solid studies on this. I believe it's surveys.

Cali 2009		rates per 1000
Age	Arrests	of population
<18	14585	321.4
18-20	16041	870.1
21-24	11529	518.4
25-29	7468	285.1
30-39	6136	117.7
40-49	3590	62.7
50-59	1523	30.9
60+	292	9.2

About half are under 21. So wouldn't it stand to reason the ones "breaking the law" whether it be drinking or smoking happens more so with children raised in a single parent environment?

Like social drinking, social smoking at younger ages isn't handled well by those that do it compared to those older.

[pcosmar]

I belonged to ABATE in 2 different states,, and all we had to do was scream racism.. Who knew?

[pcosmar]

I don't think there are solid studies on this.

Observations.
There are a half dozen Cannabis outlets in town,, I have a favorite,, and the customers I observe are a wide selection.

From young working folk to old graybeards,, a few professional looking folk,, no kids.

There was a sign on the door under the STATE NOTICE that read,

If you are not wearing a mask, we will assume you have an exemption

and no questions asked.

[Anti Federalist]

I belonged to ABATE in 2 different states,, and all we had to do was scream racism.. Who knew?

Me too...who would've thunk it?

Were you a member before they went weak?

When it was still called "A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments"?

I still got one their patches around somewhere...

[pcosmar]

Me too...who would've thunk it?

Were you a member before they went weak?

When it was still called "A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments"?

I still got one their patches around somewhere...

Missouri and Florida,,

ended Helmet Laws in Florida.

edit,
I never knew is was changed,, that old

[Anti Federalist]

edit,
I never knew is was changed,, that old

They also managed to beat back the NHTSA from banning choppers and bobbers.

ABATE (American Bikers Aimed Toward Education) is a motorcycle rights organization that brings attention to issues affecting riders. Members have pushed for the repeal of helmet laws and are involved in safety training and charity work.

The group started in 1971 when Easyriders, a motorcycle magazine, started publishing for adult bikers. Lou Kimzey was the editor. At the same time, the National Custom Cycle Safety Institute was established, and Easyriders staff members were part of the group for distributors and manufacturers. They wanted to devise safety standards for custom parts, mostly front ends and frames with raked necks.

ABATE Founded
The magazine began a bikers' organization called the National Custom Cycle Association, later changed to A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments (ABATE). By 1972, Keith Ball had become an associate editor and director of ABATE. The organization deployed coordinators to several states so bikers could organize locally.

Through Ball's work and Kimzey's guidance, ABATE located area coordinators in several states to help organize bikers so that they could better represent ABATE. The group worked to ensure safe parts; without their efforts, there may not have been choppers on the road.

In March 1977, ABATE, through the help of EASYRIDERS staff, held a state coordinators meeting in Daytona, Florida. ABATE decided as a lobbying organization to discourage back patches on cut-offs, so as not to be considered a "club" by outlaw groups, police, or citizens. ABATE also decided to get organized. Nominations were held and five state coordinators were elected as a steering committee to take ideas from members and chapters and turn the results into a charter and bylaws.

Fuzzy Davy, from ABATE of Virginia, was elected spokesman of the steering committee, which also included Donna Oaks from ABATE of Kansas, Russell Davis (Padre) from ABATE of Pennsylvania, Wanda Hummell from ABATE of Indiana, and John Herlihy (Rogue) from ABATE of Connecticut. A meeting was set for Labor Day at the second national ABATE get-together in Lake Perry, Kansas. This gave the steering committee seven months to get organized.

Organizing Leads to Disagreement
Kimzey couldn't make the Kansas meeting because of a sudden illness but sent Ball, Joe Teresi, union organizer Pat Coughlin, and Ron Roliff, business agent of the Modified Motorcycle Association (MMA), in his place. At this meeting, a proposal for a new national organization including a five-member board of directors was presented by people from Easyriders.

Discord arose when people learned that no state coordinators or ABATE people would be on the board, which instead would comprise people from California led by Roliff. This intimidated a lot of ABATE people. Also, none of the ABATE steering committee recommendations were considered.

After a lot of infighting, state coordinators were asked to submit to Kimzey their ideas for change. Kimzey apologizing for missing the Kansas meeting and announced that he was scheduling a meeting in Sacramento, California, in October 1977. He paid the steering committee members' airfares and put them up in a hotel, then attempted to explain how things had gotten out of hand. ABATE people who weren't invited to this meeting provoked attacks against Kimzey and Easyriders. Kimsey told people attending the meeting that he and Easyriders were relinquishing the organization to the people attending the Sacramento meeting.

Two Groups Formed
From this, two national organizations were formed: one in Sacramento, the other in Washington, D.C. The latter was formed by all state ABATE organizations. In March 1978, ABATE chapters held another meeting in Daytona. The Sacramento people sent Coughlin with a proposal that was rejected by the ABATE organizations attending. The ABATE chapters were told that the Sacramento group wouldn't change its name (National ABATE) and would conduct business as usual.

It was decided that the Washington group should be dissolved and that the states should get back to doing what they were formed to do: fight state anti-motorcycle legislation.

ABATE Today
ABATE formed five regions in the country, each with about 10 states. Each region has a coordinator who manages information between independent state ABATE organizations. Because of the infighting involved in trying to form a national organization and the funds required, another attempt to create a national group is unlikely. In the meantime, ABATE members all over the country are taking care of business as always.

[dannno]

I don't think there are solid studies on this. I believe it's surveys.

Cali 2009		rates per 1000
Age	Arrests	of population
<18	14585	321.4
18-20	16041	870.1
21-24	11529	518.4
25-29	7468	285.1
30-39	6136	117.7
40-49	3590	62.7
50-59	1523	30.9
60+	292	9.2

About half are under 21. So wouldn't it stand to reason the ones "breaking the law" whether it be drinking or smoking happens more so with children raised in a single parent environment?

Like social drinking, social smoking at younger ages isn't handled well by those that do it compared to those older.

It happens because kids party. They drive around to lots of parties on the weekend carrying their herb, or could be out committing other crimes on the street.

Maybe it was because I went to the best party school in the country, but I think that only accounted for the frequency.. everybody always started on wednesday night with a group of 4-12 or so maybe. Then Thursday was going out to other parties or going down to the clubs. Friday and Saturday was full blown Neighbors (Seth Rogen and Zac Efron), every couple houses or so for 8 blocks.

Since there was no driving involved, anybody could walk the entire town, the only people I knew of who got arrested for herb was one guy who was growing it, and another friend who was pissing behind a car, police saw him and searched him and got him on that. Otherwise they didn't care, half my friends sold herb, everybody took it everywhere. I imagine there probably is a pretty big discrepancy by race, but I don't know the full cause of that. Police are probably worried they might have harder drugs and just find herb, there was not a lot of hard drug use at the party school I went to.

All the other colleges were similar with the party atmoshphere, just not with the same frequency and gusto. When I went home, the kids who stayed at community college partied with the kids who just stayed home and got a job or whatever.

Older people who smoke herb don't take as many risks that would get them caught. They will have a bong in their bedroom or smoke a joint once in a while. They aren't carrying their herb everywhere to their friends houses all the time and getting into mischief.

[pcosmar]

They also managed to beat back the NHTSA from banning choppers and bobbers.

Also joined NORML back in the 70s..
Slow coming but the effect is seen.

Never Give Up,, Never Surrender

[otherone]

Speaking of, I'd like to know where they get the marijuana use is the same between blacks and whites yet blacks are arrested more often. I understand the crime in the bad neighborhoods draws the police but I don't think the usage rates are the same. Here are some facts and we know 70% of black children are raised in a single parent environment.

Children who live in a fatherless home are 279% more likely to deal drugs or carry firearms for offensive purposes compared to children who live with their fathers.

75% of children in chemical dependency hospitals are from single-parent families.

When compared to children in intact married homes, children raised by single parents are more likely to have emotional and behavioral problems; be physically abused; smoke, drink, and use drugs; be aggressive; engage in violent, delinquent, and criminal behavior; have poor school performance; be expelled from school; and drop out of high school.

This could also be seen as a criticism of women as parents.

[Matt4Liberty]

I said a long time ago that I would never visit that loser city ever again.

The day I can say that will probably be one of the greatest in my life. Unfortunately I'm stuck in this state for the time being due to employment. I actually had to go to Seattle today.

That being said and although for the wrong reasons, they accidentally did something right. Like others have said, get rid of racist gun laws, racist tax laws, racist wage laws, etc...

[tebowlives]

Observations.
There are a half dozen Cannabis outlets in town,, I have a favorite,, and the customers I observe are a wide selection.

From young working folk to old graybeards,, a few professional looking folk,, no kids.

There was a sign on the door under the STATE NOTICE that read,


and no questions asked.

Because selling to kids is illegal, right?

[tebowlives]

It happens because kids party. They drive around to lots of parties on the weekend carrying their herb, or could be out committing other crimes on the street.

Maybe it was because I went to the best party school in the country, but I think that only accounted for the frequency.. everybody always started on wednesday night with a group of 4-12 or so maybe. Then Thursday was going out to other parties or going down to the clubs. Friday and Saturday was full blown Neighbors (Seth Rogen and Zac Efron), every couple houses or so for 8 blocks.

Since there was no driving involved, anybody could walk the entire town, the only people I knew of who got arrested for herb was one guy who was growing it, and another friend who was pissing behind a car, police saw him and searched him and got him on that. Otherwise they didn't care, half my friends sold herb, everybody took it everywhere. I imagine there probably is a pretty big discrepancy by race, but I don't know the full cause of that. Police are probably worried they might have harder drugs and just find herb, there was not a lot of hard drug use at the party school I went to.

All the other colleges were similar with the party atmoshphere, just not with the same frequency and gusto. When I went home, the kids who stayed at community college partied with the kids who just stayed home and got a job or whatever.

Older people who smoke herb don't take as many risks that would get them caught. They will have a bong in their bedroom or smoke a joint once in a while. They aren't carrying their herb everywhere to their friends houses all the time and getting into mischief.

We know younger people are not as discretionary like adults but what does this have to do with what I posted as far as race?

[tebowlives]

This could also be seen as a criticism of women as parents.

I don't think so. It's about single parenthood.

[pcosmar]

Because selling to kids is illegal, right?

21+
Though in years past,,I sometime purchased from folks younger than myself..

I remember being gifted a nice Colombian Joint,, by a 10 yr old. but that was 70s