So they repealed the manadatory helmet laws in Pennsylvania today. If my experience driving out west is any indication, fewer people will be riding with helmets than without. I don't think we need a manadatory helmet law. What we need is a community that recognizes the value of helmets and encourages their use... to the point where riding without one would be taboo. I saw this riding in California. It was the only state where I saw people riding with full safety gear. Once out of the urban areas an into the country-side twisties, I'd wager there are more people in full gear (armoured jacket, pants, gloves, and boots + full face helmet) than not. This is all a result of community self-policing. Unfortunately, the community we (in PA) do have glorifies riding without a helmet, with the Harley guys leading the way. I'm always surprised how conformist HD (and look-alike cruiser) riders are. I guess because most of that crowd are just weekend-badasses trying to fit in... they purposely bought their way into renegade culture. For a few hours a week they aren't married with kids and a minivan. Those guys are exactly the type that need to be wearing a helmet. They are perfectly within their rights to kill themselves, but they have a responsibility to their families. These are also the guys with the least skill, on the least capable bikes (heavy, slow steering, under-braked.) The cruiser community needs to tone down the anti-helmet machissmo, so that someone's father isn't pressured into leaving his at home. The local sportriders group, the Golden Triangle Riders, staged a protest ride... Full face helmets, gloves, boots and underwear. Pretty cool idea... the underwear stunt brought the local TV cameras out. But more importantly the group has a solid pro-helmet stance... a positive influence on the other members and their network of friends.