Time for some motorcycle politics.

[Retired Army]

Is the time approaching when politicians decide a mandatory age at which motorcycle riding is no longer allowed?

[Westdc]

Why NOT? They All Know What's best for everyone else as long as they are excluded! (or) as always above the law they create.

[Cruiseman]

I assume you mean a MAXIMUM age and not a minimum. It all depends on special interest groups. If say, insurance companies, decide that too many older people are having accidents and costing them money, they could lobby for such legislation. I am not sure if there is enough evidence compiled on that yet.

What is more likely would be some busybody Mothers Against Any Motorcycles (MAAM) would be formed, stick their nose into our business and get politicians in the pockets of their Mom jeans.

[Retired Army]

I assume you mean a MAXIMUM age and not a minimum. It all depends on special interest groups. If say, insurance companies, decide that too many older people are having accidents and costing them money, they could lobby for such legislation. I am not sure if there is enough evidence compiled on that yet.

What is more likely would be some busybody Mothers Against Any Motorcycles (MAAM) would be formed, stick their nose into our business and get politicians in the pockets of their Mom jeans.

Yes sir you are correct, I probably should have said decide a rider is too old to be a successful risk manager.

[jmohme]

I assume you mean a MAXIMUM age and not a minimum. It all depends on special interest groups. If say, insurance companies, decide that too many older people are having accidents and costing them money, they could lobby for such legislation. I am not sure if there is enough evidence compiled on that yet.

What is more likely would be some busybody Mothers Against Any Motorcycles (MAAM) would be formed, stick their nose into our business and get politicians in the pockets of their Mom jeans.

I think the insurance companies would just stop selling policies to aged riders if it came down to that.
Now I could see a group like " MAAM " forming. There are plenty of do gooders out there with personal agendas that are more than willing to force their ideas on us under the guise of protecting us self destructive types from ourselves!

[hparsons]

Here in Texas (and I'm sure in many other states), they've already set a minimum age for passengers. I know, I know some riders are in favor of that. I am not. I don't think any government official is better equipped than the parents (and vehicle operator) to decide when a child is "old enough" to be a passenger.

[Kiwi]

Perhaps a mandatory eyesight and skills test when a certain age is achieved and then every so often after that.
That's the set up down here. If you can manage it your good to go.

[TravelinLite]

Here in Texas (and I'm sure in many other states), they've already set a minimum age for passengers. I know, I know some riders are in favor of that. I am not. I don't think any government official is better equipped than the parents (and vehicle operator) to decide when a child is "old enough" to be a passenger.

Amen!

[530ktm]

Is the time approaching when politicians decide a mandatory age at which motorcycle riding is no longer allowed?

Would this mean that the rider can then convert his bike to a trike and continue to enjoy the freedom? How would MAAM deal with that scenario?

[CAC]

There are parents that are not qualified to decide, I saw a dad tie his 4yr old to the back seat of his bike and take off down the road. I personally had a big problem with that.

I don't think if an age limit was set, that it would be for motorcycles only and would be for an operators license for any vehicle. If they would impose a yearly vision or capability test they may have to include all ages so as not to be discrimitory. Possibly a physical like truckers are required to have.

[jmohme]

There are parents that are not qualified to decide, I saw a dad tie his 4yr old to the back seat of his bike and take off down the road. I personally had a big problem with that.

I don't think if an age limit was set, that it would be for motorcycles only and would be for an operators license for any vehicle. If they would impose a yearly vision or capability test they may have to include all ages so as not to be discrimitory. Possibly a physical like truckers are required to have.

I agree 100%
Age limits will not fix anything. Not issuing drivers licenses to unqualified and irresponsible "adults" would fix a lot of things.
Back in the horse and buggy days when I took drivers education in high school, it was drilled into us that a drivers license was a privilege, not a right. When exactly did that concept die?

[hparsons]

There are parents that are not qualified to decide, I saw a dad tie his 4yr old to the back seat of his bike and take off down the road. I personally had a big problem with that.

I also think tying a 4 year old (or a 40 year old, for that matter) to the back seat of a motorcycle is a problem. That's not a motorcycle problem though, and is not remedied by passing a law requiring kids be a certain age.

In spite of how popular "group think" is becoming, being a stupid parent isn't illegal, and shouldn't be (since there are so many views of what should be considered "stupid").

[Wheels]

I think that we will soon see the word "accident" removed from the American lexicon, and replaced with "at fault." What was "your fault" has become "someone else's fault." As such, it is simply a matter of time, in my humble opinion, before "you" will be required to sign a waiver at conception.

[WB-Ron]

I assume you mean a MAXIMUM age and not a minimum. It all depends on special interest groups. If say, insurance companies, decide that too many older people are having accidents and costing them money, they could lobby for such legislation. I am not sure if there is enough evidence compiled on that yet.

What is more likely would be some busybody Mothers Against Any Motorcycles (MAAM) would be formed, stick their nose into our business and get politicians in the pockets of their Mom jeans.

I don't see that happening any time soon. The reason I say that is because it has not yet happened with elderly drivers of cars. I would have to think that by the numbers, there must be many more elderly cage drivers than there are elderly MC riders.

[Z-Man]

I dunno about the maximum age.
Every week there is at least one report on the local news about a motorcycle fatality. 9 times out of ten it's a young guy on a squid
bike.

[speckfisher]

subscribed........

[flyerq68]

I dunno about the maximum age.
Every week there is at least one report on the local news about a motorcycle fatality. 9 times out of ten it's a young guy on a squid
bike.

That's for sure, it's the young invincible types that are the danger. here is a link to a recent example. Also says something about our society in this video.

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/clip/10563301/fatal-motorcycle-ax-asher

[Retired Army]

I am in the waning end of my riding career and the aging process is defiantly a determining factor in the decision making process. With that being said I still want to be the one to decide when it is time to stop all riding activities, not some non riding politician

[kniterider]

But,,, some folks treasure that freedom to drive their car or ride their bike so much that they cease to use common sense in making the correct decision at the appropriate time.. I believe ongoing testing should be implemented instead of a set age .. I had to be the bad one in my family to have my grandmothers license to drive revoked due to her failing depth perception. after her 3rd AT FAULT accident in 6 months.

[hparsons]

But,,, some folks treasure that freedom to drive their car or ride their bike so much that they cease to use common sense in making the correct decision at the appropriate time.. I believe ongoing testing should be implemented instead of a set age .. I had to be the bad one in my family to have my grandmothers license to drive revoked due to her failing depth perception. after her 3rd AT FAULT accident in 6 months.

I don't mind at all a testing process, but frankly I don't think the testing should be accelerated because of age. Personally, I think all operator's licenses (except commercial) are way too easy to obtain and maintain in most areas.

I'm even an advocate of "stepped" motorcycle licenses. Too many kids take a class on a 250cc, and then go buy some overpowered crotch rocket, only for family to find it's their last vehicle ever.