As riders, we know that freedom is more than just a word; it’s a way of life. It’s also something we must constantly defend. One of the most important, and often misunderstood, freedoms we’ve fought for in the motorcyclists’ rights movement is the freedom of choice when it comes to wearing a helmet.
Many riders today may not realize that our movement was born out of resistance to helmet mandates. In the 1970s, the federal government attempted to coerce states into enacting mandatory helmet laws by threatening to withhold highway funding. That sparked outrage and mobilized riders across the country. Grassroots organizations emerged, fueled by passion and a deep commitment to personal liberty. Through years of lobbying, protests, and legislative action, riders reclaimed the freedom of choice state by state.
But victories are never permanent. As President Ronald Reagan so wisely warned, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”
We are now seeing the truth of that warning. A new generation of riders, many of whom have never known a time without the option of helmet choice, may not feel the urgency that once united us. This year, a bill was introduced in Pennsylvania to establish a new helmet mandate. Last year, bikers in Illinois fought back against a similar proposal and likely will continue to face comparable legislation.
The question now is, will we act to defend our freedom of choice? And if we don’t do it, who will?
At the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF), we continue to closely monitor state and federal legislation, but we cannot do it alone. We need every biker, young and old, to understand what’s at stake and to get involved. Talk to your fellow riders. Educate new motorcyclists about our history. Support your state motorcyclists’ rights organizations (SMROs). And above all, stay alert to legislative threats that seek to erode the freedoms we’ve fought so hard to preserve.
Let’s not be the generation that lets our freedom slip away.
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