Best typo of the day: "drawing a concussion" LOL. Very nice, Jerry.
Cee ----- Original Message ----- From: Jerry Belloit To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 10:36 PM Subject: [gatortalk] Re: FW: [gatornews] [SUN]: UF Campus News: UF's helmet policy focuses on employees I saw the comment later about increased risk of paralysis from wearing a helmet. I think that there may be more to that analysis before drawing a concussion that helmet wearing is a bad idea. It ignores the many more injuries that are prevented requiring significantly less medical costs. It also ignores the companion benefit of body armor. Finally it ignores the lost income from death or permanent brain disability. jerry From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jerry Belloit Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 10:21 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [gatortalk] Re: FW: [gatornews] [SUN]: UF Campus News: UF's helmet policy focuses on employees Oliver and others, I agree completely. I think it should be the law for any motorized or non-motorized cyclist. I normally am not in favor of too many laws that infringe on a person's freedoms, but when those adverse decisions (such as riding without a helmet) impose costs on me as a tax payer and as a consumer of medical services. There seems to be adequate evidence that wearing a helmet lowers the risk (and expense) of injury. If a helmetless person is injured and requires medical attention, then they are likely to impose a cost on me either through paying for indigent care or even if they are insured, my premiums will reflect their increased medical expenses. As I write this, I also agree that this is verging on being a THFGT thread. Jerry From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Oliver Barry Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 11:35 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [gatortalk] FW: [gatornews] [SUN]: UF Campus News: UF's helmet policy focuses on employees This is probably a thfgt issue, but I think that anyone who rides a bike, motorized or not, without a helmet should have his/her head examined. (pun intended) We ride every weekend and won't let anyone ride with the group without a helmet. Tennessee has a helmet law that has come close to being struck down with each session of the legislature. So far it hasn't. I've lent my voice to those who have a vote many times. Oliver Barry CRS,GRI Real Estate Broker Bob Parks Realty 1517 Hunt Club Blvd Gallatin TN 37066 Phone: 615-826-4040 Fax: 615-822-2027 Mobile: 615-972-4239 UF's helmet policy focuses on employees University also has been zeroing in on those under 21 going without helmet. Elementary education graduate student Katie Kerfoot, 22, wears a helmet while bicycling on campus at the University of Florida on Wednesday. By Nathan Crabbe of Gainesville SUN Published: Friday, June 26, 2009 at 6:01 a.m. Last Modified: Friday, June 26, 2009 at 12:26 a.m. University of Florida President Bernie Machen wears one on his electric bike, but quarterback Tim Tebow has been spotted without one on his motor scooter. Now UF is working to get more people to wear helmets while riding on campus. UF announced a policy this week requiring employees to wear helmets if they're riding a bicycle, moped, motorcycle, scooter or Segway personal transporter while on official university business. "We assume a liability if someone gets hurt, even if it's their personal vehicle," said William Properzio, UF's director of environmental health and safety. "It also sends a message: We would like to see students wear helmets," he added. The effort comes as UF promotes the use of alternate modes of transportation to be a more environmentally sustainable campus. At the same time, the number of scooters and motorcycles registered on campus rose nearly 50 percent in a three-year period. A student's death in December raised safety concerns over those vehicles. The 22-year-old student was riding his scooter without a helmet on University Avenue when he was rear-ended and critically injured, according to a police report. Since then, University Police have stepped up enforcement of a state law that requires motorcycle and scooter riders under age 21 to wear a helmet. Police are able to identify those drivers because they have special white license plates. "We've had a minimal number of citations but it is something that we try to enforce," said University Police Lt. Robert Wagner. Police won't be enforcing UF's new helmet policy for employees. Properzio said supervisors in particular departments will enforce the policy, which applies to personal vehicles on official business as well as the handful of university-owned scooters and two-wheeled electronic Segways. UF's Facilities Planning and Construction division has two Segways, although one is out of commission from a collision between it and a bicyclist. No one was hurt. The division has already bought several helmets to comply with the new policy. Miles Albertson, a project manager for the division, said he's been riding Segways for five years without incident. But he supports the new rule. "I've been a motorcycle rider for many years," he said. "Slipping a helmet on doesn't bother me a bit." Others are less enthusiastic. Maurice Sarns, a senior computer support specialist, said he's commuted on a bicycle for 30 years without use of what he deems a "Styrofoam beanie." He said he could see using a helmet for mountain biking or road biking at a high speed, not for riding around campus. "In traffic, my main concern is not getting run over," he said. Machen has been ahead of the policy with the electric bicycle that he occasionally drives to campus. He's worn an orange Gator helmet when riding it. The new policy comes as the number of motorcycle and scooters on campus has skyrocketed. Nearly 4,000 permits were issued for the vehicles in 2007-08, as compared with nearly 2,700 in 2005-06, according to UF's Transportation and Parking Services. This year's number was slightly down but didn't include summer numbers. One of the scooter riders is Tebow, who was photographed last year riding without a helmet - an image that caused consternation among UF officials. "This policy won't apply to (Tebow)," Properzio said. "He isn't on the payroll." --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
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