[SCraig]

I agree! You should be thanked for setting a good example. Many of us should, but it seldom happens.

The situation is the same everywhere, I think, and something I saw a few weeks ago really stuck in my mind. I was in Indiana (yes, on my VFR) and north of Evansville highway 41 is 4 lanes wide with a 60mph speed limit. There was a kid on a little scooter running about 35mph, no helmet, shorts and a t-shirt, talking on a cell phone. He was completely oblivious to the traffic swerving around him from behind. I've wondered just about every day since whether or not he is still in one piece.

The lessons these kids are apparently being taught is that motorcycles are NOT dangerous, that they will NOT get hurt on them, and that it is OK to ride without protective gear or any safety training at all. They see people on bikes with no protective gear, not even a helmet, and think that's normal. Maybe it is "Normal" in many places, but it certainly isn't real smart.