How do you persuade someone to wear protection?

[Mark_SV]

No, I'm not talking about condoms

Actually, I'm having a boots day on PH today.

My bro also motors on two wheels, albeit a scooter. (A pretty big scooter, mind, that's toured round the M25.) Having been knocked off already by a SMIDSY, he has now treated himself to a helmet that actually fits this time. Despite this, how do I persuade him to wear protective gear? Especially something tougher than trainers and flip flops for his tootsies? Them scooter riders just don't seem to be taken with bright red, squeaking Vertebras for some reason.

Any PHers got any ideas?

[Davel]

Take him to visit an A & E department?

Used to crew for an emergency ambulance on the Isle of Man, a good while back.

As part of the ongoing training, we used to get lectures using slides from a trauma unit.

Certainly made the desired impact

>> Edited by Davel on Tuesday 1st February 21:47

[BliarOut]

Not a very good X-Ray, but that's my femur with 4" missing after hitting a car at just 30MPH!!

[pesty]

you will probably never convince him to wear "proper bike gear" for a scooter main reason being he will probably think it looks daft and uncool.

I have seen "armoured" trainers that look normal and things that look like armoured dock martins.

Also there are armoured jeans and cargo pants which you can wear. pretty sure there are many casual looking jackets around if you look.

I would wager that it woul dbe far easier getting him to wear stuff like that. Don't forget if hes young he will think hes invincible anyway so he wont beleive you if you tell him hell get hurt

[doogalman]

Don't think you can. People either do or don't. Sadly its their choice.

Doogalman

[Robbo SPS]

Take him to the local traffic police base. They have hundreds of photos of skin and flesh lying helplessly on the tarmac, like cheese on a grater.

After that tie his favourite tracksuit bottoms onto a shoe and do a stop using the feet from 10 mph, there wont be much left.

Or ask the casulaty dept to get some of their training kit out - Cut jeans shoes etc. It really does scare the wits out of you.

I stop all the kids round my way and advise them about proper kit. It is slowly getting through. Either that or they dont want to get stoppped by the rozzers anymore.

[mel]

While he's not looking tie a rope round his ankles, attach the other end to your car and drive off at 30mph. Should do the trick

[MattOz]

Mark,

It's a tricky one. All you can do is suggest that he does wear something more protective. Decent gloves and boots are a starter as is a properly fitting lid!

I've been unfortunate enough to have been parted from my bike on 3 occasions. The two quickest occasions I was wearing full leathers and suffered no injury apart from a friction burn on my elbow. Now that hurt like hell! Can't possibly imagine how it would've been if i hadn't been wearing leather.

I do ride in jeans occasionally, but always with proper boots, gloves and armoured leather jacket. I see people in shorts and flip flops in the summer and cringe. Still, it's entirely up to the individual to make the decision.

I've always maintained that I'd rather break a bone that rip my skin off. Hence the leathers.

Matt

[timf]

one graphic way to demonstrate
is to find an old piece of leather and wrap a peach in
then hold said peach against belt sander for 30 secs

then remove peach and repeat, remeber to stop when your fingers reach the belt in the second one

[Robbo SPS]

timf said:

one graphic way to demonstrate is to find an old piece of leather and wrap a peach in then hold said peach against belt sander for 30 secs then remove peach and repeat, remeber to stop when your fingers reach the belt in the second one

Thats funny. I will rmember that one.

[ph'er(zzr1200)]

Try showing him these:

From a mountain bike, so probably not as fast as a moped:

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mountainbikerides.co.uk/photos_section/ouch.htm&h=100&w=75&sz=15&tbnid=3AGbencs3gQJ:&tbnh=76&tbnw=57&start=30&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgravel%2Brash%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN">www.mountainbikerides.co.uk/images/photos_ouch/thumbs/andy_gravel_rash.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mountainbikerides.co.uk/photos_section/ouch.htm&h=100&w=75&sz=15&tbnid=3AGbencs3gQJ:&tbnh=76&tbnw=57&start=30&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgravel%2Brash%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN

Some advice from Oz:

www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrne/vrnav.nsf/LinkView/130F9E09488A9B34CA256B50008315C9CA7108E2C2184637CA256EC900144F6F

Sure there is lots of other stuff on the net

Paul

[MADNESS]

I was going to say put him on a pedal bike and arrange an off on that for him. Hitting the gravel is a lesson to wear gear on a scoot next time out.

[Badapple]

Just make them read this site & look @ the pics!
www.cmyoung.com/bikewreck.html

[clapham993]

Tell him about a friend of mine David.

Riding less than a mile down the road to the pub one evening in the summer of 2001, David got knocked off his CBR 600. He was doing less than 30 and no part of his body hit anything but the road surface. Problem was, because he was only going a few hundred yards, he only had shorts on his legs.

Physically, he has adapted extremely well to at-the-knee amputation of his left leg. Psychologically, he still struggles with quite bad depression, having been told by his orthopeadic surgeon that, had he been wearing his boots & leather jeans, he'd have had a really quite nasty bruise for a few days.....

[hertsbiker]

I've had a 'off' at about 80 with leathers on (ahem) Chelsea Bridge & rode home with bruises only.

TO look cool - buy some tough leathers, and some baggy combats to go over the top... gets a bit warm in summer, but has the right look if that's what you want.

C