NEGAUNEE -- With two bills currently in the Michigan State House that would allow motorcyclists to ride helmet free, local cyclists have been split on whether the state should decide how they ride.
One law would not require a helmet for those 21 and older with a safety endorsement, while the other would require increased insurance for those that don't want to wear a helmet.
T.J. Mallet is a state certified motorcycle instructor from Negaunee, and he says it shouldn't matter what the law is. Wearing a helmet is just a good idea, however, he says he realizes people are always going to ride the way they want.
"When I teach in my class, I teach people about all the proper equipment to wear to be safe on a motorcycle. I also teach them how to be safe while riding a motorcycle, but the fact still remains: when people leave my class, they're going to dress however they want to, and they're going to ride however they want," said Mallet.
Both pieces of legislation recently passed the Senate Transportation Committee 4 to 1 and have been sent to the State Senate.
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