I'm with Susan on feeling conflicted. We have a helmet law for children 16 and under, and I have no problem with that. I think minors should be made to do certain things like protect their heads and wear seatbelts until they are old enough to make their own choices. I wear a helmet myself about 95% of the time. If I'm riding around slowly in my low speed, low traffic neighborhood on quiet streets with all the Portland bike facilities that it contains, I don't wear it. I'm an adult and after careful consideration, decided the risk in that situation was low enough for me, though not completely nonexistent. I am sure that there are plenty of other places throughout the state where other adults could make a similar well-considered decision to go bare-headed. So, all in all, I don't think I would support an mandatory law for adults.

I would be happy to sign a health insurance waiver excluding coverage for head injuries while not wearing a helmet when everyone in my plan who smokes, lives with someone who smokes, drinks alcohol to excess, eats poorly, and does not exercise chooses to sign one that excludes coverage for lung cancer, emphysema, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, etc.