A.B.A.T.E. stays active in Harrisburg

(Harrisburg) — It’s been a decade and-a-half since motorcyclists in Pennsylvania were legally allowed to ride wityhout a helmut, but the advocacy group that won that fight hasn’t given up on sending a strong message to lawmakers in Harrisburg.

A.B.A.T.E. – the Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education – continues to rally annually at the state Capitol despite their legislative victory 15 years ago.

“Today we get ready to celebrate 15 years since that historic bill signing.  All the naysayers that said horrible things would happen if Pennsylvania modified or repealed their helmut law,.. none of it happened,” said A.B.A.T.E. Lobbyist Charles Umbenhauer.

He says there are continued efforts to reinstate the helmet law in P-A, and the group is also actively engaged with lawmakers on a host of other issues and bills.

Many state lawmakers, some of them riders themselves, joined the group’s members for their rally in the state Capitol rotunda last week.