04-08-2015, 05:21 AM
I get Ferret's perspective. My wife rides her own bike and does a pretty good impression of ATGATT (she sometimes wears plain jeans rather than Kevlar). I don't love this and I have encouraged her to beef up the protection. In the end, though, she makes the decision that is right for her.
ON THE OTHER HAND....she is not a passenger on my bike and, therefore, is making her own decisions on how to interact with traffic, road, and weather conditions. If she makes a mistake, it's on her. A passenger on my bike is, in my opinion, my responsibility. If I make a mistake and she gets injured, that's on me. Therefore, it has been my stated position when this has come up before that any passenger must wear enough gear to make ME feel comfortable, which would be a proper jacket, helmet, boots, gloves and at least denim pants. The good part about taking this stance is that people have stopped asking for rides around the block.
ON THE OTHER HAND....she is not a passenger on my bike and, therefore, is making her own decisions on how to interact with traffic, road, and weather conditions. If she makes a mistake, it's on her. A passenger on my bike is, in my opinion, my responsibility. If I make a mistake and she gets injured, that's on me. Therefore, it has been my stated position when this has come up before that any passenger must wear enough gear to make ME feel comfortable, which would be a proper jacket, helmet, boots, gloves and at least denim pants. The good part about taking this stance is that people have stopped asking for rides around the block.