This is a response to this very sad thread
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,18023.0.htmlMy thoughts go out to the family of Larry and their lose of a loved one.
First the helmet laws.
Every province requires helmets but each province has its own regulations. In this accident case, Alberta specifies DOT,CSA,BSI sticker. They also accept Snell certification. If the helmet has DOT certification and or Snell certification it is acceptable. The ECC 22.05 is not universally accepted at this time but would most likely not be an issue.
From his avatar it appears that Larry has worn a beanie style helmet. I don't know if that was the helmet involved in the accident but all novelty/beanie helmets are illegal except in BC, where Larry is from. In BC, regulations have not been updated in quite a time and the helmet law cannot be enforced. A helmet must be worn, but the make and standards are not enforceable as all approved helmets are no longer produced. If you are a practicing Sikh wearing a turban, a helmet is not required.
Now the Roads:
I'm a Canadian and proud of it. I'm not proud of the conditions of our roads.
The national highways are in very poor shape. There is never enough work done on them and most are below secondary US state roads in quality. Alberta actually has some of the best roads in the country due to all the oil revenue.
The marking of bumps is an unfortunate common trend all across Canada. The problem is the inconsistent use of the bump sign. You are never sure whether the bump will be vicious or mild. Due to the extreme weather it can take all summer to fix the frost heaves developed over winter.
In summary the roads are poor and it something we have to deal with.
Sorry for such a long post but I didn't want to dilute the original thread.
Ride safe.
