“People should be able to make the choice for themselves.”

I’ve never ridden a motorcycle and if I do, I’ll wear a helmet. That said, people should be able to decide for themselves.

Rep. John Torbett of Stanley enjoys the chance to ride across the state line into South Carolina, where helmets are required only for bikers 20 and younger. He parks his motorcycle and pulls off his full-face helmet.

“That’s my choice,” Torbett said Tuesday at a House Transportation Committee meeting. “That’s what I choose to do. South Carolina provides that opportunity.”

Torbett’s bill would require helmets only for the youngest riders. He proposed to let motorcyclists ride bareheaded when they turned 18, but he accepted a committee amendment that would match the South Carolina standard: helmets mandatory until age 21.