( Well I persoanlly can't stand when people bring up "safety" with bikes)
People bring up "safety"(not to imply that seats belts on bikes is safe) of bikes b/c "Society" pays for the risks of motorcycle operators, not just the operator and his/her insurance company. Of course, "society" pays for a lot of things it probably shouldn't but that shouldn't mean that a logical discussion/debate should be discouraged.
(
http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-Safety/crash.htm) "Per mile traveled in 1998, a motorcyclist is approximately 16 times more likely to die in a crash than an automobile occupant. And 3x (times) as likely to be injured."
You say "You can have an accident just walking into a bathtub, using a machine lathe, etc.....shaking my head."
The fact that you can have an accident doing other activities does not negate the increased likeliness of having an accident operating a motorcycle.
I am not of the opinion that motorcycles should be banned or helmets should be mandatory. However, I do believe that the risk and costs associated should largely be the burden of the operator and not society as a whole. Unfortunately that will never happen so in my opinion people are therefore entitled to "bring up bike safety" and should do so.
I liken it to gun safety. I am a huge gun fan. I don't rail against people who preach gun safety. I actually encourage it b/c I believe it helps save lives.
I understand some people not wanting others to tell them what they can and can't do, but why some motorcycle aficionados rail against "bike safety" makes absolutely no sense to me. With freedom comes responsibility.