Twenty legislators have signed on to a bill that would allow Oregon motorcycle riders and passengers to ride without helmets if they’re 21 or older.

Sponsored by Rep. Andy Olson, R-Albany, House Bill 3141 would amend the motorcycle helmet law to say that only persons under 21 have to wear one.

Olson said last week the change would allow motorcycle riders to hear better and see more. Some have told him that helmets — especially the full-face kind — hamper both their vision and hearing.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, however, said in March 2010 that “helmets are the principal countermeasure for reducing crash-related head injuries, the leading cause of death among unhelmeted riders.”

In Albany, Mel Yeager, secretary-treasurer of BikePAC of Oregon, said a lot of people will continue to ride with a helmet even if the law is changed.

“They, however, support wholeheartedly the right to choose for those who want to ride without a helmet,” he said.

A lot of study went into the bill, according to Yeager, and “basically, the bill has the support of all motorcyclists” with whom his group has contact.