Niles Township firefighter Doug Myers believes motorcycle riders should be able to choose whether or not to wear a helmet.

That’s why he is happy Gov. Rick Snyder signed off on a bill repealing Michigan’s mandatory motorcycle helmet law Friday.

“I will always wear my helmet. It doesn’t matter if I’m in Indiana, Michigan or wherever,” Myers said. “But I do believe in our freedoms. If someone doesn’t wear a helmet, that should be up to them.”

Myers is the president of the Niles Burn Run, an annual summer motorcycle charity event benefitting children who are victims of fire.

Myers believes the repeal of the mandatory helmet law will help the Burn Run, scheduled for July 14-15.

“Every year we have people hand us back brochures and say they’d love to come, but I don’t wear a helmet,” Myers said. “Obviously that will increase the money we see come in along with the people.”

Not everyone is happy with Snyder’s decision.

Pete Kuhnmuench, executive director of the Insurance Institute of Michigan, released a statement Friday denouncing the bill.

“It is disappointing that a law that saved lives and reduced injuries in the Great Lakes states has been repealed,” he said in the release.

Kuhnmuench pointed to statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showing in the three years after Florida’s repeal of its mandatory helmet law there was an 81 percent increase in fatalities.

Not everyone can ride without a helmet in Michigan.

Riders that choose to go without must be at least 21 years old, and pass a motorcycle safety course or have their motorcycle endorsement for at least two years.

Helmetless motorcyclists are also required to purchase additional insurance covering themselves and any passenger not wearing a helmet.

Michigan joins nearby states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin that have repealed or amended helmet-use laws to give riders a choice.