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Helmet laws discourage the safest cyclists
Researchers in Norway have looked into possible reasons why there is no good evide
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Australian cycling boom a myth
According to the University of Sydney, claims that cycle use in Australia has rec
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Town drops helmet law to reduce its risks
For 15 years, until June 1, Milton, population 7,000, 45 minutes south of Seattle
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Vancouver acknowledges that helmet law could scupper bike-share
Responding to comments from the European Cyclists' Federation that the province's
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Switzerland rejects child helmet law
The Swiss Government has decisively thrown out a proposal to make it mandatory fo
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Campaign group stops publicising events that require helmet use
Scottish cycling campaign group Spokes, which has an extensive membership among c
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Perth mayor backs calls for law relaxation
The Lord Mayor of Perth has now joined Sydney, Adelaide and Fremantle in Australi
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Men cycle faster with helmets?
According to research undertaken in Bordeaux, France, men who used a helmet for t
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Australian cycling journalist Wade Wallace has written how a visit to Europe has changed his mind about blanket cycle helmet laws. Hitherto a keen advocate of helmets and laws for all cycling, using the bike hire schemes in Paris and London has caused Wade to think differently.
Wade used the hire bikes in both cities without a helmet (they are not provided with the bikes and few hirers wear one) and tells how he didn't feel unsafe in doing so. He notes that a helmet-less rider on a utility bike is much more "human" to drivers than a bunch of lycra clad warriors racing at 45km/h.
According to Wade, "I cannot see how the bike-hire schemes will succeed in Australia without relaxing our helmet restrictions on these particular bikes. These hire bikes are an excellent idea that are attempting to alleviate transport problems, make our cities more enjoyable to live in, and a making positive social change. We only have one chance at making this work."
Wade's viewpoint is interesting for his willingness to consider risk in perspective for different types of cycling and his honesty in admitting that he may previously have been too stringent. Many of the respondents to his article echo similar sentiments.
Thu 18 Aug 2011
