Comments on: Flashback Friday: Should we have cycle helmet legislation? NOT the same question as “should we wear helmets”!

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 23:22:33 +0000

In reply to Eric Huckle. Sometimes it seems that the younger person may have one or two extras on their scooter who may or may not be very very young , as well.

By: Eric Huckle

Eric Huckle — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 00:10:55 +0000

Take this scenario, a middle aged or elderly lady puts on her cycle helmet, which she doesn’t like wearing, and cycles to her local shop on a footpath wide enough for bikes & walkers. She barely reaches 15 kmh. She is overtaken by a younger person on an E scooter doing speeds of beyond 40 kmh. By law she has to wear a helmet but he doesn’t.

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 20:21:33 +0000

In reply to Andrew Evans. Yes , common sense, reason, and peer pressure can work wonders. Teaches personal responsibility too. Social media does not vilify any skier (nor the entire skiing fraternity for that matter ) who chooses not to wear a helmet whilst skiing. For bikes it is a different story. The helmet law has created a flash point to fuel the bike vs cars debate ( read hatred here ) and like the vaccination problem, misinformation, emotion and division over-ride most rational considerations.

By: Andrew Evans

Andrew Evans — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 18:45:07 +0000

Skiing is a classic example of how voluntary works, these days a vast majority of skiers / boarders wear helmets, through peer pressure & signage etc, the % was a lower say 10 years ago. On a really hot day in a low risk situation you can happily choose not to wear one, I’m so much in the habit now I’m not sure if I could ski without one & the kids have to wear one for lessons. Basically voluntary works for skiing.

By: Cyclomaniac

Cyclomaniac — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 09:24:59 +0000

The answer to the question should you wear a helmet when cycling might be it depends. They might not provide much safety if you are cycling in Hagley Park or riding the Little River Trail. However, if you are cycling on Blenheim Road you might be (feel) safer when you wear a helmet. A helmet should be a no-brainer when you are mountain biking. But to what extend do helmets prevent head injuries and to what extend do they increase the chances of neck injuries? Are helmets the ‘ambulance at the bottom of the cliff” and does the insistence to wear detract from preventing those accidents took place in the first place? And does the assumed provided safety weigh up against the effect of less people cycling because of the mandatory helmet law? The helmet legislation was introduced without debate in Parliament or a hearing in a select committee. After 25 year is it perhaps time to look at this law again and debate the advantages and disadvantages again, guided by the latest science on this topic?

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 01:44:26 +0000

Completely agree on all points. Helmet wear shouldnt be compulsory. If I bike to the shops 2k away I dont feel i need to wear my helmet. If I ride to work via Memorial Ave I will be wearing my helmet.

Side note, Ive been cycling to school and work for over 30 years, never fallen on my head luckily.