Repeal bicycle helmet laws
Issued 16 August 2010
Liberal Democrats NSW Senate candidate Glenn Druery today joined calls for mandatory bicycle laws to be repealed.
Two Sydney Univeristy researchers have just published a paper pointing out that the laws have not reduced head injuries, and claim the requirement for wearing a helmet is deterring potential bike riders.
“Laws that seek to protect us from our own choices, without protecting anyone else, are always wrong,” said Mr Druery.
“But when they do not even achieve what they set out to do, they show that the nanny-state has gone mad.”
“As a competitive ultra-marathon cyclist, I wear a helmet from choice. But I don’t want the government saying it knows better than I do. And I don’t want my taxes used for the police to book people who make a different choice from me.
“It makes sense to encourage bike riding as an exercise option. Forcing people to wear a helmet is like forcing joggers to wear shoes with soft soles to reduce jarring. It is a disincentive and, ultimately, none of the government’s business,” Mr Druery said.
Glenn is a dedicated cyclist, commuting to work most days and cycle-touring during holidays with his children and friends.
He is also a world class long distance athlete, competing three times over the past five years in the 5,000 km Race Across America (RAAM) – often described as the world’s toughest bicycle race. In 2009 his team won the four man team event in 6 days 3 hours and 40 minutes.
Glenn has also participated twice in the 1200 km Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP), the oldest cycling event in the world, commonly known as the first Tour de France.
i would tend to disagree… i think making helmets free would help, but after having my skull saved a few times by them (when by choice i probly wouldn’t wear one), i sorta agree that they’re a good thing to have compulsory… but i dunno about the penalties though, i’ve never gotten pinged for anything on my bike…
speed limits on the other hand, those are a worry….
Given my dad rides, was hit by a moron who wasn’t paying attention, and would have had his brains spilt everywhere were it not for his helmet, any anti-helmet stuff makes me think the people saying it are morons.
“is like forcing joggers to wear shoes with soft soles to reduce jarring”
Actually, it’s not. There’s a lot of research to suggest that modern jogging shoes with a lot of padding are actually more likely to cause lower leg injuries than running basically barefoot. Whereas bike helmets actually save lives.
Also, for another personal anecdote, I’ve had a cyclist try to kill themselves on a car I was a passenger in. While in that instance I doubt they’d have cared about a fine, it was freaking traumatic witnessing it. Yes, there’s the choice for people who don’t want to wear helmets. But what about my right to not have their brains smeared across my windscreen if they do stupid shit?
“is like forcing joggers to wear shoes with soft soles to reduce jarring”
There’s a big difference between shin splints and a cracked fucking skull. There are actually a number of runners who swear by going barefoot.
My favourite :