This week an article was published in the Health Promotion Journal of Australia entitled “The possible effect on frequency of cycling if mandatory bicycle helmet legislation was repealed in Sydney, Australia: a cross sectional survey”.
The results are interesting.
- 1 in 5 said they would ride more if helmets were not compulsory. (Similar to the figure from the Cycling Promotion Fund Survey)
- The desire for helmet choice was higher in the younger age group and among regular cyclists
- Support for helmet laws increased as cycling use decreased, with support for the law being highest among those that have never ridden a bicycle!
The last point is interesting but it appears to be a common theme in the world of mandatory bicycle helmet legislation. Here it is in graphical form for the visual among us.
There is nothing quite like imposing laws that don’t affect you.
Many of the strongest supporters of such legislation ride infrequently, if at all. How is it that they’re able to impose their belief (that bicycle helmet laws can only be a good thing) when they not only do not have a grasp of the broader issues (cycling rates, health benefits of any cycling) but that they don’t even ride a bicycle? The answer is that in countries where all-aged enforced helmet laws have been introduced (Australia, New Zealand & UAE), people who ride bicycles are a minority. In countries where everyone cycles (for transport particularly), such laws would never get off the drawing board.
“Boris Johnson has unveiled his green transport policy – free cycling lessons. Not for all Londoners, but for Ken Livingstone, the man he is trying to oust as Mayor of London, who admits he can’t ride a bike.“
Another non-cyclist that believes she knows what’s good for cyclists.
- Write to your state member and ask that the law be reviewed and amended to give at least adults the choice
- Go to the GetUp! Suggestion Forum and Vote Up the suggestion.
- Go to the Queensland Agenda page on the OurSay.org site and Vote for the suggestion (you can assign 7 votes per person to it). The top three will be put to the Queensland Premier.
- Go to our Webshop and buy some stickers (or make your own) and spread the word.
Change will only come from public support as most politicians don’t ride bicycles and therefore fit into the column on the right of the graph…
Bike helmets are not to protect cyclists, but to protect motorists. If you are sending a text or reading a newspaper and run over a cyclist (oopsie, had an accident), the magic fairy dust in helmets will completely protect anybody you hit and will save you from any associated guilt from hurting somebody else.
BHIT probably also stands for B(ulls)HIT
Now you guys are dealing with this in a way we VERY like! Shared on FB and Twitter, and we’ve signed the petition. Good luck guys!