Compelling Reasons to Abolish Mandatory Helmet Laws
* Abuse of civil liberties
* CYCLING IS NOT DANGEROUS!
* Facilitated government abnegation of responsibilities: - cycling infrastructure; - motorist education
* Drastically reduced cycling rates by 40% by associating cycling with danger
* Claimed reduction in head injuries achieved in 'absolute numbers', not relative to actual 'cycle use'
* Helmets designed for 1 impact only yet many cycle+car collisions involve 2 or more (ie windscreen then road)
* No enforceable helmet standards for 4 year olds & under
* Cyclists live at least 2 years & possibly as much as 10 years longer than non-cyclists * Cycling regularly is 20 times more likely to increase your life span than to shorten it
‘...increased by a record amount last year to the highest carbon output in history. According to unpublished estimates from the International Energy Agency, this means hopes of holding global warming to safe levels are now all but out of reach' - The Guardian Weekly 3-9 June 2011 -------------------------------- Dear Prime Minister Gillard, I respectfully request that in the interest of social justice, the environment, & our children, you urge the state governments to repeal their mandatory helmet laws, especially when you recall that it was the Hawke government in December 1989 who insisted they enact bicycle helmet laws if they wished to receive additional road funding within the 'black spots' programme initiated to reduce the national road toll and improve safety. Kind regards, Freedom cyclist (extract from letter sent 13/9/2011)