(...than worry about her...)
(...or him)
Sigh! I think I've been noticed in my town gauging from last week's local paper which quoted sentiments from local police inspector, supported by those from local bureaucratic 'Pooh-Bah', RTA, handful of ambos, and unsurprisingly 'now' eminent RPA ED researchers - in fact Uncle Tom Cobley & All!!!!
Apparently:
'all riders, amateur or experienced, are vulnerable when cycling on any road environment, making it very important to protect their head from damage'
- no kidding!
- get away!!!
But what I would like to know is why aren't motorists being urged to be involved in this great 'protection' initiative? They are by far the most important people in protecting cyclists' heads, and definitely the most effective.
So...anyone fancy a spot of 'letter-writing' to the "Scone Advocate" just to add some new spice to the mix? (I think they already have the 'heads-up' on what I'm going to say!!)
Your on-line comments and/or emails (editor.sconeadvocate@ruralpress.com) could lend some weight to the discourse in 'Our Town'!!!!
Thanks in anticipation...& good night & good luck!
Letter sent... :)
ReplyDeletePaul Martin
Brisbane, Australia
That article the "Scone Advocate" is farcical, the woman shown isn't even wearing the helmet properly. She is increasing her risk of injury, in the event of a fall, not reducing it, fortunately the risk is very small.
ReplyDeleteForget the motorists Sue. The risk of firearm murder is even higher than that for cycling fatalities.
ReplyDeleteSurely if cyclists have to wear helmets for 30-40 deaths per year, its about time the government legislated for mandatory bullet proof vests to stop the 40-50 murder victims.
http://www.nisu.flinders.edu.au/briefs/firearm_deaths_2005.php
Thank you, Paul - your letter was brilliant - an absolute winner!!!! x
ReplyDeleteHa! Ha! Kim, we noticed that too, but as you so correctly surmised the risk of her falling is small
Dave, your suggestion certainly fits within 'standard-public-good-parameters' - bullet proof vest manufacturers should start lobbying
Odd how the "Scone Advocate" hasn't published any comments yet, I know they have had some...
ReplyDeleteThere are a few comments up now :)
ReplyDeletePaul Martin
Brisbane, Australia
Awwww! guys! thank you!
ReplyDelete- and keep the letters coming for next week's edition of the paper as well.
The Scone Advocate is a 'weekly' & comes out on Thursdays but the deadline for contributions is noon the preceeding Tuesday.
Dear Sue,
ReplyDeleteI love the work you are doing on your blog, and I share your views on cycling. Publications like your own have given us valuable insights on how cycling can (or: should) be approached. Thanks for that. A bit of background on myself: I am a Dutchman (I have never worn a helmet), I lived in Amsterdam, and I moved to Dublin, Ireland in January this year. My girlfiriend is setting up a small bike business, I write a blog on bikes.
I am now writing to ask if you would like to put a link to our blog Dutch in Dublin (www.dutchindublin.com) on your website. The blog is a personal account of our cycling lives in Dublin. Our goal is to show readers how romantic a simple thing as an everyday bike ride can be. For instance, we have a recurring item called 'A Classy Commute', in which I interview (colourful) Dubliners on their cycle to work. The Classy Commute stories are meant to show cycling is not something sporty, and that every day normal people enjoy the smell, hearing, and colour of their route by bike. Recent interviews I did were with:
* Minister Eamon Ryan: http://dutchindublin.wordpress.com/2010/10/13/a-classy-commute-the-minster-for-communications-energy-and-natural-resources/
* Actress Kerrie O Sullivan: http://dutchindublin.wordpress.com/2010/10/04/a-classy-commute-the-actress/
* the Dutch Ambassador: http://dutchindublin.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/a-classy-commute-%E2%80%93-his-excellency-mr-robert-engels/
* Minister Ciaran Cuffe: http://dutchindublin.wordpress.com/2010/11/21/a-classy-commute-the-minster-of-transport/
Apart from the Classy Commute item, our posts focus on (for example) stylish cycling (see our post on sytlish traffic signs), new bike products (read about our test ride on the urban arrow), or the people of Dublin (see the portraits at the Bernard Shaw pub). I think our stories on Dublin might also be of interest to your readers.
Yours truly,
Philip
Philip, I've only just picked up your lovely post from my spam box!!!!...and yes I'd love to link your blog to mine - go you guys, sounds wonderful!!
ReplyDelete