tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090991993980511979.post4246714429277315797..comments2023-08-23T22:06:29.354+10:00Comments on Freedom Cyclist (ad-free advocacy): The Helmet HoodwinkFreedom Cyclisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11187400454555241935noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090991993980511979.post-42701043490863559372009-12-22T14:21:15.101+11:002009-12-22T14:21:15.101+11:00I think you are definitely on the 'money' ...I think you are definitely on the 'money' with your thought that the oil industry and motor companies are behind the whole helmet 'rubbish' - and governments are complicit having been successfully 'schmoozed' by "Big Helmet"!Freedom Cyclisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11187400454555241935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090991993980511979.post-61607879900838752722009-12-21T22:25:58.613+11:002009-12-21T22:25:58.613+11:00You're welcome for the support. The media hype...You're welcome for the support. The media hype seems unfortunately to be working on the non-cycling general public, and I have been asked several times 'where is my helmet'. I agree too that forcing cyclists to wear helmets makes cycling look much more dangerous than it is - which has the effect of actually deterring people from cycling in the first place. You couldn't have thought of a better way to put people off if you tried. Maybe the oil industry and motor companies are behind the whole cycle helmets farce? Just a thought... In the UK, we are also growing up with a generation of obese kids, many of whom will never get on a bike 'because it's too dangerous'. And why is it deemed so - because of cars grrrrrcoshgirlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090991993980511979.post-36673830124307327772009-12-19T15:39:32.289+11:002009-12-19T15:39:32.289+11:00Thanks for your post - you are so right with your ...Thanks for your post - you are so right with your observations - people say to me all the time 'what if you're hit by a truck?' - as you mention we need 'respect' and 'facilities', and no ridiculous 'piece of plastic coated polystyrene' can ever be the first and last words on bicycle safety - basically helmet laws are a cheap and cynical cop out by governments<br /><br />interestingly here in australia, given that it is the law and generally people here are very law abiding, cycling accident statistics never clarify whether the victim was wearing a helmet or not - we can assume that means they were - so much for protecting us!<br /><br />we recently had a cycling death in town, and when i asked a local cop if the cyclist had been wearing a helmet, he said with some exasperation, 'that's totally irrelevant' to which i replied i couldn't agree with him more but that his position was not reflected in law with us being forced to wear them and him being forced to enforce that we 'irrelevantly' do!<br /><br />thanks again for your comment - very supportive!Freedom Cyclisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11187400454555241935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3090991993980511979.post-6320703457367899842009-12-19T01:22:48.124+11:002009-12-19T01:22:48.124+11:00Hey Sue, totally agree with you. I've been rid...Hey Sue, totally agree with you. I've been riding happily helmet free in the UK for over 35 years. Sadly there's a strong campaign in the media to force cyclists to wear helmets here. I really fear that compulsion is around the corner. Like yourself, I will happily break the law if it ever gets introduced. What we need is respect from motorists/pedestrians and decent facilities - not a piece of plastic coated polystyrene on our heads! You know, a woman was killed in London last month in a collision with a motorbike while wearing a helmet. Yet the first thing her parents mentioned when interviewed was that helmets should be compulsory! I mean if a helmet doesn't help you in a slow collision with a motorbike, how can it protect you against a car or truck?coshgirlnoreply@blogger.com