Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye...!

(a little bit of Copenhagen, at home in my shed - a completely 'bicycle-helmet-free-zone', always!)

'Two more sleeps' and I'll be in the District Court raising necessity as a defence to my criminal conviction of riding a bicycle without wearing a helmet!

Here in 'down-world' Australia, we have no bill of rights, or human rights charter, or in fact any clearly defined civil liberties provisions whatsoever. We contribute to world pollution as if there's no tomorrow, and we object strongly when slightly green measures are introduced to mitigate our outrageous carbon behaviour. We refuse to acknowledge our climate-change responsibilities, and seem intent on polluting indefinitely. Climate change has expanded the question of survival, with our diminishing coastlines, dust storms and dying rivers. Notwithstanding we have the perfect climate for cycling and some beautiful cities for cycling in as well, but we have helmet laws...and very few leaders who possess political will.

My cycling conduct is a question of my survival, and I can't do it with a helmet attached to my head. As far as I perceive it, they're dangerous, and even if you don't think they are, you, as a reasonable person, would have to agree, upon the facts provided over the past few months, that you can perceive why I have my belief!

Therefore, everybody, I believe it's necessary for me not to wear a helmet when cycling in order to avert catastrophic consequences that might happen to me and the planet...

...what are my chances? - I'll let you know on Friday!!!...wish me luck!!!!!

Cycleways need political will - thank you to the Lord Mayor of Sydney!

(Scone, Australia, a 'bicycle-helmet-law-land' - our cycleway, going somewhere to nowhere)

Scone is a 'gun-barrel' town with a raging highway 'smack-bang' in the middle, dividing the town into 2. We have 4 schools but only 2 are serviced by this cycleway because basically no-one has worked out how to get the cycleway safely across our 'raging highway'.

When I first arrived in this 'outback town' at the back of beyond (actually it's only 4 hours north of Sydney but I came from London), the high street was an expansive single-lane road, wide enough for wagons to do a u-turn (...omg, I've been here a long time!). However it wasn't long before the Roads & Traffic Authority (RTA) arrived, waving their magic wand and grandly declaring that, 'Scone, you shall go to the ball and you shall join the 20th century - you shall have a new super-duper highway'

...and hey presto! without doing anything except painting a couple of lines down the existing single lane road, we instantly had a dual-carriageway! There was no widening or pushing back of buildings; there were no jackhammers or drills; just a couple of tins of white paint and 'bob's your uncle,' the dual-carriageway was ours!

...but it has been a menace and a mind-numbingly daft invitation to shoot through our town at speed. Consequently, pedestrians and cyclists have been stranded on the 'banks' of the 'raging highway', utterly incapable of 'sharing the road'.

Just recently the RTA revisited our town, and whilst refusing to acknowledge their part in our current highway woes, announced new measures to corral 'road-users-other-than-motorists' into UN convoys in a bid to get us across the 'raging highway' safely!...naturally to arrive at the 'RTA announcement' we had to suffer, and contribute to, the following:

* mind-numbingly tedious 'draft strategic planning' days
* mind-numbingly tedious 'strategic planning' days
* mind-numbingly tedious 'draft community consultation' days
* mind-numbingly tedious 'community consultation' days

..."and no, Sue, a couple of tins of black paint and reduced speed limits are not the answer"!!!

Shame! Municipal madness! We are 'traffically' doomed and the notion of connecting the cycleway with the 2 schools on the other side of the highway is set to languish indefinitely in our Local Mayor's in-tray - yet where's the community discontent, the community outrage, the community protest?

HOWEVER - STOP PRESS STOP PRESS: 4 hours to the south, the Lord Mayor of Sydney has grasped the 'motoring bull' by the horns and has commenced her ambitious campaign of 'cycleway installation' left, right and centre, valiantly ignoring squeals of horror from her motoring electorate - and she has plans for many, many more (cycleways - ok, maybe squeals as well!!!)

GO CLOVER!

"Jeanne d'Arc " for Sydney

(Peats Ridge, Australia, a 'bicycle-helmet-law' land - though notwithstanding the legislation no helmets can be found here!!!)

Go, Clover!!!! - but yet again I'm curious to know where the ABC stands on the issue of utility cycling.

Brendan Trembath, the Radio National reporter for this particular "PM" segment 'reported' in all seriousness that:

'governments around the country and around the world are building more bike paths to help reduce pollution and encourage healthier living - but many of the paths encroach on the traditional territory of cars and trucks'

...aaaahhhh no! that won't do!!!!!!!

...but truly, ABC, were these really your sentiments? Your report verged on ridiculous as you comforted the 'outraged motorist' who called you on her mobile phone whilst she was driving home through Sydney's streets:

BT: So you think it was pre-determined? They were going to put this cycleway through no matter what?

'Outraged Motorist': No matter what. They were just going through the motions and covering themselves basically.

We're talking about putting in a cycleway here! - not a freeway or a motorway!...a cycleway!

What a scandal! How dare they!

GO, CLOVER!!!!

Lord Mayor of Sydney says: "Sydney must join the public transport renaissance occuring in cities globally"

(City of Sydney's logo for Sydney Festival 2010, Australia, a 'helmet-law-land', groan, - note their omission of a 'top-half'! - everyone knows there is nothing chic or inviting about an image clad with a mini-ice bucket - Marketing 101!)

It was so heartening to read Clover Moore's e-bulletin last week and to realise that not only does she understand that we have to adapt to a new low carbon, more sustainable future, but that she also recognises we can learn from other cities who have faced the same issues and inspiringly found solutions.

Here is an extract of her thoughts:

===============================================

There are many financing options available and Government should not be spooked by the big numbers involved. Investment in transport is an investment for future generations, so debt financing is an option and could be repaid over a longer period to spread the cost burden.

This is a time to be bold and visionary; to make responsible long-term decisions that leave a legacy for future generations. Convenient, reliable and efficient public transport is critical to reduce congestion, cut emissions, ensure sustainable development and keep our City liveable.

===============================================

...she also continued in her e-bulletin with exciting news of plans to 'share' Johnston's canal pathway:

===============================================
Council has endorsed a concept design for the next link in our usable city-wide cycleway network-a shared cycling and walking route along Johnston's Canal, connecting Orphan School Creek with the Glebe Foreshore.

The Johnston's Canal cycleway has three parts. Existing paths will be widened to connect Bicentennial and Federal Parks with The Crescent, before crossing the canal into Hogan Park in the Leichhardt Council area. After crossing the canal again, the third part of the pathway will provide a safe and direct link for pedestrians and bike riders to Orphan School Creek.

To establish the preferred cycleway route, the City assessed a range of options in conjunction with local residents, bicycle groups, Leichhardt Council and State Government agencies.

Detailed designs will now be developed with further community input. The final design will improve accessibility and amenity for pedestrians and bicycle riders, with new native landscaping along the route and traffic calming devices in Wigram Road.

The City has allocated $76 million to build a usable 200km cycleway network that safely gets cyclists to places they want to go. While the City gives priority to building separated cycleways, some paths shared between pedestrians and bike riders are essential, particularly where there is insufficient space for separated paths.

On shared paths, cyclists need to give way to pedestrians and cycle slowly. Our recent education campaign advised cyclists to do just this-slow down, ring use their bells and maintain a respectful arms-length distance from pedestrians. We also install a range of shared path markings to promote safe riding, particularly at narrow points, blind corners and around playgrounds.

I want to promote a new culture in Sydney where pedestrians, cyclists and drivers share our public space equitably. International cities such as Copenhagen show that large numbers of cyclists can safely and peacefully co-exist with pedestrians and drivers-if the right facilities are available.

The City has received a grant from the NSW Government's Sharing Sydney Harbour Access Program for the Johnston's Canal cycleway project. Work is expected to begin late this year.

===============================================

The Lord Mayor's initiatives sound amazing - I am so impressed, and citing Copenhagen really shows a committment to change!

...BUT we need to get rid of mandatory helmet requirements if we are truly to get utility cycling off the ground. There are no mandatory helmet requirements in Copenhagen even though the helmet spin lobby looms large. Resolutely they have managed to resist the aggressive helmet promotion so clearly evident in Australia. As a result of 'not succumbing' to the 'shameless spin' broadcast so liberally in the name of safety advice, they have a vibrant cycling city that everyone wants to visit.

...that aside, well done!, Lord Mayor, - you are impressive!!

"NO" to mandatory bicycle helmet laws = "YES" to traffic solutions

(Beijing, China, a 'no-bicycle-helmet-law' land - from 'threeparadiso', flickr)

The city planners in Beijing are revisiting 'the bicycle' as a traffic solution after years of debilitating traffic congestion and attendant pollution.

Whilst unapologetically old-fashioned, and formerly dispensed with during Beijing's car craze, the bicycle is demanding respect for its definitive traffic solution capabilities.

The bicycle clearly 'punches above its weight', and global acknowledgement for its properties (in terms of freedom of movement & health) is liberating many of the world's grid-locked cities.

What are our city planners waiting for? - it should be 'curtains' for 'mandatory bicycle helmet laws'!

Three cheers for my 'booking sergeant'!!!

(Copy of photo-postcard sent to my 'booking sergeant' last week of Paris, France - a 'no-bicycle-helmet-law' land!)

He has replied to my postcard!

...and I now have a copy of the in-car DVD taken on the night I was charged with riding a bicycle without a helmet - three cheers for him!!!

Thus given that the prosecution's declared brief of evidence is finally complete, should the judge choose to avail himself of the opportunity to view the in-car DVD, he will be able to do so. Whilst extremely dull and boring, it is a record that my views on the mandatory requirement for riding a bicycle with a helmet have not changed, and that I felt equally imperiled back in March 2009 as I do today.

Thank you, sergeant! x

Enough is enough - say "NO" to bicycle helmet laws!

(San Francisco, California, a 'no-bicycle-helmet-law' state - well, not for the over 18s anyway!)

It has been said before, and I'm going to say it again, bicycle helmets should be a matter of choice, rather than a legal requirement. To get this 'matter of choice' to actually be the situation here in Australia, a 'concerted community campaign' is necessary to persuade our state governments to act upon the evidence provided by the countless independent researchers across the globe.

There are a significant number of us in Australia who have urged the various state governments to restore our right to choose and to cease their pathetic executive subscription to the philosophy that helmets are the 'first & last' words on road safety for cyclists. Yet we continue to be either ignored or disregarded or both.

However I have no intention to accept this 'continued' dismissal, and in fact, intend to 'cycle' to MacQuarie Street the next time I am in Sydney to ask some of my 'pressing' questions in person to any minister who comes within 'spitting' distance of me and my bike (figuratively speaking, of course - the 'spitting' distance that is!!)

Feel free to join me at any time whilst I continue with this important quest!