Wot! - no helmets!!!

(Photos: Elenor Tedenborg, Inner West Courier, 11 November 2010)


We, the Australian people, believe in helmets and helmet laws...

...until...

...we need a good picture for a story & then it's 'whoopsie! - way too daggie!'

...ha! ha!...love it!!!

Off with their helmets!!!!

'Nordic' Newtown

$$ Bicycle helmet laws are a classic case of scientific evidence being over-ruled & over-looked for political reasons.

$$ Bicycle helmet laws are delusional and way past their use-by date

$$ Bicycle helmet laws foster political inability to acknowledge what it would actually take for holistic cycling safety

$$ Bicycle helmet laws need revoking

$$...END OF STORY...

"Ad Hominem" helmet article!

(These police have got better things to do...)


(...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!

Roll up! Roll up! Xmas Bargains in Melbourne

(Popular Melbourne landmark)


(Popular Melbourne vending-machine)


(Zero helmets!)


(...but bikes galore)


(One version of 'where-to-get-helmet' map)


(Alternative version of same 'where-to-get-helmet' map)


(Popular Melbourne headgear)


(Popular Newtown headgear)


Helmets are going like hotcakes at discount 'vending' places in Melbourne!

Are they the latest 'must-have-Chrissie-pressie'?

Of course it would stand to reason given today's bargain prices!!!!!

Only $5 a pop - and can be later returned to friendly vendor for a $3 reimbursement - even if worn!

Who is ever going to spend up big again for a helmet? ...and you know what? There's an even more tickety-boo plus: the Melbourne ones meet the new commercial standard!!!! - although interestingly there's a differing of opinion in the SMH article where it's claimed these helmets have stretchy straps designed...

"to allow the helmet to come off a rider's head"

...as opposed to the 'owner's manual' (attached to the helmets) which declares...

"it should not be possible to remove the helmet without unfastening the buckle"

...hmmmmn who to believe?

Anyway enough of this idle excessive consumerist chit-chat!

I tried the whole 'bikey-hirey' thing in Melbourne today, and loved it:

* sunny day

* comfy bike

* pretty dress

* wafty breeze in hair, &

* friendly U-turning police in Elizabeth Street who after some deliberation diverted their paddy wagon & left me to revel in my 'freedom of choice'!! xx

...ahhhhh! How lovely! - how super!

"Eureka" Airport Cycling Moment

"Love miles" to Melbourne yesterday, and usual angst spent night before fretting about taxi turning-up (i) on-time or (ii) at-all...

EUREKA! - it suddenly dawned on me I should cycle!!!!!!

So I did! - 6kms from Newtown to Kingsford Smith - effortless and easy.

Googled airport beforehand to find out if there were bicycle parks...

...THERE WERE!!!! - & off I toodled!!!

Brilliant!

Way to go, Sydney!!!

"Faint heart never won fair lady"

...my 'mantra' which reminds me daily that a prolonged huge effort is constantly required to eventually achieve the 'To-helmet-or-not' choice

But this week I'm in a different mind-space and it's been a pleasure chilling out at the Bicycle Film Festival, soaking up all the friendly karma emanating from all around - bliss!

There was plenty of colour and energy on display at "Ride: life in the bike lane", District 01, Oxford Street, and I couldn't help hoping that maybe tonight's exhibition-goers were George Monbiot's 'progressive campaigners' setting out 'to explain & champion our values'.

Diverse & talented, fun & energetic - they were everywhere and there were lots of them...

...that's got to be a good thing!

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

...& now completely off topic, I find it troubling that obituaries are so often written by people who've pre-deceased the deceased!!

I know it's standard newspaper practice (I've had discussions with the Guardian about this matter before) but I was completely distracted reading 'La Stupenda's OB' with the knowledge that the OB writer had been dead for 3 years!!

Weird!

Bicycle Film Festival pushes off!

Take 1 'Bicycle Film Festival' and add 1 'me'...

Mix together, et voilà...

...'happy-times'!!!

Last night, it was @Home Digital Eskimo, for interesting 'Brainstrust Presentation...cycling culture - do we need one?

Tonight, it was @Home Beresford Hotel, for fab start to the Sydney Bicycle Film Festival...opening night parties - do we need them (hell yes!!!)

So what have we got so far - any developing trends ? - hmmmn...let me see:

* chilled champagne

* oodles of bicycles

* cool-dude films

* cool-dude BFF 'goers'

Funtimes! Funtimes! Funtimes!

...moreover it's happening all week!!! Get your tickets and come on down!!!!