Letter of 'safety-washing' complaint to ACCC - done & dusted

$ Printed x 1

$ Photo-copied x 29...

$ Posted in Yamba-bicycle-paradise

...& now holding my breath...because maybe it's going to be...

"Here's to the revocation of bicycle law - PRONTO!!!!"

...maybe?

Gone fishing - Yamba-style

Bicycle helmets are regulated for safety BUT nothing guarantees that they work.

Nevertheless the ACCC's regulations are supposed to prevent any unsubstantiated claims or representations that bicycle helmets can offer any benefits in protection or prevention in serious injury.

After months of deliberating, I have finally completed my letter to the ACCC Chairman and will post it first thing tomorrow. Within my missive, I have highlighted the many complaints I have concerning the problematic nature of the mandatory bicycle helmet standard and accompanying product material in licences, print advertisements, bicycle helmet promotion campaigns, legislation and online material.

I am looking forward to a simple solution to our community 'pickle' - revocation of mandatory bicycle helmet wearing when riding a bicycle.

Meanwhile I continue to 'kick-back' in Yamba - bliss!

Helmet-free Yamba, North Coast, NSW

Just when I was planning an international 'runner', I arrive in Yamba to have my faith restored by gorgeous dads, kiddies & little surfies!!!

Way to go, cool dudes & dudettes - ♥ ♥ ♥!!!!

"The whole nation is irresponsible" (!!!)

(Photos: Amsterdamize, Flickr, October 2010)


Indeedy!

...& so said a very irate bystander at the Canberra Punk Commute last Wednesday after I had explained what we're all about:

Gent: you're very irresponsible - everyone knows helmets save lives

Moi: many academics are divided on this issue

Gent: not the good ones! & anyway I know because I can see I would cycle more than you a week so I'm in a position to comment

Moi: hmmmn that could be debatable - how many kms do you cycle in your week?

Gent: 20km

Moi: I cycle at least 100km

Gent: well that's irrelevant

Moi: how's that irrelevant when you raised it as a matter in the first place to prove your expertise and therefore your right to comment so categorically?

Gent: well...anyway I've been cycling longer than you...and always with a helmet

Moi: no way - helmet laws were enacted only 20 years ago - why would you wear one before? & anyway I've been on a bike for more than 50 yrs

Gent: not possible! (I ♥ that 'gent')

Moi: yes - started off as a baby on the back of my parents bicycles in Holland

Gent: hope they put a helmet on you

Moi: no - no-one wore them!!

Gent: well your parents were really irresponsible!!!!! - luckily today parents are more careful and we don't see them on the roads anymore!!!!!!!

Moi: families of all ages cycle everywhere in the Netherlands & without helmets

Gent: the whole nation is irresponsible - they should be banned!!!!!!

Ha! Ha! Ha!...but OMG...really I feel like screaming & running...this country is unbelievable!...

What to do?

CANBERRA PUNK COMMUTERS COMMUTED - FUNTIMES!!!

(Photos: Carolyn Curnow, Canberra, & yours truly)

Perfect! Perfect! Perfect!
The Canberra Punk Commute couldn't have been a more perfect boutique protest ...& the weather couldn't have been more clement...


...and who can ever resist 'tiptoeing through the tulips?' - certainly not us as we did a quick little detour prior to our Legislative Assembly rendez-vous


Always a pleasure to be with one of cycling's greats - Bill Curnow, the indefatigable president of the Cyclists Rights Action Group


...& wonderful opportunity for some of the far & wide CRAG members to meet face-to-face,...


...share campaign stories...


...& thoroughly enjoy each other's company


Good to meet The Hon. John Hargreaves (the 'yellow-enveloped-suited-guy') who made a supreme effort to do so despite back-to-back meetings - always useful to have 'a' moment with those who change the law!!!


And so the speeches began...

$$$ it's not lost on us that we're the 'counter-culture' ones, eschewing our cars when possible & using our bikes for transport instead
$$$ helmet safety claims are unsubstantiated, misleading, deceptive, inaccurate, non-specific, not in the public interest
$$$ twenty years on & the world continues to shy away from enacting equivalent catastrophic legislation

...by now we had been joined by the Speaker of the House, The Hon. Shane Rattenbury


...who generously addressed us publicly with tales of:

* his 5 years in the Netherlands using a bicycle for transport in a typically unhelmeted Dutch manner
* the Greens commitment to sustainable transport
* their interest in the helmet law debate and their willingness to consider all arguments

...he then very generously made himself available for us to chat to individually, & at length - good stuff!!!


Bill's 'seasoned' campaign placard:

'WHEN INJUSTICE BECOMES LAW
RESISTANCE BECOMES DUTY'


Australian Capital Territory (ACT) motor-bike police...


...just checking our intended route to the big PH


Getting there Ottawa style - coolly & stylishly


"Look, mum!!! We made it!!!!"


Australian Federal Bicycle Police just checking who we are - anybody????


And when the member for Hunter was a no-show, The Magnificent James Grieve delivered a most marvellous dissertation on Hunter Reds anyway!!


Adieu until next time! - dispersing by bicycle...


...& by bus!!!!

Next stop: ADELAIDE!!!! - funtimes!!!

Dear Australian Media & Darling Politicians

MEDIA RELEASE:

Bells, bicycles & peaceful transport!

Q. Why has the latter flopped in Australia?

...in a nutshell...

A. Bicycle helmet law & promotion!

Ignore shrill protestations trotted out by bicycle helmet promoters, politicians, car & bicycle clubs!!! – bicycle helmet law & bicycle helmet promotion are the reasons...

...& Australians are not happy!

This Wednesday 21st September 2011, a small group of 'Punk Commuters' are taking to the Canberra streets to peacefully protest about our crippling helmet regulation.

Starting at Civic Square right next to the Statue of Ethos (12:30pm sharp) & close to ACT Legislative Assembly, the bicycle plan is to cycle in a peaceful 'protest-erly' manner along to Parliament House for the distance of roughly 3kms. There'll be megaphones & speeches, & of course there'll be plenty of 'ringing of bells,' peacefully – maybe there’ll even be a pollie or 2?!

Yes! on Wednesday, peaceful transport is going to get the love it deserves ♥ ♥ ♥

...& needless to mention, everyone will decide their hat-wear options!

Our democracy, our rules - let's urge Australian politicians to ‘once again’ recognise cyclists' right to choose whether to helmet or not!!

...& watch us as we briefly reclaim the Canberra Streets!

Keep it weird, Newtown ♥

Loving the fringe...

- bicycles & art everywhere

- helmets & sport nowhere

...bliss