it's also worth mentioning that in any accident in Holland that involves a car and bike, the cyclist is not to blame. The drivers therefore drive respecting bikes and giving them the right of way in all circumstances. Not sure the same policy would work here in Oz.

Agree (0 people agree)    Disagree (0 people disagree) Report this

You can vote against the helmet laws.

The LDP website specifically lists removing bicycle helmet laws on their website at ldp.org.au. check the Policy section under Victimless Crimes. I hope we can regain our freedom i hate this helmet law ,what i choose to wear on my head is not the governments business and is causing me a serious medical condition which stops me from riding a bicycle.

Agree (0 people agree)    Disagree (0 people disagree) Report this

--

So just what ARE you arguing Michael? What you have written indicates that you are a great fan of hyperbole but that you are not a fan of research. There is zero possibly comparison between most European cities and Melbourne let alone Sydney. Riders in the Netherlands are generally in either dedicated wide bike paths or are in sections of road that are so choked with cyclists that it would be astonishing for a motorist to accidentally hit one. Compare this to Australian cities where "paths" are few and far between, and where most cycle commuters must daily traverse incredibly high motor traffic areas. The do so in ones and two and so the individual is hard to see. Meanwhile, have you bothered to actually find out what the incidence of major head trauma IS in european cycling centres? You might find doing so enlightening. Whether the bike share scheme in Melbourne will work or not is one question but your blog has failed to give any answers, let alone ask any useful questions.

Agree (0 people agree)    Disagree (0 people disagree) Report this

Blaming the victim instead of the perpetrator

To force helmet-wearing on the basis of the poor attitude of some motorists is to put the burden of safety on the victim instead of the perpetrator. Good ideas usually travel - yet after 20 years no other country has followed Aus and NZ on compulsory helmet laws for adults. Despite the dogma around it in Australia, there is nothing close to a consensus over the science of helmet safety. This enough should make helmets a matter of choice - for adults at least.

Agree (0 people agree)    Disagree (0 people disagree) Report this

Right idea, wrong place and time

I really think having no helmets is a bad idea, the suggestion that slower speeds means your safer, is a false belief, going slowly can still cause accidents, if your on two wheels its dangerous no matter what. Plus our bike paths are not properly built, we have no decent infrastructure (that i know of) that is simmilar to europe. I acknowledge that no helmets works in europe, but first fix all the other problems, before you implement a bike scheme, that does not at the moment suit melbourne

Agree (1 people agree)    Disagree (0 people disagree) Report this

why not change the helmet rather than the Law?

Australia is NOT bike friendly, unfortunately, and it will take years (if ever) to educate car / bus / truck drivers to accept the right of the 2 wheelers on the road. The argument of a bulky helmet should be put on its head - forgive the pun. Why can't a safe commuter hemet be invented? say an inflatable one or one which could collapse into a neat pack? after all, we are talking of hiring a bike from a bike station, for short inner-city trips..

Agree (1 people agree)    Disagree (0 people disagree) Report this

Who plans to have a stack

I ride a fair bit. I stack rarely. I wouldn't ride without a helmet. 2 incidents, both at slow speed, when my helmet saved my life. No one else involved, just bad luck. I didn't see it coming either time.

Agree (1 people agree)    Disagree (0 people disagree) Report this

This is how it's supposed to be:

Cycling rush hour in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Very easy to spot the foreigner in this clip :-). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_o3chL8phA

Agree (0 people agree)    Disagree (0 people disagree) Report this

--

Mike Tomalaris is 100% right. We seriously need to easy the congestion and the impact of the combustion engine by getting people on bikes. The Australian helmets rules are undermining any chance of getting a major city bike transport scheme up and going. Sure Nigel from Cairns is correct in theory saying just put yah helmet in yah backpack, but honestly it just another excuse for the non believers to not get on a bike. The truth is in Australia you walk around with a helmet and you are branded one of those BikePeople. I was in Rotterdam the same time as Mike Tomalaris how cool is it too see a girl in a dress and sunnies rolling down a city street on an old school towny bike. That is the point - “its cool, and girls look hot on old fashion bikes”. Late for a meeting, got the flash suit on, bugger the taxis, jump on the towny and see how many of the ladies check you out. Yes a bike can be a fashion accessory; and it needs to be; to get into the majority of people’s lives. We a not talking about serious commuting or training, where of course you should wear a helmet, we are talking about the metrosexuals . Using the current logic it would be a good idea to force all children to wear helmets in a playground, and if they don’t like wearing a helmet we would be happy for them to sit inside an play mega death on the playstation. Lets get cycling into everyone’s lifestyle; if yah just cruzin relax the laws.

Agree (2 people agree)    Disagree (2 people disagree) Report this

--

It's fine to say oh look at this county and that country. But that's their culture. The bike has been part of transport infrastructure for years. I'm not talking about cycleways or whatever,cyclists have shared the roads in greater numbers for far longer than here. Ours? The car rules. Even in London with Boris bikes,many of my London friends say how crazy drivers are compared to when they ride elsewhere in Europe. I know several Boris bikers who dont go anywhere without their helmet. Here? The toothpaste is out of the tube-helmets are part of our culture because it's the law and it's the law because cars don't want to share the road and there has been no great moves in the past from governments to educate or build infrastructure. Now cyclists are out there in greater numbers with change in drivers still not yet come-it will take years. Meanwhile,would you not easily carry a helmet around with you? If you're a tourist from o/s -query your fine coz you didn't know etc,but otherwise we just need to get over it and wear them. Knowing how easy it is to wear them and how easily I can hit my head even going slow,I will always wear one even if laws changed or exemptions offered. And hat's because while that is my choice,law has educated me about the benefits of wearing one. Ive seen the data people quote for anti helmet laws and it's not convincing enough Nor robust. As for nanny state and this law,I wonder how many people posting here were offended when Mark Webber criticised our nanny state when he was trying to defend his colleague flouting speeding/hoon laws here.

Agree (2 people agree)    Disagree (1 people disagree) Report this