Interesting fact, did you know that way back in 1990
Australia was the first country to make the wearing of bike helmets compulsory, 1991 for Perth. Two reasons I decided on this post, the first being that in a rather controversial move the
City of Fremantle, 19 kms south west of Perth (bikes above and below parked at Fremantle docks) has just announced a two year 'no helmet' trial (not including cyclists under the age of 18) that has safety experts rather hot under the collar. Helmets will still be compulsory in high traffic areas and where the speed limit is above 50kms. So basically not compulsory in recreational 'safe' areas. It really is one of those subjects that evoke a divided reaction, I know people who actually stopped riding because of the compulsory helmet law, not moi, I stopped as soon as I finished high school mainly because I looked pretty daft riding a bike! Some say the benefits of riding outweigh the dangers, others that they would wouldn't be alive today if it hadn't been for the fact they were wearing a helmet, the debate will go on for the next two years I'm sure. What do you think about it all? Oh yes, and the other reason was to show some bike shots that otherwise wouldn't get a look in! Hope you had a good weekend and are fit and ready for the week ahead.....
This one below shows the best and healthiest way to get to
Cottesloe Beach to avoid the parking nightmare at the weekend is to ride your trusty steed.....!!
I've ridden bikes most of of my life, and wouldn't be caught dead without one (pun intended!). Only a fool wouldn't protect that egg-shell we call a head. There, my 2¢!
ReplyDeleteI can´t imagine more people will be riding just because they won´t have to wear an helmet!
ReplyDeleteIt drives me crazy when I see kids here without protection BEHIND their parents instead of IN FRONT OF THEM.
ReplyDeleteI've been telling myself I needed to buy a bike for ages now. Perhaps 2012 will be the year? :-)
Helmets should be a must everywhere all the time.
ReplyDeleteI don't use a bike helmet. I used to have one a few years ago when I was riding faster and out on the roads. These days i try to ride only on the bike paths. If you are under 18, you have to wear a helmet in Sweden.
ReplyDeleteGreat entry. Must be years now already since last I did ride one though. A save road ahead and a good new week too.
ReplyDeleteWhat they are really saying is you don't sustain any injuries in areas with a speed limit below 50 kms even when you are cleaned up by a speeding car or truck i don't think so :-).
ReplyDeleteThe outcome will be very interesting. Having to wear helmets is why our public hire bike scheme is less successful than was hoped.
ReplyDeleteInteresting topic, Grace. I wear a helmet when I ride a bicycle around Hartford, where there is a lot of traffic and up and down terrain, but when I am in Florida, where the terrain is flat and there are bike trails separate from automobile traffic, I sometimes don't bother. But, if there were a legal requirement, sure, I would wear it.
ReplyDeleteJust about everyone wears a helmet here and it is not compulsory. You will never see a child without one, even on a safe and slow ride in a park. What really gets me is motorcycle helmet laws. That's done by the states. Some large states, notably California and Illinois, right across the river from us, don't require them. When I see a biker tooling down the Interstate in Illinois with the sun bouncing off a bald head it makes me crazy.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure about the helmet for bicycles...but I know it is definitely smart to have them for motorized bikes!
ReplyDeletebeautiful captures of the bikes... since the helmet rule is being reviewed it should be welcomed.. after all it is for a trial period after which they will decide the right thing to do in the prevailing circumstances
ReplyDeleteNot the law here but more and more people, including me, seem to wear them these days. Though I must admit I hate wearing the thing!
ReplyDeleteI am for helmet laws. In Arizona they do not require helmets for motorcyclists. That is scary.
ReplyDeleteI like colors of the first
ReplyDeleteI don't ride so am personally not involved but it does seem to me that making these things compulsory smacks of the "blame-the-victim" syndrome which I so abhor.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post- helmets are advised but not compulsory here, not that I can ride a bike anyway sadly... Lovely photos of the great outdoors, Grace- have a good week.
ReplyDeletePut my vote down for compulsory bike helmets.
ReplyDeleteIn the Netherlands we never wear helmets at bicycles, I think it would cause a riot if we had to, we have more bikes than people. Only professionals have to wear helmets because they go very fast. Some parents give their children one. But we are all cycling with the wind in our hair, love it.
ReplyDeletei had to learn to ride in secret because my mom feared bikes were too dangerous. perhaps if there had been helmets back then mom might have been a bit more willing to permit me to ride.
ReplyDeleteI guess it's hard to mend a broken head ... so I'll go with the helmets! But I'm like you Grace ... I'd look daft riding a bike let alone keep it upright and balanced ... all too hard.
ReplyDeleteFascinating post, Grace. Waaay back in the day when I was growing up, there was no such thing as a bike helmet. Amazingly, I survived (and, yes, I had my fair share of bad bicycle accidents, including being clobbered by a car). That being said, I go by what Fremantle is now doing: when I'm out on a fun, pleasure ride I don't wear a helmet. If I'm going to be near traffic, I don the 'ol helmet.
ReplyDeletelove bike shots .. havent ridden in a long long time but I used to love to bike ride .. never wore a helmut but then I never biked on streets only within the retirement community my parents lived in
ReplyDeleteVery nice post very educational, it is very important to wear a helmet for the bicycle and the bike!!
ReplyDeleteSeems like a backwards step to me. Let's spend more tax payers $$$'s on another hair-brained initiative.
ReplyDeleteNothing like a good bike. It's National Bike to Work here in the U.S.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. I volunteered a couple of days a week for Bicycle Victoria while I was in melbourne, working on advocacy and other things. There are very good arguments for and against, quite frankly.
ReplyDeleteOver here in London, it's not mandatory and you see lots of people riding without helmets. Interestingly, I'm pretty sure the fatalities are not aligned with helmet use (or lack of) in anyway.
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