Cyclists Reject Safety Council's Helmet Claims and Proposals

by MTB Sat May 15, 2004 23:55

You're simply mad if you forego your lid. Forget the cars and the buses, you can fall off a bike in lots of ways. I've cycled for years, raced mountain bikes and most of my damage was self-inflicted, minimised by wearing a helmet.

I've also been mowed down by blind bastards too, but that's another story.

by lone gunman Sat May 15, 2004 13:58

what would you expect from an pig like you but a smelly green grunt! Dumb fuck!

by expatriate Sat May 15, 2004 12:02

Mr. Bague you dumb ignorant prick, if you got out of your own little box more you might actually realise that many more continental European countries besides Denmark actually take serious measure to promote facilities for cyclists and are not so completely enslaved to the automobile industry as the Brown Paper Envelope Republic of Ireland and Her Royal Britannic Majesty's Disunited Kingdom.

Allow me to name a few of these countries in which I have spent some time and made extensive use of my bicycle ... the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Switzerland ... the list is non-exhaustive .....

And before you attempt to give some advice to ME about leaving and taking my bike with me, let me tell you that I have long since left. Thank God because I no longer have to listen to the drivelling of pricks like you in real life, which would be incredibly more annoying than reading your attempts to contribute to debate in cyberspace. I must admit that for reasons of personal convenience, I didn't take my bike with me, but bought one in my new abode about seven years ago and thanks to regular maintenance it's still going well ........

With all the money I saved on petrol I could nearly afford the deposit on an over-priced jerry-built pile of bricks and mortar in Dublin, but I think I'll invest it in something giving better value for money than the Free State currently offers .....

by Guy Bague Sat May 15, 2004 07:39

This is bollox. If you don't like Ireland, go and live in Denmark and take your bike with you.

by ekes Sat May 15, 2004 01:49

You can keep arguing about the value of helmets as long as you like. I am reasonably sure, in the unlikely event of cracking your head while cycling, they are a bonus!

However, the question here is compulsion. Making folks do something, that puts an additional barrier to something that is i) good for them, healthy, preventing future heath problems; ii) good for the environment, cutting car use; iii) liberating for younger people as it gives them mobility. There are enough barriers already, cycling isn't actually that dangerous! The more people cycling the safer it is anyway. It saves lives by helping a healthy lifestyle.

by pat c Fri May 14, 2004 18:16

and trucks etc. cyclists ned more respect and legal protection on the roads. but... if you fall off your bike and hit your head, you would be a lot beter off if you are wearing helmet.

try banging your head off a wall without a helmet!

now try it with a helmet!

see!

by P1 Fri May 14, 2004 15:02

Idiot!

by Lone gunman Fri May 14, 2004 14:54

If you cyclists started to learn the basic rules of the road,you mightnt be treated so shoddily.Or find yourselves being flattened by people who are trying to watch out for other dimwitts in leathl weapons,not to mind sucidial bike riders.
While you are about it how about putting basic saftey devices on your expensive bikes?Like Bells and lights.Which are the law anyway.
The sooner you lot are made have compulsory insurance,saftey gear and some form of points system.the safer and better the general public will be.

by P1 - none Fri May 14, 2004 13:55

It should be noted that there is a higher risk of head injuries in car accidents compared to any other form of transport except motorbikes. Do the 2 correspondents above wear helmets every time they take a car trip?

The important item here is that the body proposing this change has an anti-cycling agenda. We have experienced enough shabby treatment from the road lobby in recent years without this underhand method to permit insuramce companies avoid their responsibilities. I think it is not head injuries they are concerned about but the possibilitiy of avoiding paying out for any accident involving a cyclist with no helmet whether or not head injuries are involved.

by kokomero Fri May 14, 2004 13:40

having been knocked off my bike in a bus lane I feel I owe my health if not my life to the cycle helmet I was wearing at the time. To my mind if seatbelts and crashhelmets are obligatory for motor vehicles then cycle helment should be obligatory for bikes.

by student - na Fri May 14, 2004 12:14

Encouraging people to wear helmets is a good thing why do doctors and nurses call cyclists who dont wear helmets, organ donors? Becuase if you dont wear a helmet in an accident you are more than likely to be brain dead, and harvested for organs.