Helmetless riders

Comment by CraigM on May 23, 2009 at 9:18am

Shouldn't this page have Gary Busey as its avatar.

Comment by Fixit on June 7, 2009 at 6:39pm

i love this clip - from WA reports.

Comment by Chris on February 18, 2010 at 1:23am

When the helmet law was introduced, I stopped riding.

Has anybody noticed that the helmet that offers the greatest degree of head protection, the full face motorcycle type, is the one accessory that will almost guarantee that you will come to grief.

Conversely, the head covering that would offer the lowest prospect of an accident would be a beanie or cycling cap.
These allow the greatest sensory perception of our immediate environment. A greater level of situational awareness, & doesn't this contribute to overall cycling safety?

As a citizen of a so-called 'free' country, ... as an adult of mature years, I believe that I, ... & we, should have the 'right to choose', returned to us.

The helmet law sucks.

Comment by sydneyCommuter on February 20, 2010 at 11:21am

There was a long discussion on helmets & the helmet law recently:
here

It's quite long, but there are a lot of good comments quoting research, notably by Dan. Well worth reading if you are interested in the topic.

Comment by sydneyCommuter on July 27, 2010 at 1:16pm

The helmet law is imposed on the belief that it improves safety.

Has it improved safety? It doesn't look like it. The 'safety in numbers' and 'risk compensation' factors seem to overcome the minor safety benefits, resulting in net safety loss.

More details can be found here:

Comment by Littleteapot on August 11, 2010 at 12:45pm

I really feel now that I truly belong to this group because for the last 2 weeks on the days I ride my folding bike have not been wearing a helmet.

I wear a helmet when I'm on my MTB but also when I'm on the MTB I am dressed in all cycling gear, helmet and I'm on the road most of the time. I look like I'm officially on the road and therefore theres no middle ground, theres more danger and a helmet I don't mind. I have a comfortable helmet and sometimes I forget it's there, on my head.

On the folding bike however I am very rarely on the road, I am wearing my work uniform and riding this bike on the footpath at low speeds I feel much happier with my beanie on. I think the general view from the public if your riding a foldout is 'oh, how cute' or 'wow, what a mad bike' or 'I want one of them. They are not concerned with whats on your head. The bike looks like a toy (even though its not, it's a very practical, space saving machine capable of fast speeds).

Sometimes when I have the seat low on the folding bike I feel like a naughty kid, knees hanging out to the sides. I feel like i'm on a circus bike.

I really don't feel the need to wear a helmet on the folding bike when I'm cruising along the footpath (around circular quay, rocks, lidcombe, and my place of work.

Comment by Paul Martin on August 11, 2010 at 12:51pm

@Alexandar Gunn

That's what it is all about really; the freedom to choose when it may be appropriate to wear a helmet; we can all be trusted to make a sensible decision without the need for wide-sweeping legislation, so enough of the 'helmet at all costs' nonsense!

Comment by Brian Webb on September 23, 2010 at 8:18pm

After the recent media coverage about helmets I rode to work today without a helmet. I noticed a couple of things. It was a lot easier to see. I could hear better. It was easier to look over my shoulder for cars coming etc.

I really think the message that the law sends is that "bicycles are dangerousness" so I'm intent on coping any fine and fighting it in court. I think that the next critical mass should appeal to helmetless riders too :)

Comment by Nadine Brischke on September 25, 2010 at 9:09am

i really dislike wearing a helmet it hurts my head i wrecks my hair. but i keep getting told by random people and by police officers where is your helmet?? i hope they cancel the wearing helmet law.

Comment by sydneyCommuter on September 25, 2010 at 9:32am

Hi Brian,

I ride sometimes with a helmet and sometimes without. I've also noticed that without a helmet I tend to turn my head a lot more at it is much easier. Much easier to see.

Have a look at the transcript from Sue Abbott successful court challenge recently. It can be found here:
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/D6FC...

This provides valuable information to fight it in court.

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