Bolton Council to urge government to make cycle helmets compulsory

Forcing people to wear helmets doesn't work. The city bike schemes in Australia have been a disaster because that means people have to carry helmets wit them at all times for if they want to hop on a city bike. The city council in Sydney is losing money on the bikes every day. Take the Dutch as an example: after an hour of sitting outside a café in the Netherlands you'll notice #1: majority of travel done on bikes #2: very very few people wearing helmets. 

Quote:

Councillor too lazy to fix dangerous Bolton infrastructure, tells road users to wear protective gear instead.

Fixing the piss poor standard of driving here would be a good first step. Worst town I've ever driven in, I've had more near misses (attempts at being run off the road) on the bike in one year here than I've had in my previous 20+ riding years.

#LoveBolton

#HateCyclists
 

Councillor too lazy to fix dangerous Bolton infrastructure, tells road users to wear protective gear instead.

I sent an email over to him with the following content:

Quote:

Hi,

I've just read about your recent revelation about the protective effects of helmets (http://road.cc/content/news/172773-bolton-council-urge-government-make-c...) and am curious about why you think that car drivers should not be protected?

Can you explain why cyclists should have mandatory helmet laws (they're on the same road as motorbikes) whereas other vehicles apparently don't deserve your same standard of care?

If you actually look at any statistics on road traffic incidents, I think you'll find that motorists are the most likely group to experience head injuries and thus should be the first target for mandatory helmet laws.

I welcome your response.

His response was "Thank your for information and interest"(sic).

Dear all,

Perhaps a multi-pronged approach to this politician is required. No,  that doesn't mean a pitchfork.

Viz:

1) E-mail "bombardment" to him containing the evidence - but only from local constituents as otherwise he probably won't reply.

2) Letters to the local press

3) Comments to the online versions of the local media

4) A reply to this idio(t)cy using the local TV station(s).

5) Start a public campaign for compulsory crash helmets and body armour for occupants of small motor vehicles.

I assume that many of you are already embarking on one or more of this prongs. But feel free to add more sharp points.

]

Lol, i like his style, only because it winds so many people up on this forum.

A simple point though - he's a Labour councillor in a Labour controlled council, do you honestly think cameron and his bum chums will take any notice whatsoever of this.......if you do then i'll put you in the same bracket as said councillor and his ideas.

Clearly being in Bolton is dangerous -Boltonians seem to have a tendency to fall off things - so by all means have compulsory helmets for everyone in Bolton.

I have had a few offs over the years on only one did the helmet contact ghe ground. Ironically the most innocuous, wheels slid out from under me going round a roundabout at ridiculously low speed (wet manhole cover) helmet may have saved me a concussion definitely saved me grazing the side of my head. Just about all they are good for really. If only there were as many politicians interested in safe infrastructure as helmets. In other industries PPE is seen as the last resort not the only safety tool.

I don't understand why his son hasn't been banned from riding a bike? Or maybe it's actually kerbs that need to be banned?

I have the good luck to live in the town where a councillor wants to make me wear a helmet, something I have never done other than when having to whilst track riding at the velodrome. I personally know him, he does try and act on behalf of cyclists in the town though the rest of the council as a whole is pretty poor when providing faclities. Having sat on a couple of local forums I have always finished exasperated. John is pushing for a dedicated cycling track, though without the backing of the locals in his ward, something that could be worthwhile, he can have points that for that but not for the helmet campaign.

 john.byrne [at] bolton.gov.uk

"John,
As an avid cyclist I'm deeply saddened by your misguided views on helmet compulsion.
A cursory google search will quickly reveal that cycle compulsion in NZ and Australia corresponded with a drop in head injuries but a corresponding drop in cycling numbers.
Other research is available online to show that head injuries remain consistently relative to the number of cyclist using the road and compulsion has negligible effect on reducing head injuries.
However, helmets are really a Red Herring. 
What prevents cyclists getting injured is good infrastructure, educated drivers and safety in numbers.
I strongly suggest you research "hierarchy of hazard control" as guide for maximising the effectiveness of your efforts.
I compel your watch this short film as a vision to what can be achieved if we focus on the right things and forget the Red Herrings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuBdf9jYj7o

Regards,

KOMcowboy"

Feel free to copy and paste.
 

 john.byrne [at] bolton.gov.uk

"John,
As an avid cyclist I'm deeply saddened by your misguided views on helmet compulsion.
A cursory google search will quickly reveal that cycle compulsion in NZ and Australia corresponded with a drop in head injuries but a corresponding drop in cycling numbers.
Other research is available online to show that head injuries remain consistently relative to the number of cyclist using the road and compulsion has negligible effect on reducing head injuries.
However, helmets are really a Red Herring. 
What prevents cyclists getting injured is good infrastructure, educated drivers and safety in numbers.
I strongly suggest you research "hierarchy of hazard control" as guide for maximising the effectiveness of your efforts.
I compel your watch this short film as a vision to what can be achieved if we focus on the right things and forget the Red Herrings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuBdf9jYj7o

Regards,

KOMcowboy"

Feel free to copy and paste.
 

Maybe look at the cause of the accident first i.e. get an eye test or if they are ok try looking where he's riding

I'm sure the kerb jumped out at him.......

I was once advised by a nurse at a Diabeties clinic to wear a helmet as the Consultant recommended this. I asked her how much research he had done in to bicycle head injuries as he specialised in diabetes and had he included any research undertaken in Holland. She replied he hadn't done any research but must know what he's talking about as he's a consultant. Seem's to me that Cllr Byne is basing his proposal on similar uninformed advice. Just because someone works in a hospital doesn't mean they know what they're talking about.

I came off three weeks ago due to a mechanical problem with the new bike.

I only hit 7 grazed my knee (as I know how to fall), but obviously a helmet would have saved my life!

I have a cheap TV Cllr Byrne may be interested in. I think it works, but it fell of the truck & was ran over while still in it's polystrene packing. sure it'll be fine though

I do wear a helmet but am against making it compulsory. You can just as easily get a head injury by tripping and falling while walking/running.

"Jon was riding to work when he hit a kerb and came off his bike"

Hey councillor Byrne why do I have to wear a plastic hat just because your son can't control his bike?

He's made the decision to get his son to wear a helmet, and the helmet may have prevented him hitting his head, that's his choice. Don't force everyone to wear a helmet because of it, in every different situation they may be riding a bike in. 

Thank the veritable Bez of Beyond the Kerb for this one, all you need to know.

How about starting with the problematic cycling subgroup of councillor’s children first and then see how it goes?
 

All sounds like a job for Chris Boardman

It's always the pro helmet side who want to coerce everyone else. I have never seen a ban on helmets proposed.

Have those councillors got shares in a helmet making company ? 

Do those councillors ride a bike ?

Haven't those councillors got anything better to do with their time?

How do you vote councillors out of office ?

I think that legislation banning knee jerk legislation by those who are unqualified to even have an opinion, let alone create laws, is required.

I always think it's remarkable how when an Important Person's friend or relation is injured, suddenly "something must be done".