Oi! Look! Important stuff ----->
Crapaud
Posts: 2,483
I know that you lot are a bit insular and don't get out into the wider forum much* so I thought I'd draw your attentiion to an important, IMO, thread in Campaignabout mandatory helmet laws in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Please have a read and sign (or not) the petition.
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Please have a read and sign (or not) the petition.
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A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject - Churchill
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Comments
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Northern Island and Scotland?
Important stuff?
Sorry, I don't follow :twisted:0 -
This is a local shop, for local people; there's nothing for you here!
(signed btw)0 -
Wasn't the N.I idea just something mentioned and floated by some politican that isn't actually going anywhere at all?0
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I'm not sure I'm that fussed about it to be honest. I wear a helmet anyway and if making hemet wearing compulsory stops those who think they can just grab a Boris Bike and get out there into serious urban traffic without a care in the world, or those little toe-rags who have a bike they were 'given' from a friend of a friend of a friend, and who have absolutely no respect for those around them, from getting in my way then I'm all for it.
Is compulsory helmet wearing really that big of a deal?0 -
Hi,
Thanks for that. I'd encourage all to sign the petition, even if you choose to wear a helmet.
Those who cling to their faith might like to take a long hard look at the references and links. While I'm not suggesting that they will necessarily convince everyone they may help explain why some are skeptical.
Cheers,
W.0 -
I thought northern island was in scotland. I am confuse.
signedHat + Beard0 -
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davmaggs wrote:Wasn't the N.I idea just something mentioned and floated by some politican that isn't actually going anywhere at all?
It won't do any harm to let them know if you're against it.A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject - Churchill0 -
I'm all for helmets.
In fact, I have two - one for the head above my shoulders and the other for the head below the waist.0 -
Jonny_Trousers wrote:I'm not sure I'm that fussed about it to be honest. I wear a helmet anyway and if making hemet wearing compulsory stops those who think they can just grab a Boris Bike and get out there into serious urban traffic without a care in the world, or those little toe-rags who have a bike they were 'given' from a friend of a friend of a friend, and who have absolutely no respect for those around them, from getting in my way then I'm all for it.
Is compulsory helmet wearing really that big of a deal?
So because you think you should, you wish to take away the choice for people?
Irrespective of whether wearing one or not is effective (a debate done to death several times) people should not have an unenforceable law forced upon them for no good reason.Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
2011 Trek Madone 4.5
2012 Felt F65X
Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter0 -
Signed.
While I may choose to wear a helmet while cycling, I very much want to retain that freedom to choose. Helmet compulsion will primarily discourage casual cycle use - I don't want to have to get all "geared up" when I'm just popping to the shopsMisguided Idealist0 -
Kieran_Burns wrote:Jonny_Trousers wrote:I'm not sure I'm that fussed about it to be honest. I wear a helmet anyway and if making hemet wearing compulsory stops those who think they can just grab a Boris Bike and get out there into serious urban traffic without a care in the world, or those little toe-rags who have a bike they were 'given' from a friend of a friend of a friend, and who have absolutely no respect for those around them, from getting in my way then I'm all for it.
Is compulsory helmet wearing really that big of a deal?
So because you think you should, you wish to take away the choice for people?
Irrespective of whether wearing one or not is effective (a debate done to death several times) people should not have an unenforceable law forced upon them for no good reason.
other than their safety :roll: .Life is like a roll of toilet paper; long and useful, but always ends at the wrong moment. Anon.
Think how stupid the average person is.......
half of them are even more stupid than you first thought.0 -
Excellent.
Another 'to helmet or not to helmet' fight...
(puts kettle on, pulls up chair)0 -
shm_uk wrote:Excellent.
Another 'to helmet or not to helmet' fight...
(puts kettle on, pulls up chair)
No - to enforce or not to enforceChunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
2011 Trek Madone 4.5
2012 Felt F65X
Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter0 -
dilemna wrote:Kieran_Burns wrote:Jonny_Trousers wrote:I'm not sure I'm that fussed about it to be honest. I wear a helmet anyway and if making hemet wearing compulsory stops those who think they can just grab a Boris Bike and get out there into serious urban traffic without a care in the world, or those little toe-rags who have a bike they were 'given' from a friend of a friend of a friend, and who have absolutely no respect for those around them, from getting in my way then I'm all for it.
Is compulsory helmet wearing really that big of a deal?
So because you think you should, you wish to take away the choice for people?
Irrespective of whether wearing one or not is effective (a debate done to death several times) people should not have an unenforceable law forced upon them for no good reason.
other than their safety :roll: .
I suggest you go away and research relative risks before making that statement. Look into accidents on bikes, accidents while walking, accidents while driving, accidents in the home etc etc
This kind of law is equivalent to forcing every pedestrian to wear a helmet, as more accidents happen to people walking than to people cycling.
Look at health benefits, cost of implementation and effectiveness of enforcement while you're at it.Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
2011 Trek Madone 4.5
2012 Felt F65X
Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter0 -
or even just think what other things going on in the world warrant their attention more than whether people have polystyrene hats on.Hat + Beard0
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Signed. I nearly always wear a helmet but i think they are a deterrent to cycling for some people so i'm against it.0
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cambs wrote:Signed. I nearly always wear a helmet but i think they are a deterrent to cycling for some people so i'm against it.
A lot of people should be deterred from cycling. I'd say a good 50% of those out there are a danger to themselves and to others.0 -
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Signed. Where's the RLJ petition then? And the Pavement Pansies one? I'd like to have that made a mandatory capital offence.0
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I'm not sure how effective how a group of cyclist, however large, from outside NI signing this petition may be. I think it may even be counterproductive. (Only my take on it, I may be wrong)
I would suggest that any one on here from Northern Ireland, who is against this legislation, writes directly to their MLA to try to influence their vote. IIRC this legislation only got through the last stage by a very narrow margin (of the few who turned up)
In the past I would have scoffed at this idea but gave it a go as part of the Eilidh Cairns (sp?) campaign and was astounded to get a positive response from one of our MEPS
If you aren't from NI but have relatives/friends here ask them to do it on your behalf.
There's no point you doing it yourself ...you're not in the constituency.
Cycling Ulster piece on the topic
http://www.cyclingulster.com/?thenewsid ... table=news
Personally I think Cycling Ulster have summed it up well in the past.....100% in favour of helmets but 100% against legislation.
[/soapbox]
Hey Spen, is this what commuting was like in the old days?“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!0 -
Fireblade96 wrote:Signed.
While I may choose to wear a helmet while cycling, I very much want to retain that freedom to choose. Helmet compulsion will primarily discourage casual cycle use - I don't want to have to get all "geared up" when I'm just popping to the shops
If they want to make it mandatory then the case for reduction in death and serious injury needs to be made much more strongly that it has been to date.
Prime reason I wear a lid is I do a lot of offroad riding in the dark and being hit in the forehead by low tree branches is a lot more survivable when wearing one.
Mike0 -
TailWindHome wrote:I'm not sure how effective how a group of cyclist, however large, from outside NI signing this petition may be. I think it may even be counterproductive. (Only my take on it, I may be wrong)
Used my Dad's address :-)
When I was over in NI last week I rode a mini Tour of the Glens sans helmet, and very pleasant it was too. No children or animals were harmed, and only one large ice cream consumed. Yeah, it was sunny :-)Misguided Idealist0 -
Done - I may or may not wear a helmet but I'm bu**ered if I'm going to be told to0
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Having trawled through a lot of the references on OP's original link, it strikes me that our govt would do well to discourage car use by introducing mandatory helmet laws for car drivers. That group does seem to be more succeptable to head injury than any other group. If the effects of that law were consistent with countries where cycle helmets have been mandated, car usage would instantly drop by a decent proportion. Result or what? How could any self-respecting Min Of Env discount that as an idea?
I'll send it to someone at Central Office right away.0 -
Jay dubbleU wrote:Done - I may or may not wear a helmet but I'm bu**ered if I'm going to be told to
Buttered?1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
Pinnacle Monzonite
Part of the anti-growth coalition0 -
Signed.
I agree it should be a matter of choice not compulsion but backed by an education campaign to give people all the facts so their choice can be an informed one.
I think the Australian experience is an interesting one. Anecdotally 95% of teenage girls stopped cycling after compulsory helmet law was introduced.
Even the police here are (allegedly) against introduction of such a law here for U16's as it is "unenforceable"
This is an interesting link, particularly the very well thought through and reasoned set of arguments posed by Dr Paul Docherty - over a decade old though!
http://www.mertoncyclists.talktalk.net/helmets.html
Oh and I came across an interesting factoid that says that approved helmets only resist impact up to 23kph (14mph) - surely a speed we all exceed daily contained in the attached link;
http://www.fiab-onlus.it/andare/helm_gb.doc
Unfortunately we live in a Nanny State where we aren't allowed to choose what risks we accept. How in gawd's name did any of us survive childhood? :roll:"Get a bicycle. You won't regret it if you live"
Mark Twain0