As a doctor who cycles to work I would like to state my objection to
compulsory cycle helmets.
The only people I know who wish to make them compulsory are motorcyclists
who feel we should have to wear helmets because they do!
You'll take a lot of the joy and convenience out of cycling as well as add
to the costs.
Regarding the reduced casualties - I think this will only be from a
dramatically reduced number of people who will want to cycle.
The result? A Nation of even more couch potatoes taking up more spaces (and
room for their growing backsides) on the buses or more likely in their cars.
(Whether they go 177mph or not)

James Cameron.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Black, John" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2005 5:07 PM
Subject: Cycle helmet Legislation and Emergency Medicine


>I have felt for some time that we need mandatory cycle helmet legislation
> for cyclist road users if we are going to seriously tackle unacceptable
> rates of serious cycling related head, brain and upper facial morbidity
> and
> mortality sustained on our public roads in the UK every day.
>
> This approach is of course not mutually exclusive of other sensible
> strategies of reducing cycling risk (traffic separation schemes, etc).
>
> The BMA's Board of Science, after lobbying, has changed its position a
> couple of months ago to support mandatory cycle helmet legislation, for
> both
> adults and children, for the first time.
>
> The public health lobby (mainly GPs apparently) are now challenging the
> BMA
> on its new position, as are groups with a commercial interest in cycling.
>
> If you feel that you could support the BMA's new position supporting cycle
> helmet legislation, especially with your insights as Emergency Medicine
> Clinicians, I would be most grateful if you would consider briefly writing
> to the Board of Science at BMA House, Tavistock Square, London WC1
> outlining
> your support or email direct to Nicky Jayesinghe at the BMA at the address
> below (irrespective of whether you are members of the BMA or not).
>
> BMA support for this legislation will be essential to engage our
> politicians
> on the need to effectively address this issue.
>
> There is a real opportunity for some evidence based politics in due
> course!
>
> Best wishes,
>
> John Black
> John Radcliffe Hospital
> Oxford.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 11 February 2005 09:30
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Cycle helmets
>
> Hello There
>
> Hope that all's well with you.  A note to update you on matters.  We have
> had a lot of correspondence from BMA members both in support of compulsion
> (see below) and others who are not.  The Board of Science is going
> consider
> all the correspondence when they meet in April and it is most likely that
> the matter will also be debated at the ARM at the end of June.
>
> As you will see from below BMA Members who are in favour of cycle helmets
> being compulsory are starting to write in. As such it would be most
> helpful
> if you could speak to colleagues [BMA members] who are in favour of
> compulsory cycle helmets and ask them to write in to me - the more
> documented support we have from BMA Members the better. Best wishes Nicky