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I agree, I believe that health and safety is an entirely personal decision if the choice does not put others at risk. Therefore helmets, either for motor cyclists or cyclists should be optional, as should front seat belts in motor vehicles, but not rear as the chance of damaging someone in front in the case of accident is fairly high. I have never understood why there is moral pressure placed on cyclists to wear helmets by other cyclists, the 'self-policing' mindset, I am sure that we have all been party to it either as recipients or givers...perhaps both! What difference does it make to those who do wear helmets if others do not? I am sure someone on this group will have done the research to explain. Nicholas Oddy From: Cycling and Society Research Group discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jennings Gail Sent: 10 May 2012 15:53 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Collection of Cycle Concepts 2012[Scanned-Clean] Glad you included us all. I agree with you. In SA helmets are mandatory, and there's pressure on cyclists to police each other if we don't wear helmets! I've even been yelled at by drivers for not wearing a helmet, as if I'm breaking some law that puts them at risks! Whenever the question of bike-share / bike-rental comes up, there's the helmet issue that just won't go away... On 10 May 2012, at 4:45 PM, Dave du Feu wrote: Sorry all, I intended this to go to Jacob, but I guess no harm in it appearing in the forum in case there are other views! On 10 May 2012 15:42, Dave du Feu <[log in to unmask]> wrote: Thanks Jakob - I've already received another email about this, and had a quick look. Seems a really exciting publication. One thing, I really cannot understand why you are pushing helmets. We are doing our best over here to try and reduce the pressure for helmets, as they put people off from cycling (which also has the side effect of reducing the 'safety in numbers' effect which you also endorse!) I'm concerned about publicising your book in some circles, as coming from the one of the places which Britain looks up to as an example, it will be taken as a powerful endorsement of helmets. We are worried that they are gaining such credibility that there is a fear of compulsion coming in. There are already some charity bike rides, aimed at ordinary cyclists, not racers, where under-18s are banned from taking part if they are unhelmeted. Dave du Feu Spokes, the Lothian Cycle Campaign [Edinburgh, Scotland] On 10 May 2012 15:32, Jakob Schiøtt Stenbæk Madsen <[log in to unmask]> wrote: Dear All, The Cycling Embassy of Denmark has just finished up a new publication "Collection of Cycle Concepts 2012". The first edition of Collection of Cycle Concepts was published in 2000 and enjoyed a wide circulation among everyone interested in bicycle traffic. The simultaneous publication of the English version spread the Danish bicycle traffic experience to many parts of the world. The second edition, Collection of Cycle Concepts 2012, updates the field, featuring new challenges and the latest knowledge. Collection of Cycle Concepts 2012 is not intended to be a summary of Danish road standards, but to provide inspiration and motivation for creating more and safer bicycle traffic - in Denmark as well as the rest of the world. You can have a look and download the publication here: http://www.cycling-embassy.dk/2012/05/10/cycle-concepts2012/ Best regards, Jakob Schiøtt Stenbæk Madsen Project Officer M. +45 40 70 83 62 <tel:%2B45%2040%2070%2083%2062> Danish Cyclists' Federation Rømersgade 5 DK-1362 København K T. +45 33 32 31 21 <tel:%2B45%2033%2032%2031%2021> [log in to unmask] www.cyklistforbundet.dk <http://www.cyklistforbundet.dk/> -- ** Spokes: spokes.org.uk <http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress> ; twitter.com/SpokesLothian ** Personal: twitter.com/DaveduFeu; flickr.com/photos/34847720@N03/sets <http://www.flickr.com/photos/34847720@N03/sets> ** Great sites: badscience.net <http://badscience.net/> , 38degrees.org.uk <http://38degrees.org.uk/> , copenhagenize.com <http://copenhagenize.com/> , thebikestation.org.uk <http://thebikestation.org.uk/> , ghgonline.org <http://ghgonline.org/>