1205100830

The terrific helmet debate: one of those where every opinion is right 
and no one is absolutely right. You gotta love it!

Stu

---
Dr Stuart Clement
Director, World Cycling Research Forum

Co-Convenor, WOCREF 2012
+61 (0)405 702 483
www.wocref.org
[log in to unmask]

On 2012-05-11 06:41, Kevin Hickman wrote:
>> says that almost half of the people responding thought that cycling
>> on the road was too dangerous. Now where would they get that idea,
>> except from helmet promotion?
>
> To be fair Richard, there's a lot more out there to be afraid of -
> it's not all down to the reinforcing effect of promoting cycling as 
> an
> inherently dangerous activity.
>
> I view helmets, and hi-viz, as just an indicator of how safe people
> feel. If we get the everyday environment people are cycling in right
> then the personal protective equipment will vanish.
>
> The truth will out eventually, and either we'll all be putting
> helmets on as our heads leave the pillow in the morning, or they'll
> just fade away, or people will continue to use them where they feel
> exposed to risk.
>
> I agree that helmets aren't helping the normalising of cycling, but
> it can probably be sidestepped by getting the environment right, and
> thankfully that's where the focus is shifting to now. And let's not
> forget, helmets are such a phaff that if we do get the masses cycling
> they're not going to bother taking helmets with them everywhere. And
> conversely, if people still feel helmets are necessary, the masses
> won't cycle.
>
> Apart from the issue of compulsion, which where it occurs appears to
> mean 'game over' for mass cycling until it's repealed, helmets are
> just a distraction.
>
> Kevin.
>
> On 10 May 2012, at 20:06, burton richard wrote:
>
>> And things like this
>>
> 
> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2142157/Bicycle-sales-hit-record-high-20-ride-one.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
>> [30]
>>
>> which says that almost half of the people responding thought that
>> cycling on the road was too dangerous. Now where would they get
> that
>> idea, except from helmet promotion? The story itself implicity
>> promotes helmets, and almost all media reports of collisions
>> involving cyclists report either that a helmet saved the cyclist's
>> life, or its absence killed them. There is some very good research
>> about the persistence of myths which I would recommend reading, and
>> this phenomenon goes a long way to explaining why the myth of
> helmet
>> effectiveness is so strong. Ever since the reports of 85%
>> effectiveness were published, it has been almost impossible to
>> change the public perception that cycle helmets are effective,
>> despite the evidence. On The One Show last year, the infamous James
>> Cracknell one, the chair of BHIT, Angie Lee, was interviewed and
>> said "just ignore the evidence......." and needless to say, the
>> interviewer didn't see fit to ask her why someone dedicated to
>> promoting helmets wants people to ignore the evidence - in line
> with
>> the unstated and denied but blatant BBC policy to promote cycle
>> helmets.
>>
>> On 10 May 2012 18:49, Dave du Feu <[log in to unmask] [31]> wrote:
>>
>>> There is a great deal of material [with sources] here...
>>> http://www.cyclehelmets.org/1020.html [19]
>>>
>>> Whether any of them can be said to constitute 'proof' I don't
>>> know, but the material is certainly very extensive.
>>>
>>> On 10 May 2012 17:34, Jason Meggs <[log in to unmask] [20]>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Burton,
>>>>
>>>> Please forgive my ignorance, but I'm not aware of proof that
>>>> promoting
>>>> helmets reduces cycling, can you cite the source(s)?
>>>>
>>>> Very interested,
>>>> Jason
>>>>
>>>> On Thu, May 10, 2012 at 6:29 PM, burton richard
>>>> <[log in to unmask] [1]> wrote:
>>>> > Since the only two proven effects of helmet promotion and
>>>> laws are a fall in
>>>> > the number of cyclists and obscene profits for the helmet
>>>> manufacturers, I
>>>> > have some difficulty understanding why a cycling
>>>> organisation would even
>>>> > consider promoting them. At the very least, it makes that
>>>> organisation look
>>>> > as if they are more interested in the manufacturer's profits
>>>> than the safety
>>>> > of cyclists. It was said some time ago, but is still true
>>>> "You can promote
>>>> > helmets or you can promote cycling, but you can't do both."
>>>> >
>>>> > The promotion of cycle helmets is entirely
>>>> counterproductive, and no
>>>> > organisation which has the interests of cyclists in mind
>>>> would do so.
>>>> >
>>>> > Is there someone from the Cycling Embassy of Denmark on this
>>>> group who could
>>>> > explain why they are doing something which won't improve the
>>>> safety of
>>>> > cyclists but will reduce the number of them?
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > On 10 May 2012 15:53, Jennings Gail
>>>> <[log in to unmask] [2]> wrote:
>>>> >>
>>>> >> 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] [3]>
>>>> 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] [4]> 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/
>>> [5]
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> Best regards,
>>>> >>>> Jakob Schiøtt Stenbæk Madsen
>>>> >>>> Project Officer
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> M. +45 40 70 83 62 [6]
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> Danish Cyclists' Federation
>>>> >>>> Rømersgade 5
>>>> >>>> DK-1362 København K
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> T. +45 33 32 31 21 [7]
>>>> >>>> [log in to unmask] [8]
>>>> >>>> www.cyklistforbundet.dk [9]
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> --
>>>> >> ** Spokes: spokes.org.uk [10]; twitter.com/SpokesLothian
>>>> [11]
>>>> >> ** Personal: twitter.com/DaveduFeu [12];
>>>> flickr.com/photos/34847720@N03/sets [13]
>>>> >> ** Great sites: badscience.net [14], 38degrees.org.uk [15],
>>>> copenhagenize.com [16],
>>>> >> thebikestation.org.uk [17], ghgonline.org [18]
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >
>>>
>>> --
>>> ** Spokes: spokes.org.uk [21]; twitter.com/SpokesLothian [22]
>>> ** Personal: twitter.com/DaveduFeu [23];
>>> flickr.com/photos/34847720@N03/sets [24]
>>> ** Great sites: badscience.net [25], 38degrees.org.uk [26],
>>> copenhagenize.com [27], thebikestation.org.uk [28], ghgonline.org
>>> [29]
>
>
>
> Links:
> ------
> [1] mailto:[log in to unmask]
> [2] mailto:[log in to unmask]
> [3] mailto:[log in to unmask]
> [4] mailto:[log in to unmask]
> [5] http://www.cycling-embassy.dk/2012/05/10/cycle-concepts2012/
> [6] http://www.wocref.org/tel:%2B45%2040%2070%2083%2062
> [7] http://www.wocref.org/tel:%2B45%2033%2032%2031%2021
> [8] mailto:[log in to unmask]
> [9] http://www.cyklistforbundet.dk/
> [10] http://spokes.org.uk/
> [11] http://twitter.com/SpokesLothian
> [12] http://twitter.com/DaveduFeu
> [13] http://flickr.com/photos/34847720@N03/sets
> [14] http://badscience.net/
> [15] http://38degrees.org.uk/
> [16] http://copenhagenize.com/
> [17] http://thebikestation.org.uk/
> [18] http://ghgonline.org/
> [19] http://www.cyclehelmets.org/1020.html
> [20] mailto:[log in to unmask]
> [21] http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress
> [22] http://twitter.com/SpokesLothian
> [23] http://twitter.com/DaveduFeu
> [24] http://www.flickr.com/photos/34847720@N03/sets
> [25] http://badscience.net/
> [26] http://38degrees.org.uk/
> [27] http://copenhagenize.com/
> [28] http://thebikestation.org.uk/
> [29] http://ghgonline.org/
> [30]
> 
> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2142157/Bicycle-sales-hit-record-high-20-ride-one.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
> [31] mailto:[log in to unmask]