David Haywood provides concrete evidence on RNZ on why cycle helmet laws do more harm than good.

http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/ntn/ntn-20 ... od-048.mp3

Main arguments.

1.Cycling is less risky than motorcycling
2.Helmet laws lead to less cyclists.
3.Less cyclists make it more dangerous for the remaining cyclists as drivers are less aware of cyclists.
4.Overall health of populaton is affected due to less cycling.
5.Drivers pass more closely to cyclists who have helmets than those who do not wear helmets.

concrete evidence? Not even close - it is an opinion.

I'm not going to bother reading/listening any further, but point 5 is based on research conducted in countries where helmets are not compulsory (thus people wearing helmets are perhaps seen as more safety conscious). It's a very different dynamic here in NZ. The same study also found that drivers drove further away from a male rider who was wearing a wig, and implied that drivers were more courteous to women.

RussS wrote:concrete evidence? Not even close - it is an opinion.

If you listen to the article you will find that the arguments are based on statistical analysis and scientific studies.

I'd rather have less vain people with a chip on their shoulder riding their bikes than no enforced reason for people to prevent brain injuries/death while riding. Do you also hate seatbelts?

It shouldn't be compulsory to wear a helmet cos the ones the don't wear them don't have anything worth protecting anyway.

Assuming these are good studies, which I have no way of telling, I'm going to agree that cycle helmet laws are a bad idea. Of course you're still an idiot not to wear a helmet.

snr_merv wrote:I'd rather have less vain people with a chip on their shoulder riding their bikes than no enforced reason for people to prevent brain injuries/death while riding. Do you also hate seatbelts?

I'd rather see more people cycling, safer roads and a healthier population.

Nathan007 wrote:It shouldn't be compulsory to wear a helmet cos the ones the don't wear them don't have anything worth protecting anyway.

is that you in your profile pic?

Dulouz wrote:

snr_merv wrote:I'd rather have less vain people with a chip on their shoulder riding their bikes than no enforced reason for people to prevent brain injuries/death while riding. Do you also hate seatbelts?

I'd rather see more people cycling, safer roads and a healthier population.

You think that the population is suddenly going to get healthier cos it's legal to ride without a helmet? Yeah right.

The unhealthy amongst our population ain't unhealthy cos they won't ride a bike because of the helmet laws


This thread was maing right from the start

scatter wrote:This thread was maing right from the start

Any thread with Helmet Laws in the title is.

AdamMTB wrote:

Nathan007 wrote:It shouldn't be compulsory to wear a helmet cos the ones the don't wear them don't have anything worth protecting anyway.

is that you in your profile pic?

Nope but that guy has no use for a helmet since he is going face first. Unless he wears a full face one.

If you're wearing the helmet on the back of your head, you're doing it wrong.

snr_merv wrote:Do you also hate seatbelts?

The increase in safety devices in cars has a positive correlation with an increase in risk taking = more crashes.

Seat belts kill people.

Dulouz wrote:

snr_merv wrote:I'd rather have less vain people with a chip on their shoulder riding their bikes than no enforced reason for people to prevent brain injuries/death while riding. Do you also hate seatbelts?

I'd rather see more people cycling, safer roads and a healthier population.

What's the big deal though? Why is it so abhorrent to wear the only practical thing you can to prevent a serious injury competing with cars out there? You and I may be competent cyclists with a good record on the road and good skills, but it only takes one tool who 'doesn't see' you to cause a serious crash, and if you can prevent a serious head injuriy that might kill you or leave you a cabage in such an incident, why not? Do you really spend that much money on your hair!? If the UCI can get pros to wear helmets in competition all year because it's sensible, why can't you wear one too?

But I know this is falling on deaf ears, you 'know' helmets are bad, I 'know' they're good, good luck pissing into the wind to allow lazy and vain people to injure themselves, a noble cause!