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Home / Aucklander / Sport

Helmet debate is a real headturner

The Aucklander
4 Jul, 2010 05:49 PM4 mins to read

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Auckland's cyclists are divided - and not about whether Lycra looks hot or not. Sean Gillespie looks into the debate on our compulsory cycle helmet law.
David Slack is no fan of wearing a helmet on his daily bike rides and his point of view is about more than just wanting
the wind in his hair.
The Devonport resident has thought carefully about the issue. He believes rescinding New Zealand's compulsory helmet law - passed in 1994 - would be a smart move.
He says the more he reads about helmets, the more he's persuaded the benefits do not outweigh the disadvantages. "I know that they'll protect me from a cut to my head, but they're not going to be much use to me if I take a heavy fall or if I get hit by something.
"Any statistics that have been provided to justify wearing helmets tend to have been contradicted by other studies that show the improvement in safety doesn't seem to be as great as you might think."
Mr Slack's opposition to mandatory helmet-wearing is rooted partly in his belief  that it discourages people from riding which, in turn, makes it more dangerous for remaining cyclists.
"I remember when I was a kid going to school, the streets were full of kids on bikes and that made them very safe because the cars worked around the bikes," he says. "When the number of bikes falls, what happens is the bikes have to work around the cars and they're much more vulnerable."
He is not saying there should be one rule for everyone. "If you feel a helmet would protect you, I entirely applaud your choice.
"My experience is, if you can ride without a bike helmet you have a better sense of what's going on around you. It feels to me that I hear and see better."
The issue has had a bit of an airing lately; discussions are held on biking blogs and international studies are circulating. Jenny Marshall, one of the city's more prolific cycling promoters and editor of "cycle-pedia" Cycling in Auckland, shares Mr Slack's views.
"I often cycle without a helmet," she says, "and believe that it should be up to the individual as to whether they wear a helmet or not. I consider the compulsory helmet law to be ineffectual at best and positively damaging at worst."
Ms Marshall, who's also known for her Auckland Cycle Chic blog and who co-organises the flamboyant cycling group Frocks on Bikes, says there are many inequalities and contradictions surrounding the helmet law.
"I have the legal right to engage in many proven and predictably life-threatening pursuits such as smoking,  excessive alcohol and food consumption, but there are no laws against these activities even though these 'lifestyle choices' cost the health system millions of dollars every year."
Not everyone in the cycling community feels the same way.  A recent blog posting on the subject on cyclingauckland.co.nz attracted a range of comments.
"My personal experience is that it has saved the life of a friend when he was hit by a truck wing mirror, and me from at least a concussion when I rear-ended a car," posts Jason.
"I don't think they should be compulsory, but would still wear one for most of the routes I ride," says Anton. "When riding at low speeds - with correspondingly low-speed motorised traffic - or on bike paths, the helmet would be left at home."
Barbara Cuthbert, from advocacy group Cycle Action Auckland, says if you want to look after your brain, you'd be sensible to wear a helmet. Sports cyclists and most commuter cyclists don't question the need for helmets, she says.
"They are travelling at speed and are aware of the fact that they're more at risk.
"Those who have had falls tell me they're grateful they had a helmet on because it has protected their head."
Ms Cuthbert says the compulsory helmet law is akin to the safety-belt law in vehicles.
However, she also believes the more people cycling on our roads, the safer cycling becomes.
Top gear

  • Cycle helmets were  first produced commercially in 1975
  • Countries with compulsory helmet laws: Australia (not enforced in some states),
    Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Iceland, Israel (not enforced), Slovakia, Sweden,
    the US and New Zealand Mexico City recently quashed its helmet law
  • A British study found vehicles were driven closer to cyclists if they were helmeted
  • Auckland Regional Transport Authority found a 27 per cent increase  in cycling in the Auckland region  last year
  • Auckland City had a 40 per cent increase
  • 90 per cent of cyclists surveyed were wearing a helmet
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