Fewer Mount cyclists wearing helmets

DANGEROUS: Kay and Grant Mullins cycle across a busy intersection in Mount Maunganui without wearing safety helmets.PHOTO/RUTH KEBER

Cyclists in Mount Maunganui are ignoring warnings about wearing helmets.

Mount Maunganui bach owners Kay and Grant Mullins admit they often ride around Mount Maunganui without helmets.

"We've never worn helmets but we don't ride very fast and we don't ride on the road," Mr Mullins said.

"In Australia, where we also live, in the Sunshine Coast they are looking at the compulsory law of wearing helmets being made voluntary and if you are a casual rider, like us, you don't necessarily need to ride with a helmet."

Mrs Mullins and her husband noticed there were fewer people cycling with helmets.

"Three or four years ago, everybody had a helmet. We were very naughty. People would glare at us and now I have noticed a lot of people are not actually wearing helmets."

But she said the only reason they did not have their helmets on [when photographed] was because they left their bikes at their rental property and the tenant "forgot to give us our helmets".

"However, we never used to wear our helmets. We are very naughty baby boomers and everybody used to say 'where's your helmet? Where's your helmet?' And then two years ago I broke my neck. I had a nasty head injury and now I never ever ride my bike without a helmet".

Mount Maunganui police area response manager Deirdre Lack said it could only take a tap on your bike which could result in a serious injury.

"The first place you are going to hit is your head," she said.

"You are taking your life into your own hands.

"Cyclists are not always seen, especially with cars reversing out of driveways," she said. "It only takes a tap and you can land on your head and have a head injury."

She said the fine for not wearing your helmet when riding a bike was $55.

Tauranga Hospital emergency department clinical director Dr Derek Sage said they didn't get "exceptional numbers" of bike-related injuries over the Christmas period.

"They are no more prevalent at this time of the year than any other."

Dr Sage said what bike-related injuries he did see were mostly to the lower leg.

"People tend to be fairly good about wearing bike helmets. We get the occasional wrist injury from a child breaking their fall, or abrasions to the face, elbows and that sort of thing from falls. But what we see most of are injuries to the lower legs and ankle area."

Ten-year-old Jacob Hellinan said he never rode his bicycle anywhere without his helmet.

He said he was taught bike safety at school, Mount Maunganui Primary, in Years Five and Six.

"Your helmet has to be quite tight so it doesn't fall off so it protects your head. You are supposed to wear it every time you are on a bike, scooter or skateboard."

In the year up to June 2013, there were 802 cyclists injured on New Zealand roads and 12 people were killed.