Cycling on footpaths and with no helmets!!!
I recall Doddsy (I think) putting up a post about not wearing helmets and not conforming to road rules and I joined the brigade of knockers sprouting forth my opinion that we should abide by the laws of the land and set an example to all etc etc etc.
I've spent the last 3 months in Europe and have ridden in 13 countries in that time. Not once did I wear a helmet. Many, many times I rode up footpaths, turned on red lights and rode the wrong way up one way streets. Why? Cos that's what everyone does. Its safe, it encourage people to ride rather than drive. You can hire a bike, ride it where you want to go and leave it in a different hire zone. NO worries about helmets, just ride.
At first I was shocked by this, but quickly I came to realise that it is inherent with a biking, commuting and social culture.
Not saying that this should or could be introduced into our culture (pity!) but when you experience it, it sure makes you think that us and our do-gooding doesn't really help the promotion of the bike as a realisitic form of everyday transport.
Need to think a bit more about this, but thought I'd share that I've had my opinion altered through the experience.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by heather on -
Steve, thanks for publicly acknowledging that cycling in Europe differs from Australia. Some European countries have less cycling collisions per capita, also less vehicle collisions.
From today's Indaily Lives at risk from unsafe car designs
CASR, based at Adelaide University, has called for international safety regulations to be introduced in Australia . . . “If we had a regulation similar to Europe or Japans we would see a reduction in the fatalities and injuries of pedestrians [and cyclists] ,” CASR's Andrew van den Berg told Indaily . . . In one frightening statistic provided by CASR, a vehicle fitted with a steel bull-bar need only be travelling at 30km/h to cause a pedestrian fatality. Earlier this year the federal government moved to introduce minimum pedestrian safety standards for vehicles but halted the consultation phase after strong lobbying from the automotive industry, particularly the manufacturers of bull-bars . . . Of all the claims to the SA Motor Accident Commission, 5.6 per cent are for pedestrian injury but they account for 11.6 per cent of all claims costs for rehabilitation – about $40 million annually.
Discussion posted at http://www.adelaidecyclists.com/group/lookforcyclists/forum/topics/...
-
Permalink Reply by Patrick O'Kane on -
I have a bull bar on my 4WD, a very useful thing for protecting my vehicle and it's occupants (which is my primary concern) particularly off road which is why I fitted it. A 2.5 tonne vehicle at 30km/h can kill a pedestrian with or without a bullbar. Hopefully I'll drive it safely and the pedestrians will walk safely and we'll all be fine.
The article you refer to is about pedestrian safety and I fail to see it's relevance to Steve's topic.
-
Permalink Reply by heather on
-
Europe differs from Australia, in that it has better design standards for vehicles. If a pedestrian or cyclist is hit in Europe, the injuries will probably be less than if hit in Australia by a Holden Commodore (which has only a 1-star rating). With safer road design and safer vehicle design, perhaps it is safe to cycle in Europe without a helmet.
My understanding is that a vehicle cannot meet 5-star rating for pedestrian and cyclist safety if it has an attached bull-bar. I grew up in the county on a farm. We did not have 4WDs but rather attached wheel chains in winter to drive boggy tracks. We also did not have bull-bars, but drove slowly when in roo country at dawn and dusk.
-
Permalink Reply by Daniel Searson on -
My understanding is that a vehicle cannot meet 5-star rating for pedestrian and cyclist safety if it has an attached bull-bar.
Actually this isn't correct. The vehicle model is assessed and given the star rating without the bullbar (in both occupant and pedestrian safety tests). Whether a bull bar is fitted afterwards is up to the driver.
-
Permalink Reply by colin ware-lane on -
i rode a bike to school in England and never had a helmet and never feel off or got hit by a car but was glad i was wearing one at much faster speeds when i did crash while living here.The point of a bull bar is mainly to protect the radiator from damage when you are in the outback or beyond as no rad = no going anywhere and if pedestrians stick to the path and dont j walk then there is no reason they should be hit by a car unless it mounts the pavement,or is running a green walk sign.
-
Permalink Reply by Patrick O'Kane on
-
Welcome back Blighty. I hired bikes last time I was in the UK and felt odd without a helmet for all of five minutes, Rode with the my boys and mum along the sea front footpath and it just felt right. However if I set off on the bike here and forget my helmet (done it twice) it just feels wrong, weird and nonsensical. Maybe I've been brainwashed.
-
Permalink Reply by Steve Blight on -
I know what you mean Pat, but isn't it a great feeling! In Slovenia and lots of Germany, it doesn't even cost to hire the bikes...just grap one and ride it! Can't see that working in Adelaide!
-
Permalink Reply by MARK FERGUSON (SPARTACUS) on -
I've been to Europe many times and we have nowhere near the cycling infrastructure of Europe. Also road laws in these countries automatically put the motorists at fault. Countries like Denmark and Holland are often used as examples when presenting these arguments, but they are very flat. Denmark's highest point is about 200m above sea level, so to use that as an example of you shouldn't need to wear a helmet while descenting Mount Lofty or Norton Summit is ridiculous.
-
Permalink Reply by CLP on -
Prior to helmet laws coming into effect, i used to regularly descend norton summit, gorge road, greenhill road etc wearing nothing more than a cycling cap on my head.
I wouldn't say it's for everyone, but i don't think it's intrinsically dangerous. descending a hill is only as dangerous as you want to make it.
-
Permalink Reply by Steve Blight on
-
Have to add that I descended some 2000m + descents through Italy and Austria without a helmet and loved it. Call me mad, but it was awesome. Importantly, it was my choice and I respect anyone's desire to wear a helmet whenever and wherever they want.
-
Permalink Reply by Steve Blight on
-
Don't believe I made any reference at all or use the Europe experience in any way as an example to say that you should descend Lofty or Summit without a helmet! Where did you get that from? I'm predominantly talking about the cyclist specific tracks, city paths and roads which are ideal for slow speed commuting and social cycling.
BTW the cycling phenomenon is much wider spread than Denmark and Holland. In fact, I think they are poor examples because they are too far removed from our city. However, Milan, London, Vienna, Paris and many others have high numbers of vehicular traffic and still manage to provide safe cycling facilities.
-
Permalink Reply by MARK FERGUSON (SPARTACUS) on
-
My main point is that most of these European cities have far better cycling infrastructure which is something Adelaide should aim for. However I don't see a case for relaxing helmet laws.
© 2013 Created by Gus K.
