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Comment by stephen on May 9, 2013 at 22:43

The only ones at any risk here would have been the extremist bicycle helmet law supporters having a heart attack after seeing Sir Richard Branson riding a bicycle without a helmet.

http://www.news.com.au/business/adelaide-police-stop-billionaire-ri...

It's time to end this bullying law and restore freedom of choice.

Comment by stephen on March 29, 2013 at 19:37

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/16404531/planners-wan...
"planners Emmerson Richardson and Kevan Weaver said despite more people turning to bike riding recently, the rate of cycling trips in Perth was still less than before helmets became compulsory in 1992."

Comment by stephen on October 30, 2012 at 22:29

Well since no one objects i changed settings so people can now join with no need to request.

Lets see how this goes for a while.

Comment by stephen on August 18, 2012 at 16:41

Time is running out to have your say on Melbourne Bike Share. 
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PLBZCS3

 

Comment by stephen on June 17, 2012 at 23:29

Hi All

I am thinking of changing the group setting so people can join and post without requiring admin approval. Admins are able to to delete spam messages if need be.

Let me know what you think - change the setting in a week's time if no objections.

Comment by stephen on June 2, 2012 at 20:21

http://www.ecf.com/news/helmet-law-to-have-a-large-unintended-negat...

But the reason we still have helmet laws is our interfering ignorant authoritarian style government looking for every possible excuse intrude into peoples business and out to grab as much of your money as possible - also they are also in bed with the motoring industry and grabbing a fair portion themselves.

http://www.drive.com.au/editorial/articledetail.aspx?ArticleID=62510

Comment by stephen on May 24, 2012 at 2:58

Hi I contacted the SA police force to try and find out numbers of helmet convictions they have recorded per year - They want me to pay the freedom of information fee of $29 and gave a reply which really did not help much.

IMHO They should be publishing this type of information on their homepage - this is a political issue and well i hope to talk them into giving it to me for nothing if i can - one can only try.

People have a right to know just how much time this unfair law costs tax payers and the number of people fined and how much of your tax is wasted prosecuting this anti freedom law.

Anyone else tried this - if you have let me know if you have such info i have extrapolated guess based on other states it is over 1500 fines per year.
But the actual figure would be great to know - it may be far less I would put 500 as the minimum but it could be easily be over 2000. 

I am trying to find out for sure.

Comment by stephen on May 14, 2012 at 21:37

Hi All I contacted S.Yarwood - and he advises that if you have not already then definitely respond to the movement strategy on the council website if you have not already.

http://www.pictureadelaide.com/

I put in the following a while back i would suggest a cut and paste is fine or modify it as you see fit. 
Below you will find a submission I made to the adelaide city council in response to their request for public feedback on the publication.

"Adelaide City Council The City of Adelaide Integrated Movement Strategy 2012-22"
http://yoursay.adelaidecitycouncil.com/

My Responce was
************ START
*** The strategy Intro reads
"It’s all about choice. In a city where walking, cycling, public transport and cars all play a role, we are not forced to take one option over another. With fewer vehicles on the road, driving would actually be easier!"

Well your statement is without any substance because Your idea of choice is not free choice it is Car centric and anti-bicycle. I cannot ride a bike in adelaide unless I wear a helmet thanks to your lack of effort to repeal mandatory bicycle helmet laws - the only way one can ride without harassment by police on foot in cars and even on bicycle is by complying with uncomfortable and inconvenient bike helmet laws.

The section "A cyclist-friendly City" reads
"This outcome will create a City where:
« people of all levels of cycling confidence feel that they can cycle safely
« cycling is the most convenient form of transport for local trips
« cycling to and from the suburbs is safe and convenient."

Well on point 2 you have failed because your support of convenient bike usage is biased and CONDITIONAL on them wearing a bike helmet.
Please honestly answer the following questions in your head.

If you forced people walking to wear helmets would that be convenient ?

If you forced car drivers to wear them when driving would that be convenient ?

Now I will bet you answered NO to both of these ?

If you answered YES please be prepared to demonstrate your conviction by wearing a helmet when driving AND walking for a month or two so we can take your answer seriously and as one without bias.

Now if you answered NO to both questions how can you honestly say "that cycling is the most convenient form of transport for local trips" when you have just admitted wearing a helmet is inconvenient !

Your strategy for bikes is at best conditional it appears that you do not even recognise your bias exists.It not only exists but results in harassment and discouragement of bike users by police , loss of free choice , increased traffic congestion and thereby increased danger to pedestrians and bike users, and increased pollution leading to health issues with carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides , soot and others causing respiratory problems for residents near traffic.

I implore you to recognise my and others people should have the right to ride a bike free from this discriminatory law. Please investigate creating a helmet law free zone within the jurisdiction of the city of adelaide so that bike users can ride without a helmet if they so desire. This could be acheived by a consultation with the police services to put an agreement into place to no longer prosecute this law and i expect they would appreciate that it will save them much time and effort and free them from the distastefull and pointless persecution of innocent people.

************* END
Please feel free to copy and reuse this

Comment by stephen on May 4, 2012 at 2:39

Welcome to new members of the group - I like to keep this group here to show people that we exist. It is also an informative resource for people who chance aupon these pages to show that even though bike users are subject to helmet laws we stand for free choice and the rights of all bike users.

Bike riding is in many countries a safe and important part of everyday transport but when you are forced to wear a helmet under threat of sanctions it puts more people into cars who may otherwise have ridden.

When you don't have helmet laws, many more people will ride - this is a video taken by some tourist in Germany for example notice there is less motor traffic and many people on bikes so it reduces motor traffic, pollution and congestion, saves allot of parking space and pedestrians and bike users are safer if less people drive - many people don't wear a helmet but it is still perfectly safe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO43U6-QaXA&feature=related

People who are worried can wear a helmet if they want but they must recognise that other people should have the right to free choice without without the threat of sanctions.
It is by denying other people their rights that it actually makes it more dangerous for everyone that includes pedestrians , motorbike and scooter riders and even other drivers in cars.

Comment by stephen on March 25, 2012 at 1:45

Great result for the QLD LNP recently.
Will they have the guts to repeal the mandatory bike helmet laws that the Labor government had been using to discourage bike usage. Here are some reasons why this law needs to be repealed.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17032-bicycle-helmet-laws-cou...
As for the previous Labor government's misleading "helmets save lives" propaganda it's a lie.
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Cycle-helmets-useless-in-serio...
In fact by deflating this boys bike tyres police ensured he was more likely to be killed since statistically travelling the same distance on foot is more dangerous than riding it. !
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2010/11/08/boy-left-by-c...
Who in their right of mind would suggest that a bike helmet could have saved these 2 yet the Labor party have mislead themselves and others to think so.
http://www.news.com.au/national/two-teenager-hitchhikers-killed-by-...
Had the Labor party not discouraged use of bikes by mandating uncomfortable helmets and tasking police to persecute people who did not wear them maybe these 2 would have been riding and not been hit at all !. Labor seemed to lack the ability to understand opportunity cost analysis or recognise civil rights i hope the LNP will do better in both respects.

LNP can fix the main problem with the QLD bike hire scheme which is failing as result of this stupid legislation.
Campbell Newman is already aware of the issue I hope he will act and end the discriminatory helmet laws so people can use the bikes and so police are free to do real work instead of chasing kids and letting bike tyres down.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/helmet-giveaway-for-bike...
http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cycling/blogs/cycling-tips/change-of...

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