Prince Albert Cyclopaths Cycling Club, Saskatchewan

Don't Forget Your Spare Wheel
	Past Events: 3rd Annual Edition of Bicycle Week July 22 to July 28, 1996 "Prince Albert... Bike It, You'll Like It! City Lights News July/Aug '96 City Lights News July/Aug '95 City Lights News July/Aug '94


L I N K S
Bici & Dintorni - Turin, Italy (Torino, Italia) Cycling Club International Bicycle Fund Information on: bikes, non-motorized transport, urban planning, economic development, alternative cycle technology, environment, health, history, youth programs, cross-cultural understanding, safety, travel and touring, Africa, Asia and the Americas, bike-based cultural programs in Cuba and Africa, and much more. The International Pro-Choice Bicycle Helmet Coalition If one looks at the distribution of fatalities due to head injury for different road user groups in England and Wales, 1987-1991, you will see this result: (Hillman,M. 1993) Pedestrians: 39.14% Car drivers: 24.94% Car passengers: 15.55% Cyclists 8.46%. The Effects of Mandatory Bicycle Helmet Laws - The number of cyclists will decrease by 30-60%. In Melbourne, Australia the reduction in numbers of child cyclists were 15 times greater than the increase in numbers wearing helmets. - In Australia the reduction in head injuries to cyclists was only 13% after the helmet law. Most of the reduction was a due to new laws against speeding and drink-driving. - In New Zealand the introduction of a mandatory helmet law did not reduce the number of cyclists with serious head injuries. Cycling is so healthy that the pure health effects outweigh the negative effects of deadly casualties by a factor of around 20 to 1 (Hillman, M. 1993) League of Bicycling Voters What is wrong with the helmet ordinance: Helmet ordinances decrease the number of bicyclists - Observational studies (such as in Australia and Oregon) have shown reductions of 30% to 50% in the number of bicyclists after passage of helmet ordinances (MMWR). These statistics are obtained by simply counting the number of bicyclists riding over established commuting routes, such as over a bridge. There is no reason to believe that similar reductions will not occur in Austin. Helmets make cycling less convenient, especially for bicycle commuters, since the helmet can normally not be left at the bicycle, but has to be carried around after you reach your destination. Also, many bicyclists experience discomfort when wearing a helmet, related to such factors as heat, decreased head mobility, interference with glasses, and pressure. Added to the existing barriers (eg, weather, traffic, lack of bike lanes) the ordinance will lead many bicycle riders to use their cars instead, leading to more traffic congestion. By portraying bicycling to be dangerous, the helmet ordinance may further discourage bicycling. Paradoxically, with fewer bicyclists on streets, motorists will tend to have even less bicycle awareness, making bicycling more dangerous.

Prince Albert
Cyclopaths
Cycling Club

An exhibition online not to be missed!
Bicycle Fantasy by Stephen and Cora Serenelli

Don't Forget Your Spare Wheel
Past Events:
3rd Annual Edition
of Bicycle Week

July 22 to July 28, 1996

"Prince Albert...
Bike It, You'll Like It!

City Lights News July/Aug '96
City Lights News July/Aug '95
City Lights News July/Aug '94

L I N K S

Bici & Dintorni - Turin, Italy (Torino, Italia) Cycling Club
International Bicycle Fund
Information on: bikes, non-motorized transport, urban planning, economic development, alternative cycle technology, environment, health, history, youth programs, cross-cultural understanding, safety, travel and touring, Africa, Asia and the Americas, bike-based cultural programs in Cuba and Africa, and much more.
The International Pro-Choice Bicycle Helmet Coalition
If one looks at the distribution of fatalities due to head injury for different road user groups in England and Wales, 1987-1991, you will see this result: (Hillman,M. 1993)
Pedestrians: 39.14%
Car drivers: 24.94%
Car passengers: 15.55%
Cyclists 8.46%.

The Effects of Mandatory Bicycle Helmet Laws
- The number of cyclists will decrease by 30-60%. In Melbourne, Australia the reduction in numbers of child cyclists were 15 times greater than the increase in numbers wearing helmets.
- In Australia the reduction in head injuries to cyclists was only 13% after the helmet law. Most of the reduction was a due to new laws against speeding and drink-driving.
- In New Zealand the introduction of a mandatory helmet law did not reduce the number of cyclists with serious head injuries.
Cycling is so healthy that the pure health effects outweigh the negative effects of deadly casualties by a factor of around 20 to 1 (Hillman, M. 1993)
League of Bicycling Voters
What is wrong with the helmet ordinance:
Helmet ordinances decrease the number of bicyclists - Observational studies (such as in Australia and Oregon) have shown reductions of 30% to 50% in the number of bicyclists after passage of helmet ordinances (MMWR). These statistics are obtained by simply counting the number of bicyclists riding over established commuting routes, such as over a bridge. There is no reason to believe that similar reductions will not occur in Austin. Helmets make cycling less convenient, especially for bicycle commuters, since the helmet can normally not be left at the bicycle, but has to be carried around after you reach your destination. Also, many bicyclists experience discomfort when wearing a helmet, related to such factors as heat, decreased head mobility, interference with glasses, and pressure. Added to the existing barriers (eg, weather, traffic, lack of bike lanes) the ordinance will lead many bicycle riders to use their cars instead, leading to more traffic congestion. By portraying bicycling to be dangerous, the helmet ordinance may further discourage bicycling. Paradoxically, with fewer bicyclists on streets, motorists will tend to have even less bicycle awareness, making bicycling more dangerous.

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