Bike Share and Helmets don't Mix?

Visit my bicycle art web site. http://situp-bike-art.com.
This is a short version of a movie previously posted, called; Bike Share, Bixis for Melbourne. It explores the impediment to bike share schemes, that Australia's compulsory helmet laws, create. More on the blog. And So To Bike. http://datillo.wordpress.com/

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• bike share
• helmet laws
• bixi
• velibs bike rental
• rental bikes
• mike rubbo
• alison cohen
• montreal bikes
• copenhagen bikes
• compulsory
• bike
• helmets
• alta Sue Abbott

[kaelra126]

I'd be all in favor of abandoning the helmet law, but if that's really politically unfeasible then I'd think there's a technical alternative.

Have the Bike Share company develop a style of helmet with a disposable inner liner. The outer portion would then remain with the bike and the user would only buy the disposable part , sold from a vending machine at the bike stand. If produced in quantity the disposable portion could be sold quite cheaply (~$1) so as not to discourage use of the system

[MikeRubbo]

Kaeelra, I don't think you idea will work , logical though it sounds. This is because apparently, to be a legal protection, the helmet must be inspected after each use to see whether it has been banged, or in any way compromised.

That's wh, y in my movie, Alison says they decided to sell a new one each time, which wont work either for other reasons. Mike

[kaelra126]

AFAIK, to be a "legal protection", i.e. to protect against a ticket, all that's needed is for it to have a certification sticker when it was manufactured. The helmet w/disposable liner does this

To be an 'actual protection', i.e. to protect against serious injury, would require a much heavier and larger helmet than is feasible for cyclists to wear. That is why Australia did not see a decline in the injury or fatality rate (normalized to numbers of cyclists) when the helmet usage went way up.

[MikeRubbo]

Are you saying that most helmets are merely cosmetic and that bike share can profit from this by providing something which looks like a helmet.

But wont they get caught out in legalities? My understanding is that a rental helmet must be inspected after each use

[LasagnaIsGood]

helmets don't just look absolutely retarded but are fuking dangerous. i can't even imagine myself biking down a busy street wearing one of those bulky things. and plus where i bike cars usually go 60km/h or more so i'd be dead if anyone hit me anyway.

[Johnpugwash]

The Bike Helmet law also plays a significant role in choosing NOT to ride a bike to the detriment of society in so many ways, such as Carbon, helath, traffic that it needs to be changed to adult choice now!

[ChapmanCentral]

@boyfinley No, Mike is not right. The best thing to do is to recognise that the law has completely failed to yield the benefits its proponents promised, or indeed any measurable benefit at all, and repeal it altogether. Cycling is about as risky per mile as being a pedestrian.

[JimexJimex]

The presenter's tone of voice is EXTREMELY suspicious.

[mariojragucci2]

I got ticketed here in Seattle for not wearing one, and i still don't, never have. It depends what your doing on the bicycle and your limitations. I can see an adult wanting to transition to carless lifestyle, who has grown up totally car dependent, wanting to wear protection. Also, Americans see bicycle racing and think that is normal for a bicyclist to look. I got nothing agaist folks wearing'em.

[HadrianMcFussell]

@DavidHembrow "it's infrastructure which makes cyclists safe, not helmets". I couldn't agree more David.

[pjrob1957]

@boyfinley Good idea. In the Graeme Obree Vs cycling federation conflict in "the Flying Scotsman" there was a ruling that the tip of the seat had to be 2" behind the bottom bracket.

If a sit-up commuter/shopper bike was defined by the vertical distance between seat and handgrips that would give the authorities something to work with. Statistical evidence separating both bike types would be a good place to start.

[megaforcemedia]

I've never worn a bike helmet here in Montreal. I ride slow anyway, sorta like walking but faster. Helmets are for dorks. Also, they promote overheating of the head which in turn causes people to become irrational and aggressive, so I'm not convinced that they dont cause more problems. Let cooler heads prevail.

[boyfinley]

Mike is right, the best solution would be to have two grades of bicycle, racing & commuter/shopper, and only require helmets for the former. Requiring a helmet removes all incentive to use these cycle sharing schemes for short journeys & tourism, which is exactly what they're best for. Without dropping the helmet requirement they'll be a complete white elephant.

[tehgussyone]

Interesting how the last gal, states she feels safe with a helmet on, but apparently doesn't know how to wear it correctly.