BIXI FRENZY

A critical look at the Bixi program and the controversies over helmet usage.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Journalism
• Concordia
• BIXI
• Bicycles

[adrenalynn22]

I just got back from a wknd in MLT where our primary mode of transportation was the Bixi'es. It is an amazing system that puts the version in Toronto to great shame. I think that it's good to think about getting a helmet rental service as it prevents major trauma, however, to suggest that Bixi is bad because of no helmets is erroneous. Accidents happen because of the car culture and human error, not coz of no helmets. We should be cautious when cycling regardless or not a helmet is worn.

[silver7931]

Except helping helmet manufacturers make more profit, what is this scaremongering achieving? Not reducing injury. The introduction of helmet law elsewhere have turned out to be a failure, with more accidents and more injuries.

Don't let snake-oil merchants fool you into believing helmets will make you safer.

[silver7931]

Complete RUBBISH. This smooth-talking 'doctor' is a pawn of the helmet industry.

What he doesn't tell you is that the polystyrene hats called bicycle helmets provide almost no protection. They are not designed to protect you in a serious accident.

As for the claim that mandatory helmets were imposed on children without causing a drop in cycling, that would be a world first in the history of the helmet law. This is a misleading claim.

[nitramluap]

From Bixi's official figures for 2009:

3.5 Million Kilometres ridden on Bixis

5 Accidents involving Bixi Bikes

None Serious

If you want to force helmets onto Bixi riders, get ready to scrap them...

[nitramluap]

Observations:

- Interesting how often the word 'believe' is used when talking about bicycle helmets

- I see that people who think it is important to wear a helmet will still ride the Bixi helmet-free if they don't have their helmet with them.

- that Dr also doesn't realise that if you want to rent helmets then then have to be rentable @ EVERY stand. I doubt he rides a bicycle.

- no mention of injuries of the Bixi rider hit by a taxi yet the 'belief' that a helmet would have prevented it.

[nitramluap]

Dr Tarek Razek - you need to learn how to interpret statistics a little better.

I think he might be confusing motorcycle helmets with bicycle helmets. Bicycle helmets will do nothing to reduce brain injury if such forces are involved. What a bigot.

Head injuries are also so RARE that mandating bicycle helmets will do more harm than good for the community as a whole.

So... the good folks of The Netherlands don't care about their heads? Bicycle helmets are a symptom of a sick bicycle culture

[Mistamovie007]

Wish we had that in Toronto!!!

[zaredb1]

Netherlands has the lowest incidence of cyclist injury, but nobody there wears a helmet. How strange....

[mimmymimmymim]

Provide your own. Simple. Jesus if people are not even willing to do that then i dont think the act of riding a bike is going to inspire them either!!!!

[glaframb]

I believe that the user should provide his own helmet instead of always demanding the city to provide everything for itself.