Sue Abbott fights bike helmets

Get a FREE original Bike art PC desktop background ( wallpaper ) here:
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Also , for more discussion about using bikes like Sue's, go to my blog, situp-cycle.com.

By the way, if you want to see what happened in court to sue, recently, Go to the sequel, No Helmet, Please.


It all began when Sue Abbott got a ticket for not wearing a bike helmet. That's breaking the law in Australia. Instead of paying the small fine, she's going to court at the end of this month, Sept.

She believes that helmets are dangerous for her. I was intrigued by her opinion and made this video to explore the issue.

Helmets are a hot issue in Australia and elsewhere. I came off my bike once and credit my helmet with saving my face from being scraped.

On the other hand, I'm impressed that in Europe, it's optional and most people don't wear them. The head injury rate is less than here, I believe.

I was attracted to Sue's story for another reason as well. She looks so good, sitting upright on her bike. i was immediately reminded of the superb figures, cyclists, both male and female, cut in Europe.

Go to the famous Danish bike blogs, Copenhagenise.com and Copenhangen Cycle Chic to see what I mean. (some of the photos in my film come from those blogs)

Nobody here seems to be aware of the beauty of the upright cyclist, I call it the open face posiiton because the rider's face is open for communication with passing motorists , fellow cyclists, pedestrians, anyone.

Immediately, the cyclist appears as a much friendlier person, and I suspect , much less apt to be a victim of the anger, road rage, so often directed at Australian cyclists today.

Indeed I've started a blog called; And So To bike, which argues that we must come to this friendly open position to acheive safer cycling. Have a look at the blog if the topic interests you.

http://datillo.wordpress.com/

Mike Rubbo



This leads to my belief threat most important safety features for cycling as separated bikeways to keep other traffic and bikes separate, and education for drivers.

Both of those were recommended to our Government yeas ago but, not wanting to spend money, they only implemented the helmet recommendation.

The stills in the middle of the film come from the superb Danish bike blog. Copenhagenize.com. Go visit to see how attractive and free cycling can be. Don't miss the companion blog either copenhagen cycle chic with even more stunning photos.

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[jthompson8029]

She's shit house bat CRAZY.

[Michael Rubbo]

Why do you have to be abusive?. jthompson Sue is not crazy. She's courageous, fighting for something she believes in in Have you ever done that? Moreover, if she's wrong, all of Europe, with much better safety records than Australia, and way fewer bike deaths, are crazy too. Have you ever travelled. Do you know anything about the outside world?

[Mario Ragucci]

Sue, I respect you to the MAX ! I live in Seattle, WA, USA, and have been ticketed for not wearing a helmet on my bicycle, once. IMHO, wearing a helmet gives you a false sense of safety. You think your OK because your wearing a helmet and it's just not true. I'm surprised Australia takes this Nazi approach to bicycling. Big auto corps have their teeth sharp down under. I'm not unsafe on my bicycle at any time, and it is an extension of who I am. I am proud to see this video SUE! Thank u.

[Michael Rubbo]

It's great the way Sue's story of courage reaches around the world. If you want to help, spread the video where you are. Australians might be embarrassed enough one day to change if they know the world watches and mocks.No nation likes to look stupid. .

[zivkovicable]

I cycle because I am lazy. Too lazy to spend hours in traffic. Too lazy to work an extra month a year to pay to keep a car on the road & fill in all those forms. Too lazy to go out of my way to keep fit. Given an environment to cycle in that feels safe, people will cycle because it's often the easiest way to get around, especially in towns & cities.

[Michael Rubbo]

If Europe is full of DC's, how come their everyday bike usage is so far ahead of our? . I was just in Holland. Every station has a bike shop and bike parking combined. Where I was, they park about 2000 bikes a day. if you have a problem with your bike, they fix it while your at work and you pick it up in the evening. It's all so w\ell organized. I never saw a helmet on anyone. In the weekends, you see them on the racing riders, but it's two completely different styles of riding.

[Kenneth Florek]

The logic is that you need helmets because it makes you safer. Then you need to wear a helmet in the bathtub or on the toilet because these are where the most frequent injuries occur. You need to wear a helmet in bed because people commonly trip in the dark to get to the bathroom. You should wear a helmet 24 hours a day from the day you are born to the day you die. I ride a bike. The closest I ever came to cracking my head was slipping on a rug in the kitchen, never on a bike.

[kristonren]

At the very least, riders below the age of 18 MUST wear a helmet... then above, is the adults choice.

[ylekiote99999]

Love you Sue. I am dilligently fighting the mandatory bicycle helmet law in my city and people are starting to listen. In the last 2 years I have talked to city council, the mayor, the police, the newspapers, and I have posted signs all over the city that state "bicycle helmets kill." Citizens are going to pay a heavy price if this ridiculous and extremely dangerous law is not abolished world wide.

[MostSelfRighteous]

It should be up to the individual whether they wear a helmet or not... If cyclists want to increase their chances of dying then thats up to them... After all, as a driver you never know when you might need a kidney or a new liver..

#CHOICE

[ShatteredMercury]

Good for you asshole but because of attitudes like yours we might be having a similar debate 20 years from now about mandatory use of life jackets while swimming in a lake. It will only save lives no? and reduce healthcare costs ect. Civil liberties all the way!

[Steve Scanlan]

Jasongiantdefy says"

"Trust me, there would be wayyy more deaths if people did not wear helmets. Especially in ... crashes that happen in races."

Perhaps you can explain something for me.

The helmet rule for professional cyclists was brought by the UCI in 2003 following the death of Andrei Kivlev during the Paris-Nice race.

Since then deaths of professional cyclists while racing have doubled,

I would appreciate your insight given that I should trust you that the opposite of the facts is true.