There was one piece of equipment, apart from a bike that the organisers of the Cycletta event at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo absolutely insisted on. A cycling helmet.
Stephanie Theobald without a helmet
In their words “No helmet – no ride”. And yet if you canvas the opinion of Sustrans, the leading UK charity to encourage greater use of bicycles, you will find that they are against the idea of cycling helmets being compulsory by law. Sustrans would far rather campaign for greater access to traffic free roads and to encourage greater participation of cycling than start putting barriers in the way or giving reasons why more people should not cycle.
For women especially, cycle helmets and hair are not happy partners – a fact recognised by the Cycletta organisation team as they had set up a special pampering zone for women to get their hair back into shape after their 40km ride. This of course is not a facility in every day life.
So despite calls from the BMA to make the wearing of cycling helmets a legal requirement, there are others who feel that it should be down to the individual’s choice and that by making it legal would greatly reduce the number of cyclists and especially women.
Stephanie Theobald with her cycling helmet
However in an article by Jorren Knibbe who is a barrister and writes about cycling law http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2011/sep/08/helmet-legal-status the courts are starting to look very differently at compensation for individuals involved in an accident – who chose not to wear a helmet.
There are some dilemmas and decisions to be made here for both individuals and for government and charitable organisations. Hopefully a solution will be found to encourage as many people as possible to cycle with confidence and in safety. And especially women.
Related posts:
- Cycletta. Will these women only cycling events encourage a new revolution?
- Women only cycling event supported by Olympic Gold Medalist – Victoria Pendleton
- Family cycling holidays on the Isle of Wight cycling network
- Children should be safe to cycle outdoors
- Images of the Cycletta Event with Victoria Pendleton
1 comment
Kingerz says:
Nov 24, 2011
Yes true. I lived in the UK for 30 years (no helmets) and now Australia for 12 years (wear a helmet or get fined 160 bucks). You even have to wear helmets on rail trails here. It does put people off cycling. It’s hot and sweaty and makes you look like a dork, truthfully. It detracts from the feeling of freedom you are meant to get on a bike. I eventually spend $180 on a helmet that weighs so little that I can’t feel it (190grams) but many don’t get that far. Personal liberty and personal responsibility for safert should be the rule. Adults should be able to decide for themselves what is needed to manage risk; I would wear a lid on roads but not of recreational paths.