A LETTER TO A VANCOUVER POLICEMAN
May 12, 2009
Dear Mark
Through the mailing list cyclehelmets@yahoogroups.com
I became aware of your recent column in "The Province", May 10, 2009.
I would like to add my thoughts, from New Zealand, which has been afflicted
with an all-ages fiercely-enforced Mandatory Bicycle Helmet law since 1994.
I am a 66-year old doctor and anaesthetist who has used a bicycle for basic
transport in towns almost all my life, most of this time, of course, without
wearing a helmet. (yes, also in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1972-1973 when I had a
chance to work in your beautiful country). I was always impressed with how
safe and convenient bicycling was, provided one was visible and audible,
obeyed road rules and was predictable, treated all road users with respect and
consideration, and had a bike in good mechanical condition.
Then in the 1980's the propaganda started about how dangerous bicycling was,
and that the panacea for all evil effects of bicycling was to wear a helmet.
At first I was confused and sceptical, but being a doctor I fell in with the
official propaganda, much to my shame. So I wore a helmet everywhere, at
great personal discomfort, as did 95% of NZ bicyclists (the law was
ferociously enforced, and $55 fines soon got very expensive). Police actions
during this period led about 5 years ago to the police being held in
unprecedented low regard; they were not "dealing with real crime" and many
people openly said that they would not help police who got into difficulties
in the cause of duty! I am happy to say things have improved since.
Then about 7 years ago I read an article about the joys of tootling along
the wine trails of Hawke's Bay by bicycle, accompanied by a photo of people on
bicycles riding along these gentle flat trails, far away from motorised
traffic, and wearing helmets! I thought "now what is so extremely dangerous
about that?" What message does this send to would-be tourers?
So I finally decided to read up and research on how good helmets were in
preventing head injuries, and why it was absolutely necessary for bicyclists
to wear them at all times.
This was a mistake. I discovered that the wool had been pulled over our
eyes big time -- ( what are politicians for?) and that, when the reduction in
bicycling following implementation of the law was factored in, that the
chances of an individual bicyclist getting severely injured or dying had
actually increased! Sure, annual bicyclist deaths reduced by 30% on average
since the law was passed (as the proponents tell us), but that the numbers of
bicycle trips undertaken reduced by 40% (That bit the proponents conveniently
leave out).
When I was at school almost all of us rode bicycles to and from school,
getting good practical experience of the road and road rules etc. Now only
20% of children ride bicycles to and from school. All the politically correct
people bleat it is "too dangerous". Is it a coincidence that now 40% of
children here are fat? When I was at school (380 pupils) there were 2 fat
kids only! And they were teased for it.
Anyway, now I travel a fair bit and see how in other countries people ride
everywhere with low helmet wearing rates, and usually much lower accident and
death rates than us (eg Germany, no helmet laws at all, has 1/3 the bicyclist
accident and death rate that we have)
I know I am out of line with most of my medical colleagues, but I firmly
believe that our Mandatory Helmet Law has done us far more harm than good.
Now our Government is trying to increase bicycle use (for green, global
warming etc reasons) but for some reason it is not working! Bicycling has
been dangerised too much and anyway a lot of the fun has been taken out of it.
In New Zealand now there are very few old-fashioned commuter bicyclists,
wearing ordinary clothes riding ordinary bicycles, left. Ask a New Zealander
about his/her impression of bicycling, and you will get an answer like "Oh it
is a highly dangerous activity practised by disgusting arrogant road warrior
young men in lycra, helmets and goggle with heads down and bums up, and have a
totally confrontational attitude to other road users and totally disdainful
view of red lights!" And unfortunately these people dominate our bicycling
clubs and groups, and they cannot see the problem with the law!
I think the law MUST be repealed.
Of course I am not against people wearing helmets if they want to or think
they should. Just that they should ensure that they are fitted and worn
properly, and that in anyway their protective effect is limited. They are
certainly NOT a panacea for all ills which might befall bicyclists, and in any
case they do NOT reduce the likelihood of having an accident!
I realise that you are a policeman and that therefore one of your duties is
to enforce laws. As one policeman explained to me after I had just struggled
up a long steep hill, (we don't make the laws, we only enforce them!" but I
do hope that sanity prevails somewhere and that lawmakers realise that people
would like a comfortable fun life also!
Very sorry for this long reply
Peter Keller