Keep helmets compulsory - readers

STILL REQUIRED: It's been 20 years since the mandatory helmet for cyclists came into force.

Times-Age Facebook posters were strongly in favour of keeping the compulsory cycle helmet law, which was passed 20 years ago this month.

The Cycling Advocates network argues that the law needs to be changed to make helmets optional so that more people take up cycling and benefit from the regular exercise.

Spokesman for CAN, Patrick Morgan, told the NZ Herald mandatory helmet laws are discouraging people from cycling because having to wear a helmet makes the activity seem more dangerous than it really is.

New Zealand is one of a few countries, along with Australia, to maintain the compulsory helmet law for all citizens.

The Times-Age put the debate to its Facebook audience, and received 25 comments with most supporting compulsory cycle helmets.

"Fractured helmet or fractured skull? As a taxpayer I'd rather pay for the helmet thanks. Keep them compulsory. Give the fines to the local emergency dept," Facebook user Barry Baxter said.

Chris Peterson, the councillor in charge of the Cycling Advisory Group in Masterton, saw the debate from both sides.

He said the law was a "catch 22" because relaxing the helmet laws may encourage more cyclists initially but the danger would be there until there were significant numbers of cyclists on the roads, forcing other drivers to take more care around them.

Peterson said that Masterton District Council had "adopted a policy where we can't completely encourage cycling until it is safe".

He has plans to improve the cycling network, especially to make it "easy and safe for children to cycle to school," and called for members of the community to be involved in the discussion on cycling in Masterton at annual planning time.

The helmet law came into force after Palmerston North woman Rebecca Oaten, dubbed "The Helmet Lady," toured around schools and lobbied to enforce the importance of wearing a bike helmet after her son was paralysed from the neck down in a cycling accident.

She got her wish on January 1, 1994 when then Transport Minister Rob Storey announced the new law for compulsory cycle helmets.

National adviser on road policing, Inspector Peter Baird said helmets were an important safety item and the law should stand.

"It's an important piece of safety equipment. It protects a vital part of the person's body in the event of a crash. It's too late taking it off your handlebars and putting it on when you're about to have a crash."

Here is what other Facebook users had to say about the proposed law change:

Brendon Corlett

I was hit by a car back in 2009 riding my bike and lucky I only received a fracture fib/tib of the ankle ... did have a helmet on at the time so that saved me from any head injuries so yip I think its a good idea to wear a helmet when riding a bike no matter what.

Melissa Dennison

Helmets are needed when cycling on the road because New Zealand drivers dont have enough respect for bike riders and some bike riders dont have enough respect for road rules. If drivers learned to respect cyclers and the cyclers realised they have to follow the same road rules even if theyre on a bike they wouldnt be hit by cars and wouldnt need helmets

Bridget Whatarau

The way I see it is putting on a helmet only takes what 10-20 seconds? Brain damage is for life, why risk missing out on life and its journey just to look cool

Dan Broughton

Don't go backwards, NZ! The law is one-up on the rest of the world! I suspect that it's laziness and narcissism that prevents most from cycling!

Alec Birch

Google "Helmet Lady" read and heed. Her son got knocked off his bike and bashed his head on a kerb in 1986. She cared for him until his death in 2010. Our population has increased by 50 per cent since then and our vehicle fleet has near doubled. Why anyone would even consider relaxing the helmet laws is beyond comprehension.

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