CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

THE Helmet Thread

(881 posts)
  • Started 10 years ago by Wilmington's Cow
  • Latest reply from chdot

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  1. wee folding bike
    Member

    If the event is on the road I can't think of any way they can stop you riding the same road at the same time as other people. Should you also raise a few bob and send it to cash for kids they're not likely to send it back.

    I've occasionally asked event organisers how they plan to stop me riding on the road and never been given an answer.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  2. algo
    Member

    I did the Edinburgh Night Ride (the charity one) with a friend last year. There was no mention of helmets at all in the blurb they sent, but just before we started we were told "remember you won't be able to ride without a helmet". I questioned this and their response was, sadly, that it was an obvious requirement. This meant I had a 6 mile quick warm up round trip to home and back to borrow two off the neighbours.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  3. dougal
    Member

    If it was obvious they wouldn't need to say it, like "you won't be able to ride without your bicycle"?

    Posted 7 years ago #
  4. neddie
    Member

    From the TdF info:

    The registration and start/finish is at the end of airport runway at Ingliston with the route exiting onto Lochend Road. If you are arriving by car you must wear a helmet (obvious, but essential) while driving as you are equally likely to suffer a head injury during this stage of the journey.

    FTFY

    Posted 7 years ago #
  5. gkgk
    Member

    I sometimes wonder at the "because of the insurance" justifications coming from these big American events firms running our events. I think the Edinburgh to St Andrews cycle webpage manages to avoid mentioning helmets at all, even while suggesting we bring suncream and a hat.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  6. acsimpson
    Member

    Algo, that's one thing they didn't copy for the Original Edinburgh Night Ride:
    https://edfoc.org.uk/events/event/edinburgh-night-ride-2017/

    Posted 7 years ago #
  7. algo
    Member

    @acsimpson - yes it was a mistake not to do that one, which was what I was intending...

    Posted 7 years ago #
  8. Nelly
    Member

    A lot of fair points there on my TdF issue.

    The last organised event I did was East of Scotland Poppy sportive (as a mate was one of the charity organisers).

    I just registered, then sneaked in at the start and cracked on regardless.

    I wonder if there is a bit of wilful ignorance going on (i.e. they "expect" everyone to be wearing a lid, so my cap just melts into the background?).

    Gembo and WFB make reasonable points - I guess I can register, pick up my number and zipties and go ahead anyway !!

    Posted 7 years ago #
  9. Greenroofer
    Member

    Of course wearing a helmet for doing this makes it so much safer, particularly when the straps aren't fastened...

    [+] Embed the video | Video DownloadGet the Video Widget

    Posted 6 years ago #
  10. Frenchy
    Member

    He'd probably have time to do the strap up before he hit the ground.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  11. Greenroofer
    Member

    Spotted a young woman cycling home from the shop yesterday using her helmet hanging from the handlebars as a convenient receptacle for her (small) amount of shopping.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  12. acsimpson
    Member

    [i]Although not illegal, we would strongly recommend every cyclist to wear a cycle helmet when riding

    Posted 6 years ago #
  13. acsimpson
    Member

    It looks like the bike icon in the tweet broke my post. This is what I was trying to say.

    Although not illegal, we would strongly recommend every cyclist to wear a cycle helmet when riding... especially on the road #protectyouregg

    From the close path thread but more relevant here
    https://twitter.com/polscotrpu/status/863050419844632579

    Was I the only one to find the wording a little odd. It leaves me wondering what illegal activities they have been recommending.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  14. chdot
    Admin

    "It looks like the bike icon in the tweet broke my post. This is what I was trying to say."

    Yes, true and annoying!

    All images in Twitter copy over and cause following text to be deleted.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  15. chdot
    Admin

    "Was I the only one to find the wording a little odd"

    I think I must have read what was intended not what was actually written. Got a useful response here -

    http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17633&page=6#post-249974

    Posted 6 years ago #
  16. chdot
    Admin

  17. ih
    Member

    I don't understand the bit of the headline relating to helmets being made compulsory. There is nothing in the article that implies this is a likelihood.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  18. Frenchy
    Member

    @ih - Fifth paragraph:

    "... the government was also looking into making helmets and high-vis clothing compulsory."

    Posted 6 years ago #
  19. ih
    Member

    @Frenchy This piece is based entirely on the Guardian article in the 'Electric Bikes may be subsidised' thread, in which it's reported 'On possible laws for helmets and high-visibility clothing, Norman said the review would “ask very general questions and if the feedback is that we should consider that stuff, then we’ll look at it”.' This is very different from "The government is looking into making hi-viz and helmets compulsory." He also says any decision will be evidence based. Holland is the evidence: everyone cycles; no one wears helmets; injury rate is lower. I have no fears at all that helmets will be made compulsory.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  20. Greenroofer
    Member

    Just found this, so thought I'd post it here for the record to dig up every time someone says that cycling is terribly dangerous. FOI request about the accident rate for Boris Bikes up to the end of 2015...

    "Over 43 million journeys have been made using the cycle hire scheme since it started in July 2010, and there have been a total of 847 incidents reported involving a cycle hire bike during this time. Of these, 52 have been reported as serious collisions, including two fatalities (up to August 2015). These figures include all incidents reported to the police
    as well as those reported directly to TfL and Serco (who operate the scheme on behalf of TfL)."

    https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/number_of_ksis_and_injuries_on_b

    Posted 6 years ago #
  21. chdot
    Admin

    @ Greenroofer

    Interesting - needs a thread of its own.

    This is from a link from your link -

    Data on road collisions is collected by the police on the standard national collision reporting form, known as ‘STATS 19’. This form does not include a field relating to whether or not a cyclist was wearing a helmet. TfL therefore have no data on whether a cyclist involved in an accident was wearing a helmet or not.

    https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/cycle_accidents_involving_cyclis?utm_campaign=alaveteli-experiments-87&utm_content=sidebar_similar_requests&utm_medium=link&utm_source=whatdotheyknow

    Posted 6 years ago #
  22. slowcoach
    Member

    "‘STATS 19’. This form does not include a field relating to whether or not a cyclist was wearing a helmet." - that was from a reply in 2010. The data collected by the Police does (or is meant to) include helmet wearing since about 2011. (Page 81 of STATS20). Although this has not been included in the published dataset, it will be available to the authorities.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  23. jules878
    Member

    OT, but where else should I tell you that tonight...

    An (overenthusiastic?) usher at Cineworld Fountainbridge required me to return to box office to "check in" my cycle helmet.

    I can understand them wishing customers to check in full cycle helmets with visors, but cycle helmets?

    Note to self to make sure helmet is packed into my bag should I ever go there again. (And I suppose a motorcycle helmet "concealed" in a carrier bag would be allowed in). So this is a pretence at security, rather than any real security!

    Over and out!

    Posted 6 years ago #
  24. morepathsplease
    Member

    A synchronised "Get your helmet on" from three nippers - aged around 8 I would guess - when cycling through Ancrum today. Assumed they were repeating what they heard an adult say to/about someone on a bike but maybe it's something that's reinforced to them as kids at school?

    Posted 6 years ago #
  25. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Here we, here we go again.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  26. algo
    Member

    This is extremely sensible. I also wear a protective fencing mask when shopping, in case I should be poked in the eye by rogue celery while reaching for the mushrooms.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  27. Rosie
    Member

    Story debunked.

    "British Cycling's policy adviser Chris Boardman said:
    “The Minister’s clarification on this issue this morning has put this story in perspective. The Government is not seriously considering this issue: the Cycle Safety Review will be based on evidence, and evidence shows that helmets do not make a significant difference to people’s safety. We would strongly oppose any moves to make helmets compulsory for cyclists.”"

    http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/the-times-leads-with-false-story-about-helmet-compulsion/022270

    Radio 4 repeated the story this am. I was gently coming to at about 6:15 when I heard "helmet", "hi-viz" and "compulsory" and it was like someone pelting me with ice cubes.

    After one of its staff was killed in London the Times was very pro-cycling – don't know what's happened.? General going tabloid which has happened to the heavy-weights, like the Telegraph? Cyclist bashing is sure click bait/assertion of inalienable right of the motorised over the roads is sure click bait.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  28. Stickman
    Member

    Jesse Norman:

    "To be clear: there is no “plan” re: compulsory helmets or hi-vis for cyclists as suggested in @thetimes. As @BikeBizOnline reported, I don’t take a position on this. It’s sure to be raised in the consultation, and we will consider it based on the evidence."

    Also:

    https://mobile.twitter.com/bracken_uk/status/925306389685252096

    "DfT are not interested in helmet/high-viz/insurance compulsion, however much ignorant backbenchers will call for it. "

    @Rosie: apparently the Times correspondent who was pro-cycling got a promotion to Religious Affairs and no-one has taken up the baton.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  29. neddie
    Member

    @algo

    LOL - very funny.

    If they were to make helmets compulsory, I'd be wearing mine continuously as protest. In the office, in the car, walking down the street.

    Hopefully it won't come to that though...

    Posted 6 years ago #
  30. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @nedd1e_h

    I'll make us both helmets from 1 metre diameter polystyrene spheres.

    Posted 6 years ago #

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