Northern Ireland proposes cycle helmet law

[Vorpal]

This was in various papers the last few days...

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/ ... 13087.html

[reohn2]

All very worrying,whilst I wear a helmet myself I am strongly against compulsion.What can be done to stop it,what does the CTC plan to do about this worrying sign?

[kwackers]

All very worrying,whilst I wear a helmet myself I am strongly against compulsion.What can be done to stop it,what does the CTC plan to do about this worrying sign?

Capitulation is my guess. Common sense init?

I wear one for commuting, but there's no way I bother whilst nipping to the shops or somewhere I don't want be lugging it around.

To be fair if there's one good thing about the Conservatives, it's probably that they'd be anti-compulsion on issues like this.

[reohn2]

To be fair if there's one good thing about the Conservatives, it's probably that they'd be anti-compulsion on issues like this.

I tend to agree,at least they're good for something

PS, Then again if I start to believe politrickians,and even worse than that Tory poltrickians I'm entering into a truly confusing phase in life

[snibgo]

Didn't they first try out Poll Tax and similar lunacies in Scotland and Northern Ireland, before rolling out across the rest of the UK?

I know nothing about NI politics, or how well organised the cyclists are. I hope a campaign is run to oppose compulsion. Otherwise, I fear it will happen, and cycling injuries will reduce because cycling will decrease.

[NUKe]

This is not to do with the government of England Scotland or Wales, but is to do with the devolved Government of NI at Stormount. It is being proposed by the SDLP so how successful it will be remains to be seen.

[Guy951]

.. and cycling injuries will reduce because cycling will decrease.

Actually, the stats produced by these guys http://www.cyclehelmets.org/index.htmlseem to suggest that injuries increase as helmets become law and cyclist numbers fall.

[snibgo]

If I was in the UK government and wanted to introduce compulsion throughout the UK, I would first find someone in NI or Scottish politics to propose compulsion there. Just for kids, at first. Then if it backfires, it's nothing to do with me. Any teething problems would be solved by someone else. When it finally seems to work, I could point to the triumphal success and bring in UK-wide legislation. By that time, the bandwagon would be rolling too fast to stop.

[snibgo]

Actually, the stats produced by these guys http://www.cyclehelmets.org/index.html seem to suggest that injuries increase as helmets become law and cyclist numbers fall.

Injuries per cycling-kilometre will increase. But politicians will point to the total number of injuries. If cycling halves but injuries per cycling-kilometre increase by "merely" 25%, then the total number of injuries will decrease. They will say, "This is a great success!"

[Pedestrian]

Any idea what groups are campaigning for this?

[reohn2]

Any idea what groups are campaigning for this?

More to the point, what groups are campaigning against it!

[Pedestrian]

Any idea what groups are campaigning for this?

More to the point, what groups are campaigning against it!

Yes. Although I have my suspicions that those most in favour are the same minority of motorists who don't want cyclists on the road full stop.

[Nutsey]

Boris johnson is the biggest barrier to helmet compulsion in England today. He often gets 'caught' riding without one and defends himself, and encouraged cyclists in London NOT to bother - mentioning strength in numbers and deterring new cyclists etc.

If such a law were to be considered, he (and cameron) would be the people most listened to by those in power, so chill out.

[reohn2]

Any idea what groups are campaigning for this?

More to the point, what groups are campaigning against it!

Yes. Although I have my suspicions that those most in favour are the same minority of motorists who don't want cyclists on the road full stop.

Thats quite possible,in fact highly probable

[Ron]

Any idea what groups are campaigning for this?

The dreaded Headway, masters of misinformation. are involved.