Risk Compensation in the Guardian

pwward · Post by **pwward** » 19 Sep 2008, 11:39am

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... .transport

Simon Jenkins on Elle Macpherson: "The press are idiots to condemn the model for cycling without a helmet. The real villains are over-active traffic managers"

Tom Richardson · Post by **Tom Richardson** » 19 Sep 2008, 1:20pm

I can believe that what he says is correct but its a bit of a side issue.

The frenzy that the press are trying to whip up by singling Elle McPhereson out as a certifiable crackpot for riding a bike without a helmet is predictable I suppose but dissapointing. People can bang their heads doing all sorts of things where helmets would give them good protection. Walking and driving are particular candidates and yet as ever they pick on someone for riding a bike.

AndyK · Post by **AndyK** » 19 Sep 2008, 1:47pm

I just looked at the Daily Mail article that Jenkins refers to (it's on their website). They don't even mention the h-word, nor does the RoSPA person quoted. The indignation is all about balancing the kid on the handlebars. Which, I have to say, I have some sympathy with. I don't think I'd have done that with my daughter when she was that age - at least, not on a busy city street.

CJ · Post by CJ » 19 Sep 2008, 1:49pm

The frenzy of the right-thinking press is easy to understand.

Elle has not only defied the one true god of road safety, by uncovering her head and letting the world gaze upon her crowning glory, she has been found peddling in the street outside the ghetto of the cyclepath, without a day-glo yellow armband marked with the six-spoked bicycle wheel of David.

By her actions she dares to suggest that cyclists might not be an underclass, to be first pitied, then despised, villified and eventually blamed for problems of which they are not part, but might actually be one of us. It is a revolutionary thought, and therefore threatens the established order.

fatboy · Post by **fatboy** » 19 Sep 2008, 1:53pm

CJ wrote:six-spoked bicycle wheel of David.

Is that David Cameron :wink:

2Tubs · Post by **2Tubs** » 19 Sep 2008, 3:41pm

The only thing that crossed my mind when I read this was . . .

I wonder if there’s a picture.

Ooo-eeer

>;o)

Gazza

workhard · Post by **workhard** » 19 Sep 2008, 7:05pm

was this the same Elle MacPherson who was photographed recently with her child perched on the handlebars?

Picture.... not this one I assume? :wink:

Dean · Post by **Dean** » 19 Sep 2008, 7:08pm

That is naughty!

Me likee though

CJ · Post by CJ » 22 Sep 2008, 2:49pm

I'm sorry I've not been able to track down that picture of Elle Macpherson and son, defying the Road-Safety-Nazis, but I guess they must have looked something like this old tourist board poster from Denmark, country of smiles and peace:

The unsmiling disquiet that such an image can produce in the British popular press says it all really, don't you think?

Dean · Post by **Dean** » 22 Sep 2008, 2:52pm

For those among you who missed my original post:

http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=132590#132590

It's remarkably similar.

fatboy · Post by **fatboy** » 22 Sep 2008, 3:15pm

People assume that children should be wrapped in cotton wool, driven by car and anyone who does anything else is somehow irresponsible. I'm amazed at the incredulity that telling people that I tow children behind my bike brings about in the "non-enlightened". People have basically told me that I'm mad. Basically I should stick them in the car or nothing. Now I would never dream of doing what Elle Macpherson (I don't trust my bike skills enough) did but the general hand wringing is completely OTT but sadly not too suprising. We have a culture of telling everyone what to do all the time and how to stay safe and engineering the world to fit this model (when I go by bus I can usually count over 10 order stickers (don't do this, don't do the other etc and this occurs everywhere)). The "naked street" movement seems to work well but just wouldn't get general traction in the UK. It's so sad.