We applauded the Sheffield Telegraph for this positive story about increasing numbers of people commuting by bike in the city.
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A number of letters were published criticising the cyclists shown in the article for riding without helmets.
http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/community/your-letters/wrong_message_on_cycle_safety_1_4135308
One of our members has written this response to these letters.
Response to Letters criticizing Pedal Ready for not wearing/insisting their pupil wears a helmet.
It is really no surprise that some readers have written to express concern about this issue. Our precious heads are very obviously vulnerable to impact and possibly to injury causing varying levels of disability.
However emotive the issue, the statistics do not support any assertion that cyclists are any more likely to be victims of such an event than people moving around by other means.
Many people and organizations are of the research based opinion that the outcome of any legislation aimed to regulate what cyclists wear, whether or not they have insurance, bike MOT’s etc is simply that less people will get on a bicycle and accrue all the benefits that cycling brings to them and to their society. A bike is an ordinary, convenient and totally accessible means of getting about, and needs to remain as such.
This sort of debate also has the unfortunate effect of giving a message to cyclists, potential cyclists and parents that cycling is fundamentally a dangerous activity, which is why we have parents and teachers saying no to children who wish to cycle to school.
Perhaps most importantly, this debate also misses and distracts us from the fundamental issue here regarding whether people feel they have the freedom to make choices about how they get around their community. This at a time when it is becoming clear our future physical and environmental health is dependant on these choices, and when those bodies that we pay to guide us regarding this health are stressing the importance of healthier choices than hitherto.
What this means in practice is that we do now need to address the fact that we simply have not evolved to the point where we can reliably avoid fast moving metal structures, or come off lightly in a collision with one, so our current habit of mixing the two in public spaces in the manner we do at present invariably means our anxieties will lead to us choosing what are perceived as ‘safer’ and ultimately more harmful transport options for our health and society.
There will always be a sensible case for helmet wearing and other safety aids during some conditions or types of cycling, and factual guidance on when and where it is recommended is welcome. Otherwise, what we as individuals and as a society really need is well intentioned people such as the readers in question to throw their weight behind intelligent debates, proposals and if need be legislation that leads to the creation of an environment where people of all ages can freely choose to move about under their own steam, without anxiety, on those occasions when their journey does not need to be a vehicular one.
20s plenty presentations – South West Community Assembly
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