linfordlunchbox said:
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I wish that the likes of mjones would not rubbish the assertions of others in this debate in such a condescending way because it really does make them come across as arrogant twits.
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I really don't think you are in a position to make complaints like that LLB...
I note that you haven't dealt with the substance of the argument either, which is the relevance of the experience with motorbike helmets to cycling. Other than having two wheels in common, cycling differs fundamentally from motorcycling in speed, type and cause of accidents, journey purpose and length, type of infrastructure on which journeys are made, age and other characteristics of users, attitudes of users and attitudes of other road users towards them etc etc.
In those places where cycle use is very high, the everyday short trips in normal clothing made round town by normal people are exactly the sort of trip that helmet laws are most likely to discourage. Helmet compulsion inevitably makes cycling less normal, less commonplace and keeps it the preserve of the enthusiast and longer distance cyclist; in other words keeps it as a minority mode of transport. Exactly, some might say, what the helmet compulsionists want to achieve...
