I've just received this letter from the school:
Taking his last line at face value, I've put the following response together:
Cycling to Rowing Activities and SAFETY Policy
From the 1st February 2012, it will be Boat Club policy that all boys who cycle on any type of bike to rowing activities MUST wear a helmet, and if it is dark MUST be using lights. If they do not have a helmet (and lights when dark) and cycle to a rowing activity, then they will not be allowed to participate, and instead will be sent home. Wearing a reflective or light coloured top is also advisable when dark.
NOTE:
Recently I have become concerned with the boys’ safety while cycling to and from school and rowing activities and with the condition of some of the bikes. Maintenance is important – having both sets of brakes working and tyres with some tread for example.
Many boys now have road racing bikes, which is great, and an enjoyable way to train. However these bikes are capable of speeds in excess of 40mph. Falling off at these speeds without a helmet on will likely (definitely!) result in serious head injuries (brain damage) or death. Please DO NOT let your son ride one of these bikes without a helmet.
Many of you will have heard that Mr. xxxx came off his bike while cycling to work before Christmas – no other vehicle was involved in his accident. His helmet without any doubt saved his life. He has been left with a broken neck and although will be okay in the long term, he faces several months of rehab including an operation. James Cracknell, 2‐time Olympic Champion also had a very serious accident while cycling in the USA. His helmet again saved his life. Mr xxx is the most experienced cyclist I know, having been on many cycling training camps during his rowing career, yet it still happened to him, and he was only cycling to work.
Peer pressure unfortunately means that many boys who would wear a helmet, do not. However by making it policy to be allowed to engage in rowing activities it is hoped this negative aspect will be removed.
Should you have any questions regarding Cycling and Safety Policies at the Boat Club, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Taking his last line at face value, I've put the following response together:
I apologise if this appears to be a bit of a rant, but you do invite a response if I have any questions about the cycling policies at the Boat Club.
I was very disappointed to see that helmet wearing has been made mandatory for members of the Boat Club.
I’m pleased to say that my son does always wear a helmet whilst cycling, so he shouldn’t be affected by this instruction. However, I have been interested in this issue for many years (I ride several thousand miles a year) and my own investigations into helmet use does oblige me to respond to your letter.
Studies have shown that vehicle drivers will give most room to someone wearing a long blonde wig, although I’m not sure that the school would advocate something like that for all pupils wishing to cycle.
- There is no statistical proof that wearing a helmet reduces death or injury across a population. One or two anecdotes or individual cases are simply not supported by any of the population-wide studies or by accident statistics in countries where helmet wearing has been made mandatory.It might be relevant to point out that, despite his accident, James Cracknell doesn’t always wear a helmet when cycling.
- Even if a piece of polystyrene on the head might help, it is only in limited circumstances and only, obviously, helps with head injuries. An impact with a moving vehicle will cause many other injuries and there is evidence that a cyclist or pedestrian wearing a helmet will ride in a more risky fashion than one without, increasing the risk of a collision.
- Risk transference, there is evidence that cars pass closer to helmeted cyclists. In the same way that people would be expected to drive more carefully if airbags were replaced with spikes, when a driver sees a cyclist wearing a helmet, many studies have shown that the driver will pass up to 50cm closer. Helmets are generally of little use in an accident with another vehicle (as the forces involved quickly overcome the protection from the polystyrene), so, whilst a helmet may help in an accident, it is conceivably more likely that a cyclist wearing a helmet will be involved in a collision.
- The increased size of a helmeted head might mean it would hit something that a bare scalp would miss.
- Helmets have snag points, which might make injuries worse and might cause injuries, such as whiplash, which would not happen at all to a bare head.
- Many helmets are badly fitted, thus rendering them even more likely to be useless or dangerous. There is no mention the helmets will be checked for correct fitting.
- Helmets make cycling appear dangerous, and it isn't as cyclists live longer, on average, than non-cyclists. The sort of falls and collisions which a helmet will mitigate are exactly the same falls that are possible for pedestrians, yet I have never seen anything advocating the mandatory wearing of helmets for pedestrians.
Whilst I am thoroughly in favour of creating as risk-free an environment as possible, mandating the wearing of a helmet is not part of that. Training for cyclists and for drivers will provide much greater benefits and I am very concerned that obliging cyclists in the Boat Club to wear helmets may not only put people off the idea of rowing but it might make cycling appear to be a dangerous activity which fundamentally is not true.
