Good piece in support of Norman Baker by Roadpeace, as pdf, at
http://roadpeace.org/resources/PR_130411_Wind_in_your_hair.pdf "The joy of the wind in your hair… 13 April 2011 The media (
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/apr/08/cycling-minister-refuses-bike-helmet) has recently reported that road safety campaigners are criticising Norman Baker for not wearing a helmet while cycling. On behalf of campaigners for road danger reduction, we want to say thanks, Norman! Rather than criticising him for not wearing a helmet, we want to congratulate him for being one of the minority of the population who actually gets out on a bike, which is good for his health, and for the health of others and our environment. The fact that Norman Baker is a member of the Government and has responsibility for cycling is even better. RoadPeace believes that if more government officials, policy makers, magistrates, local councillors and senior police officers used a bicycle as a way of getting around then we would have a very different and much safer road environment. Norman Baker is also supportive of 20mph as the default speed limit in residential areas. If you really care about the safety of cyclists then slowing the speed of traffic is vital. And of course this benefits us all; we are all pedestrians at the end of the day. Slower speeds reduce the severity and likelihood of collisions, and they also create a road environment which is less dangerous and intimidating, and one where more people are likely to walk and cycle. On helmets, we take issue with the claim that the majority of deaths and serious injuries to cyclists involve head injury. Even the Department for Transport is unable to come up with any estimate of the number of deaths that would have been prevented if the cyclist had been wearing a helmet. And to be sure, wearing a helmet will offer little protection to a cyclist in a collision with a multiton lorry, which for London cyclists is a key concern. Our Chair Cynthia Barlow has been campaigning to reduce lorry danger since 2000 after her (helmet-wearing) daughter was killed by a lorry in 2000. It has also been incorrectly stated that many of our international and European partners have already introduced compulsory helmet wearing. In reality, very few countries have this legislation, and where they do, the legislation has either failed through lack of enforcement, resulted in a drop in cycling, or been repealed. So, thanks again Norman, and enjoy that wind in your hair."
