Flick of the Elbow
less than
- Location
- Pentlands Midlothian Edinburgh
The bit I don't get is why Americans make cyclists where helmets but not motorcyclists, as shown by Five-0's Chin Ho Kelly.
Silly Americans
- Thread starter Strathlubnaig
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
The bit I don't get is why Americans make cyclists where helmets but not motorcyclists, as shown by Five-0's Chin Ho Kelly.
Gravity Aided
Legendary Member
- Location
- Land of Lincoln
Because cyclists(who don't, necessarily, have to wear helmets, btw) don't have a strong national lobby like ABATE to stop laws in the various state legislatures. I think motorcycle helmets are too hot and heavy to be a requirement, as well, but I don't ride a motorbike anymore. I think it is Australia where they are trying to make cyclists wear helmets.
Ajax Bay
Guru
- Location
- East Devon
It's the law.
Gravity Aided
Legendary Member
- Location
- Land of Lincoln
Huh. That's worse than sticking a 15 foot pole with a flag on my bicycle.Unless it's one of those really ugly helmets from the '80's, then that may be worse yet. I may have one of those, NIB.
threefingerjoe
Über Member
- Location
- St. Louis, MO, USA
Well, we have the lowest cigarette tax in the nation. So low, in fact, that if we DOUBLED it, it would be 2nd lowest. We have one of the lowest petrol taxes and among the worst roads. Seems that we're always looking for ways to underfund or take away social services. And it seems that we're always looking for new places to let people carry guns. The latest attempt is to let students carry guns on college campuses.
NOT starting a debate on helmets, but those helmets were in fact better at preventing injury than the present models!
Gravity Aided
Legendary Member
- Location
- Land of Lincoln
I believe mine is made of nylon over foam, and says Huffy. I'l try and look it up this week end. I may also have an old Bell helmet, or an Avenir, from that era.
A word of praise for American drivers....
I am just back from a 100 km ride in the Orlando area on mixed roads and paths alongside roads. Not one pass even remotely close, and on paths where I had to cross busy junctions, they always gave me priority.
Driver behaviour just seems so much more laid back here. It of course helps that the roads are mostly multi lane and properly surfaced, unlike the third world backwater from which I departed last Tuesday.
I am just back from a 100 km ride in the Orlando area on mixed roads and paths alongside roads. Not one pass even remotely close, and on paths where I had to cross busy junctions, they always gave me priority.
Driver behaviour just seems so much more laid back here. It of course helps that the roads are mostly multi lane and properly surfaced, unlike the third world backwater from which I departed last Tuesday.
Gravity Aided
Legendary Member
- Location
- Land of Lincoln
Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for visiting. Folk do have a tendency to be nice about giving you priority at road junctions and the like. Some other situations, not so much so. On the whole, pretty mellow vibe where I ride.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
People tend not to fly about over there like drivers do here. I swear that in the UK New drivers get a copy of Cranked with Jason Statham instead of the Highway Code.
briantrumpet
Legendary Member
- Location
- Devon & Die
I hate to mention it, but despite the nutters in the UK, it comes out roughly the same as France, and much better than the US, it seems:
Gravity Aided
Legendary Member
- Location
- Land of Lincoln
Something may mitigate those statistics, however. A recent, local study showed that cyclists, at least in our part of the U.S., tend to be killed more often when not obeying road rules, and often on BSO bicycles. Many people who bicycle in my area for work do so because driving privileges have been removed. A tendency to ride bicycles on sidewalks also has a negative effect on cycling incident outcomes.
http://bikeblono.org/crashdata/
Data suggests that , in many cases, cycling education would help, but that has always had a poor representation in this country, as well as some peoples aversion to any further education than that received in childhood.Incidents like the one mentioned in the data above, under road rage, also indicate that such events can be rather overt. The Mr Crump mentioned, although not mentioned in the data, had been a school superintendent before retirement. This being said, I may also say that there is a great difference in riding styles between the commuter and the transportation rider who has to ride his bicycle to get around, but would rather be driving a car. Maintenance of the bicycle, quality of the bicycle, and other factors contribute to this situation, and by other factors I mean concerns which overwhelm the cyclist, such as problems with lifestyle and work and substance abuse, in a few cases. BSOs are truly dire in this country, as well. I've worked with organizations that rehabilitate bicycles, and I've found it's better to have an old bicycle than a new BSO, but few of the people in our target groups feel that way.
http://bikeblono.org/crashdata/
Data suggests that , in many cases, cycling education would help, but that has always had a poor representation in this country, as well as some peoples aversion to any further education than that received in childhood.Incidents like the one mentioned in the data above, under road rage, also indicate that such events can be rather overt. The Mr Crump mentioned, although not mentioned in the data, had been a school superintendent before retirement. This being said, I may also say that there is a great difference in riding styles between the commuter and the transportation rider who has to ride his bicycle to get around, but would rather be driving a car. Maintenance of the bicycle, quality of the bicycle, and other factors contribute to this situation, and by other factors I mean concerns which overwhelm the cyclist, such as problems with lifestyle and work and substance abuse, in a few cases. BSOs are truly dire in this country, as well. I've worked with organizations that rehabilitate bicycles, and I've found it's better to have an old bicycle than a new BSO, but few of the people in our target groups feel that way.
Last edited:
briantrumpet
Legendary Member
- Location
- Devon & Die
And I see that it varies enormously between states too:
Gravity Aided
Legendary Member
- Location
- Land of Lincoln
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQgAMkMmsfg
A little idea of what little cycling education we received in schools, back in my day. Most of my cycling education came from watching my parents, who were about the only grownup role models I saw cycling on the streets.