Vancouver man challenges bike helmet law
#1
LET'S ROLL
Thread Starter
Vancouver man challenges bike helmet law
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/britis...elmet-law.html
"Ron van der Eerden argues that being forced to wear a helmet by the Motor Vehicle Act violates his rights concerning life, liberty and security.
He cites studies that show wearing a helmet can cause more harm than good.
"Can you imagine if the government came out tomorrow and said, 'You know what? We are going to legislate helmets for everybody that is in a motor vehicle. It would be a much much higher cost savings to the public health care system,'" he said."
"Ron van der Eerden argues that being forced to wear a helmet by the Motor Vehicle Act violates his rights concerning life, liberty and security.
He cites studies that show wearing a helmet can cause more harm than good.
"Can you imagine if the government came out tomorrow and said, 'You know what? We are going to legislate helmets for everybody that is in a motor vehicle. It would be a much much higher cost savings to the public health care system,'" he said."
__________________
One day: www.youtube.com/watch?v=20X43026ukY&list=UUHyRS8bRu6zPoymgKaIoDLA&index=1
One day: www.youtube.com/watch?v=20X43026ukY&list=UUHyRS8bRu6zPoymgKaIoDLA&index=1
#2
24-Speed Machine
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Wash. Grove, MD
Posts: 6,058
Bikes: 2003 Specialized Allez 24-Speed Road Bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/britis...elmet-law.html
"Ron van der Eerden argues that being forced to wear a helmet by the Motor Vehicle Act violates his rights concerning life, liberty and security.
He cites studies that show wearing a helmet can cause more harm than good.
"Can you imagine if the government came out tomorrow and said, 'You know what? We are going to legislate helmets for everybody that is in a motor vehicle. It would be a much much higher cost savings to the public health care system,'" he said."
"Ron van der Eerden argues that being forced to wear a helmet by the Motor Vehicle Act violates his rights concerning life, liberty and security.
He cites studies that show wearing a helmet can cause more harm than good.
"Can you imagine if the government came out tomorrow and said, 'You know what? We are going to legislate helmets for everybody that is in a motor vehicle. It would be a much much higher cost savings to the public health care system,'" he said."
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 922
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
What will you be thinking when you inevitably hit your helmeted-head and die and then come back from the other side to haunt other cyclists with your "helmet saved my life" story?
Be careful out there. I worry about you........
Be careful out there. I worry about you........
#4
24-Speed Machine
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Wash. Grove, MD
Posts: 6,058
Bikes: 2003 Specialized Allez 24-Speed Road Bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I also 'take the lane' to:
1. Avoid the right-hook
2. Avoid the 'I didn't see him'(that stupidity should be on the NPR comedy show 'Wait Wait Don't Tell Me)
3. Avoid the drifters
4. Be more visible and not blending in with the scenery
5. Assert my right to bike on the road
6. Assert my right to 'take the lane' per the language in the state traffic code.
7. Avoid the complacency a cyclist is lulled into by use of a bike lane.
8. Be consistent for the motorists' behind me, so as not to confuse them about my lane position.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Posts: 389
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#7
Senior Member
Drivers and passengers in motor car should definitely be required to wear a helmet. There are dozens of people getting serious head injuries every day in cars.
#8
totally louche
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: A land that time forgot
Posts: 18,023
Bikes: the ever shifting stable loaded with comfortable road bikes and city and winter bikes
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
9 Posts
helmet laws deflect the real dangers associated with active transportation in communities in North America.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,114
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Hell no! They already drive like nothing bad will ever happen and if it did, they will easily walk away from it. Make them wear the magical Styrofoam hat and they really will drive bad. I say make car driving less safe, maybe then they will start driving responsibly.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 179
Bikes: Devinci Tosca S
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Not to hijack the thread, but just curious, what are your thoughts on a better solution? I'm thinking cyclist and driver education as well as traffic law enforcement.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Buffalo, NY
Posts: 1,144
Bikes: Schwinn Tourist (2010), Trek 6000 (1999)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I hope he wins.
The government should not regulate safety measures for individuals. Groups, yes (Such as environmental regulations, or minors), adult individuals, not so much.
Along the lines of:
"just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself"
The government should not regulate safety measures for individuals. Groups, yes (Such as environmental regulations, or minors), adult individuals, not so much.
Along the lines of:
"just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself"
#12
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,974
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,536 Times
in
1,045 Posts
Cheap? It is better than that, this type of do-gooder edict deflects the cost to the stuckee, not the proponent of such mandates.
#14
genec
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: West Coast
Posts: 27,079
Bikes: custom built, sannino, beachbike, giant trance x2
Mentioned: 86 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13658 Post(s)
Liked 4,532 Times
in
3,158 Posts
Interesting thought. Given the tendency to placate an issue with something simple seems to be a general MO - it's cheap without putting in effort to get at the root of the problem. So I tend to agree with this (although I personally think a helmet is a good idea for me).
Not to hijack the thread, but just curious, what are your thoughts on a better solution? I'm thinking cyclist and driver education as well as traffic law enforcement.
Not to hijack the thread, but just curious, what are your thoughts on a better solution? I'm thinking cyclist and driver education as well as traffic law enforcement.
Physical infrastructure is the only real long term solution, but of course it is expensive and subject to whims of the demands of various lobby groups.
Robot cars are the only answer... take the driving control away from fickle humans.
Otherwise, live with what we have and tell the silly people that make up mandatory laws to jump off a high bridge.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,646 Times
in
6,054 Posts
I hope he wins.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 477
Bikes: 2010 Trek FX 7.5, 2011 Trek 2.1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
At least it would be harder to be on a cell phone without using hands free.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Zaandam, Netherlands
Posts: 104
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Bicycle helmets never had a safety label for obvious reasons but the rest of your argument is true: Sooner or later there will be no more cyclists wearing and promoting a helmet ad nauseam as they tend to die at a higher rate than riders that don't wear the Styrofoam cup.
Last edited by RolandArthur; 08-21-11 at 06:24 PM.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Columbia county, NY
Posts: 571
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Every time Someone from my family comes here on vacation, (from France) I get the same remarks when I get back from a ride, why do you wear that thing? We have tons of riders back home, nobody wears a helmet...
I just started wearing one this Year ( 57 years)... does look like a stupid appendage, however I would rather stay away from a concussion...
I just started wearing one this Year ( 57 years)... does look like a stupid appendage, however I would rather stay away from a concussion...
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Buffalo, NY
Posts: 1,144
Bikes: Schwinn Tourist (2010), Trek 6000 (1999)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Bicycle helmets never had a safety label for obvious reasons but the rest of your argument is true: Sooner or later there will be no more cyclists wearing and promoting a helmet ad nauseam as they tend to die at a higher rate than riders that don't wear the Styrofoam cup.
#21
Cycle Year Round
Every time Someone from my family comes here on vacation, (from France) I get the same remarks when I get back from a ride, why do you wear that thing? We have tons of riders back home, nobody wears a helmet...
I just started wearing one this Year ( 57 years)... does look like a stupid appendage, however I would rather stay away from a concussion...
I just started wearing one this Year ( 57 years)... does look like a stupid appendage, however I would rather stay away from a concussion...
__________________
Land of the Free, Because of the Brave.
Land of the Free, Because of the Brave.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Zaandam, Netherlands
Posts: 104
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
That's really nice. Do you want to address my point that people wearing helmets die more often than those who don't? You seem to be a pro helmet guy in many threads, please substantiate!
Last edited by RolandArthur; 08-21-11 at 07:25 PM.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Zaandam, Netherlands
Posts: 104
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Tampa/St. Pete, Florida
Posts: 9,352
Bikes: Specialized Hardrock Mountain (Stolen); Giant Seek 2 (Stolen); Diamondback Ascent mid 1980 - 1997
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 62 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
I agree that overall that driving a car is so safe as to almost be idiot proof. And we hear about how safe this or that car is for the occupants in the event of an "accident." But little is done to make them safer for those who are hit by them.
It would be nice if the driver and occupants also shared in actual risk of operating such a device at the speeds that most people seem to want to operate them at.