seems quiet..? How about some Helmets

[Beeping-Sleauty]

....Yes Folks,

that never-ending thread takes another punt forward:

Bicycle helmet laws could do more harm than good - health - 27 April 2009 - New Scientist

....discuss...digress...enjoy,...whatever.

 

[flecc]

Yes,I've seen this argument against helmet laws before, and it's true that many will not cycle if helmets are compulsory. I think cycling is viewed like walking by many, just something you can do at any moment without preparation or special equipment, and that's certainly the case in the main cycling countries like Holland where helmets are rarely worn.

Parents are understandably concerned that their kids should wear helmets, though the protection given by the usual "pimple on a haystack" helmet is pathetic. How often do we see kids wearing helmets as in the photo below, parents fooling themselves that the kids are protected:

At least in Australia and New Zealand where helmets are compulsory, the helmets for kids are genuinely protective and make sense, as you see in the NZ photo below:

 

[Mussels]

That's a very vague piece that sits firmly on the fence, they must be waiting for the government to tell them what to promote.

 

[rog_london]

On topic for once....

How about this:

50cycles electric bicycles - Casco E.motion cycle helmets for Pedelec electric bike riders

Made in Germany, and marketed as being especially for our goodselves. And no, I have nothing to do with 50cycles.

The young fraulein with the plaits is not included.

Rog.

 

[flecc]

These Casco helmets certainly make more sense than many of the things we see perched insecurely on the top of some heads Rog.
.

 

[Barnowl]

How about this:

50cycles electric bicycles - Casco E.motion cycle helmets for Pedelec electric bike riders

Made in Germany, and marketed as being especially for our goodselves. And no, I have nothing to do with 50cycles.

The young fraulein with the plaits is not included.

Rog.

I like those. Bit pricey though

 

[rog_london]

I like those. Bit pricey though

You can pay more than that for the usual 'bird's nest on a boulder' type. My mate gets Cycling Weekly - and if anything would put you off cycling of any kind, it's the prices in there....

Rog.

 

[Alex728]

Yes,I've seen this argument against helmet laws before, and it's true that many will not cycle if helmets are compulsory. I think cycling is viewed like walking by many, just something you can do at any moment without preparation or special equipment, and that's certainly the case in the main cycling countries like Holland where helmets are rarely worn.

this is my view on it - although I do think that helmets have their value in particular risk areas such as for small children who may attempt stunts, for competitive racers where winning sometimes takes precedence over safety, and by extension for cyclists of the Emergency Services (where they can of course serve a dual function as uniform items to identify the personnel).

I did notice when reviewing the recent videos of the Netherlands Queens Day Attack on the pedestrians and royal bus that the cops all wore helmets - also the one who evaded the nutter trying to run him over (at the very start of the video before the car crashes into the monument) pulled off a very impressive evasive manoeuvre too!

incidentally in Viet Nam a boom in e-bike use was sparked off because the Vietnamese traffic authorities and cops started to enforce the helmet law for motorcycles (which was until recently and maybe still is routinely flouted in SE Asia, even in the more highly regulated nations such as Malaysia and Singapore)

 

[flecc]

You can pay more than that for the usual 'bird's nest on a boulder' type. My mate gets Cycling Weekly - and if anything would put you off cycling of any kind, it's the prices in there....

Rog.

Like this one?
.

 

[flecc]

I did notice when reviewing the recent videos of the Netherlands Queens Day Attack on the pedestrians and royal bus that the cops all wore helmets

I think that's not particularly for safety reasons but because all uniformed cops wear hats anyway, so when cycling they are the ones for that activity.
.

 

[Beeping-Sleauty]

Yes,I've seen this argument against helmet laws before, and it's true that many will not cycle if helmets are compulsory. I think cycling is viewed like walking by many, just something you can do at any moment without preparation or special equipment, and that's certainly the case in the main cycling countries like Holland where helmets are rarely worn.

Parents are understandably concerned that their kids should wear helmets, though the protection given by the usual "pimple on a haystack" helmet is pathetic. How often do we see kids wearing helmets as in the photo below, parents fooling themselves that the kids are protected:

At least in Australia and New Zealand where helmets are compulsory, the helmets for kids are genuinely protective and make sense, as you see in the NZ photo below:

View attachment 699

... agreed, europeans have a more mature attitude to helmets, 'it's your choice' and most don't.

it's my own feeling that most high-st helmets could in fact be more injurious at impact speeds greater than about 12mph,

but it should remain the choice of individual.

PANTS: Pedaliers Against Nanny-Theatre State,

beeps

 

[Alex728]

I think that's not particularly for safety reasons but because all uniformed cops wear hats anyway, so when cycling they are the ones for that activity.
.

I think its a bit of both (I've seen UK cops with the same type of "police" style cycling helmet) - from both other pics I've seen and the video of that incident it appears the cops are trained US-style and issued with MTB's rather than the traditional Dutch bike, and would be carrying out more risky manoeuvres anyway.

This one appears to be using his personal radio - I'm surprised they don't get issued with the hands free kit linked to the Tetra set that even our bobbies have!

 

[flecc]

This one appears to be using his personal radio - I'm surprised they don't get issued with the hands free kit linked to the Tetra set that even our bobbies have!

I think that probably illustrates the point I made above, they regard cycling, like walking, as a normal way of moving about, not needing any special preparation, just go as you are.
.

 

[stranger]

Like this one?
.

Strewth! There is no mention in the accompanying 'burble' that it is gold-plated or diamond studied.

I was looking at bike helmets t'other day--but I couldn't quite bring myself to buy. Especially as, at the moment, I am unable to ride. (Temporarily I hope)

 

[Alex728]

I think that probably illustrates the point I made above, they regard cycling, like walking, as a normal way of moving about, not needing any special preparation, just go as you are.
.

What he is doing would requires a certain amount of skill and balance though - which is what the US based courses train (one such course is the IMPBA - international Police Mountain Biking Association)

Actually he may be using a speaker mic or small hands free kit with the radio clipped to his jacket just above the baton/CS spray on the RHS of the Walther P5 (arranged for quick draw whilst on the bike). I've seen the Americans train where they have to do a fast dismount and then discharge multiple rounds from their service pistol into a human-shaped target (as you would expect for the USA...)

I think these lot are some sort of "rapid response patrol" - the cycling equivalent of ARVs in this country.

The impression I get is that NL is not the happy liberal country it once was and is suffering a lot of problems with regard to gangs, drugs etc and these cops look like they are trained for rapid action - except of course in NL something (such as chasing a drug dealer) would be more likely to happen on a bike more so than a car!

even when criminal use of a car was involved, it was impressive just how quickly they responded to the Queens Day attack if you watch one of the many videos of the incident. Easily the first units on scene and a sign to the whole EU of how effective bicycles are for the Emergency Services.

 

[flecc]

Easily the first units on scene and a sign to the whole EU of how effective bicycles are for the Emergency Services.

The Metropolitan Police and paramedics say the same about them often being first on scene in Central London, getting past the traffic jams with ease.
.