lantius

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 12:12:25 -0800

If we follow your slippery slopes the other way, huge numbers of head injuries occur each year in the shower - do you think if you fall and crack your head open it there affects only you? Also, since kids don't follow laws that parents don't, we should probably bring back prohibition. Furthermore, unlike with the seat belt law, the police will pull you over and issue a citation merely for not wearing a helmet. No less than the UK's CTC thinks that helmet laws are a bad idea. Unfortunately, there's not a huge amount of data on cycling uptake in relationship to helmet laws in Seattle, but there is some compelling information from Western Australia. I'm not trying to suggest that helmets are not helpful in some accidents, they certainly are and I wear one for just that reason. But balanced against the costs of enforcement and potential deterrence to cycling, I think our efforts are better spent on encouraging a full measure of safe riding practices rather than criminalizing a group that Seattle (ostensibly) wishes to promote.

Skelly

Wed, 03 Jan 2007 12:35:16 -0800

"I'm pinching your face!"

rlotz

Wed, 03 Jan 2007 12:30:24 -0800

Good for SLC for recognizing that bicycle helmet usage can effectively be promoted without mandatory legislation. If only Seattle were so enlightened.

Seth

Wed, 03 Jan 2007 10:57:58 -0800

Get your laws off my head!

Dom

Wed, 03 Jan 2007 10:43:22 -0800

Kids in the Hall! I'd like my Bonus Points in unmarked bills, please.

Seattlest: A Bad Head Case

lantius

Skelly

rlotz

Seth

Dom