Remember kids... always wear a helmet. (The almighty bikeradar helmet thread)

CTC - Press Release http://bit.ly/eYos4b

                                                                                                                                                                                      **Cyclists launch petition against helmet compulsion**                                              08/03/2011                     

http://www.ctc.org.uk/NIrelandHelmets

                                                                                    Two UK organisations that promote cycling, CTC and Sustrans, have joined together to launch a petition against proposed legislation in Northern Ireland which would require cyclists to wear a helmet in any public place. The petition can be signed by anyone in the UK, whether they live in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland or Wales.
The Cyclists (Protective Headgear) Bill was narrowly approved by the Northern Ireland Assembly in January and is now being scrutinised by the Environment Committee. 
CTC and Sustrans have been careful to explain that they are not “anti-helmet”. Instead, they point to a catalogue of evidence showing that Northern Ireland would see a sharp reduction in the number of people who cycle if the bill becomes law. This would have serious consequences for public health, quality of life, congestion and the environment.
Explaining CTC’s stance, Roger Geffen, Campaigns and Policy Director, said: “Cycling for day-to-day journeys is a relatively safe activity and it gets safer the more people there are cycling. This bill may be well-intentioned, but it will deter vast numbers of people from cycling, while increasing the risk for those who remain. At a time of mounting concern about obesity and climate change, scaring people into car-dependence is bound to shorten more lives than helmets would possibly save. I’d recommend our petition to everyone who enjoys cycling. With their support we can defeat this fundamentally flawed bill.”
Sustrans’ Northern   Ireland Director Steven Patterson adds: “We share the wish of the supporters of this bill to improve the safety of cyclists but there are many better ways of doing this, such as giving every child on-road cycle training or reducing speed limits to 20mph in residential areas.”
Alongside this petition, CTC and Sustrans will submit a portfolio of evidence to the legislative committee.
You can sign the petition at [tinyURL.com/NorthernIrelandHelmets](http://tinyURL.com/NorthernIrelandHelmets)
ENDS


  **Contact:**

CTC Press Office Tel. 0844 736 8453, publicity@ctc.org.uk
Sustrans Press Office 0117 927 7555, press@sustrans.org.uk

Notes for editors:
CTC - The UK's National Cyclists' Organisation, with 67,000 members across the UK, is both the oldest and largest cycling body in the UK, established in 1878. CTC provides a comprehensive range of services, advice, events and protection for its members and works to promote cycling by raising public and political awareness of cycling's health, social and environmental benefits. For further information, visit ctc.org.uk
Sustrans is the charity that’s enabling people to travel by foot, bike or public transport for more of the journeys we make every day. It’s time we all began making smarter travel choices. Make your move and support Sustrans today. For further information, visit sustrans.org.uk.

The briefing paper for the Northern Ireland Assembly is available via ctc.org.uk/NIrelandHelmets



                                                                                                                              Created by                                              <alex.bailey@ctc.org.uk>                                              on                                              08/03/2011