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

I've been lying in bed trying to get to sleep by listening to BBC Radio London (usually works) and there's yet another ill-informed discussion about cycle safety.

When the third caller in a row (none of them cyclists) declared that we ought to be wearing helmets and the presenter said we go too fast and then another caller moaned about how we don't use the segregated lanes provided, I cracked and phoned in.

Not sure how successfully I got my points across but I tried to convey the complexity of these issues and the simple truths.

Good one Missmouse. It is such a pain listening to the 'commomn sense' view of people who don't cycle telling people who do what is best. I suppose we should be warning those people who drive how dangerous that activity is and they will all probable die of heart disease and obseity and choke on each others polluting fumes unless they wear a facemask in their cars and get gym membership

I suppose we should be warning those people who drive how dangerous that activity is and they will all probable die of heart disease and obseity and choke on each others polluting fumes unless they wear a facemask in their cars and get gym membership

No, just warn them that they will die of head injuries if they have a crash unless they are wearing a helmet.

While Wiggo was taken out of context and the issue was inappropriate at the time, it has done some good. Some very sound pieces written on why compulsory helmet wearing should not happen and bores Johnson and others coming out and saying that it should not happen. Grab positives when you can.

While Wiggo was taken out of context and the issue was inappropriate at the time, it has done some good. Some very sound pieces written on why compulsory helmet wearing should not happen and bores Johnson and others coming out and saying that it should not happen. Grab positives when you can.

Very good point.

Handsfree is cheap, but ineffective. The greater problem with phoning while driving is not the physical act of holding the handset, but the mental distraction of trying to hold a conversation with a distant party.

my work just gave us the 'company driving policy' involving the usual statistics etc, then told us we can't use any phones, including hands free when driving for work. Fair enough I thought, but what about sat navs? No, that's ok we think. Eating a sandwich? er, that's not covered either. I guess the phone is the only thing they would be blamed for in an accident, sigh.

As mdcc_tester says, it's the conversation that's a distraction. I've witnessed a few drivers obviously having a very heated hands free conversation including one who was hitting the stearing wheel, presumably in frustration.
Eating a sandwich is less of a distraction (unless it's a grated cheese one and it's mostly falling all over your lap).

http://www.economist.com/blogs/blighty/2012/08/cycling-london?fsrc=scn/tw/te/bl/saferthanyouthink

Mmm... Sandwichs's.

As mdcc_tester says, it's the conversation that's a distraction. I've witnessed a few drivers obviously having a very heated hands free conversation including one who was hitting the stearing wheel, presumably in frustration.
Eating a sandwich is less of a distraction (unless it's a grated cheese one and it's mostly falling all over your lap).

Kids in the car?

yes but wearing a helmet is 'politically correct'

Mmm... Sandwiches.

arrrrgh.
Plurals do not have apostrophes.

Possible ironic greengrocers' apostrophe? After all, sandwich shops are noted for their inability to handle plurals, viz. paninis

Grated cheese should be OK if a suitable bonding agent (e.g. small-chunk Branston) is applied and an appropriate one-handed eating technique employed. Also recommend quarter-cut rather than half-cut for the sandwich.....

Twats, exploiting the death of a cyclist.

http://www.disabilities-trust.org.uk/brain-injury/news/birt-salutes-gb-cyclists.aspx

"Amidst all the atmosphere of celebration, sadly there has been a devastating death. A cyclist, now named as Dan Harris, was in collision with a bus near the Olympic stadium. This has prompted calls for increased safety on the roads for cyclists by many parties including Bradley Wiggins and Lord Moynihan. Each year thousands die on Britain's roads as a result of head injuries due to road traffic accidents. Protection of the head in all aspects of potentially dangerous activities is promoted to schools each year in BIRT's Look After Your Head campaign to promote awareness of brain injury.
Lynn Turley Director of BIRT said 'We are saddened by the terrible death of Dan Harris and our condolences go out to his family. We fully support Bradley Wiggins and Lord Moynihan in their calls for more action on cycle helmet legislation.' "

Of these thousands of deaths a year due to head injuries, how many are cyclists and how many are passengers in cars, who would probably benefit more from wearing a helmet?

Sounds like people are point scoring over the death of Dan Harris.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3498156.ece

Even though it is not even clear at this juncture that he sustained any head injuries.

Arseholes. Email coming their way tomorrow.

Very bad judgement on their part.

It's certainly been mentioned in every news report I've read that Dan Harris was wearing a helmet, so they've been even more fucking stupid under the circumstances.

Have sent the following email to them

Given that the family of Dan Harris have asked that people do not try to point score from his death (http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3498156.ece), would you please consider removing the following article from your website.

http://www.disabilities-trust.org.uk/brain-injury/news/birt-salutes-gb-cyclists.aspx

It is not clear that Dan suffered from any head injuries in the collision, your article refers to thousands of deaths a year from head injuries to road users but does not make it at all clear how many of these are cyclists, and if any of them would have been prevented by wearing a helmet. Additionally it has been made clear in every report that Dan was wearing a helmet.

Kind regards

James

contact address

director@birt.co.uk

It's certainly been mentioned in every news report I've read that Dan Harris was wearing a helmet, so they've been even more fucking stupid under the circumstances.

This. They make me feel sick.

Eating a sandwich? er, that's not covered either. I guess the phone is the only thing they would be blamed for in an accident, sigh.

My friend got fined for eating a sandwich at the wheel of her car whilst waiting at traffic lights.

contact address

director@birt.co.uk

Have sent them an email asking them to clarify their position on walking and driving helmets as these would do more to prevent brain injuries.

I suspect that they won't be replying. I'm hoping that someone from LCC, CTC or similar will press them along the same lines.

You cannot hear things around you as well with headphones and anyone who cycles in london with them on is nuts.

No it's not, in fact I'd encourage it if it force them to be more aware.

Pardon?

No it's not, in fact I'd encourage it if it force them to be more aware.

Yeah.
And they should wear blindfolds too.

where's your data for that Ed? or are you just spouting shite you've heard others say?

you got any quantifiable research to back up that particular pearler?