Z
Zog The Undeniable
Guest
Some silly moo at work has written to the staff magazine complaining
that they used a photo of cyclists not wearing plastic hats. She says
they should have a policy of only showing h*lmeted cyclists because this
is the only way we'll ever learn.
I'm trying to decide whether to send a reply pointing out that (a) it is
currently Not Required By Law to wear one; (b) in countries where they
have been made compulsory, cycling rates have fallen and deaths/serious
injuries per cyclist have risen [1] and (c) they aren't designed to
provide more than minimal protection, certainly not in accidents
involving motor vehicles.
But she's almost certainly a non-cyclist who thinks they must do some
good, because it's so obvious, isn't it?
[1] the injury stats for US states where motorcycle helmet laws have
been repealed are an interesting aside, if not strictly relevant; see
http://www.forbes.com/fyi/1999/0503/041.html.
that they used a photo of cyclists not wearing plastic hats. She says
they should have a policy of only showing h*lmeted cyclists because this
is the only way we'll ever learn.
I'm trying to decide whether to send a reply pointing out that (a) it is
currently Not Required By Law to wear one; (b) in countries where they
have been made compulsory, cycling rates have fallen and deaths/serious
injuries per cyclist have risen [1] and (c) they aren't designed to
provide more than minimal protection, certainly not in accidents
involving motor vehicles.
But she's almost certainly a non-cyclist who thinks they must do some
good, because it's so obvious, isn't it?
[1] the injury stats for US states where motorcycle helmet laws have
been repealed are an interesting aside, if not strictly relevant; see
http://www.forbes.com/fyi/1999/0503/041.html.