Clive George wrote:
> "SMS" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> [email protected] wrote:
>>> The helmet zealots who shout across a busy downtown intersection at a
>>> passing rider "Where's your helmet!" gives a bit of background to
>>> these MHL folk.
>>
>> Where have you ever seen someone shouting that? It sounds like maybe a
>> brainwashed school child would say something like that, but not an adult.
>
> I had an adult say something like that to me. Otherwise respectable
> cyclist as well. I think he was a bit peeved that I'd just told all his
> mates off for riding in the dark on a major road without lights. (group
> of about 8, one of them had front and back lights, the others had
> nothing, not even reflectors.)
When we're driving, and we barely see an illegally unlit cyclist, or the
cyclist is running red lights or stop signs or doing something else
stupid, invariably the comment from the spousal unit is something like,
"what an idiot, and not wearing a helmet either." It's almost as if it
would be okay for them to run stop signs and red lights, and not use
lights, if only they were wearing a helmet.
> I did have a 4yo or so kid say something like it too, but I'll agree
> that comes under "brainwashed school child".
I wish there was some way to stop the brainwashing, but the kids are
indoctrinated by teachers, administrators, law enforcement, scouting,
doctors & health plans, and parents. If only they could modify the
message to both encourage helmet use _and_ safe riding techniques. But
saying "always wear a helmet" is easier. The same with alcohol. They
have the kids convinced that anyone that drinks at all is an alcoholic.
One benefit of the brainwashed parent is that they seem perfectly happy
to let their kids ride their bicycles to school as long as the kid wears
a helmet. In that sense, the helmet law is helping to increase the
number of cyclists, because the parents believe that the helmet makes
cycling safer, when in fact the safety increase is minuscule. I was
surprised and happy to see the bicycle racks at the new local middle
school filled to capacity, and apparently the school was taken by
surprise as well and they had to add a second bicycle parking area. Plus
the students are riding in the rain and cold as well. It's almost like
they like being independent and getting around on their own. If they'd
install lockers so the kids didn't have to haul sports equipment and
musical instruments back and forth each day, even more kids would ride
(though I did see one kid with a creative attachment to a rear rack that
allowed the transporting of a trombone).
