T
the-vehicular-cyclist
Guest
I have noted the numbers of individuals posting to this newsgroup that
are very well informed about the shortcomings of bicycle helmets and
the negative effects of helmet laws.
Despite what I consider a critical mass in the UK to make up a strong
opposition, I am not aware of any organization whose sole objective is
to respond to nonsense from helmet law campaigners such as BHIT and the
misguided in the BMA. I do observe a number of thoughtful individual
efforts such as Tony Raven's recent, about-to-be published letter.
As one that has organized campaigns against helmet law proposals here
in Canada since 1993 with fewer well informed people available and
limited by the research of the time, I am surprised that in the UK no
one has taken the lead in initiating a campaign.
You just need one or two (Guy, Tony, others?) to get things rolling by
giving yourself a name, setting up a website, putting together a list
of relevant research, and by signing up supporters. I have used this
model under the name of the Ontario Coalition for Better Cycling with a
reasonable amount of success here. Unlike individuals, an organization
with a name and members gets attention from the media. Just look at
what idiots (or maybe not so idiots) like BHIT have been able to
achieve.
I would love to see the BMA position repudiated. What it does has
knock-on effects elsewhere in the world.
So what do you think?
Avery Burdett
Author
The Vehicular Cyclist (and Ontario's anti-law campaign site)
<http://magma.ca/~ocbc>
Ottawa, Canada
(You cannot reach me via the hotmail adddress but can via the website)
are very well informed about the shortcomings of bicycle helmets and
the negative effects of helmet laws.
Despite what I consider a critical mass in the UK to make up a strong
opposition, I am not aware of any organization whose sole objective is
to respond to nonsense from helmet law campaigners such as BHIT and the
misguided in the BMA. I do observe a number of thoughtful individual
efforts such as Tony Raven's recent, about-to-be published letter.
As one that has organized campaigns against helmet law proposals here
in Canada since 1993 with fewer well informed people available and
limited by the research of the time, I am surprised that in the UK no
one has taken the lead in initiating a campaign.
You just need one or two (Guy, Tony, others?) to get things rolling by
giving yourself a name, setting up a website, putting together a list
of relevant research, and by signing up supporters. I have used this
model under the name of the Ontario Coalition for Better Cycling with a
reasonable amount of success here. Unlike individuals, an organization
with a name and members gets attention from the media. Just look at
what idiots (or maybe not so idiots) like BHIT have been able to
achieve.
I would love to see the BMA position repudiated. What it does has
knock-on effects elsewhere in the world.
So what do you think?
Avery Burdett
Author
The Vehicular Cyclist (and Ontario's anti-law campaign site)
<http://magma.ca/~ocbc>
Ottawa, Canada
(You cannot reach me via the hotmail adddress but can via the website)
