New Technology

[NeoMatrix]

Re. Compulsory Bike helmets.
If my information is correct. Here in Australia there is talk from government of removing the compulsory wearing of bicycle helmets while riding a bike. The ongoing theft of school children's bike helmets and/or cost in fines from arrogant teens for not wearing their stolen bike helmet is non-manageable extra burden and cost passed onto the parents.

There is low statistical evidence that a polystyrene foam Cap, protecting only the top 15% of the bike riders head, provides any further safety or crash protection. If the bike helmet were the equivalent of a full face fibreglass motorcycle helmet, than the helmet protective issue argument might stand.
IMHO, I cannot see how the equivalent of a beer cooler(polystyrene foam) sitting atop of some ones crown can fully protect any person. If a vehicle accidentally knocks over a person on bicycle, there is little to no protection from a single piece of material covered polystyrene foam.

All my children grew up using bicycle helmets, with equal knocks an bruises while using them.

I will however,forever defend the use of compulsory motorcycle helmets. I have had many to-close-to-call incidences while wearing a motorcycle helmet.

As an avid regular bicycle rider...
My 5 cents worth....

[bsm2]

[guitar9199]

Re. Wally Tax vs Natural selection.
No no, no wally-tax ,bad idea.
A wally-tax would generate a consensus that wally's are not allowed to ride them.

Re. Darwin Awards.
Nature has a way of removing the low end of the intellectual gene pool,
so they can not procreate more of the same.

A wally-tax might inhibit natural selection...

Product "Warning labels" are already inhibiting Darwin's theory. They keep stupid people alive long enough to breed, and vote!

[copier addict]

Re. Compulsory Bike helmets.
If my information is correct. Here in Australia there is talk from government of removing the compulsory wearing of bicycle helmets while riding a bike. The ongoing theft of school children's bike helmets and/or cost in fines from arrogant teens for not wearing their stolen bike helmet is non-manageable extra burden and cost passed onto the parents.

There is low statistical evidence that a polystyrene foam Cap, protecting only the top 15% of the bike riders head, provides any further safety or crash protection. If the bike helmet were the equivalent of a full face fibreglass motorcycle helmet, than the helmet protective issue argument might stand.
IMHO, I cannot see how the equivalent of a beer cooler(polystyrene foam) sitting atop of some ones crown can fully protect any person. If a vehicle accidentally knocks over a person on bicycle, there is little to no protection from a single piece of material covered polystyrene foam.

All my children grew up using bicycle helmets, with equal knocks an bruises while using them.

I will however,forever defend the use of compulsory motorcycle helmets. I have had many to-close-to-call incidences while wearing a motorcycle helmet.

As an avid regular bicycle rider...
My 5 cents worth....

I have read several studies on bike helmet safety and none of the were below 48% fewer serious head injuries. Meaning riders are at least 48% less likely to suffer a serious head injury while wearing a helmet, compared to not wearing a helmet. Seems fairly substantial to me.