Wear that helmet!

[Pot Bellied Fool]

I think we're all grown-up & risk aware in here, able to make our own judgements on what to wear/use & when. I do believe in personal choice but if you ever need to convince anyone in your family to wear a helmet, use lights or even the old staple that I recall from the 70's road safety adverts, wearing something light at night - then you may want to point them at this video.

I sort of know the PCSO - she's a talented photographer who contributes to a regular competition that I do. Kudos to her for making the video. It's hard-hitting and gives a glimpse into what goes on behind the uniforms that scrape road users of all types off the sceneray on a daily basis.

http://www.wastedlives.co.uk/lewis

If you listen to that & don't find that it's got a bit dusty in the room then you may not be human...

[Pot Bellied Fool]

yellowjack said:

Therefore, instead of stoking up the same old ferocious arguments on both sides of the helmet debate, perhaps the thread title would have served us all a little better if it read "Use those lights when it gets dark!" But there shouldn't need to be a campaign to make cyclists light up after dark. The law already requires it (Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations).

Good point well made & I wasn't consciously biasing towards helmets when I wrote it, visibility was more my line of thought so apologies for igniting the helmet debate!

Indeed when I bought a new bike recently, the Indie shop I bouight from pretty much insisted on throwing in a set of lights gratis. They needn't have done that but it was a nice touch. (They're only cheap & cheerfull but can certainly be seen).

I just think back to my youth when it was drummed into me that it was my responsibility as a rider to be seen (lights, light clothing etc) just as much as it was for a driver to see & avoid.

The video case I linked to is a tragic case on so many levels. Regardless of fault/blame, the driver never set out that day with the aim of killing someone. The rider wasn't intentionally dangerous (even said to his Mum previously that he needed some new lights). Just tragic for all.

What struck me was that the PCSO had no difficulty in handing out lights & slapbands - didn't have them when I was a kid! - to kids without lights, riding around after dark.

I was a typical kid, out on 2 wheels all the time BUT my parents - and apparently others too - were adamant that I had to have lights on when I was old enough to be out after dark. And all my friends did too. Perhaps it's just rose tinted glasses but I wouldn't consider letting my daughter out on a bike (when she's old enough) without lights. But then I'll probably be shadowing her 10ft behind anyway, warning off the boys!

[Pot Bellied Fool]

Watchman said:

Always amazes me when people post threads to encourage this forum to use a helmet knowing the sort of polarised opinions that exist here, and the inevitable arguments that their post will likely trigger.

Yeah I kinda walked into that didn't I?

Sorry Everyone!!

As a recent convert to the forum (having only recently returned to 2 wheels with any sort of regularity) I didn't realise the depth of feeling & FWIW I heartily endorse freedom of choice! I found the human element interesting and thought others might too. I thought she deserved a wider audience after putting herself through the wringer again to video about it.

[Pot Bellied Fool]

Gaspode said:

Plus it would destroy at a stroke the concept of 'Boris bikes'. I don't know if they are available anywhere else than London,

Yup, they're available up here in Liverpool now too. I'm well on the outskirts but I've seen a few around here so there's at least some use. http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news...

It's easy to take bikes on the local trains & Merseyrail also have their own bike hire scheme in some locations.

[Pot Bellied Fool]

ohHello said:

In which case, a better title for the thread would have been "Fit those lights!" not "Wear that helmet!"

We've already established that I named it wrong! Mea Culpa.

[Pot Bellied Fool]

Watchman said:

I think it was established earlier in this thread that the OP only really wanted to bring to people's awareness the video made by the WPC, and that the major contributory factor in the unfortunate story was the lack of lighting/visible clothing.