A concept that took hold in the ’70s haunted everything from seat belts to masks

Re:A concept that took hold in the ’70s haunted everything f... by roeles on Friday November 19, 2021 @04:01AM (#29275198)

I think this gives an interesting perspective on the recent discussions that I read here about eBikes and the fact that in The Netherlands we don't wear bike helmets. The argument I saw online[1] was exactly the pitfall the article describes: "everybody will behave safer because cyclists are so obviously fragile".

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpVncWxyMJw

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Re:A concept that took hold in the ’70s haunted everything f... by scatters on Friday November 19, 2021 @04:05AM (#29275214)

There's a difference between "cyclists will take more risks (with their own lives) if they wear a helmet" and "drivers will take more risks (with cyclists' lives) if they see cyclists wearing a helmet".

And you're leaving out by far the most important argument, which is "people are less likely to cycle if they're required to wear helmets".

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Re:A concept that took hold in the ’70s haunted everything f... by ZeroGravitas on Friday November 19, 2021 @04:14AM (#29275273)

To continue that last thought, less cycling means more deaths via lost health benefits, more deaths via more car journeys and more deaths due to pollution.

The remaining cyclists being run over by the increased motor traffic is a vicious cycle it's hard to break out of.

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Re:A concept that took hold in the ’70s haunted everything f... by throw63738 on Friday November 19, 2021 @04:07AM (#29275229)

There was a study that proved helmets were harmfull. It basically said that cycling has health benefits, and if helmets were compulsory less people will cycle. And more people would die from obesity and relevant healtu issues, than were saved by helmets.

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