Charity Calls For Helmets On Boris Bikes

By · September 24, 2010 at 13:00 pm · No comments · Latest News · Report an error ·

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Photo / suburbanslice

Road safety charity Brake has called for helmets to be included in the Cycle Hire scheme, describing it as “imperative” that users wear them. They don’t, however, say how helmets would be factored in. And that’s the problem. The scheme as it is works because the bikes themselves are nigh on indestructible, and have no removable parts. Stick a helmet on each bike, and they’ll be missing within days. Despite the mayor’s words about the “terrifying things” committed by Boris bikers, TfL are adamant that it is up to the user whether s/he wears a helmet, as they’re not legally required. And were they made obligatory, the scheme might not work: Melbourne’s Bike Share has proved unpopular partly because state laws require riders to wear helmets.

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  • http://undefined Lewis

    It’d never work. Quite apart from the helmets finding themselves in more inventive places than traffic cones around a student village in five minutes flat…
    1. A helmet MUST be the right size, or there’s no point wearing it at all.
    2. A helmet must be well fitted, or there’s no point wearing it at all.
    3. If you think I’m wearing something that someone has been sweating in, you have another think coming.

    The one thing the bikes could do with is a usage timer on the handlebars so you know when you need to go and ‘pitstop’ at a station :)

  • http://undefined Alastair

    I don’t wear a helmet but I’ve been cycling in London nearly everyday for 40 years. It amazes me that people not used to it can just jump on a Boris bike and set off into the traffic.

  • http://undefined fluff_mike

    Half a million journeys, and a couple of injuries – why is that reason to wear a helmet?

    ridiculous scaremongering from people who don’t understand risk

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