5 ms·

It's been compulsory in New Zealand since the late 80's or early 90's. I'm sure initially people felt like dorks but after 20+ years its normal. People will get

It's been compulsory in New Zealand since the late 80's or early 90's. I'm sure initially people felt like dorks but after 20+ years its normal. People will get over it.

tobltobs 11y ago
Where is the argument? Reading the comments on HN becomes worse every day. People just writing some stuff to prove, I don't know, that they are very cool or extremely liberal or whatever.
- disordinary 11y ago
  The argument that people won't wear a helmet because of a fashion statement? It's not in the article - but its a fact that kids for instance won't wear helmets because of pair pressure. The same as people used to not wear seatbelts before they were compulsory.
  - tobltobs 11y ago
    Ever been to NZ?
    - disordinary 11y ago
      Kind of where I live.
  - deleted 11y ago
    [deleted]
roel_v 11y ago
... Are you using New Zealand as an example of how to effectively enable cycling? Are we talking about New Zealand the island east of Australia, or another one?
- disordinary 11y ago
  No, the drivers and cyclists in NZ are almost at war with each other for some stupid reason, the same as plenty of other countries I might add. I'm just saying that people get over what prejudices they have about cycling with a helmet. NZ isn't an island (chain) to the east of Australia, Australia is a continent to the west of New Zealand :P
  - roel_v 11y ago
    Right, so we're talking about the same NZ, so no cycling-related policy as enacted there should be used as a positive example of how to enable cycling (or cutting off reliance on cars as the only mode of transport, but that's another discussion). People didn't 'get over' it, there are very few cyclists there (rightfully, because you'd have to be insane to drive a bicycle for e.g. the commute through Hamilton I used to have, which is not even a big or busy city, although in terms of distance it would have been perfectly fine). All these things exacerbate each other - the lack of bike lanes, the lack of awareness by car drivers, compulsory helmet wearing, lack of supply of suitable bicycles and supplies, lack of legal protection of cyclists, ... Bike helmets are not just vanity a problem: - where do you put your helmet when you arrive? - ho do you prevent looking unsightly after you arrive? Hair gets smashed, sweat builds up, helmets and straps leave impressions on your face, ... - additional cost and general cognitive overhead All in all, bicycle helmets have very few benefits, benefits which are absolutely negated by their negative consequence - especially having helmets being required by law.
    - disordinary 11y ago
      I commute by cycle frequently in Wellington, have done so for more than ten years. Before that I spent my entire childhood cycling the width and breadth of Auckland City, and while I haven't had a big accident I can think of two off the top of my head which happened to people that I know and would undoubtedly have been a lot worse if they were not wearing a helmet. NZ's cycle culture has nothing to do with helmets, it has more to do with prejudices and a lack of city planning to accommodate cycling.

It's been compulsory in New Zealand since the late 80's or early 90's. I'm sure initially people felt like dorks but after 20+ years its normal. People will get over it.

tobltobs 11y ago

Where is the argument? Reading the comments on HN becomes worse every day. People just writing some stuff to prove, I don't know, that they are very cool or extremely liberal or whatever.

disordinary 11y ago
The argument that people won't wear a helmet because of a fashion statement? It's not in the article - but its a fact that kids for instance won't wear helmets because of pair pressure. The same as people used to not wear seatbelts before they were compulsory.
- tobltobs 11y ago
  Ever been to NZ?
  - disordinary 11y ago
    Kind of where I live.
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]

roel_v 11y ago

... Are you using New Zealand as an example of how to effectively enable cycling? Are we talking about New Zealand the island east of Australia, or another one?

disordinary 11y ago
No, the drivers and cyclists in NZ are almost at war with each other for some stupid reason, the same as plenty of other countries I might add. I'm just saying that people get over what prejudices they have about cycling with a helmet. NZ isn't an island (chain) to the east of Australia, Australia is a continent to the west of New Zealand :P
- roel_v 11y ago
  Right, so we're talking about the same NZ, so no cycling-related policy as enacted there should be used as a positive example of how to enable cycling (or cutting off reliance on cars as the only mode of transport, but that's another discussion). People didn't 'get over' it, there are very few cyclists there (rightfully, because you'd have to be insane to drive a bicycle for e.g. the commute through Hamilton I used to have, which is not even a big or busy city, although in terms of distance it would have been perfectly fine). All these things exacerbate each other - the lack of bike lanes, the lack of awareness by car drivers, compulsory helmet wearing, lack of supply of suitable bicycles and supplies, lack of legal protection of cyclists, ... Bike helmets are not just vanity a problem: - where do you put your helmet when you arrive? - ho do you prevent looking unsightly after you arrive? Hair gets smashed, sweat builds up, helmets and straps leave impressions on your face, ... - additional cost and general cognitive overhead All in all, bicycle helmets have very few benefits, benefits which are absolutely negated by their negative consequence - especially having helmets being required by law.
  - disordinary 11y ago
    I commute by cycle frequently in Wellington, have done so for more than ten years. Before that I spent my entire childhood cycling the width and breadth of Auckland City, and while I haven't had a big accident I can think of two off the top of my head which happened to people that I know and would undoubtedly have been a lot worse if they were not wearing a helmet. NZ's cycle culture has nothing to do with helmets, it has more to do with prejudices and a lack of city planning to accommodate cycling.