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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 Auck

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.

dalke 11y ago
> NZ's cycle culture has nothing to do with helmets Your statement includes a bias error because by definition, NZ's cycle culture does not include people who are too negatively affected by a helmet law. For example, this mohawk-wearing cyclist in London, https://www.flickr.com/photos/37423935@N00/4627678338 https://www.flickr.com/photos/37423935@N00/4627678338 , could not be part of NZ's cycle culture and still wear a Mohawk. Those with large hairstyles ( http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p9Hg7lXpZyo/Tfdg2zqZK-I/AAAAAAAABkI/MCzemoKCEf4/s1600/012.JPG http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p9Hg7lXpZyo/Tfdg2zqZK-I/AAAAAAAABk... and https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/04/fb/1d/04fb1d715c1f155f52470eb8bd5790c2.jpg https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/04/fb/1d/04fb1d715...) are less likely to be part of the NZ bike culture. Nuns ( http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jan/24/saturday-poem-nun-on-a-bicycle-by-jonathan-edwards http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jan/24/saturday-poem-n... ), Sikhs (http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/619324/sikh-in-court-for-not-wearing-bike-helmet/ http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/619324/sikh-in-cour... ), and others who wear religious headgear are not as likely to be part of NZ's cycle culture. It also excludes those who would prefer to wear more appropriate gear for the weather ( https://dutchindublin.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/purple-lady.jpg https://dutchindublin.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/purple-lad... ) or a fancy hat instead ( http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2356789/Queen-Maxima-Zorreguieta-arrives-bike-summer-dress-heels-open-park-name.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2356789/Queen-Maxima... ).

dalke 11y ago

> NZ's cycle culture has nothing to do with helmets Your statement includes a bias error because by definition, NZ's cycle culture does not include people who are too negatively affected by a helmet law. For example, this mohawk-wearing cyclist in London, https://www.flickr.com/photos/37423935@N00/4627678338 https://www.flickr.com/photos/37423935@N00/4627678338 , could not be part of NZ's cycle culture and still wear a Mohawk. Those with large hairstyles ( http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p9Hg7lXpZyo/Tfdg2zqZK-I/AAAAAAAABkI/MCzemoKCEf4/s1600/012.JPG http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p9Hg7lXpZyo/Tfdg2zqZK-I/AAAAAAAABk... and https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/04/fb/1d/04fb1d715c1f155f52470eb8bd5790c2.jpg https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/04/fb/1d/04fb1d715...) are less likely to be part of the NZ bike culture. Nuns ( http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jan/24/saturday-poem-nun-on-a-bicycle-by-jonathan-edwards http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jan/24/saturday-poem-n... ), Sikhs (http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/619324/sikh-in-court-for-not-wearing-bike-helmet/ http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/619324/sikh-in-cour... ), and others who wear religious headgear are not as likely to be part of NZ's cycle culture. It also excludes those who would prefer to wear more appropriate gear for the weather ( https://dutchindublin.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/purple-lady.jpg https://dutchindublin.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/purple-lad... ) or a fancy hat instead ( http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2356789/Queen-Maxima-Zorreguieta-arrives-bike-summer-dress-heels-open-park-name.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2356789/Queen-Maxima... ).