Mandatory Helmet Laws & stuff (MHL discussion)

[citywomble]

What next, mandatory helmet wearing on entry to Australia. Given what that does to Bikeshare it may be an effective deterrent to illegal immigration. It's time this MHL idiocy is stopped before it becomes ridiculous.

[DavidS]

What next, mandatory helmet wearing on entry to Australia. Given what that does to Bikeshare it may be an effective deterrent to illegal immigration. It's time this MHL idiocy is stopped before it becomes ridiculous.

It already has, back when they introduced it for cycling.

Actually I'm all for promoting mandatory helmet wearing for anyone up a ladder, going to the bathroom, just about anything. It is such a great advertisment for the utter ridiculousness of the MHL for cycling.

DS

[high_tea]

The article doesn't mention laws at all. It merely quotes someone who recommends wearing a helmet. Nothing to see here.

[Thoglette]

It's time this MHL idiocy is stopped before it becomes ridiculous.

Too late. It has (from Bikey Face)

[Drizt]

Don't break the law and you won't be hassled by the cops. Use some common sense.

[Mulger bill]

Don't break the law and you won't be hassled by the cops. Use some common sense.

Will you sponsor my application to emigrate to Utopia?

[rustguard]

Don't break the law and you won't be hassled by the cops. Use some common sense.

and dont use clipless pedals because they dont have reflecters

Will you sponsor my application to emigrate to Utopia?

lol

[Drizt]

Don't break the law and you won't be hassled by the cops. Use some common sense.

and dont use clipless pedals because they dont have reflecters

Will you sponsor my application to emigrate to Utopia?

lol

Show me the law.

[rustguard]

Show me the law.

copy and pasted, there is more but stopped after pedals-

Standard requirements
There are standard requirements that need to be
met before a bicycle can be considered legal for
use on the roads and shared paths.
These requirements include:
•
a bell (or other effective warning device) that
functions correctly and is fixed in a convenient
position;
•
an effective foot operated or hand operated
rear wheel brake. A front brake is optional;
•
a red reflector fitted to the rear;
•
a yellow side reflector (visible from both sides)
on each wheel; and
•
yellow reflectors fitted to both side edges of
each pedal

could be just a wa thing? Oh and dont take off those stupid reflecters that clang around your spokes, or buy mavic rims as they dont have any!

[Procat]

yellow reflectors fitted to both side edges of
each pedal

could be just a wa thing? Oh and dont take off those stupid reflecters that clang around your spokes, or buy mavic rims as they dont have any!

Victoria certainly does not require pedal or wheel reflectors:

Riding at night
If you are riding a bicycle at night you must have:
white light (flashing or steady) on the front
red light (flashing or steady) on the back
a red reflector on the back.
The lights must be visible from 200 metres and the reflector visible from 50 metres.

Tip: Make yourself as visible as possible to other road users. Wear bright and light coloured clothing and something reflective or retro-reflective.

[rustguard]

Actually all Pedals are illegal in WA because they all have the reflectors fitted to the front and rear edges! the side edges are fitted with bearings and a left or right threaded stub.

[rustguard]

Victoria certainly does not require pedal or wheel reflectors:

I thought the wheel reflectors were listed somewhere in another state
Either way if you dont want to be hassled by the cops dont use clipless pedals or Mavic rims; In WA least-ways.

[mikesbytes]

I think the law in NSW is that the bikes need to be fitted with wheel reflectors and a bell when sold. The law does not state that they must be retained. Track bikes exempted

[il padrone]

Helmet-free ride by Freestyle Cyclists, on the Warburton Trail, next weekend May 30-31. You will need to organise some accommodation in Warburton. Details here.


From Freestyle Cyclists

[il padrone]

Hey, look. 1:02..... a Dutch cyclist wearing a helmet

[mikesbytes]

Hey, look. 1:02..... a Dutch cyclist wearing a helmet

Eagle eyes

[il padrone]

It really IS beginning to happen in NSW.

Omigod!!

[DavidS]

Really, it is getting absurd, adults are supposed to be able to make judgements, and children have parents or guardians to guide them or make the decisions for them. Enough of these silly laws.

DS

[eldavo]

The rock fishers need more than a life jacket. A fall on those nasty rocks could land you unconscious face first with life jacket on still.
It has to be said...
Mandatory helmet needed with mandatory life jacket!
How could they miss that?

[yugyug]

Helmets ARE seriously recommended for rock fishers though.
I don't rock fish much, but I think I would prefer to wear a helmet than a floating device that can limit your capacities to move under the water.

Last weekend I saw a 2 year old kid strapped into a kind of hybrid pram- tricycle, being pushed by his parents as they walked along the path. Of COURSE he was wearing a helmet...

[outnabike]

I reckon the fishos are where we want to be. Are we now going to become do-gooders to another sport?

We want to make our own decision at wear something or not. A helmet to fish? A life jacket if you come within sight of the ocean? And all superfluous without cleated boots of course.
But lets check if they can swim as well. Some idiots will come to the rocks without a wooly jumper, how can we let them get away with that. Isn't it up to us to tell them to put a jumper on?

I've got it, why not just let people do what they want. Isn't that what we want? Just to wear something if we wish? Them that want to wear these things full time can do so if they want to.

[bychosis]

Helmets ARE seriously recommended for rock fishers though.
I don't rock fish much, but I think I would prefer to wear a helmet than a floating device that can limit your capacities to move under the water.

Last weekend I saw a 2 year old kid strapped into a kind of hybrid pram- tricycle, being pushed by his parents as they walked along the path. Of COURSE he was wearing a helmet...

My 2-1/2 yo doesn't wear a helmet in the bike trailer. I tried it a couple of times, but it kept pushing his head forward and ending up down over his eyes. I figure that, although he's supposed to and I make my kids wear helmets while riding that the cage of the trailer is enough to protect him considering he is well strapped in.

[human909]

Oh dear....

As an regular participant in completely unregulated "high risk"/extreme sports like rock climbing, canyoning and kayaking I find all this quite hilarious. Death and serious injuries are rare in these sports because the participants take safety seriously. They don't need Mr Government making the decisions for them.

A PFD might be quite a good idea for rock fishermen they are the ones that need to make the decision. Just like the needs of fast road cyclists are different from slower city cyclists so too do the needs of rock fishermen differ.

Travel 350km west of Melbourne and you'll find Mount Arapiles. Every weekend it is filled with hundreds of climbers (a good thousand at Easter). Thankfully they we can do whatever we like and Mr Government doesn't care. (A few significant injuries each year, a death every 5-10 years)


Kachoong. Mt Arapiles. (Most people choose to use a rope on it. )

[17sjs]

Kachoong. Mt Arapiles. (Most people choose to use a rope on it. )

Diverting off-topic here, but jeez it's a nice place. Trekked down for a week with Dad when I was 16ish. Fond memories of making it to the top of the Pharos, then that long free-hanging abseil down again.

[il padrone]

My 2-1/2 yo doesn't wear a helmet in the bike trailer. I tried it a couple of times, but it kept pushing his head forward and ending up down over his eyes. I figure that, although he's supposed to and I make my kids wear helmets while riding that the cage of the trailer is enough to protect him considering he is well strapped in.

I faced this conundrum about 23 years ago with my son. We bought a helmet for him (even though helmets in child trailers were not legally required at that time), but decided that it placed greater risk of neck injury upon him. I never used it any more, for either of the kids when in the trailer, despite the legal requirement coming in during the 5-6 years we used the trailer.

At a later date the trailer took a 270-degree roll. He was upset, but completely uninjured. A good 5-point harness and a decent cage structure are essential.