Right: the Melbourne bike share scheme's poor patronage has resulted in the suggestion that collapsible helmets, carried in pocket or bag, could encourage use of the city's new public bicycle fleet'.
Arguments in favour of bike helmets remaining mandatory
1. The wearing of bike helmets reduces fatalities among bike riders
It has been noted that the number of deaths involving cyclists has dropped significantly since laws making it compulsory to wear bike helmets were introduced.
Australian road safety data shows the average annual cyclist road fatality rate from 1980 to 1990 was 88, while from 1992 to 2002 it was 45. This is a reduction of 49%. Supporters of compulsory helmets argue that much of this decline in the number of deaths is attributable to the introduction of laws making it compulsory to wear helmets.
In New South Wales the number of child cyclists killed and seriously injured declined from the two years pre-law of 327 to post- law of 200, a reduction of 39%.
2. The wearing of helmets reduces injuries among bike riders
It has been claimed that helmets dramatically reduce the incidence of head injury among bike wearers.
Professor Frank McDermott, the former chair of the Victorian Road Trauma Committee, RACS, and the man who led the original campaign to make bike helmets compulsory in Australia, says any sort of repeal would be a backwards step.
Referring to the studies that led to the introduction of compulsory bike helmets, Professor McDermott has stated, 'We did a study on 1,710 Melbourne and Geelong bicycle casualties. About a quarter of them were wearing bicycle helmets and the head injury frequency was reduced about 50 per cent in those wearing bicycle helmets.'
Sociologist, Christian King, from the Brain Injury Center, an online service for people who have been affected by traumatic brain injury, has claimed it would be 'an absurdity' if the legislation were overturned.
Mr King explains his position by stating, 'You've got one of the most complex entities of our universe and if you smash it up against the inside of a skull, well, it's going to really affect the cognition. It depends on the angle and velocity of the head hitting an object as to what part of the brain is compounded into the inside of the skull, but it only has to travel less than a quarter of an inch before it impacts on the skull...I say prevention is better than a cure.'
A detailed survey conducted by the Monash University Action Research Centre in 1995 (four years after the introduction of compulsory helmet legislation in Victoria) concluded, 'The detailed analysis of the data relating to bicyclist head injuries presented in this report indicates that the mandatory helmet wearing legislation has had a significant, positive impact on both the number of head-injured bicyclists and on the severity of injuries for bicyclists admitted to hospital. These changes have continued through the first four years post-legislation and are apparent in spite of recent anomalies in the Hospital Admissions data.'
3. If the regulations were relaxed it would be difficult to gain general compliance
It has been argued that if the legislation were altered so that it only applied to particular groups, such as children, it would become harder to ensure that children abided by such laws.
In 1994 Monash University's Accident Research Centre conducted a study of the attitudes of teenagers toward helmet wearing.
A survey of Year 9 and Year 10 school students was conducted in September 1993 to determine teenagers' attitudes towards bicycle helmets. The survey found that bicycles were the preferred form of wheeled recreation/self-transport amongst teenagers. However, less than one-quarter of all teenagers reported that they always wore a helmet when they rode a bicycle. Major factors leading to teenagers not wanting to wear a bicycle helmet were the helmet's appearance and comfort. However, both safety considerations and parental pressures were factors that influence a teenager to wear a helmet.
Given the difficulty in ensuring that young riders wear helmets, it would appear likely that if these young riders did not have the force of adult example to encourage them to wear a helmet, then it is less likely that they will wear a helmet.
4. Helmets can be made more attractive to riders
It has been claimed that most cyclists do not object to having to wear helmets and that they are not a disincentive to riding a bike,
Omar Khalifa, the chief executive of Bike NSW, has stated, 'Some riders say they'd prefer not to have it [a helmet], but very few complain about having to wear them because they realise there's a potential benefit.'
It has further been claimed that rather than allowing cyclists to ride without helmets, efforts should be made to make helmets more attractive. Young cyclists could, for example be encouraged to customise their helmets.
Advice is now being given on how to wear a helmet and still remain stylish. Astrid Meier, writing for Bicycle Network, notes, 'Most women want to be good-looking. At first glance, bicycle helmets are not consistent with this aim. Hairstyles are often ruined after wearing a helmet, but for those in the know, there are a few tricks to avoid helmet hair. First of all, choose a ventilated helmet to minimise your head getting sweaty.'
Russell Moore commenting on the Alternative Technology Association Forum noted, 'I started wearing bicycle helmets in 1976, way before most, and way before compulsory helmet use came into force. I have ridden over 300,000kms. Accidents? I've had a few. After one of which I was very glad to be wearing a helmet.
Considering the type of helmets that were available in the 1970s and 1980s, we are overwhelmed with choice today, and they are much lighter and much more stylish and comfortable.'
5. It is possible to make helmets cheaply and easily available to those using hired bikes
The Victorian state government is considering providing collapsible helmets that could fold up and be carried in a briefcase or handbag.
The bike-share scheme's operator, RACV, will also hand out free conventional bike helmets next month and VicRoads has confirmed it is working with RACV on a range of other helmet options, including the collapsible variety.
VicRoads and RACV have also been toying with the idea of providing hairnets at helmet vending machines. The Melbourne Bike Share survey taken earlier this year showed hygiene was a key issue in hiring helmets. A $25-helmet is given free to people who sign up for an annual subscription. Helmets have also been made available cheaply at some city stores and hotels. If riders do not wear a helmet they risk a $146 fine if caught by police.