Comments on: Mandatory bike helmets? Get serious http://www.thegridto.com/city/politics/mandatory-bike-helmets-get-serious/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mandatory-bike-helmets-get-serious Toronto's new weekly city magazine Tue, 21 May 2013 14:22:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: James http://www.thegridto.com/city/politics/mandatory-bike-helmets-get-serious/#comment-40111 James Sun, 14 Oct 2012 08:47:48 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=61820#comment-40111 I don't want the government telling me what to do, I will fight for my very freedom of riding without a helmet. I am for bicycle lanes which is the only way to promote safe riding! I don’t want the government telling me what to do, I will fight for my very freedom of riding without a helmet. I am for bicycle lanes which is the only way to promote safe riding!

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]]> By: Cesar http://www.thegridto.com/city/politics/mandatory-bike-helmets-get-serious/#comment-38872 Cesar Tue, 11 Sep 2012 16:15:43 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=61820#comment-38872 Probably close. However, they asked enough peolpe to get a 1000 responses. I doubt the survey was scientific in any manner, and therefore not generalizable to the population. I see the neighbor kids all the time without helmets, but I rarely (if ever) see a serious-looking cyclist without a helmet. Probably close. However, they asked enough peolpe to get a 1000 responses. I doubt the survey was scientific in any manner, and therefore not generalizable to the population. I see the neighbor kids all the time without helmets, but I rarely (if ever) see a serious-looking cyclist without a helmet.

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]]> By: dave_k http://www.thegridto.com/city/politics/mandatory-bike-helmets-get-serious/#comment-37998 dave_k Sat, 11 Aug 2012 02:28:58 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=61820#comment-37998 I don't understand the point you are trying to make here. Are you saying that because some cyclists don't obey traffic laws that cyclists don't deserve to be protected? I was hit by a car last month that did a rolling stop at a stop sign. I had the right of way and I signalled however the driver didn't even look, she just plowed right into me. Are you saying that this accident is my fault because some cyclists do rolling stops? The law is the law. Cyclists have a right to use the road under the law. I pay taxes to 3 levels of government and I have 3 vehicles on the road. I also ride a bicycle but best of all I own an all terrain telehandler forklift. One of these days I might just take that baby out on the road and crowd out a few cars that I think are taking up too much room or maybe pick up any that are in my way with the forks. See how you like being bullied on the road.for change! I don’t understand the point you are trying to make here. Are you saying that because some cyclists don’t obey traffic laws that cyclists don’t deserve to be protected? I was hit by a car last month that did a rolling stop at a stop sign. I had the right of way and I signalled however the driver didn’t even look, she just plowed right into me. Are you saying that this accident is my fault because some cyclists do rolling stops?

The law is the law. Cyclists have a right to use the road under the law. I pay taxes to 3 levels of government and I have 3 vehicles on the road. I also ride a bicycle but best of all I own an all terrain telehandler forklift. One of these days I might just take that baby out on the road and crowd out a few cars that I think are taking up too much room or maybe pick up any that are in my way with the forks. See how you like being bullied on the road.for change!

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]]> By: Sebastien http://www.thegridto.com/city/politics/mandatory-bike-helmets-get-serious/#comment-37779 Sebastien Fri, 03 Aug 2012 12:58:30 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=61820#comment-37779 Car drivers should also wear helmet then. Car accidents injure and kill more people than other means of transportation or "extreme sports". Car drivers should also wear helmet then. Car accidents injure and kill more people than other means of transportation or “extreme sports”.

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]]> By: Nick http://www.thegridto.com/city/politics/mandatory-bike-helmets-get-serious/#comment-37049 Nick Sat, 14 Jul 2012 19:37:19 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=61820#comment-37049 Sorry, Slim and lmao, I'm just the messenger of a scientific study conducted by a reputable university that actually attached sensors to cyclists who were or were not wearing helmets, no need to get all hissy at me. On another note, I have noticed that if I actually signal a stop on my bike (downward bent left arm) car drivers are *much* less likely to try to squeeze by me to reach the stop sign before I do. I think that things like this (helmet, arm) can create subtle effects, which can actually be meaured as opposed to being dismissively derided. And the Coroner's Report didn't study the helmet issue in any particularly scientific way, he just recommended wearing helmets. Sorry, Slim and lmao, I’m just the messenger of a scientific study conducted by a reputable university that actually attached sensors to cyclists who were or were not wearing helmets, no need to get all hissy at me. On another note, I have noticed that if I actually signal a stop on my bike (downward bent left arm) car drivers are *much* less likely to try to squeeze by me to reach the stop sign before I do. I think that things like this (helmet, arm) can create subtle effects, which can actually be meaured as opposed to being dismissively derided. And the Coroner’s Report didn’t study the helmet issue in any particularly scientific way, he just recommended wearing helmets.

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]]> By: Stu http://www.thegridto.com/city/politics/mandatory-bike-helmets-get-serious/#comment-37035 Stu Fri, 13 Jul 2012 19:31:55 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=61820#comment-37035 "I wear a helmet on the rare occasion I take my bike on the road" So... you mostly ride on the sidewalk...? “I wear a helmet on the rare occasion I take my bike on the road”

So… you mostly ride on the sidewalk…?

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]]> By: Metro Momita http://www.thegridto.com/city/politics/mandatory-bike-helmets-get-serious/#comment-36845 Metro Momita Mon, 09 Jul 2012 16:41:35 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=61820#comment-36845 Jon, very glad to read that you came out of that okay. And if you don't mind my saying so, your story puts paid to my earlier comment. I'm really shocked that so many cyclists seem to be so adamantly against wearing a helmet. I can't fathom why. If your odds of recovering from an accident (be it with a car or by simply falling off your bike) are even remotely increased by wearing a helmet, then why not wear one? With regards to making it mandatory - that's for those who don't have the innate inspiration to wear one themselves. Those same people who allow their children to ride bikes and scooters without head protection. And yes, iI would extend that to skateboards and rollerblades too. They're the ones who need to know just how important it is. I don't expect my 4yo to think of it (though we always remind her why she wears her helmet) - that's my responsibility as her mother. In our case, we don't need a law to tell us it's 'right' - we do this as naturally as fastening our seatbelts. Jon, very glad to read that you came out of that okay. And if you don’t mind my saying so, your story puts paid to my earlier comment. I’m really shocked that so many cyclists seem to be so adamantly against wearing a helmet. I can’t fathom why. If your odds of recovering from an accident (be it with a car or by simply falling off your bike) are even remotely increased by wearing a helmet, then why not wear one?

With regards to making it mandatory – that’s for those who don’t have the innate inspiration to wear one themselves. Those same people who allow their children to ride bikes and scooters without head protection. And yes, iI would extend that to skateboards and rollerblades too. They’re the ones who need to know just how important it is. I don’t expect my 4yo to think of it (though we always remind her why she wears her helmet) – that’s my responsibility as her mother. In our case, we don’t need a law to tell us it’s ‘right’ – we do this as naturally as fastening our seatbelts.

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]]> By: Jay http://www.thegridto.com/city/politics/mandatory-bike-helmets-get-serious/#comment-36839 Jay Mon, 09 Jul 2012 16:17:16 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=61820#comment-36839 DecentCitizen, are you kidding me? There's no bike culture to speak of in Toronto? Do you spend any time in the city itself? Maybe if you're on a residential street in Etobicoke, you won't see bikes, but if you come anywhere close to downtown, there are thousands of bikes parked everywhere and riding everywhere. I agree that there are a lot of stupid bicyclists - I do, and we all should, stop at red lights and stop signs, but unfortunately some people just aren't taught to ride. But don't make stupid comments like "there's no bike culture in Toronto". DecentCitizen, are you kidding me? There’s no bike culture to speak of in Toronto? Do you spend any time in the city itself? Maybe if you’re on a residential street in Etobicoke, you won’t see bikes, but if you come anywhere close to downtown, there are thousands of bikes parked everywhere and riding everywhere. I agree that there are a lot of stupid bicyclists – I do, and we all should, stop at red lights and stop signs, but unfortunately some people just aren’t taught to ride. But don’t make stupid comments like “there’s no bike culture in Toronto”.

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]]> By: Jay http://www.thegridto.com/city/politics/mandatory-bike-helmets-get-serious/#comment-36838 Jay Mon, 09 Jul 2012 16:09:35 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=61820#comment-36838 Rather than being childish, why don't you offer a real solution. Where should bikes go? Give a real answer. As much as you enjoy your car, I enjoy my bike. There aren't bike lanes on every street. If there were, I'd use them. Even if there were a bike lane network that went everywhere, I'd use it. But there isn't. There are streets, are there are sidewalks. Pedestrians use sidewalks, and bikes aren't allowed to. The law may say that vehicles travels at the prevailing speed of traffic, but it also says that bicycles are vehicles that have a right to be on the road, but should stay to the side of the road if they can't travel at the prevailing speed. So if bikes shouldn't be on a road, and bike lanes don't go everywhere, what is your actual solution? Rather than being childish, why don’t you offer a real solution. Where should bikes go? Give a real answer. As much as you enjoy your car, I enjoy my bike. There aren’t bike lanes on every street. If there were, I’d use them. Even if there were a bike lane network that went everywhere, I’d use it. But there isn’t. There are streets, are there are sidewalks. Pedestrians use sidewalks, and bikes aren’t allowed to. The law may say that vehicles travels at the prevailing speed of traffic, but it also says that bicycles are vehicles that have a right to be on the road, but should stay to the side of the road if they can’t travel at the prevailing speed. So if bikes shouldn’t be on a road, and bike lanes don’t go everywhere, what is your actual solution?

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]]> By: Jay http://www.thegridto.com/city/politics/mandatory-bike-helmets-get-serious/#comment-36837 Jay Mon, 09 Jul 2012 16:04:00 +0000 http://www.thegridto.com/?p=61820#comment-36837 I'm responding to your response above. Of course I wouldn't want anyone to be injured for any reason, but please, read what you wrote. A bike was on the side of a two lane road - ok, but then you say "Should we allow pedestrians and cyclists on the 407". No, I don't support that. And yes, they ride with their backs to traffic - if they rode facing traffic they'd be going the wrong way. Bicyclists get the same traffic tickets as cars (I've gotten one for running a stop sign). You didn't answer my question - where do you want bicyclists to go? You said they should only be on road with a bike lane. Ok, but what do I do when the bike lane ends and I'm not where I need to go yet? Should I go on the sidewalk? No, that's illegal. So what do I do? I have to ride on the road. I don't ever ride in the countryside, but if I did, as much as I would love to be on the gravel shoulder, that's a pretty tough place to ride a bike, have you tried riding on gravel? Cars have to share the road - that's the way it is. If you ran over a bicyclist who was riding safely on a road other than a 400-series highway (where it is illegal for them to be, and rightly so), you'd be at fault, not the bicyclist. I’m responding to your response above. Of course I wouldn’t want anyone to be injured for any reason, but please, read what you wrote. A bike was on the side of a two lane road – ok, but then you say “Should we allow pedestrians and cyclists on the 407″. No, I don’t support that. And yes, they ride with their backs to traffic – if they rode facing traffic they’d be going the wrong way. Bicyclists get the same traffic tickets as cars (I’ve gotten one for running a stop sign).

You didn’t answer my question – where do you want bicyclists to go? You said they should only be on road with a bike lane. Ok, but what do I do when the bike lane ends and I’m not where I need to go yet? Should I go on the sidewalk? No, that’s illegal. So what do I do? I have to ride on the road. I don’t ever ride in the countryside, but if I did, as much as I would love to be on the gravel shoulder, that’s a pretty tough place to ride a bike, have you tried riding on gravel? Cars have to share the road – that’s the way it is. If you ran over a bicyclist who was riding safely on a road other than a 400-series highway (where it is illegal for them to be, and rightly so), you’d be at fault, not the bicyclist.

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