Bad Logic and Helmet Laws

The pro and anti helmet debate rages in cycling circles. Those who are anti helmet argue it puts people off cycling (which in turn slows the development of bike infrastructure and a better bike culture). Often the anti-cycling brigade will utter a phrase along the lines of "I don't need it for the type of riding I do" and point to Amsterdam, which boasts an incredibly low number of cycling fatalities in spite of massive cyclist numbers (over 60% of trips in Inner City Amsterdam are done by bike).

There are though massive flaws in such arguments.

Let's deal with the I-don't-need-it-for-the-type-of-riding-I-do logic.  Typically this is underpinned by the thinking that because the trips are short/on quiet roads, they are safe, and they have undertaken such trips for many years without incident. Well I damn near died when I hit a road reflector, and this poor bloke died when he hit a rock. I've also seen people come off and land very heavily when they hit a coke can blown across the road at the wrong moment. It goes to show how the most innocent and everyday things can cause serious accidents. And they can be literally anywhere on your ride, even a short or quiet one. The fact that you navigated the ride safely for 5 years means _nothing_. After all I managed to navigate Sydney 100% safely for 18 months and 10000 odd kilometres before my accident.

And yes, the cycling fatality rate is incredibly low in Amsterdam where helmets are not mandatory. Cycling infrastructure is though far superior to what Australia's state capitals offer, and drivers are far more tolerant of cyclists. Thus there are far less incidents. Kind of unsurprising then that the fatality rate is so low. And again people and journalists again fall into the "I rode there for X months with no problems" logic having ridden in Amsterdam. Yes, the Amsterdam bike culture is to be admired and is a goal to strive for, but the reality is the bike culture here is miles off that of the Dutch, and I think they'd be better off with a MHL as accidents can and do still occur. Unless they plan to ban rocks, road reflectors and coke cans.