Willehond Posted October 14, 2008 Share I think some helmet laws originate from financial costs to the economy (increased medical claims' date=' days off work etcetra...) more than for the general well being of joe public, jan vandemoer or heinz keiser... Strangely enough the locals here will often wear helmets even when commuting to the shop, work, school... then again it is cuckoo clock land... [/quote'] The Swiss are funny. The only ones here that I've seen wearing lids on commutes have been very small kids (as passengers) and some kooky old gals. Most (99%) of the mountainbikers wear helmets and about 90% of the road bikers even though they are not forced to. It either makes sense to them or they want to look like the pro's! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLegend Posted October 14, 2008 Share I think some helmet laws originate from financial costs to the economy (increased medical claims' date=' days off work etcetra...) more than for the general well being of joe public, jan vandemoer or heinz keiser... Strangely enough the locals here will often wear helmets even when commuting to the shop, work, school... then again it is cuckoo clock land... [/quote'] The Swiss are funny. The only ones here that I've seen wearing lids on commutes have been very small kids (as passengers) and some kooky old gals. Most (99%) of the mountainbikers wear helmets and about 90% of the road bikers even though they are not forced to. It either makes sense to them or they want to look like the pro's!In Germany it's quite a debated about "responsibility" and being a role model. Pretty much all kids wear a helmut when cycling, parents when with them generally as well, more and more commuters also wear one. The recreational cyclist generally also wears his helmut. I think it's a good thing! But everyone's choice. It only confuses me when a helmut-wearing commuter crosses over a red traffic light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TarmacPro Posted October 14, 2008 Share back to post 1 - was it on bottelary' date=' i have a good idea who the person in question might be!![/quote'] BMC... They ignoring you I think everyone in the Northern Suburbs knows this cyclist.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hot stuff Posted October 14, 2008 Share Can I hi jack here?We are basically talking about stupidity are we notYesterday I saw a guy from cycle lab(new kit) did not recognise him riding on the wrong side of the road, and he was not trying to cross or even ride on the pavement, even though he had a Hybrid. He did have a helmet on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linnega Posted October 14, 2008 Share I think some helmet laws originate from financial costs to the economy (increased medical claims' date=' days off work etcetra...) more than for the general well being of joe public, jan vandemoer or heinz keiser... Strangely enough the locals here will often wear helmets even when commuting to the shop, work, school... then again it is cuckoo clock land... [/quote'] The Swiss are funny. The only ones here that I've seen wearing lids on commutes have been very small kids (as passengers) and some kooky old gals. Most (99%) of the mountainbikers wear helmets and about 90% of the road bikers even though they are not forced to. It either makes sense to them or they want to look like the pro's!In Germany it's quite a debated about "responsibility" and being a role model. Pretty much all kids wear a helmut when cycling, parents when with them generally as well, more and more commuters also wear one. The recreational cyclist generally also wears his helmut. I think it's a good thing! But everyone's choice. It only confuses me when a helmut-wearing commuter crosses over a red traffic light. Perhaps we better not re-ignite that debate.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
butafly Posted October 14, 2008 Share back to post 1 - was it on bottelary' date=' i have a good idea who the person in question might be!![/quote'] BMC... They ignoring you I think everyone in the Northern Suburbs knows this cyclist..and his boet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwissVan Posted October 14, 2008 Share I think some helmet laws originate from financial costs to the economy (increased medical claims' date=' days off work etcetra...) more than for the general well being of joe public, jan vandemoer or heinz keiser... Strangely enough the locals here will often wear helmets even when commuting to the shop, work, school... then again it is cuckoo clock land... [/quote'] The Swiss are funny. The only ones here that I've seen wearing lids on commutes have been very small kids (as passengers) and some kooky old gals. Most (99%) of the mountainbikers wear helmets and about 90% of the road bikers even though they are not forced to. It either makes sense to them or they want to look like the pro's!In Germany it's quite a debated about "responsibility" and being a role model. Pretty much all kids wear a helmut when cycling, parents when with them generally as well, more and more commuters also wear one. The recreational cyclist generally also wears his helmut. I think it's a good thing! But everyone's choice. It only confuses me when a helmut-wearing commuter crosses over a red traffic light. Perhaps we better not re-ignite that debate.... We didn't... They did Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fandacious Posted October 14, 2008 Share back to post 1 - was it on bottelary' date=' i have a good idea who the person in question might be!![/quote'] BMC... They ignoring you I think everyone in the Northern Suburbs knows this cyclist..and his boet how the hell do you expect a helmet to fit over those dreadlocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLegend Posted October 14, 2008 Share I think some helmet laws originate from financial costs to the economy (increased medical claims' date=' days off work etcetra...) more than for the general well being of joe public, jan vandemoer or heinz keiser... Strangely enough the locals here will often wear helmets even when commuting to the shop, work, school... then again it is cuckoo clock land... [/quote'] The Swiss are funny. The only ones here that I've seen wearing lids on commutes have been very small kids (as passengers) and some kooky old gals. Most (99%) of the mountainbikers wear helmets and about 90% of the road bikers even though they are not forced to. It either makes sense to them or they want to look like the pro's!In Germany it's quite a debated about "responsibility" and being a role model. Pretty much all kids wear a helmut when cycling, parents when with them generally as well, more and more commuters also wear one. The recreational cyclist generally also wears his helmut. I think it's a good thing! But everyone's choice. It only confuses me when a helmut-wearing commuter crosses over a red traffic light. Perhaps we better not re-ignite that debate.... We didn't... They did and anyways, this has nothing to do with the red-light discussion so extensively discussed here but a rather political attitude that can only be held by those co-habitating living space with those helmet wearing, outdoor clothing sporting, veggie transporting post-modern greenies. TheLegend2008-10-14 13:03:45 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linnega Posted October 14, 2008 Share I was thinking about this post when the following situation arises. I am arriving at an intersection and plan to turn left. There is a car waiting at the red light, also wanting to turn left, and I approach him in the same lane. From about 200m away I can see the only car that could possibly get to the intersection before the light changes will get there a good 20-30s after me. So the options are: 1. Go around the car waiting in the lane to turn left and run the light, 2. Go around the car waiting and stop in front of him, wait for light to change, or 3. Wait behind the car on the left, knowing that there is a car approaching from behind that will then sandwich me between the two cars (there isn't enough space on the left of the stationary car). To me its an easy decision, option 1, is clearly the safest. No need to stop and unclip. No need to ensure that the revving idiot sees me before he wheelspins up my arse as I clip back in. Option 3 is a no-no. Waiting in queues of traffic is simply unsafe. The chances of someone not seeing you are far too high. Option 2 is possible, but it does me that I inconvenience both the driver of the waiting car and myself. So it is a case of be a good law-abiding citizen for no good reason or run the light. I ran the light. Had a cop stopped me I would have paid the fine and made the same choice the next day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLegend Posted October 14, 2008 Share I was thinking about this post when the following situation arises. I am arriving at an intersection and plan to turn left. There is a car waiting at the red light' date=' also wanting to turn left, and I approach him in the same lane. From about 200m away I can see the only car that could possibly get to the intersection before the light changes will get there a good 20-30s after me. So the options are:1. Go around the car waiting in the lane to turn left and run the light,2. Go around the car waiting and stop in front of him, wait for light to change, or 3. Wait behind the car on the left, knowing that there is a car approaching from behind that will then sandwich me between the two cars (there isn't enough space on the left of the stationary car). To me its an easy decision, option 1, is clearly the safest. No need to stop and unclip. No need to ensure that the revving idiot sees me before he wheelspins up my arse as I clip back in. Option 3 is a no-no. Waiting in queues of traffic is simply unsafe. The chances of someone not seeing you are far too high. Option 2 is possible, but it does me that I inconvenience both the driver of the waiting car and myself. So it is a case of be a good law-abiding citizen for no good reason or run the light. I ran the light. Had a cop stopped me I would have paid the fine and made the same choice the next day. [/quote'] Dude, I second that completely. If it's save, if no child is around I cross red lights, often (not always, but often). And I live in Europe where the fine can hurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groot Lem Posted October 14, 2008 Share Tomorrow after 9am if you want to take pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linnega Posted October 14, 2008 Share Tomorrow after 9am if you want to take pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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