Mastodawn

What ridiculous victim blaming bollocks. Mandatory helmet laws have been proven to increase heart disease and deaths related to it far beyond the "lives saved" by the stupid plastic hats.

Ireland, don't be stupid.

https://mastodon.ie/@ccferrie/116014600144830998

Ciarán Ferrie (@[email protected])

I am gobsmacked by the stupidity of this government. Mandatory hi viz and helmets for ALL bike users is a failed policy that shouldn't even be in the Department of Transport's waste paper bin, never mind at the cabinet table. https://irishcycle.com/2026/02/04/all-bicycles-included-in-draft-plan-for-mandatory-helmets-and-high-vis-department-confirms/

mastodon.ie

波鉄 (Hatetsu)Feb 5

@quixoticgeek Wait, heart disease? That's a new one to me, got a link?

@HaTetsu @quixoticgeek I think this is about if a mandatory cycling helmet policy is in place, it might deter X people from cycling who then lose the health benefits of it. https://www.cyclinguk.org/sites/default/files/document/2020/01/helmets-evidence_cuk_brf_0.pdf

@HaTetsu @quixoticgeek Apologies, am catching up on my feed and didn't realise Quixotic had already followed up on this!

Peter Brown Feb 6

@andyeff @HaTetsu @quixoticgeek

@peterbrown That's a block...

@peterbrown immediately thought of @lkanies

Luke Kanies Feb 6

@binford2k @peterbrown yep

Ariaflame Feb 5

@quixoticgeek I assure you that it isn't the mandatory helmet laws that are keeping me off my bike.

Quixoticgeek Feb 5

@ariaflame what's stopping you cycling?

Ariaflame Feb 5

@quixoticgeek Apart from lack of time, orders from my orthodontist.

Quixoticgeek Feb 5

@ariaflame I'm kinda curious how cycling effects teeth...

@quixoticgeek @cstross @ccferrie
When I see that stupid logic I always think of #Freakonomics and the dangers of safety.

https://freakonomics.com/podcast/the-dangers-of-safety-rebroadcast/

Ziege Lightbocks Feb 5

Head injury bad. Stop and frisk excuses EVIL.

MegatronicThronBanks Feb 5

@quixoticgeek It does kinda ruin the whole point of bicycles

wiredfool Feb 5

@quixoticgeek
High Vis is already being used as a get-out-of-jail-free card in incidents -- even through it's not mandatatory. Sorry Mate I didn't See You just means that there's no consequences when a cyclist gets creamed by a driver.

This is not for safety. This is for reduction of liability for car drivers.

wiredfool Feb 5

@quixoticgeek @ccferrie

If they're worried about safety, there are long list of things that have actual research and current laws behind them:
* Default 30kph in built up areas -- Abandoned
* Working lights/safety equipment for cars. 50% of cars fail the NCT the first time through (2024 data), and observationally, 5-10% of cars in my area have obviously broken lighting.
* Close pass laws for cyclists exist. They are unenforced.
* Parking in cycle lanes is prohibited. Unenforced

wiredfool Feb 5

@quixoticgeek @ccferrie
* Parking on the footpaths, over double yellow lines, forcing pedestrians to share space with distracted drivers. Unenforced. (and ironically, a hotspot is right in front of the local Driver Theory Test center)
* Use of cellphones while driving. The things you see while riding the bus in traffic.
* RSA should provide collision data to local authorities so that they can address accident hotspots. -- Suspended for a decade.

I could continue. At length.

Mike 🇬🇧 🇪🇺Feb 5

@quixoticgeek
I've been cycling for about 55 years.
I've cycled all over Europe.
I have worn a bicycle helmet twice - in the only two races I've completed in.

The number of crashes I've had in all those years is less than 5 (depending on the definition).

During those crashes I've hit my head once - and on that occasion the paramedics were of the opinion that a helmet would have increased my injuries because they thought there was a likelihood of the straps getting caught up in the bushes I crashed into.

The worst injury was gravel rash to my hip.

Eye protection & gloves might be top of my list.

Broadfork Feb 5

@quixoticgeek @ccferrie I had a serious accident in my 20’s where something went through my front wheel stopping it dead and throwing me into the tarmac head first at speed.

Doctors treating me told me had I been wearing a helmet it would have reduced the severity of my injury and it may have prevented it altogether.

Losing the sight in one eye was thankfully temporary but gave me enough of a scare I have always worn a cycling helmet every ride since.

I don’t think they should be mandatory.

@Broadfork @quixoticgeek @ccferrie are you sure they didn't say they suspected or believed wearing a helmet would have reduced the severity of your injury and it may have prevented it altogether? I no longer trust medics who act as if the can predict outcomes of chaotic systems with certainty after a couple of crippling "adverse events" in my past.

Broadfork Feb 5

@mjr @quixoticgeek @ccferrie Sorry, I don’t understand your reply. I struggle with double negatives.

The particular injuries I received could not have been made worse had I been wearing a helmet at the time.

sneedy maccreedy Feb 5

@quixoticgeek @stib @ccferrie i have landed head first coming off my bike several times and the only reason i'm still alive and don't have brain damage or skin grafts on my face is because i was wearing a helmet