CBC News reports surprising findings on helmet safety: CBC.ca Player.
Bottom line? Ensure you and your kids wear a helmet for tobogganing, skating and skiing.
As we mark 20 years since I proposed helmet legislation in Cote Saint-Luc leading to the first municipal bylaw in Canada, once again, I call upon the Quebec government to require helmets for all cyclists and skiers.
Our dynamic and engaged MNA, Lawrence Bergman, could be a key advocate to influence the government to take action.
Post your comments here.
Brahms E. Silver
Jan 22, 2012 @ 13:04:36
Thanks for being a visionary. It’s anyone’s guess of how many lives your proposal for helmet legislation has saved or will save in the future. Bravo!
B. E. Silver
lagatta à montréal
Feb 15, 2012 @ 20:45:12
This is victim-blaming nonsense, and fortunately it has no momentum, making Bixi and a great rise in urban utilitarian cycling in normal clothing possible, not just sport cycling in lycra or recreation for suburbanites who drive to work.
The Netherlands has the lowest rate of helmet use and the best cycling safety statistics.
G.J. Nashen
Feb 15, 2012 @ 23:42:11
No one is being blamed for anything. This is simply a matter of personal protection / safe cycling / preventing unnecessary injury and death / saving on needless health care costs.
lagatta à montréal
Feb 16, 2012 @ 16:42:28
Sorry for the bad pun, but it is a wrong-headed approach to cycling safety. Cycling advocates agree with everything you have said above, but strongly disagree that helmet compulsion is the way to achieve it as it discourages everyday, utilitarian cycling (in particular, cycling to work) and limits the increase of cyclists as a modal share of traffic.
Countries that have adopted an approach based on safe infrastructure and road/cycle path design, traffic calming, and training (including cycling lessons on the school curriculum, have by far the best levels of cyclist safety and hence the least avoidable injury and death or avoidable health-care burdens. http://www.amsterdamize.com http://www.copenhagenize.com (These link to many other sites including Dutch and Danish cycling and walking promotion consultancy sites).
The Netherlands and Denmark are by far at the head of the peloton. And Québec, with more promotion of cycling in normal clothing, development of infrastructure and fewer politicians intent on putting sticks in our wheels, discouraging us or humiliating us than our neighbour Ontario, for example, has shown a far greater increase in everyday cycling over the last decade – although Montréal has more severe weather than Toronto.
The Melbourne equivalent of Bixi/Vélib/Boris Bike is a total failure. The state of cycling in Australia is still dismal and most cyclists are “sport” cyclists in full gear – and the great majority are youngish and middle aged men. The share of women in total cycling numbers is an important bellwether – and Montréal is one of the best cities in North America in that respect. http://www.montrealcyclechic.com
I strongly advise a visit to one of the countries who have made cycling safety a reality – you and your family will also have a very pleasant time. I’m far more familiar with Amsterdam than with Copenhagen, having been to Amsterdam many times for work-related reasons, and only once to Copenhagen for a conference meeting. There are very interesting thematic visits, on history, neighbourhoods, communities. Given CSL demographics, the visit on Amsterdam Jewish history and communities is a fascinating one.