Cycling around I get the feeling I am a silent protester against the swelling tide of brightly lit safety vests and unattractive helmets as I am unburdened by such things.

I’m kinda concerned that I’ll fall into the minority so that if when the day comes to make it law, there will be little opposition. It will have spread like a virus in other words.

I’m concerned too that people are buying these horrid items without thinking for themselves, as an automatic conditioned response to what they’ve read or seen.

Just are there are seminars organised by airlines for those who fear flying, followed by a short flight, there should be seminars organised for those who fear riding a bicycle without saftey gear, followed by a short cycle ride.

Our generation which grew-up without helmets etc will become outnumbered by those who are force-fed that cycling is terribly dangerous today, ’so you’d better wear a helmet.’

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading your articles. I was beginning to wonder if I was blogging to myself or a brick wall.

Thank you for your comments too.

Cycling around I get the feeling I am a silent protester against the swelling tide of brightly lit safety vests and unattractive helmets as I am unburdened by such things.

I’m kinda concerned that I’ll fall into the minority so that if when the day comes to make it law, there will be little opposition. It will have spread like a virus in other words.

I’m concerned too that people are buying these horrid items without thinking for themselves, as an automatic conditioned response to what they’ve read or seen.

Just are there are seminars organised by airlines for those who fear flying, followed by a short flight, there should be seminars organised for those who fear riding a bicycle without saftey gear, followed by a short cycle ride.

Our generation which grew-up without helmets etc will become outnumbered by those who are force-fed that cycling is terribly dangerous today, ‘so you’d better wear a helmet.’

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading your articles. I was beginning to wonder if I was blogging to myself or a brick wall.

Thank you for your comments too.

Even the average cyclist succumbs to the road war danger messages surrounding cycling. More and more people going to work are wearing irridescent lime green vests to say, “watch out for me.” Sensible in a way, they do send a message along with helmets that cycling is risky. See my film on the blog, Sue fights against helmets.

I gather you have no compulsory helmets in TO. How about the glowing vests, are people wearing them? I scan recent footage from the European bike countries, Holland and denmark, and i see no such vests.
Bike share would offer no such clothing, and would counteract this movement. Mike

Th very open sit up position of all bike share bikes where you really cant avoid eye contact with other travelers cuts away at this culture with something slower, more utilitarian and more friendly. If bike share does not come here, it will be because this other culture is not wanted. If truly wanted, everything necessary to make it happen will be done, and that included adjusting the proetctive clothing laws to make it work

You seem to hit the nail on the head — it seems we cannot both have a healthy bike share culture and mandatory helmet laws. But I cannot seem to find a way to fit this truth into my helmet-insisting philosophy as a member of the bike community. And this troubles me.