Meanwhile, we have just learned that VicRoads have designs to build loads more suburban freeways and ring-roads, rather than suburban public transport. That’s the real story down here.

Great film! I have spent a lot of time in Montreal over the years. My last visit was carless, because of the Bixi.

Aside from all the great infrastructure, the Bixi has had an unbelievably calming affect on the motorists. I was astonished at how courteous they were to cyclists.

As you know, there isn’t a mandatory helmet law in Quebec so anyone can choose the Bixi wheter or not they have a helmet with them.

If the Melbourne system does succeed, I think it will greatly help the cycling culture there. Toronto’s Bixi will hopefully begin next spring and I hope it is as successful as Montreal. Thankfully there isn’t a MHL in Toronto either.

I’m off to Dublin next month and can’t wait to try Dublin Bikes

Keep up the great work.

Mike, do you hold out more hope for the Brisbane scheme?

History is not on its side.

20 years ago, it was a ‘world first’ in introducing a mandatory helmet law with no evidence that it would work. Who cares if it works, at least we’re pretending to be doing something…

The helmet law experiment is an embarassing failure, with almost no country stupid enough to follow our leap of faith.

Still, the zealots in power keep regurgitating the same BS; “Helmet saves lives”, hoping Australians will never notice that helmets are not designed to protect against serious injury.

Cycling is a lot safer in Europe than in Australia, but still, these bigots insist that they are ‘right’. Why can’t the rest of the world get it? We are leading the world here, breaking new ground in stupidity. Come and join us! The helmet manufacterers marketing machine have all the manipulative tricks to convince your government of the infinite wisdom of the helmet law.

There is so much useful, thought provoking information here I hope others come and read it, particularly those responsible for the legislation and consider all aspects of the debate.

As Brisbane is rolling out a similar system this needs to be considered before launch here or the uptake will miss out on the novelty effect that we will only get one chance at using for our community benefit to help make City Cycle a success.

Great film and we’d certainly be interested in joining you next time. I mentioned the protest ride to several people but most people were more interested in bringing along their own bikes rather than using the Mixis.As it tuerned out we were too busy anyway but I’m certainly interested in the next one. I love an upright bike myself, after living in Amsterdam for several years I rarely use my others anymore. I’ll certainly be tweeting and blogging!

Keep up the good work Mike – lots of industry pros and wanna be riders are behind you.

Just out of interest, has anyone actually sent a proposal to the relevant gov officials or law makers about the people’s wants and desires? Whatever happened to gov of the people by the people, FOR the people. It is my right to ride a bike without a helmet if I choose.

I would love to see Clover Moore’s response to a ‘Syxi’ (Sydney bike taxi) scheme. Why does that sound like a New Zealander trying to say ‘Sexy’?

Yes, I was having a thorough comb through Greens policy and the cycling appears to be mentioned in one sentence…. and it is a long way down the list of ‘goals’.

I do wonder why the various state cycling organisations don’t get involved in the issue, or The Australia Greens for that matter. Surely, anyone with an appreciation of what is happening in the world outside Australia, who has any desire to see mass cycling in Australia would come out against compulsion? But The Greens’ Sustainable Planning and Transport policy barely mentions cycling, let alone removing MHLs.

Hopefully when the Melbourne Bicycle Share is dismantled, the bikes and docking stations can be sold to a more accomodating nations.

Love that comment!

Seriously. Excellent film, Mike. This Scheme needs three big things (in this order) to be implemented for it to work properly:
- remove mandatory helmet legislation (bring one if you feel safer, leave the rest of us alone)
- quality infrastructure, not just painted lanes
- more bikes & docking stations

Clearly riding this style of bike is safer:
“Drivers were polite and stayed out of my way unlike when I am on my bike.”
http://bit.ly/9dUkTh

I find this to be true on my situp-cycle when riding helmet-less.

Paul Martin
Brisbane, Australia