Bike helmets a must
Cycling infrastructure not safe enough, says advocate
CYCLISTS can’t afford to debate helmet laws until Geelong’s cycling infrastructure is dramatically improved, a bike safety advocate says.
Bike Safe Geelong, Surf Coast and Bellarine president Garry Laver says the region’s cycling infrastructure is “decades behind” many European countries, making it unsafe to ride without helmets.
Bicycle Network Australia had reignited the ongoing debate surrounding Australia’s tough helmet laws by launching a review of its position on the regulations.
Its chief executive, Craig Richards, said the network has supported mandatory helmets for cyclists since the laws were implemented in the 1990s.
“If we’re ever to turn Australia into the nation of bike riders we all dream about, both sides need to be prepared to listen to what the other side has to say,” Mr Richards said.
“As with all policies, we should regularly ask ourselves, ‘Have we got it right?’.”
The network’s 50,000 members will be asked to provide feedback during the evidence-based review, which will be completed by Christmas.
Mr Laver said any debate on the regulations had to take into account the type of infrastructure available to cyclists and the heightened risk of injury any changes could lead to.
In the five years to January 2017, 73 hospitalisation claims were lodged with the TAC by cyclists injured in the Geelong region. Sixty of those claimants were men; eight cyclists were hospitalised for more than 14 days.
Five cyclists died on Geelong roads between January 2012 and September 2017.
TAC chief executive Joe Calafiore said he understood the sentiment behind relaxing helmet laws but the TAC must support initiatives that save lives.
“When you go back to basics — you’re vulnerable as a cyclist,” Mr Calafiore said.
“So if you crash, it’s a head injury. Mandatory helmet laws would have saved thousands of people from head injuries. So we’d always be supporting an important measure like that.”
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee’s 2017 background paper in support of helmet laws estimated treatment for a moderate traumatic brain injury costs around $2.5 million over a lifetime, while a severe injury would cost $4.8 million.
Mr Laver said Bike Safe studies showed changing bicycle laws would not lead to a surge in people taking up the sport.
“We believe mandatory helmet laws are necessary. A crash can result in a head injury,” Mr Laver said.
“Any debate on helmet laws has to be seen in the context of infrastructure.”
Bike Safe is pushing for more infrastructure, separate bikes and cars.