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How to escape bicycle helmet fines in Australia
Nerendra Jeet Singh, a Sikh, went to court in New South Wales (NSW), Australia over a bicycle helmet fine. He escaped the fine, arguing that his identity and religion are of prime importance. In Queensland, Jasdeep Atwal challenged a helmet fine in court. The Sikh community has led Queensland to reform the helmet law to add a religious exemption.…
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Helmet fanatics misleading tricks exposed at senate inquiry
The Australian federal government senate inquiry on personal choice terms of reference include: “bicycle helmet laws, including any impact on the health, enjoyment and finances of cyclists and non-cyclists;” Most submissions to the inquiry requested a review of the bicycle helmet law. The senate inquiry held hearings on the bicycle helmet law on the 16th of November…
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Another attempt to introduce a helmet law defeated
A proposal to introduce a helmet law is California was withdrawn following opposition from cycling groups. A petition from the California Bicycle Coalition mentioned: “there are proven ways to make our streets safer while encouraging bicycling — reducing speed limits on key streets, building protected bike lanes and bike paths, and educating motorists and bicyclists on…
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German study concludes that a bicycle helmet law is a waste of resource
Bicycle helmet laws are motivated by a desire to improve safety. Yet when they have been implemented, the main result has been to reduce cycling. This imposes healths costs by reducing the health benefits of cycling. Are the benefits worth the costs? An Australian study concluded a helmet law may provide a small benefit under extreme assumptions. A new study attempts to…
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Parliamentary inquiry calls for helmet law reform
A parliamentary inquiry into cycling issues in Queensland, Australia, recommends reforms to wind back the controversial helmet law that has harmed cycling for 20 years. The report makes two key recommendations in regards to the helmet law: Recommendation 15 The Committee recommends that the Minister for Transport and Main Roads: introduce a 24 month trial…
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Official misrepresentation of Australia’s bicycle helmet law
Abstract The helmet law has failed to achieve its stated goal of reducing the cost of cycling injuries. Several government agencies have obfuscated this disappointing result through misrepresentation. The information below is an extract from CRAG submission to the Prime Minister in 2009. Following this submission, the federal government abandoned its policy of supporting compulsory bicycle helmets. blank Federal…