Cyclists take to city streets in protest of mandatory helmet laws

Cyclists have taken to Brisbane’s streets to protest compulsory helmet rules, which organisers claim are claiming more lives than they are saving.

Ride organiser Geoff McLeod with riders who rode to Davies Park at West End to protest the compulsory wearing of bicycle helmets. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Waugh

CYCLISTS took to the streets of capital cities on Saturday morning to protest compulsory helmet laws, which organisers claim are holding their mode of transport back.

The Freestyle Cyclists organisation’s Brisbane protest ride between the Kurilpa Bridge and Davies Park, West End, attracted around a dozen riders in the wet weather.

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Freestyle Cyclists’ Brisbane ride organiser Geoff McLeod said the organisation supported people’s choice to wear helmets, but said the current legislation is a blunt, one-size-fits all approach.

“You don’t cop a fine for not wearing a lifejacket when you go to the beach.”

“It’s not about helmets, it’s about the helmet laws. Every sensible law in this country has a number of sensible exemptions.”

Mr McLeod said the benefits of cycling on health needed to be taken into account, arguing that more people died from cardiovascular disease than from cycling accidents.

He said current legislation discouraged people from riding to and from work and incentivised sitting in traffic, which was unhealthier.

Cyclist group Freestyle Cyclists will hold rallies across the five major capital cities, arguing that less helmets would save more lives. Photo: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy.

“If you ride a bike everyday, there is about 0.0000033 per cent of having a serious life changing injury.”

“We need a law that takes into consideration the times.”

He pointed to European countries which had no compulsory helmet laws and had higher bike ridership than Australia.

Mr McLeod said wet weather would probably put a dampener on numbers, but that their core group of supporters were passionate about the issue.

“Many of our supporters today are from right across Queensland.”

Brisbane resident Victor Brown, 53, and his three kids Dylan, 9, Toni, and April, 3, attended the protest without helmets.

Brisbane City Council’s CityCycle initiative. File photo.

Mr Brown said he was riding today because he felt the family barely ever rode in life-threatening conditions which warranted helmets/

He said he used to ride a lot more before bike helmets were made compulsory.

“When you’re snowboarding, most people have to make the choice to wear a helmet.”