Freestyle Cyclists activist group to protest in Carlton in push to make helmets optional

A CYCLISTS’ action group will stage a protest ride through the city to push for “bothersome, inconvenient and pretty dorky” helmets to be made optional, in a campaign spearheaded by a Yarraville rider — but the move has been met with opposition.

MELBOURNE-BASED activist group Freestyle Cyclists is fighting to make helmets an optional choice for Australian cyclists.

Protest riders will cycle through Melbourne on March 17 to advocate for the removal of fines on riding without helmets, with more protests to follow across the country.

Cyclist Isobel Todd supports the push for helmets to be optional. Picture: Hamish Blair

Yarraville cyclist Isobel Todd is at the forefront of the campaign and supports the push towards optional helmets.

The group believes mandatory helmet laws deter people from taking up cycling and offer little safety benefits.

Freestyle Cyclists president Alan Todd said: “Helmets are a bit bothersome, inconvenient and pretty dorky. There is no significant safety benefit and the health benefits outweigh the risks”.

About 16,000 people ride their bikes in Maribyrnong each week, with cycling to work being a popular mode of transport in Footscray, Seddon and Yarraville.

In Victoria, the fine for failing to wear a securely fitted bicycle helmet is $185.

Mandatory helmet laws were introduced in 1990 after an alarming number of cycling-related head injuries.

Research shows helmets reduce the chances of head injuries by up to 50 per cent.

Neurosurgeon Professor Jeffrey Rosenfeld says helmets lessen the magnittude of injuries sustained in bike accidents.

The Alfred hospital neurosurgeon Professor Jeffrey Rosenfeld said fractured skulls, brain damage, epilepsy and death were some of the consequences from cyclist-related accidents.

“The people who are saying ‘let’s make it optional’, don’t see the patients with head injuries and don’t understand the impact of head injury,” Prof Rosenfeld said.

“Helmets lessen the magnitude of those injures significantly”.

Bicycle Network Australia is reviewing its mandatory helmet law policy, with review completion expected by April this year.

A survey conducted by the bike organisation showed nearly two-thirds of people didn’t believe helmets should have to be worn and more than 30 per cent said they would ride more if helmets weren’t mandatory.

VicRoads says helmets are crucial to cyclists’ safety.

VicRoads road user and vehicle access director John Matta said bike helmets were crucial to ensure cyclists’ safety.

“Cyclists are some of our most vulnerable road users and wearing a helmet is a small price to pay for dramatically increasing your chance of survival or avoiding serious head injury,” Mr Matta said.

The ride will kick off outside Park Street Cafe, 815 Nicholson St, Carlton North, on March 17 at 11am and will end at Abbotsford Convent by noon.