Madam, – It is understandable that those involved in emergency and head trauma medicine are firm believers in the efficacy of cycle helmets. It’s an area where prevention is far preferable to cure.
However, their confidence is misplaced. Unlike motorcycle helmets (solidly constructed, securely attached, but often insufficient) cycle helmets are flimsy constructions of polystyrene, covering the top of the head, and often insecurely attached.
Realistically, cycle helmets will protect only in low-speed impacts – they are designed for up to about 20 km/h (equivalent to a fall from a stopped position). At higher speeds, they are overwhelmed by the energy of the impact and offer negligible protection (double the speed and you quadruple the energy). Helmets are not airbags and are simply too small to protect at higher speeds, such as when motor vehicles are involved.
Protection at low speeds is perhaps desirable but, contra Conor Egleston (September 15th), the evidence that it makes much of a difference at the population level is weak.
Where helmet wearing has been made compulsory, the results have been disappointing. New Zealand’s experience of a legislation-driven rise from 40 per cent to 90 per cent helmet wearing was of no detectable change in the trend in cyclist head injury, and in other jurisdictions the fall in the numbers of injuries was less than the fall in cycling.
To take a broader view of public health, cycling is estimated to have health benefits that outweigh the dangers by at least 10 to one. It is much more valuable to get more people out on bikes, bareheaded or not, than it is to push for protective devices of limited value. – Yours, etc.
Madam, – Any scheme to get people out of their cars and on to their feet or bike is to be welcomed. However, Fiona Gartland’s report of the launch of Dublinbikes (Home News, September 14th) leaves a number of questions unanswered.
Why is Councillor Montague so enthusiastic about the scheme that he claims the case for safety helmets “is not proven”? Although most cyclist deaths are caused by lorries turning left (not right as councillor Montague asserts) a helmet for a cyclist knocked off his or her bike can make the difference between life and death.
Your photograph of the cyclists setting off on Sunday is devoid of traffic. But on a normal weekday, Dublin is one of the most congested cities in Europe. It is also among those with the fewest cycle lanes.
Until Dublin City Council puts the infrastructure in place it should not be encouraging people to risk their lives. Yours, etc,
Madam, – At last we have a modern public bikes system in our capital. Unfortunately for the poor hungry masses arriving at Heuston Station there is no bike station. Granted it is well supplied with taxis, Luas and buses but wouldn’t it be great to be able to arrive (or depart) at Heuston, hop on a Dublinbike and scoot off through the city?
Heuston is not as isolated as it seems, with Collins Barracks Museum, Phoenix Park and Law Courts, Guinness Storehouse, Kilmainham Jail and Museum of Modern Art as well as James’s Hospital all nearby, thus connecting to the existing Dublinbikes network. I think it’s called “joined-up-thinking”. – Yours, etc,