A chara, – To help all those engaged in the ongoing (and recurrent) row as to whether a bicycle helmet makes any difference in the case of an accident, try the following. Put on a bicycle helmet and ask somebody to give you a decent wallop on the head with a brick. Then take the helmet off and ask them to do it again.
This usually helps to bring clarity to the argument. – Is mise,
Sir, – As a cyclist and organiser of large scale cycling events in Australia I’ve seen the importance of wearing a properly fitted helmet.
They do indeed prevent serious injuries and save lives, a small price to pay for their relative inconvenience. Seat belts can be inconvenient too, but who would seriously argue against them now?
I’ve also observed that the on-road behaviour of cyclists and motorists in Ireland and Australia is similar. Both groups need to better understand and obey the road rules, take greater care on roads and treat other road users with more respect. The road is there for all, and the combative elements on both sides need to pull their heads in. – Yours, etc,