If all the men and women commuting to work drive their own vehicle, their mode of transportation increases the amount of pollution in the air. Consequently, authorities in Canadian cities have been asked to consider alternative ways for getting to work, such as carpooling and riding a bicycle.
Unfortunately, the roads in most cities were not built by those that had envisioned a time when numerous bicycle riders would be using those same roadways. As a result, any present-day bicycle rider must accept the fact that he or she could well be at risk. Therefore, society has looked for strategies that help to reduce that level of risk.
The existing law in Canada:
Anyone under the age of 18 must wear a helmet when on a bicycle. The law does not call for adults to wear a helmet. The absence of a duplication in the laws for adults and youth, whenever either of them is riding on a bicycle, reflects the desire to sway more adults towards the consideration of transportation methods that differ from that of a possessed set-of-wheels.
Other strategies used to keep bike-riding adults safe from harm:
• Dedicated bike lanes; dedicated bike paths;
• Side guards on commercial trucks;
• Encourage the wearing of reflective gear and bright clothing.
Arguments for and against introduction of a law that requires helmet-wearing by adults on a bicycle:
The argument against such a law: Someone wearing a helmet is more apt to take dangerous risks.
The counter-arguments, those that favor creation of such a regulation: Studies show that bike-riders take fewer risks when wearing a helmet. One study of 64,000 cyclists showed that introduction of helmet usage managed to decrease the number of accident-caused injuries by 70%. If someone has been injured in a similar accident, they need to consult a reliable and experienced Accident Lawyer in Cambridge to get the right amount of compensation.
Another observation has strengthened the argument in favor of having adult bike-riders don helmets. When an adult don the typical form of head protection/helmet, the child looks at that action in the same way that it views any good example. The child feels inspired to copy the adult’s actions.
Why a change in the law would be supported by helmet-makers: The helmet makers already make head protection for motorcycle riders, who need something in an adult size. It would not be hard for any helmet-manufacturer to start making a similar product for adult bike-riders. Obviously, too, any manufacturer would welcome the challenge of working to meet an increased demand for a given product.
Understand that the marketing system calls for an increase in prices, when the demand for a product increase. That price increase could get used to hide introduction of a tax on adult helmets. Then the tax could be used to pay for things such as new bike paths.
