Brisbane's bicycle helmets laws are to be changed

[ozbob]

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ABC Radio Brisbane ‏@612brisbane 43s

Brisbane's bicycle helmets laws are to be changed. Transport Minister @ScottEmersonMP on 612 Breakfast after 7.

[ozbob]

Law is to be changed to allow for exemptions to wear helmets based on religious beliefs.   Nothing more ...

:bi

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson

Religious exemption for bike helmets

The Newman Government will introduce bicycle helmet exemptions for cyclists on the basis of religious beliefs.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson reviewed the law following a recent court decision to overturn the fine for a cyclist who was unable to wear a helmet because of his religious headwear.

"By amending the Queensland Road Rules we will join Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia which also have these exemptions," Mr Emerson said.

"After applying a common sense approach we will introduce exemptions for those who want to cycle but for religious reasons, may not be able to wear a helmet.

"By the end of this year the exemptions will be in place so that anyone wearing religious headdresses can ride a bike in Queensland without a helmet on.

"Similar to Western Australia, there will be no requirement to actually apply for these exemptions which will make for a more streamlined process reducing the need for unnecessary red tape."

Mr Emerson said the exemptions would apply only to those practising religions which required them to wear a headdress and would not allow them to wear a helmet.

Studies conducted in Queensland show that those wearing a helmet have a 69 per cent reduction in the likelihood of brain injury when involved in a bike crash.

"Wearing a helmet remains compulsory for any other cyclists who don't have an exemption, with the penalty for failing to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle being a $110 on-the-spot fine," he said.

"The safety of everyone on our roads is paramount, so I ask cyclists and motorists alike to use common sense and follow road rules while using our roads."

Helmet exemptions apply to bicycles only and anyone riding a motorcycle or scooter/moped must still wear a helmet.

[ENDS] 23 April 2013

[Derwan]

"After applying a common sense approach we will introduce exemptions for those who want to cycle but for religious reasons, may not be able to wear a helmet."

There is no "common sense" about this!

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane Breakfast with Spencer Howson

Bike helmet laws relaxed - religious exemptions to be allowed

Click --> here!

23 April 2013 , 8:11 AM by Spencer Howson

Transport Minister Scott Emerson has just announced that Queensland's bicycle helmet laws will be ammended to provide exemptions on the basis of religious headwear - such as turbans.

This followed the recent case of a Brisbane Sikh who was found guilty of not wearing a bike helmet but sent on his way without fine or conviction.

In fact, according to Jasdeep Atwal, the judge appeared to suggest that Jasdeep get a doctor's certificate saying he couldn't wear a helmet for medical reasons.

Which he subsequently did. Transport Minister Scott Emerson today has announced on 612 Breakfast he'll change the law so that Sikhs don't have to wear a helmet:

[Gazza]

"After applying a common sense approach we will introduce exemptions for those who want to cycle but for religious reasons, may not be able to wear a helmet."

There is no "common sense" about this!

I reckon it is. I've got a mate who wears a turban, and I reckon that lifelong bulk of hair wrapped up would have to have near equivalent cushioning effects to a helmet.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Trial helmet-free cycling zones, says Brisbane City Council

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Crash councillor warns against relax of cycle laws

[HappyTrainGuy]

Support for relaxed bicycle helmet laws offered by Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk has been criticised by an opposition councillor who was seriously injured in a racing accident a decade ago.

Yes..... because everyone that rides a bike goes all Tour De France in packs of 100 riders on shared pathways and footpaths. Give me a break.

[Golliwog]

Support for relaxed bicycle helmet laws offered by Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk has been criticised by an opposition councillor who was seriously injured in a racing accident a decade ago.

Yes..... because everyone that rides a bike goes all Tour De France in packs of 100 riders on shared pathways and footpaths. Give me a break.

I agree that a racing accident is a completely different scenario to commuting, but speaking as someone who would probably be a very different person if I hadn't been wearing a helmet when I went over the handlebars, landed on my head shattering my helmet and knocking myself out, I agree with the sentiment that helmets are invaluable.

It all depends on the situation, but unless all you're doing is riding around in a park or something equally slow, I can't imagine doing it without a helmet, especially anything anywhere near a main road or where speed is involved.

[minbrisbane]

I see wearing a helmet as an essential part of cycling, just like wearing a seat belt in a car or having travel insurance when going overseas.

Is this change a push by council to try and increase ridership of CC?

[HappyTrainGuy]

It all depends on the situation, but unless all you're doing is riding around in a park or something equally slow, I can't imagine doing it without a helmet, especially anything anywhere near a main road or where speed is involved.

Isn't that what they are wanting to trial? The quieter and safer areas like bikeways (Kedron/city bikeway etc) as opposed to riding on the road.

[Golliwog]

It all depends on the situation, but unless all you're doing is riding around in a park or something equally slow, I can't imagine doing it without a helmet, especially anything anywhere near a main road or where speed is involved.

Isn't that what they are wanting to trial? The quieter and safer areas like bikeways (Kedron/city bikeway etc) as opposed to riding on the road.

First up, you still go fast on bikeways and theres still interactions between other cyclists and pedestrians.  Secondly,  how many rides are possible going soley on a bikeway? I have to ride on road to Oxford Park/Mitchelton to get to the first part of the dedicated Kedron Brook bikeway and then that still has a number of narrow sections, sharp corners and blind spots.