Speaking of Mexico: Bye, bye, helmet legislation.

I just got back from a short stint in Mexico (congrats to newlyweds Chris and Amy!).

In February, Mexico repealed their bicycle helmet laws. Mikael over at Copenhagenize gives us the commentary, if desired.

MVB presented its case for repealing BC's bicycle helmet legislation.

Here's a related quote via copenhagenize.com from the Metro (Vancouver) article:

Last September, Colin Clarke, a bike safety expert and former coach with the British Cycling Federation, published a detailed report entitled “Evaluating bicycle helmet use and legislation in Canada.”

According to his report, “helmet law effects in Canada appear to have resulted in the public being fined, subject to police involvement, loss of cycling health benefits and a reduction in civil liberties, as well as additional accidents and longer hospital stays for head injury.”

Canada, his research concludes, should emulate the cycling culture of the Netherlands, where helmet laws are unnecessary because of “good cycling facilities or wide on-road cycle lanes that avoid high speed and heavy vehicle traffic.”

Sadly, the sensibility that exists in Holland and even Saskatoon has yet to prevail in B.C. And that means cyclists like Kilburn will have to continue riding on the wrong side of the local law.