While watching the news on Spanish TV Friday mention was made of the doubling of cycling deaths in Spain over the last few years. And it was added "not enough cyclists are wearing helmets"... "Yeah right!" was my immediate thought and:
- how many who died were wearing helmets?
- what kind of accidents were they involved in? people falling off on their own and hitting their heads?
- could the fact that there has been a huge increase in cyclists thanks to the "crisis" and people not being able to afford petrol have something to do with it? i.e. new or returning cyclists with less road experience
- ... other interesting/useful statistics that could help explain a worrying trend
But no, "not enough wearing helmets" was all that we got.
You never see a cyclist on the open road without a helmet because the fine is 200€ and the police are very efficient at raking in fines, hell even I wear one when I am on the road there! So I am not holding my breath we will be heading for a universal helmet law south of the border real soon now...
- how many who died were wearing helmets?
- what kind of accidents were they involved in? people falling off on their own and hitting their heads?
- could the fact that there has been a huge increase in cyclists thanks to the "crisis" and people not being able to afford petrol have something to do with it? i.e. new or returning cyclists with less road experience
- ... other interesting/useful statistics that could help explain a worrying trend
But no, "not enough wearing helmets" was all that we got.
You never see a cyclist on the open road without a helmet because the fine is 200€ and the police are very efficient at raking in fines, hell even I wear one when I am on the road there! So I am not holding my breath we will be heading for a universal helmet law south of the border real soon now...