Sexist bike helmet laws mean too many bad hair days, says cyclist Sue Abbott - Polidicks

DAVID NANKERVIS The Advertiser May 29, 2014 8:45AM [B]CYCLIST Sue Abbott puts her money where her mouth is when crusading against “sexist’’ bike helmet laws.[/B] [img]http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2014/05/28/1226935/033181-3819bd1e-e5fd-11e3-aae6-8a781d1cd673.jpg[/img] [I]Sue Abbott believes compulsory bike helmets discourage women from riding. Picture: Mike Burton. Source: News Corp Australia[/I] [quote]he resident from Scone in New South Wales was issued a $153 on-the-spot fine for riding without a helmet while in Adelaide for this week’s Velo-city international cycling conference . And she will be riding without a helmet again on Thursday afternoon as part of a protest ride from the city to Henley Beach organised by Freedom Cyclists — but this time police have promised no bareheaded riders will be fined during the event. Ms Abbott said it was “ridiculous’’ that only Australia and New Zealand had compulsory all age helmet laws which she believes turns people — especially women — off cycling. The 54-year-old said she would continue risking fines by riding helmet-less to highlight her cause. “I firmly believe more people would ride bikes if helmets were optional,’’ she said.[/quote] [url]http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/sexist-bike-helmet-laws-mean-too-many-bad-hair-days-says-cyclist-sue-abbott/story-fni6uo1m-1226935031262[/url]

"I firmly believe more people would ride bikes if helmets were optional" Say that to the concussion, bitch.

[QUOTE]“I firmly believe more people would ride bikes if helmets were optional,’’ she said.[/QUOTE] I'm pretty sure there'd be [I]less[/I] people riding bikes if helmets were optional, if you get what I'm saying :v:

"these laws are to protect you from dying" "but muh hair" "your life is more important than your hair" "you're sexist"

god what injustice it is to be riding a bike with a helmet. i can't imagine the pain she receives. my prayers go out to all the women who were discriminated against due to wearing a bike helmet.

Maybe the helmet is too tight and she lost a few brain cells

[QUOTE]“It is a very sexist law because a lot of women have maintained hairstyles and would end up with helmet hair"[/QUOTE] You caught us.

The injuries if she falls off is no pain compared to the pain given by the patriarchy.

[QUOTE=lostboy111;44937156]"I firmly believe more people would ride bikes if helmets were optional" Say that to the concussion, bitch.[/QUOTE] Well, her fabulous hair will cushion the fall so she doesn't need one.

Is her hair casting dark magic in that photo or did they edit it for some reason? Anyhow she's clearly a total fucking nutcase but the biggest problem of all is how common their mindset is. It's seriously freaky how many cyclists are totally unconcerned about the safety of themselves and everyone around them. If I had a dime for every time I'd seen a cyclist heinously violate road laws I'd be loaded enough to create an ad campaign personally asking them all to fuck off

I had to do a double take because initially I thought she was being pretty stupid as I thought this was about motorbikes But pedal bikes? The shit?

As a motorcyclist it always kind of scares me to see how little protection cyclists wear. I can understand not being kitted out in full leather/kevlar because you'd get like 10 feet before heat stroke but a helmet will definitely save your life. My grandfather came off his bicycle years ago and I think the hospital that treated him actually had the remains of his helmet up on display for awhile.

Helmets for city riding are not as important, they're not mandatory over here either. If you do any serious cycling you better get a helmet though, that shit is a lifesaver.

I try to always wear a helmet while riding my bike, but it doesn't seem right to force people. It's a personal choice thing.

Okay then, ride without a helmet, get hit, and you'll become like present day Gary Busey.

[QUOTE=lostboy111;44937156]"I firmly believe more people would ride bikes if helmets were optional" Say that to the concussion, bitch.[/QUOTE] Which is fine? If some dumbass wants to go and not wear the proper safety equipment, it's not my problem. TBH I believe the same thing about seatbelts, and I guarentee I'd wear them anyway.

I bet she's one of those wankers that rides their bike in the lanes meant for cars even though there's a sidewalk AND a bicycle lane completely empty.

[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;44937217]Well, her fabulous hair will cushion the fall so she doesn't need one.[/QUOTE] OR, go through a windshield and kill someone.

I blame Abbott

I'm just hoping we don't see a headline like this in the woman's future. "Motorcyclist in helmet protest ride hits head, dies" [url]http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-07-04-motorcycle-helmet-protest-death_n.htm?csp=34news[/url] [url]http://www.darwinawards.com/darwin/darwin2011-03.html[/url]

[QUOTE=gk99;44937246]Which is fine? If some dumbass wants to go and not wear the proper safety equipment, it's not my problem. TBH I believe the same thing about seatbelts, and I guarentee I'd wear them anyway.[/QUOTE] I think the reason they're mandatory is because someone actually cares for the pants-on-head retarded people. Which isn't a bad thing.

[QUOTE=gk99;44937246]Which is fine? If some dumbass wants to go and not wear the proper safety equipment, it's not my problem. TBH I believe the same thing about seatbelts, and I guarentee I'd wear them anyway.[/QUOTE] So people who hit them can feel terrible for the rest of their lives knowing they severely injured or killed another human being?

I never used a helmet when riding a bike. But I did have an accident once. The helmet wouldn't have helped at all though.

[QUOTE=gk99;44937246]Which is fine? If some dumbass wants to go and not wear the proper safety equipment, it's not my problem. TBH I believe the same thing about seatbelts, and I guarentee I'd wear them anyway.[/QUOTE] As an aside, this amuses me: You can buy t-shirts like this. [img]http://inventorspot.com/files/images/seatbelt-t-shirt.jpg[/img] That's right. Some people would rather go out, spend like $15 USD, and wear an ugly-ass shirt that makes it look like they're wearing a seatbelt, rather than just fucking putting on the goddamned seatbelt. This is how important being edgy to them is.

If you don't want helmet hair, then don't ride a bike. Also is that a picture of her with helmet hair or without?

As someone who has gone over the handbars and landed on my head on my bicycle (may have fractured my skull had it not been for the helmet), she can go screw off. Laws for safety are not there for any reason save for that of safety. She would be far better off trying to design headgear for women which provide protection and allow for hairstyles to be maintained. Seriously, this is one of the stupidest protests I have heard, and I can't stress that enough. Furthermore, I think helmets are even more important given how many inexperienced bikers can be on the road. I have nothing wrong when they are experienced or biking properly, but it is a different story for someone who hasn't even put the time in to learn about riding a bike on a road. [editline]28th May 2014[/editline] This is actually aggravating me.

That's like saying seat belt laws deter women from driving because breasts. [editline]28th May 2014[/editline] Also, holy fuck, this kind of pettiness of "I won't wear a helmet because my hair!!!" is typically reserved for comedy and exaggerative satire. And here we are, where it's an actual case, and she believes it's [I]legitimate enough[/I] to protest.

[QUOTE=Elspin;44937221]Is her hair casting dark magic in that photo or did they edit it for some reason?[/QUOTE] It's a poorly-placed rim-light. Usually it adds a little white edge along the subject's hair/shoulders, and helps the person pop out from the background. But because her hair's so frizzy, and because the light was placed [i]below[/i] her instead of [i]above[/i] her, the lighting is all blown-out and caught only by her hair.

Top 3 Countries with most bikes per capita: Netherlands, Denmark, Germany Helmet laws in aforementioned countries: None

You know what would mess up your hair more than a helmet? Concrete to the skull.