The Total Absurdity of Bicycle Helmet Regulation
This page is translated from the original post "L’absurdité totale de la réglementation sur le port du casque à vélo" in French.
- 24/10/2024 13:18
The two-seater electric bicycle is taking over city centers, now competing with motorcycles and scooters.
In Paris by bike, we overtake cars. This is not new; Joe Dassin was already noting this in 1972 in “La Complainte de l’heure de pointe”. Half a century later, the streets of the French capital are more congested than ever, and the little queen reigns over Paname. Electric assistance has allowed for a variety of two-wheeled models, from cargo bikes to Long Tails, including the two-seater variation. It is indeed legal to transport an adult passenger on a simple bike, just as one would on any motorcycle or scooter. Well, not exactly, as it is still prohibited to carry an adult passenger on a 50cc scooter. A first absurdity… On a bike, a double seat or an approved special seat placed on the rear rack is sufficient.
Could we imagine today riding a motorcycle or scooter without a helmet? Certainly not, it’s far too dangerous. On a bicycle, it is only mandatory for children up to 12 years old. So you might say that a scooter, even 50cc, is much faster than a bike, thus more dangerous. This is true, but it doesn’t make biking any less dangerous! The assistance of electric bikes is legally limited to 25 km/h, but even at that speed, a collision with an obstacle can be fatal. Recent news sadly proves this…
In any case, with speed limits of 30 km/h in the city, scooters, motorcycles, and bicycles travel at the same speed. It is thus considered that a cyclist with no training in road safety is less at risk than a motorized two-wheeler driver. This is simply a fact. Manufacturers are trying to promote safety awareness, but often without really emphasizing the importance of wearing a helmet.
Before criticizing all motorists simply because a tiny majority comprises idiots who do not respect cyclists, we should seriously consider the issue of safety for two-wheeled vehicle users. Wearing a helmet is not an infringement on freedom but a display of common sense. Making helmets mandatory for all cyclists would not be a scandal, unlike allowing cyclists to seriously injure themselves, or worse.
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