DS1 being picked on for wearing a helmet when riding his scooter to school. :-(

[tortoise]

This has really annoyed me. Lots of children ride scooters or bikes to school without helmets.
I insist mine wear theirs. And now DS1 10(and DS2 7 a bit) is being picked on.

Does anyone think its worth speaking to the head and maybe adding to a newsletter that children scooting or cycling to school must wear helmets?

Off subject a little, but my parents told me I had to have a cycle helmet to go with my new bike when I was 10.

And I told them in all seriousness that if they bought one, I would take it off the very second I was out of sight and ditch it. Then they said they wouldn't get me a bike then.

And I agreed with them. I would rather have done without a bike than wear a helmet. I told them to take it back to the shops, and I would do without a present that year, and they could save the money until I was 16 and buy me a bike then, when they couldn't make me wear one.

God, I was vile

EscapeFrom:
Your teenage response is a very real issue; until recently the British Medical Association strongly opposed mandatory helmet laws, because having to wear a lid would put so many people off cycling at all. BMA agreed that the health benefits of regular cycling by X many people much outweighed the risks of going bare-headed.

There is now a raging debate going on between BMA and the Cycling Campaigning groups, because BMA has changed its position to advocate mandatory helmet laws.

In Australia they've had mandatory helmet laws for over a decade. On a per km cycled basis, the number of severe head injuries has actually increased in OZ. Many fewer people are cycling, but those that do are more likely to get themselves hurt. There are many different theories (mostly mutually compatible) about why this has happened. But the net effect is obvious: making it mandatory to wear helmets does not actually decrease the risk of injury, and yet it does enormously put people off a fitness-producing activity.

Dear Batters,

Thank you s much for your courtesy, kindness and advice.

I might try carrying an umberella to fend off pigeon poo, and hope that no-one will make comments that it is not raining.

I am however still anxious about the speeding scooters described on this thread, and wonder if you would come and be my style guide as I choose a suitable helmet. I really don't want local people laughing at me -so many are MN-ers, after all, and I could lose my reputation. I am sure they would not treat me with contempt and ridicule over the health and safety aspect, but what if my helmet didn't match my birkies?

Yours affectionatley,

Blu

Dear Blu
If you do decide to take up scooting, particularly while wearing a helmet, please could you give a date and time when I could observe this phenomenon. In the meantime I shall practise my pointing and laughing.
Very best wishes
Aloha

Message withdrawn

My dd (aged about 18months) fell in love with the trick cyclists (oh, alright, BMX riders) on the South Bank, and was jumping up and down in delight yelling 'BIKE!' and clapping. They were SO pissed off.

Dear Aloha and Batters,

Aloha, lawks, I would not dream of actually scooting, which would be far too dangerous fro me at my age. No, I am merely a pedestrain on the freeway of juvenile scooters.

Batters, thank you, pink isn't really my colour, but I would like to support your shopping trip to NY, so if you get no other offers, i'll take the slightly out of date fruit shoots.

The small bikes are so that their knees stick out at a ridiculous angle.

And because they are stunt bikes and used for riding over the top of park benches and on and off garden walls. Without helmets, obviously, as being carried into an ambulance with a helmet on is uncool.

Yours gratefully,

Blu

Dear aloha

You have just made me splutter coffee all over my keyboard. Would an umbrella have helped in this instance? (I fear a helmet would have been worse than useless...)

Yours attractively coffee-stainedly

Ellbell

On second thoughts, you have convinced me - I will try a little gentle scooting and I will definitley wear your dd's pink barbie helmet. Cod, you're so provincial.

Dear Blu
I am sorry to hear your news. It seems I have wasted several valuable minutes practising my pointing and laughing.
You won't take up scooting, and now you are refusing Batters perfectly lovely pink protective headgear. I am reluctantly drawn the conclusion that you Think Only Of Yourself.
Yours in disappointment
Aloha

In the light of recent events, I completely withdraw my previous statement, m'lud.