TRANSPORT IMPACTS

Well, we have “ride to work day”.  Thats pretty cool, it get’s new people to start cycling, work mates can encourage you along and you get free food.  But I reckon we need another day.  You might think it’s a bit crazy but I think it could be fun and informative.

Introducing …… ”Helmet Day” – a day when everyone (and not just cyclists) get to look “silly” as they wear all the safety gear they can think of to protect them against the dangers on the road. 

Road unsafety is a HUGE problem which is dealt with by little campaigns, laws or cultural norms which barely make a ripple in our sea of car “accidents” and pedestrians being run over.  Advances in medical response and care have been more important in reducing road fatalities than almost any road safety initiative.  But we can’t rely on our healthcare system to keep this up (as they have problems of their own).  We want to stop the damage before a hospital is needed, before a seatbelt is needed, before a crumple zone is needed, before an ABS type braking system is needed, before separated bicycle paths are needed, in fact where possible – before a car is “needed”. 

We need to look at what is doing the damage and reduce it – sounds simple enough.  First you need to ask

Do I need to travel?

then ……. 

Do I need to travel THAT far?

then……..

What is the form of transport I could take which would reduces my possibility of my vehicle hitting someone or the one which causes the least damage to someone if I “accidently” hit them?

then………

If I NEED to take a car, what is the type of car I could take which would cause the least amount of damage to someone if I “accidently” hit them?

then ………..

How do I conduct myself to limit the possibility and severity of hitting someone? 

Do some research if you have to – and you’ll be saving hospital beds.

So ”Helmet Day” is going to promote this notion, as we see everyone on the road needing to be protected against the harsh conditions which our car/truck dominated road system provides.  We can hand out information and statistics focusing on the “killers” rather than the “killed”

What do you think?

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