Minister recycles bike debate

Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven might want a helmet himself after yesterday musing whether ditching the helmet law would get more people on to bicycles.

Speaking at a New Zealand Traffic Institute forum in Wellington, Duynhoven raised the issue of helmets dissuading more people from cycling.

He suggested more people would probably ride bikes if they did not have to wear helmets then back-tracked by saying that did not mean he supported a law change.

"I wonder if we never had helmets what our cycle population might be," he said, pointing to the high number of cyclists in countries where helmets were optional.

"This is an issue, I think, for us. I'm not advocating getting rid of helmets, I'm just saying I wonder what the social effect of helmets has been."

Bicycle helmets were made compulsory in New Zealand in 1994 and had been credited with saving numerous lives.

Rebecca Oaten, who advocated for helmets to be compulsory, was "appalled" by Duynhoven's comments.

Her son, Aaron, suffered serious brain damage after a vehicle knocked him from his bike in 1986. He is now 35 and needs round-the-clock care.

Oaten, of Palmerston North, agreed more people would ride cycles if they did not have to wear a helmet "but how many of those would end up brain damaged or dead?"

She said helmets should remain entrenched in law, regardless of whether they put people off cycling. Dominion Post

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