Bike-share program rides into Vancouver this weekend
Starting tomorrow (June 12), Vancouverites will have the chance to test-run a bike-share program, which has recently gained popularity in Montreal as a cheap, environmentally-friendly, and around-the-clock transit system.
From Friday to Monday (June 15), the City of Vancouver will be hosting a public bike-system demonstration along the seawall area of Science World.
I won’t go, since I have already had a chance to sample the Paris velib program, so I am already a convert! But one thing we will need to sort out is how is this program going to deal with the requirements of the helmet law? They are not needed in Paris – and thanks to the chain cover you do not even need bicycle clips on your trousers. Just get on and go. I also suspect that the costs of vandalism will be high here too.
Stephen Rees's blog 
The easy way to deal with the helmet law is to repeal it.
Christopher Cotrell
June 12, 2009 at 8:43 am
But the City of Vancouver cannot do that. For the demo they will only allow people with helmets to take bikes – but of course that won’t be possible if it is introduced here. I suspect we will see the VPD do another of its “crackdowns” on cyclists – the City will post notices advising users oft he system that they must provide a helmet and the VPD will very so often hand out a few tickets. And the effect will be to upset a few tourists unused to our peculiar ways
Stephen Rees
June 12, 2009 at 8:58 am
While the law requiring helmets is at the provincial level, isn’t the bylaw giving fines at the city level? Is it not possible for the city to repeal that, or perhaps lower the fine to something so absurdly low that the police wouldn’t bother enforcing it?
(I don’t actually believe this is politically feasible, mind you–no amount of statistics on how safe cycling is, or how much the benefit of the exercise outweighs the risk of cycling with or without a helmet, is going to convince the general public that cycling isn’t horrifically dangerous and thus requires helmets which are designed to protect against minor injury. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth trying to start the discussion.)
Christopher Cotrell
June 12, 2009 at 9:03 am
Actually, the city can on paths such as the Seawall. The provincial helmet law only applies to roads.
Richard
June 12, 2009 at 10:14 am
Everyone should absolutely be required to wear a helmet. Whenever I see a cyclist making their way across the Granville or Burrard street bridge without a helmet it makes me cringe. Don’t play russian roulette with your life, wear a helmet !
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