I live three kilometres away from my office. Heck, I live four kilometres away from Germany, and five kilometres away from France. But that’s not my point. My point is that I get to ride my bike to work every day, and I don’t have to wear “riding gear” and get all sweaty and stuff. I just put on my clothes for the day, a jacket, a helmet (more on this later), and ride my bike.
Everybody does it, and all drivers respect it. It’s literally a pleasure to cycle in this city, despite the trams and tracks, and the crazy uncontrolled intersections. Many intersections have no traffic lights, and no stop signs. The rule is that traffic coming from your right has the right-of-way. Simple.
So here’s a clip of my morning commute. It takes me less than ten minutes on a normal day.
Helmets are for Losers (and Daddies)
I used to rail against Canadian municipal and/or provincial laws requiring people to wear helmets while riding their bicycles. I hate it. Nothing cramps my desire to ride my bike around town like having to suffer the helmet hair. So I often brought along a cap. But that would limit my wardrobe options for a casual look. What if I wanted to ride my bike to a fancy café? Impasse.
Seriously, though, having a government babysitter is not my idea of freedom. Legislators decide that an adult citizen is not capable of making health and safety choices on their own, so the elected officials decide to force everyone to wear a helmet. Ridiculous.
People are allowed to make dangerous decisions everyday. That’s life. There’s no law saying that you can’t listen to you iPod while cycling, and in my opinion, not being able to hear the things around you is very dangerous while cycling. Prevention (i.e. not wearing an iPod) is better than dealing with consequences (i.e. having to wear a helmet because you crash while listening to your iPod).
Welcome to Europe! Helmets are not required by law here. I love it. My flowing brown locks were unleashed in the wind as I cycled along the Rhine. Freedom!
But just like visiting Amsterdam can be exciting and mind-expanding for a time, you cannot carry on like that. I realized that I have daily life and responsibilities and people relying on me to keep my grey matter intact. So now I wear a helmet on my commute.
By choice.
timmyd
Natasha (Domestica)
Damn the family legislation!! Although I have to say I am an advocate for the helmet. Too many stories of it going badly without wearing one. Too many stories of it going well for having one on. Even in the face of fashion the helmet wins.
The music was awesome by the way!
LOL, speed up it looks crazy
Thank you for keeping your “grey matter” all in one place for us.
That face looks so much like Jack’s! I loved the tunes you put on here..haha..I agree with Tasha, thanks for keeping the grey matter where it belongs. :F
Man… you are going way too fast. Kidding aside though I only grew used to wearing a helmet from mountain biking and then having to wear one in Australia. Otherwise I would probably still go without one, apart from the fact that I am a daddy .. and therefore totally agree with you. Good move!
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