I CANNOT work out why - apart from his well-known blind prejudice against cyclists - Mike Usherwood tut-tuts at Paul Hepworth for being pictured cycling without a helmet.
There is no law compelling cyclists to wear helmets, and the balance of evidence is that helmets do nothing to make cycling safer.
In Denmark and the Netherlands (the world's safest countries for cycling) helmets are virtually unknown.
Why, I ask, should Paul wear a helmet?
Perhaps Mike is trying to suggest that Paul is setting a bad example to the next generation of cyclists? At least Paul, as pictured bringing up the rear of the York Rally parade, is getting on his bike and doing his bit to show our increasingly-sedentary, overweight population that cycling is fun, life-enhancing, life-extending and green.
When Mike gets out of his car and does the same I shall think a little more of him - and I shall respect his personal choice over whether he does, or does not, wear a helmet.
Adrian Setter,
Barnfield Way,
York.
Updated: 09:17 Thursday, October 21, 2004
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