The Netherlands has over 81400 km of cycling roads and 18 million bicycles ( http://www.fietsplatform.nl/public/Samen...nitief.pdf sorry it is in Dutch). Amsterdam alone has 400km of cycling roads, and roughly 40% of all above ground travel is done on bicycle there ( http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/visiting/th...do/cycling ).
As a consequence, the amount of traffic injuries and deaths related are the second highest amongst bicyclists and only more amongst automobile crashes (http://www.swov.nl/rapport/Factsheets/NL...offers.pdf again in Dutch, sorry just look for fiets which means bicycle). In the period from 2004 till 2009 every method of transport has seen a decline in injuries and fatalities in traffic, except bicycles who have seen an increase.
Bicycle helmets are not mandatory in our country but they are highly recommended and there has been talk about making these helmets mandatory for years now. Given that moped drivers are required to wear helmets and their injury and fatality rate in comparison even in percentage to the rest is much lower, I'd say such a law has merit.
As a consequence, the amount of traffic injuries and deaths related are the second highest amongst bicyclists and only more amongst automobile crashes (http://www.swov.nl/rapport/Factsheets/NL...offers.pdf again in Dutch, sorry just look for fiets which means bicycle). In the period from 2004 till 2009 every method of transport has seen a decline in injuries and fatalities in traffic, except bicycles who have seen an increase.
Bicycle helmets are not mandatory in our country but they are highly recommended and there has been talk about making these helmets mandatory for years now. Given that moped drivers are required to wear helmets and their injury and fatality rate in comparison even in percentage to the rest is much lower, I'd say such a law has merit.
Best regards,
Leo van Miert
Horsepower is how hard you hit the wall --Torque is how far you take the wall with you
Leo van Miert
Horsepower is how hard you hit the wall --Torque is how far you take the wall with you
