Byron Bay – the ‘non-formist’ Australian town where 4 in 5 cyclists ignore compulsory helmet laws

Australia is the case study that proves helmet laws are a bad idea. The emphasis on law enforcement shifts to fining cyclists as opposed to protection and attitudes of petrol heads just get shittier.

Its Stralia. What do you expect. We just not that bothered. Bloody winging Poms

The fact that laid-back Byron Bay can get away with cycling without helmets does not mean it can be extrapolated to other towns and cities and that was what Freestyle Cyclists were trying to do. The situation in Byron Bay is a combination of surf, sun and counter-culture in a holiday town where the pace of life is slow. In Byron Bay, bikes are seen as normal transport and are accepted as part of the landscape by motorists. That is a good thing but it is not the situation in more than a handful of communities in Australia.

For what it is worth, I used to enjoy cycling without a helmet when I was young but I just don’t know many places where it is safe now. If you could control dogs and anticipate pedestrian movements then shared user paths with a speed limit of 10 km/hr, and cycling paths, might be a case for helmetless riding but such paths exist in isolation and sooner or later bikes will end up sharing a road with motor vehicles. Freestyle Cylists might like to think that cycling as a dangerous activity is simply a perception but, unfortunately, it is a fact as hopital A&E statistics will attest to.

My opinion, obviously not shared by the anti-helmet supporters, is that as soon as a bike gets onto a road then a helmet should be worn. Lawmakers make laws that apply to the majority and their opinion, based on advice from qualified medical professionals, is that helmets decrease the risk of head injuries for cyclists.

After you've stocked up on products in Nimbin, its not a surprise you don't wear a helmet. I spent 8 weeks in the area forgetting my name.

For a place where wearing something on your feet is a rarity I can completely understand why helmets don't get a look in. Ambling around on a bike in a nice part of the world without a helmet, can't get better than that.

I guess its hard for UK readers to understand just how remarkable "utility" cycling in Byron Bay is, as it is only so in the Australian context. The experience of getting around on a bike in Australia over the past 24 years has been truly dismal for anyone not sharing the mandated helmet paradigm. Non conformity is heavily policed, and fines account for over 70% of all infringements issued to cyclists. It used to be over 90%, but after 24 years a certain level of coerced conformity generally pertains.

In this context, Byron Bay was a truly refreshing experience. While I understand where sergeant Chad George is coming from (he is after all a policemen with an expectation from the public that he will uphold the law), the reality of 80% non-conformity to helmet laws tells me that we are in a different space here.

I think the comments of Centurion 48 just serve to highlight (perhaps unintentionally) just how crazy and skewed attitudes to people on bikes are in this country. Is it really a problem if people just get around in whatever clothes on a bike, carrying surfboards and not wearing "proper cycling clothes"? I would have thought that was the very essence of a healthy cycling culture. The "club culture" Centurion talks about is all well and good, but it has nothing whatsoever to do with how most people in the rest of the world use bikes. I noticed too that there was a definite morning and evening mini rush hour for bikes - so these weren't just holidaymakers going to the beach, but regularly employed residents as well.

I'm not sure either what the relevance of the statement about cyclists killed on main roads has. We were talking about cycling in the town of Byron Bay. Personally I would not ride on the highways coming into and leaving the town - they are high speed, and clearly risky places for vulnerable road users. It is also on these roads that the majority of "club culture" cyclists ride, and of course they all wear helmets - but that's another story.

So thanks to Byron Bay for showing what most of Australia is missing out on. And for UK readers, please never ever allow the folly of mandatory helmets to happen to you. Australia has tried that, and failed to achieve anything worthwhile in doing so.

As a Londoner who has lived in and around Byron for the last 14 years, I can confirm that helmets are a rarity for those who ride around town (lycra roadies like myself excluded). Lots of people do ride in town during the warmer months, which is most of the year, but as soon as you leave the town limits, only the keen perservere. The infrastructure is appauling and some drivers are less considerate than their European brothers. Once you get beyond that though, the roads are quiet, rolling and idylic.
What really irks me about the majority of cyclists in Byron is that they salmon, at night, with no lights, wearing black, with headphones on.

"It's irresponsible to promote something that could harm people"

So car adverts are banned in Australia? Sounds good.

The report probably forgot to mention that, for a good portion of the year, said female cyclists ride wearing bikinis and no shoes. If you discount sandals or other unenclosed footwear, cyclists in Byron Bay don't wear shoes or much clothing at all.
They probably don't have lights, reflectors or functioning brakes on these 'beach bikes' that are bought and sold (and stolen) between itinerants and tourists. These people use bikes because bikes are cheap, an easy way to carry a surfboard and beach gear, and you don't burn your bare feet on the hot roads. There are a number of cycle paths to and from beach locations, which is where most of these helmetless cyclists will be found.
Cars travel slowly in Byron Bay because they are all looking for a parking spot within 50 metres of the beach. And, there are only two ways in and out of the town so traffic quickly turns into a crawl.
There is a strong cycling club culture in Byron Bay and those bike riders certainly wear helmets on club rides. They also wear proper clothing and travel on roads where the speed limit is higher. A number of cyclists have been killed on main roads and highways in the area in recent years due to inattention or tiredness of drivers.
I place zero credibility on the 'observations' of Freestyle Cyclists. There are more important cycling issues to promote in Australia than the helmet/no helmet 'debate'.

Byron bay always was a bit of a hippy free wheeling haven - good for them, stupid law in the first place.

Breaking news shocker! Cycling without foam on head discovered to be a safe activity for all.

Dutch and Danish governments are said to be consulting with their Australian counterparts to learn more about this 'safe cycling' revelation.

Stupid law is stupid, news at 11