I have to say, whilst I'm not keen on personal judgements being thrown into discussions, I did laugh at the 'grass sucking jelly bandit' phrase - is this a term singularly applied to 'bent cyclists?
I think the original point was about Wiggo, and the power of his opinion on compulsion to wear safety helmets for all cyclists, and I don't think there will ever be agreement in this kind of forum.
What is more concerning is that the general population may either:
- Be distracted (by Forum discussions which meander around waffle and banality [not just here at CC, but elsewhere] and press/media vitriol against cyclists)
- Not understand the arguments either way
- settle with the loudest voices, and agree, without issue
- Wander into a generally higher level of anti-cycling abuse.
It perhaps could be good to see, by poll, what CC's collective opinion is, and that of other groups, to see if the consensus agrees or disagrees with Wiggo, and the medical fraternity.
More to the point, a concise, and well argued rebuttal regarding compulsion, and the perceived effects could be made, to show that the difference between fast, competitive cycling, and recreational cycling could be made, because I for one believe that the risks CANNOT be assimilated between these activities.