austin skate notes

Cary Jackson, Kevin Mouton, and I spent the last six hours down at the City Council chambers listening to bicyclists present opinions regarding the mandatory bicycle helmet law proposed by ex-mayor Bruce Todd. The opening volley was tremendous. The proponents of the law had lined their top speakers up on the roster and Mayor Will Wynn shuffled things up so that after 18 pro-helmet law speakers, then 18 anti-law speakers would be able to speak.

The proponents of the helmet law basically described a littany of horrors associated with bicycle accidents and drew the conclusion that if everyone were required to wear helmets, then the health care burden would be reduced for the city supporting brain-injured citizens. Truly, the picture they painted made it sound like bicycling was the worst and most deadly form of transportation available. These people included Bruce Todd talking about the $300,000 in hospital bills he racked up from his recent cycling accident. He was followed by Scot Simmons, the brother of Gay Simmons, who was run over by two cars and killed while riding the shoulder on 360.

When the anti-helmet law people took the podium, it quickly became clear that they were almost unanimously in support of wearing helmets while bicycling, but opposed to a regulation requiring their use. The other distinction that seemed to seperate them from the helmet law supporters was that these were the hardcores. These folks are really putting into practice bicycling as an alternative mode of transportation while the previous speakers were of the weekend recreational riding ilk. Some of these riders are involved in the Yellow Bike Project and many said their bicycles are their only forms of transportation.

I went to speak at the meeting with Cary and Kevin because I want to see more people get out of their cars and ride bikes. I felt like this law would be another hinderance to this happening. It also offended me that Austin’s bicyclists are being killed by four-wheeled predators in the streets and this group of people wanted to foist the burden of addressing this problem on the victim. It’s like telling a rape victim that maybe she should wear less attractive clothes. To me, the helmet law would be a band-aid solution that still wouldn’t keep bicyclists from getting crushed by car tires. I said the city should stop marginalizing bicyclists and follow through with the 1996 commitments made by the city to develop more protected bike lanes.

Although I didn’t mention it, I was also worried that this law’s passing would grease the wheels for a similar law to be applied to Austin’s skateboarders. If this huge group of bicycle activists couldn’t defend themselves, the skate community would be dead right out of the gate.

Fortunately for Austin’s bicycling and skateboarding future, it appears the Austin City Council rejected the proposed helmet ordinance.

Here are some photos I shot at the helmet law input meeting.

UPDATE: The initial description of the council’s actions as ‘rejecting’ the proposed law may be a rushed interpretation by myself and other professional journalists. According to the League of Bicycling Voters, it is probably dead, but could be revived by a member of the city council if he or she thinks there are enough votes to support it among the council’s members. You can help demonstrate your opposition to this happening by signing this petition. Or you can write a mass email to the council members with this form.

More online coverage on this important issue is available at:

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