Letter - Author Reply

Abstract

Our finding that one in five respondents (22.6%) said they would cycle more if they didn?t have to wear helmets is significant, because if even half these people did cycle more, it could substantially increase the prevalence of cycling. For Olivier et al. to challenge that bicycle helmet legislation is a barrier to more people cycling is counter to all the available evidence. As stated in our article,1 when legislation was introduced in Australia cycling levels fell by 30-40%, and the same phenomenon was observed in New Zealand in 1994. A recent national survey found one in six people reported helmets as a barrier to more cycling.