https://seattlebikeblog.com/2011/08/24/bike-sharing-is-coming-to-the-northwest-but-seattles-helmet-laws-get-in-the-way/
Arguments:
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Cities with successful bike sharing programs exempt helmet requirement
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Melbourne is the only city with a helmet requirement + only city with unsuccesful bike-sharing
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There is no consensus that Helmets statistically save more lives than no-helmets
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Bike-share programs have very few to no fatalities: Bike-sharing saves lives.
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A Richmond ByLaw could exempt helmet requirement for just the bike-share program: precedent in Vancouver for pedicabs works: zero head injuries for drivers and passengers after 12 year. Exemptions are common for exemptions for people with religious objections (it’s hard to put a helmet over a turban), children on tricycles, and people with big heads.
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Also the existing bylaw could reduce the penalties for any cyclist not wearing helmets and/or only enforce if another offence has occured