Hi John, do you discuss how the current bike "sharing" programs in various US cities get away with not providing helmets?  We've been brainwashed (pun intended) for so many years about the importance of wearing helmets while biking, and suddenly wearing helmets isn't important?  Because bikesharing is sexy or environmentally sound?  So environmentalism trumps safety?  This is pretty clearly a public policy issue.  Does it resonate with the lack of correct risk perception among the populace?  Reduce global warming by one micronanosecond, bonk your head, and die?  Thanks
Marc Brenman
mbrenman001@comcast.net

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From: "John Pucher" <johnpucher@gmail.com>
To: h+t--friends@ryoko.chrispy.net
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2012 12:10:21 PM
Subject: [H+T--Friends] public health impacts of cycling examined in book by MIT Press, "City Cycling", Oct 2012

Some of you might be interested in the new book that MIT Press published this past October, "City Cycling," which deals with a wide range of issues such as cycling infrastructure, women and cycling, children and cycling, cycling in cities of different sizes, bicycle technology, etc. But above all, for this TRB Subcommittee on Health and Transportation, there are two chapters that might be of special interest: Chapter 3 on the physical, social and mental health benefits of cycling (by three Australian public health professors, Jan Garrard, Chris Rissel, and Adrian Bauman); and Chapter 7 on cycling safety (by public health experts Peter Jacobsen and Harry Rutter). Several of the other chapters also deal with public health issues, especially the issue of cycling safety, which is a key determinant of cycling levels among women, children, and seniors, in particular. Chapter 6 on cycling infrastructure finds that physically separated cycle tracks (protected bike lanes) and off-street bikeways are the best approach to attracting more women, children and seniors to cycling. More details about the book can be found at: http://citycyclingbook.wordpress.com/
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Wishing you a winter warmed by the love of family and friends!   

Prof. John Pucher, Rutgers University


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