ECF is not against helmets, but against mandatory helmet laws and shock-horror helmet promotions because:
• They discourage cycling by portraying it as abnormally dangerous-you are less likely to be killed in a mile of cycling than a mile of walking.
• Injured cyclists are less likely to have head injuries than injured pedestrians or car occupants (ONISR 2005).
• They portray bicycle helmets as offering far more protection than they do-bicycle helmets are only designed to withstand minor knocks and bumps, not being hit by motor vehicles.
• Countries that have penalised people for normal cycling (without helmets), have failed to reduce head injury rates despite increased helmet wearing rates.
• The health benefits of cycling far outweigh the injury risks.
• Reduced cycling reduces health and environmental benefits.
• Reduced cycling reduces Safety in Numbers, thus increasing the risk of injury to remaining cyclists.

The ECF Helmet Working Group is building this page to help ECF member organisations stop the dangerisation of cycling through helmet promotions and the threat of mandatory cycle helmet laws. Shock-horror helmet promotions are countering the good work of ECF members to promote cycling as a healthy and safe way to travel. All representatives of ECF member organisations are invited to join this group by emailing Dr. Randy Rzewnicki at: randy@ecf.com