Oak Bay police are combining the carrot and the stick to get cyclists to strap on helmets. It鈥檚 an experiment worth watching.
Bicycle helmets are required under sa国际传媒 law, but everyone has seen riders who thumb their noses at the rules, cruising down busy streets with nothing on top but an occasional hat.
Many studies have shown the value of bike helmets; one from Ontario last year found that those without helmets were three times more likely to die of brain trauma than those who wore helmets. Regardless of whether you find the statistics convincing, if you don鈥檛 have a helmet, Oak Bay police will fine you $29.
The plan, devised by Const. Rick Anthony, is to hand unhelmeted cyclists a ticket, but give them an out. They can take the ticket to one of two Oak Bay shops and get a 10 per cent discount on the purchase of a helmet. Then they take the proof of purchase to the police station, and the department will waive the fine.
The experiment will run for about three months so the police can evaluate whether it鈥檚 working. It鈥檚 likely that at least some cyclists will never bend to the law.
Other cities around North America have tried incentives, but they usually involve handing out coupons for toys or fast food or a chance to win a bicycle to people who are wearing helmets.
Oak Bay鈥檚 scheme targets the scofflaws, not the people who are already following the rules, and that makes sense. Reinforcing good behaviour is worthwhile, but changing bad behaviour is worth more.
