BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Persons in Barbados riding a bicycle will now have to wear a helmet according to amendments to Barbados' Road Traffic Regulations. These amendments were made last December.
The DLP Government has rushed a few pieces of legislation over the past few months of its governance which will no doubt be a burden on the poor coming just before resolution of the parliament, and the calling of the general elections of 2018.
Amendments to the Barbados Road Traffic Amendment Regulations 2017 includes insertion of regulations 117A and 117B.
(1) No person shall ride a bicycle on a road or on a highway unless that person is a wearing a bicycle helmet and the chin strap of the helmet is securely fastened under the wearer's chin.
(2) No parent or guardian of a person under the age of 16 years shall authorised or knowingly permit that person to ride on or operate a bicycle on a road or on a highway unless that person is wearing a bicycle helmet in accordance with paragraph (1).
(3) A person who contravenes this regulation is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $300.00.
Requring that a helmet be worned for the ordinary man in order to ride a bicycle will be cumbersome and stupid. It is a law put in place by a person I suspect who does not ride a bicycle on a regular basis, nor has relied on research in making such a determination. It might have been put in place to reduce the amount of bicycles on our roads and highways so persons who ride comfortably in their SUVs will not have to wait on a cyclist.
Why this sudden concern for bicycles and yet no concern for a driver who might be driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Where is the breathalyzer testing to catch those in the SUVs who can be a danger to self, and others on the roads and highways of Barbados?
It is understood that those who are involved in racing or mountain-biking competitions should be required to wear a helmet, but someone on a bicycle riding for pleasure, or for transport due to the poor public transport system in Barbados under Mr. Michael Lashley, minister of Transport, is ludicris.
Yes, persons should be encouraged to wear a helmet, but to make it compulsory is a bit too much. The educational system in Barbados clearly is not working.
How many people suffer head injuries in Barbados per year while riding a bicycle. I am convinced any such number will be quite small, or does not exist at all, and if so if chiefly as a result of carelessness.
We do not manufacture helmets in Barbados. Do we really need to spend more foreign exchange on something that is not a problem for cyclists?
Our politicians continue to drain the foreign reserves of this island through poor spending and requests, while seeking to compensate through taxes and privatization.
Our politicians continue to tax us unmercifully and then expect us to follow what some first world countries are doing. Even in the UK, Germany, Hong Kong, and within some states of the US, a helmet is not required to ride a bicycle.
The government in Barbados has decided to expense/tax/fine the poor in requiring them to buy helmets, and in so doing reduce the amount of bicycles on our roads and highways.
This law will not affect the politicians and other well-to-do persons as they have vehicles to get from point A to point B, and monies to pay subscription fees to gyms.
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