(Brought to mind by the helmet thread.)

Since a new cycle path opened, I’ve had a much safer route to work. Coupled with a sensible bike, I’ve stopped feeling the need to wear a helmet for my commute.

Map: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/To-Darlington-Town-Centre-on-the-ETC

The map shows most of my route to work, and is the route people from my part of town could use to get to the town centre. The first part is on quiet residential streets and the end is on a small road within the pedestrianised centre. The rest of the route (i.e. most of it) is on bike paths which are entirely separated from the road.

Rather than debating whether to make helmets compulsory, we should be asking why we’re not spending the £5 per person per year that this sort of facility requires.