Interesting point. I was recently back in the US and enjoying the springlike weather. Of course that brought out the random bicyclist. All wearing helmets. Since I moved to Holland a year ago I think I've seen maybe two helmets. Bikes are a way of life over here. It is not uncommon to see a bike with four kids crawling all over it - none wearing a helmet. The other Dutch paddlers on the list can attest to this. Once you get out of the city you do see racers and others wearing them. Something like 50% of the Dutch commute by bike. How does this relate to paddling? I'm not sure. But I think it is all about perception. When I was growing up, bike helmets for kids didn't exist. And god forbid if they did and you actually wore one - that would have meant a major whopping. Same goes for seat belts. I remember coming to Europe in the early 80's and being struck by the fact that seat belts were mandatory. A few years later they were made so back in the US. Now I wouldn't think about driving without one. I bike everyday without a helmet. But biking in the US I might reconsider this (or course in Holland cars are actually aware that there are bikers). I realize that Andree was just making a point about what she hates seeing, but I think alot of this has to do with what makes us feel secure. Oh, all Dutch paddlers I've met wear PFD's. Of course, none seem to carry paddlefloats or pumps. They just don't see them as that important. -Patrick At Wednesday, 24 April 2002, Andree Hurley <ahurley_at_viewit.com> wrote: >Just like I hate to see cyclists without a helmet I hate to see paddlers >without a lifejact - it's like a seat belt. [SNIP] *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Apr 24 2002 - 02:01:29 PDT
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