Wearing safety gear is not an etiquette/luxury/poser charm its a habit; and like all habits that start young, they seldom die. Most of the times, we have grown up hearing tales about biking from family and friends that have shaped many of us. Statements like Helmets make you bald, Helmets can make you deaf, never use the front brake else you will fall, always raise the throttle when you start the bike so that it gets hot and so on...
Today with more and more exposure to biking as lifestyle and leisure sport, we are more aware of safety than our earlier generations. Thankfully, my family promoted safe biking from the time that I had a two wheeler in my hand. I used to ride to my college on a Bajaj Sunny with Studds RB2 Helmet, Nike thick Jacket and Leather gloves. People used to laugh at this but who cares...after all, its my call.
Printing a booklet may not be the ultimate solution. I feel that the change has to happen within us and we have to propogate it as much as we can. If each xBhpian convinces atleast two to five other bike riders to wear helmets(at least), it would be a remarkable achievement. Like all projects, this one must have a specific goal and a completion period.
@Sunny: Why not have a drive where xBhpians convince their near and dear ones, friends, acquaintances, neighbors, etc to wear safety gear; at least a helmet. Each convinced member can then spread it around later in the same way thus forming a web. Workshops can be held by experienced xBhpians in each city to demonstrate the benefits of having safety gear.
I am sure that if this generation is an educated one, they shall definitely promote better safety and riding etiquettes in the future generation.
__________________
Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and then beat you with experience.
|