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He makes a little loose, that bicycle helmet. After traffic minister Barry Madlener (PVV) started a campaign last Wednesday for setting up main protection when cycling, something of a national debate actually burst over the usefulness and necessity of the helmet. « Put it on, » it suddenly sounds in the Netherlands, traditionally not really a bicycle helmet-friendly country.

The call from Madlener, supported by doctors, apparently becomes a chord. After a reader’s call we received many dozens of comments submitted and many more on social media, of which only a small part is below. To be honest, it doesn’t seem like Madlener immediately forced a change with his campaign. ‘Fiet professor’ Marco in Brömmelstroet registered earlier this week NRC That the bicycle helmet actually distracts from the real problem: decreasing road safety due to wrong policy that continues the car and other dangerous means of transport above cyclists and pedestrians. « After the flood disaster, the Netherlands did not proceed to distribute swimming jackets, but made every effort to win the battle with the water, » he wrote.

Tackle the system instead of individuals being saddled with buying and wearing a helmet, it also sounded a lot in our mailbox. But it is clearly a split mushroom. Because what if helmeting is of injury, if the victims occur: is the helmet really different from a seat belt? If you do something together, it will also be a system solution, right? Anyway, such an apparently small change loosens great feelings: those who want to change the bicycle culture wants to change the Dutchman – and that is not easy, it turns out again.

Wouter van Noort Chef Opinion

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