In a stunning announcement, Labor MK Shelly Yehimovitch introduced a new bill to repeal a law passed by the previous Knesset, which requires bicycle riders to wear helmets when traveling on public roads.According to the Israel National Center for Child Safety and Health, wearing a bicycle helmet reduces the risk of head and brain injuries by 88 percent.
The reasons given by Yehimovich and other supporters of the bill for the repeal include the following:
* Wearing a helmet is "uncomfortable"
* Wearing a helmet causes the rider to "not feel free"
* Wearing a helmet "requires dragging the helmet around"
* Wearing a helmet "interferes with hairdos"
[No, this is not taken from The Onion.]
The bill is supported by the Government and the Ministerial Committee on Legislation, and is expected to pass.
It's not just the Muqata staff which believe that MK Yehimovitch has truly lost her marbles -- safety experts have denounced the private member's bill to revoke the law requiring adults to wear helmets while biking in urban areas - just endorsed by the Ministerial Committee on Legislation - as "idiotic, amateurish and dangerous to public health." (JPost)
Actually, there's nothing to fear. MK Yehimovitch's hairdo is now safe from harm and we won't be forced to wear "uncomfortable" helmets.
The truly serious Knesset-passed safety laws remain in full force -- like those prohibiting cellphones from being used in gas stations.
hat-tip: Lurker
Going to Israel?
Now get 2 phones for the price of 1 (and free calls too) with Talk'n'Save.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
