Children and helmets

by Dermot Ryan
(Ireland)

I was surprised to see your claim that children have to wear bicycle helmets by law in Denmark. I've checked, and this does not seem to be the case. Two attempts to pass a law, in 2009 and 2012, failed.

Comments for Children and helmets

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Jul 23, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar

by: Charlie

Morten,

Your views are probably valid, but I believe that any kind of safety equipment is good for children. We recently had a young girl run over by a lorry in Aarhus. She fortunately survived, but her injuries would have been a lot worse if she did not have a helment on according to the hospital staff. I am not interested in getting into a big debate about it and this site is not about arguing those issues. You have your own sites and blogs, where people can debate it or do as they pleae. This site is to help expats acclimate to Denmark.

I have already had Mikael Colville-Andersen (supposive CEO of Copenhagenize Design Co send emails filled with profanity and slurs about the above information. Shameful that CEOs? should act like that - it is no way to promote their cause or help anyone. I do appreciate your points and have posted your comments.

Charlie

Jul 23, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Helmets are a matter of choice when cycling. Both choices normal.
by: Morten Lange

Great, that you corrected this error.

Furthermore on a _very_ closely related topic,
the page claims : "Even though it is not a law, you should wear a cycle helmet when bicycling in Denmark."

The wording should indicates that you might be pestered by the police and also that Denmark is more stringent on this than then, say European average. Not so :-)

The facts are:
* Dansk Cyklist Forbund recommend using helmets as does the fearsome and visible Traffic safety apparatus, but this needs some important context:
* Denmark is one of the safest countries to cycle in, as per international statistics.
* No official body and rarely anyone at all will pester people cycling "helmetless". Except if you are a sportive / competitive setting.
* The statistics showing Denmark to be one of the safest to cycle in also show that there are somewhat fewer killed pr thousand million kilometres cycled in the Netherlands where even fewer wear helmets.
* Numerous studies and summaries of scientific knowledge presented and utilized by the WHO, show that cycling prolongs life. People that start to cycle live longer, in spite of a somewhat higher risk of minor injuries.
* Recently the OECD published a report on cycling safety, where helmet promotion was covered but did not make it to the detailed list of safety advice.
* In spite of this, sadly, as mentioned above, the Danish Cyclists' Federation (unlike their Dutch counterpart and their common European "mother" organisation) recommend using a helmet when cycling, thus undersigning the portrayal of cycling as dangerous, as opposed to walking or driving a car (or sitting still). Driving is by the way exceptionally dangerous to others.

If you want to discuss this, you can contact me at morten7an /at\ yahoo.com or on twitter or talk to Helmet Freedom on Facebook.

Disclaimer : I am in the European Cycists' Ferderation helmet group, and I know high-profile Danes that will argue from both points of view regarding helmet promotion.

Best Regards,
Morten Lange

Jul 23, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar

by: Charlie

You are correct and it has been updated. Thanks for the heads up.

Charlie

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page!


If you found this page helpful, please give a google+ and or a facebook like at the top of the screen, so others can also find this information. Thank you.


FYI Denmark Expat Information

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Please feel free to comment on this subject

Do you have a helpful tip or comment on this subject that you would like to share? Please leave comments below.

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Ruth 
Looking to find out how to connect with TSA lost and found in Copenhagen, Denmark. Can anyone help with some information?

4000 kroner dentist bill for 13yr old 
My daughter, a Danish citizen was handed a dentist bill for over 4000 kr. We have dental insurance, and was told that our daughter can visit our dentist …

I agree with Kate, I'm still confused 
I'm also confused, the same as Kate. In the US, the number of rooms is different than the number of bedrooms in real estate. In rentals, the number …

Response to Necro. Not rated yet
It's true that you don't need the passport to cross the borders but, you do need a passport to identify your self to a police officer if they ask you.

Click here to write your own.

Quality facemasks are in high demand and hard to find. We have found these quality masks here for only 14kr. Going fast so get yours today!  Click Here.

Recent Articles

  1. Home Furnishing Shops in Denmark

    Feb 16, 24 11:10 AM

    decorativeitem
    There are many home furnishing shops in Denmark, yet not all have physical stores nor are they well known. To find the best prices ind quality, check out some of these shops

    Read More

  2. Useful Danish Phrases

    Oct 07, 21 07:28 AM

    danish language
    Learning a few useful danish phrases or words can go a long way to making your stay or visit in Denmark more enjoyable.

    Read More

  3. Aarhus Attractions

    Oct 07, 21 07:08 AM

    The number of Aarhus attractions may not be as big as Copenhagen, but there is still alot to see and do in this Danish city.

    Read More