"The undersigned call on the Women's Institute to reject Resolution 6
calling for compulsory helmet laws and to focus instead on creating conditions
in which all members of society will feel safe and comfortable riding a
bicycle" link
At the time of writing, this statement has been signed by 750 people. It is
addressed to The National Federation of Women's Institutes (WI) by the
Cycling Embassy of Great Britain. The WI have a
shortlist of 6 suggestions, one of which could form the basis of a WI national
campaign if its local federations and annual conference agrees. Each
shortlisted proposal is to be discussed locally and nationally. A summary of
the WI's procedure is here: http://www.thewi.org.uk/standard.aspx?id=26942
A bit of publicity for a cherished cause is
no bad thing. But the signatories to the Cycling Embassy petition seem to me to be doing
something a bit silly. For one thing, the WI is a voluntary organisation who
have their own democratic procedures. They decide things for themselves. They
have provided a briefing for members that is even-handed about the pros and
cons of each proposal, with evidence that they have made efforts to find out
about the views of interested parties (including the CTC) and to let members
know about these.
At this stage, the idea that another voluntary organisation can petition a body that has not yet made a democratic decision is
one that I don't understand. A petition, in normal use, is a word that refers
to a demand or request made by a group of signatories to a recognised authority
who have the power to accede to the demand or request. In this case the WI is not a recognised authority. The WI might have influence, but it is not a statutory body and in any case, they haven't finished deciding what to do.
Sending them a petition is just a gimmick – a publicity attracting device.
The Cycling Embassy of Great Britain has just
got itself into a muddle here. They and those who are signing its petition are
making themselves look a bit daft. (sadly, adding an ounce or two to the
public perception of cyclists as a bit eccentric). A voluntary association with
a specific interest has every right to campaign on whatever it wants to
campaign on - calling on another voluntary association to stop a process that
would lead to a campaign the Cycling Embassy doesn't like reveals a fairly
worrying lack of understanding of democratic processes.
To put it more simply the Cycling
Embassy of Great Britain, if it wants to, should campaign against compulsory
helmets for cyclists. The Cycling Embassy of Great Britain, if it wants to, can
publish opinions about the WI and one of the WI's membership-generated
proposals (even though it has not yet been accepted). But in my opinion The Cycling Embassy of
Great Britain should not put itself or its supporters in the non-democratic
position of calling on a voluntary association not to mount a campaign. They are meddling in someone else's affairs.
Sorry, I have to say The Cycling Embassy of
Great Britain and the 750 "petitioners" have put themselves in a
wrong place.
I do, incidentally, agree that compulsory
helmet legislation would be a bad idea. As far as I understand it there is good
evidence that segregated provision improves safety and that there is no equivalent
evidence that compulsion to wear helmets changes the likelihood of casualties.
Please let me know if I'm wrong on either of those points. They are, however,
nothing to do with what I am saying about the folly of this petition.
