This article argues against mandatory helmet laws for cyclists. While helmets are effective at preventing head injuries for children, laws requiring all cyclists to wear helmets can have unintended negative consequences. Countries with mandatory helmet laws have seen fewer cyclists on the roads and less time spent cycling. However, cities like Amsterdam that have invested in bike lanes and encouraged a cycling culture have very high rates of cycling without mandatory helmet laws and few cycling injuries. The article concludes that Canadians should not be burdened by mandatory helmet laws that have little safety benefit and may discourage cycling.

1. “Mandatory helmet laws not all they’re cracked up
to be” by Vivian Scinto, June 20, 2012
http://www.northernlife.ca/news/editorial/21-editorial-mandatory-helmet-laws-sudbury.aspx
Multimodal Paraphrase/Summary by Lynn Boulanger
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/01/23/video-undefined-24F9E6E500000578-
335_636x358.jpg

2. Morgu
e
Paragraph 1
Expert opinion -
counterargument
Helmets for all cyclists should be the
law.
https://thebovine.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/hazel-bike250.jpg

3. http://www.catster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/600px-cat-peering-at-computer-screen.jpg
Hmm…helmet laws may not be the
best way to prevent harm for
everyone
Statistics
?
Paragraphs 2-3
http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2013-11-06-tricycle.jpg
Helmets do protect children

4. http://www.northernlife.ca/news/sports/2010/08/shareroad-110810.aspx
There are problems using laws to enforce wearing a
helmet.
Expert opinion
(claim)
Paragraph 4

5. Effects
Statistic
s
Paragraphs 5-
New
Zealand
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
1994 Law Enacted 2009
% Cyclists Helmet Protection

6. Effects
Paragraphs
https://d2v9y0dukr6mq2.cloudfront.net/video/thumbnail/NYb7kUs2eilnatqf0/aerial-view-busy-highway-shanghai-infrastructure-suspended-freeway-car-pass-icon_slfel7e__F0000.png
Indestructible
Indestructible Helmet use

7. http://www.northernlife.ca/news/sports/2010/08/shareroad-110810.aspx
There are better solutions for preventing harm...
Expert opinion
Paragraph

8. Paragraph 9-10
Amsterdam
https://tedbike.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/img_5796.jpg
https://nationalpostcom.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/king-streetcar.jpg?w=620&h=465
Canad
a
• Very few helmet users
• Very few injuries
• More helmet users
Compariso
n/Contrast
Solutions
• Bike lanes
• Cycling Culture
• Education

9. Paragraph 11
Conclusion
There may be some safety value to compulsory helmet use,
BUT
there are more negative results
Cycling
Fitness
Demands on
Health Care
http://7-themes.com/data_images/out/72/7019761-lazy-cat.jpg
Effects
Counterargument
Refutation

10. Paragraph 12
Cycling
Polluting Cars
Health
http://earthuntouched.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/car_pollution-1728x800_c.jpg
http://f.ptcdn.info/937/011/000/1384004369
-105680x453-o.jpg
Effects
Reason
s

11. Paragraph 13
Canadians shouldn’t be burdened by a mandatory helmet law with little
safety value.
http://www.vsapartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/01_mack_id.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/85/65/c8/8565c8124c4d27d32f050fc307460cff.jpg
I’m fairly
certain this
helmet will
keep me
safe.
Author’s thesis (main
argument)