Sunday, August 22, 2010

Fast as the Wind


Fast as the Wind
Photo & Text © 2010 Kim- Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved; no use, alteration, reproduction or republishing in any media.
Prior to last May I might not have seen pedicab drivers like this guy wearing a helmet. . .nor the majority of bike messengers I've photographed as they hustle around town, either. King County issued new helmet regulations in May. A lot of cities have apparently been caught off guard by how rapidly pedicab services are growing nation-wide. In the past two years, accidents involving pedicabs and cars in Seattle, New York, San Diego and elsewhere have resulted in fatalities or severe injury to passengers and pedicab drivers, so cities and counties have been trying to determine what appropriate business regulations for public safety might be needed. With our hills, rain, narrow streets and downtown traffic, it seems very wise for all cyclists to don helmets, but I get it that some pros have looked at it differently and that regulations have a big impact on small service businesses. It's just that so many of my cycling friends and even my bike commuter husband have been hit or, for whatever unexpected reason. . .a car door opened, a car driver turned into or in front of them, road debris. . ., found themselves flying through the air ass over teakettle and landed on their head--thankfully with their helmets lessening their head trauma and sparing their lives. When it's your job to ride like the wind all day like this guy, it's something to take seriously.

8 comments:

Dawning Inspiration said...

Helmets all the way!!! ;o)

Randy said...

Nice photo. The blur gives a great sense of speed.

Kate said...

Helmet regulations always intrique me because of the frequent resistance and controversy surrounding them. I'm all for protecting the riders, whether it's a cycle or a motorcycle or scooter. What I find most interesting is that European cyclists don't seem to wear them as we do. For years I've been visiting a Copenhagen blog that is devoted to taking photos of bike riders, a fascinating blog because of the clothes the riders wear and the bicycle models; not once, however, have I seen any rider wearing a helmet.

Oakland Daily Photo said...

I'd be wanting to wear full body armor too, to prevent road rash. But I guess that would likely make your customers think twice about getting into the cab.

Pat said...

I can't help but think of all the cyclists and motorcyclists, and come to think of it, motorized rickshaw drivers I saw in India in masses of traffic. The majority don't wear helmets, and it's scary.....

Very good photo here!

Maya said...

I think it's a good idea. But, then, I'm all about rules. I guess that is why Switzerland appeals to me! ;)

Stefan Jansson said...

Blurred to perfection!

Kim said...

I'm thinking the US fascination with litigation drives this train. In France when I asked to borrow a helmet when I rented a bike there, the business owner explained the difference in legal perspective there. It is commonly excepted that people ride at their own risk and are responsible for their own choices...the society is not on the whole lawsuit happy like (his take) in the USA and the government doesn't step in to protect people from their own choices. Probably the same my visiting friend could pay a French doctor $40 to come to where he was staying when he was sick and don't need to go through an insurance system. :-) -Kim