As more and more cyclists take to the road, the Opposition at city hall wants Montreal to make sure kids in low-income families have access to helmets. Ensemble Montréal is proposing a subsidy program similar to what already exists in the northwestern Saint-Laurent borough. That program funding bikes and equipment purchases has been so popular the borough has already reached its spending limit for the year. “The idea is in fact to allow families that usually don’t have the means to actually have access to appropriate equipment,” said Alba Zuniga Ramos, the party’s critic for active transportation and youth. Magali Bebronne, the program director at cyclist advocacy group Vélo Québec, says she welcomes the idea. She says helmets can be an added cost some families struggle to afford. They need to be replaced at least every five years, after a crash and as the child grows.
“There’s a reason why helmets are considered a temporary solution,” said Bebronne. The main reason for this is the constant growth and development that children experience throughout their childhood. The brain is especially vulnerable to injury in the case of a fall, and a helmet can offer some protection.
However, the effectiveness of helmet use in reducing head injuries is still debated. The debate surrounding helmet use in Quebec is complex and multifaceted. It involves considerations of individual autonomy, public health, and economic factors. Individual autonomy is a key concern. Some argue that individuals should have the right to make their own choices about their safety, while others believe that mandatory helmet laws are necessary to protect public health.
The INSPQ also states that wearing a helmet can significantly reduce the risk of serious head injuries, especially for children. The benefits of wearing a helmet are numerous and extend beyond just preventing head injuries. They also contribute to overall safety and well-being of cyclists.
Zuniga Ramos says the details of the motion, like how much money would be put aside, still need to be worked out. “It’s hard to put a number on the safety for children,” she said. “Different boroughs have different needs…. We do need for the administration to give at least the boroughs the opportunity to come up with these programs.” Bebronne adds that the best way to prevent cycling-related injuries is for elected officials on all sides to support more and better bike paths. “Basically, what we’re hoping is that any elected official who makes these kinds of proposals and who supports this kind of proposals will also be consistent and when it comes reallocating space in the city to create safe networks.”
A spokesperson for the City of Montreal says the administration has proved its commitment to making roads safer and that the bike helmet motion will be debated at City Hall.
