Bikes, Helmets, and Public Health: Decision-Making When Goods Collide

How ought public officials address policy choices that entail trade-offs between desirable public health goods? Increasing cycling improves public health both by promoting physical activity and by decreasing vehicle use, thus reducing vehicular emissions. Proponents of bicycle helmets argue that, us...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of public health (1971) 2014-06, Vol.104 (6), p.986-992
Main Author: BATEMAN-HOUSE, Alison
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bicycling
Bicycling - injuries
Bicycling - legislation & jurisprudence
Biological and medical sciences
Case studies
Craniocerebral Trauma - etiology
Craniocerebral Trauma - prevention & control
Debates
Decision making
Ethics
Fatalities
General aspects
Government
Government, Law, and Public Health Practice
Head Protective Devices
Health Policy
Health Promotion - methods
Helmets
Humans
Mandatory Programs
Mayors
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous
New York City
Policy Making
Public health
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Public officials
Public Policy
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Description
Summary:How ought public officials address policy choices that entail trade-offs between desirable public health goods? Increasing cycling improves public health both by promoting physical activity and by decreasing vehicle use, thus reducing vehicular emissions. Proponents of bicycle helmets argue that, used properly, they protect individual cyclists; however, there is concern that mandating helmet use may result in a decrease in cycling. In 2012, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg opposed a bicycle helmet mandate, concerned that it would have a negative impact on the city's cycling rate, which he had sought to increase. The mayor did not explain his rationale, leaving constituents unsure why he opposed the proposal. This case study underscores the challenge of creating public policy in the context of competing public health goods.
ISSN:0090-0036
1541-0048
DOI:10.2105/AJPH.2013.301810