In a bid to boost cycling numbers in Brisbane the city's public transport boss Adrian Schrinner has challenged Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey to make helmets optional.
On Thursday morning Cr Schrinner posted on Twitter that he was delighted with the use of Brisbane's CityCycle bike share scheme, with more than 1.9 million trips since its introduction in 2010.
![Public transport boss Adrian Schrinner says Brisbane' could benefit from voluntary helmet laws.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170629064748im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/1/2/w/a/a/4/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gx0vmg.png/1498704258407.jpg)
A reply from Melbourne PR agency MediaWise said if helmet laws were relaxed trips would soar.
"It's not rocket science, just how the rest of the world succeeds in bikeshares," the tweet said.
![Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said it was time for Brisbane City Council's public transport boss Adrian Schrinner to ...](http://web.archive.org./web/20170629064748im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/2/m/c/c/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gx0vmg.png/1498704258407.jpg)
The prompted Cr Schrinner to call on Mr Bailey to make helmets optional - starting with the CityCycle scheme.
So true! @MarkBaileyMP if you really want to boost cycling, make helmets optional & start with bike share schemes! @MayorTomTate agrees.
— Adrian Schrinner (@Schrinner) June 28, 2017
This is not the first time Cr Schrinner has called for helmets to be voluntary.
In 2016 he said helmets should not be compulsory for adult cyclists riding in low-risk environments.
Mr Bailey was quick to respond to the tweet, saying in a statement it was time for Cr Schrinner to get serious about bike infrastructure.
"You're distracting from LNP refusal to build appropriate on road CBD bike lanes like other capital cities Adrian... time to get serious," he said.
Cr Schrinner said if Mr Bailey really believed cycle infrastructure was the solution to get more people on bikes, the council should be forced to do it.
"I dare you," he said.
The Twitter debate continued to defer from the initial point about helmets and Cr Schrinner and Mr Bailey debated expenditure on cycling infrastructure.
That's pretty arrogant Adrian.. you're all talk on cycling & no go aren't you? Just deliver pro cycling infrastr like Palaszczuk Govt does
— Mark Bailey MP (@MarkBaileyMP) June 28, 2017
In Cr Schrinner's last response he told Mr Bailey any funding would be appreciated.
Any funding assistance is greatly appreciated. But we still outspend the State. Back to helmets, even a trial would be a big positive step👌🏻
— Adrian Schrinner (@Schrinner) June 28, 2017
Cr Schrinner said it was time Queensland reviewed its draconian, anti-cycling helmet laws.
"It is alarming that Minister Bailey wants to quash legitimate debate on matters like this by labelling people who question him as arrogant," he said.
"This matter is not about council versus state or political party versus party - it's about reducing congestion by boosting the uptake of cycling in Brisbane.
"Council would love to work with the state to trial optional helmet laws for CityCycle. It can be a win-win outcome.
"Part of the difficulty that Brisbane has with an uptake in convenient, short-distance cycling trips is to do with the mandatory requirement to wear helmets.
"Many people would be more inclined to use bikes and CityCycle as an active transport trip in the CBD and inner-city locations, if they were not forced to wear a helmet."
Mr Bailey said helmets saved lives and he wouldn't apologise for prioritising the safety of cyclists.
"I one-hundred per cent support bicycle helmet laws because cyclists have little to no protection in the event of a crash," he said.
"Actions speak louder than words and Cr Schrinner talks about cycling but we've seen no new investment in cycle lanes in Brisbane's CBD.
"I would be open to discussions with Cr Schrinner and BCC about how we can make it easier to cycle in the city, he just needs to pick up the phone.
"Brisbane is lagging behind other capital cities when it comes to cycling lanes in the CBD. The cycling community had been calling for this for years and BCC has been arrogantly ignoring the cycling community."
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