>>I'm a huge believer in a balance of responsibility and authority. If, as in Canada, the government is responsible for the treatment of preventable injuries, then I believe it should have the authority to take measures to increase prevention. Since there is (as I understand it) no such responsibility in the US, the government should have no authority.
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>So as cycling is more risky than driving you'd be happy to see it stopped :-)

But cycling is more risky _because of_ driving. So just stop the driving and you'll see how bicycle safety figures will rise, helmet or not.