BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news

In a submission ahead of the publication of the UK government's Public Health White Paper - due within the next few days and which contains many favourable plugs for cycling - the British Medical Association argues for a raft of health measures, including cycle helmet compulsion. This is a massive about-face: since 1999, the BMA has argued that the health benefits of cycling outweigh all of the (comparatively low) risks. The BMA still does, but now argues the case for cycle helmet compulsion. And not just for children. Odd, but the BMA does not argue for helmet wearing by motorists yet, according to an Australian study, such a measure would prevent three times more head injuries than airbags.

Confirming that the boxed Hardrock's and Rockhopper's on its website are part of a campaign to force high-end brands to play ball, Halfords has issued a combatitive statement regarding its spat with Specialized UK. Halfords also widens the offensive to include other premium brands...

Amtel Holdings Holland N.V. - which is owned by Amtel of Russia, a rubber and chemicals group - has acquired a majority of the shares of Dutch tyre maker Vredestein Banden, a small part of Vredestein Investment Consortium, VICO NV.

Trade news will always go straight up at BikeBiz.com but there's a new news service that could be of interest...

Before Bike It! arrived, there were four kids who cycled to Crossflatts primary school in Bingley, near Bradford. Now there are forty. Bike it! is a national pilot cycling scheme which aims to encourage schoolchildren to take to two wheels. The scheme is co-ordinated by Sustrans and co-funded by the Department for Transport and the British bicycle industry via the Bike Hub levy.