A reader writes:
In the photo labeled, "Another dad picking up the kids after work" (in Amsterdam), you'll note that the kids are not wearing helmets, as would be required in this country. Meaning that Holland is less of a nanny state than the US.
According to Wikipedia:
The following countries have mandatory helmet laws, in at least one jurisdiction, for either minors only, or for all riders: Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Iceland, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United States. In the U.S. 37 states have mandatory helmet laws,[110] and nearly 9 in 10 adults support helmet laws for children.[111]
Although the link is not causal, it is observed that the countries with the best cycle safety records (Denmark and the Netherlands) have among the lowest levels of helmet use.[113] Their bicycle safety record is generally attributed to public awareness and understanding of cyclists, safety in numbers, education, and to some extent separation from motor traffic.
The Dish 