cyclist insurance is not) to the cyclist's property and their medical bills as long as 1) the cyclist did not intentionally crash into the motor vehicle, and 2) the cyclist was not in error in some way. If the cyclist was in error, as long as the collision was still unintentional, the motorist's insurance must still pay half of the damages — though this doesn't apply if the cyclist is under 14 years of age, in which case the motorist must pay full damages. If it can be proved that a cyclist intended to collide with the car, then the cyclist must pay the damages (or his/her parents in the case of a minor.) No compulsory bicycle helmet laws. In the Netherlands, bicycle helmets are not commonly worn; they are mostly used by young children and the extremely few road cyclists and mountain bikers there who ride road bikes or mountain bikes. In fact, the Dutch Fietsersbond (Cyclists' Union) summarized existing evidence and concluded that, for normal, slow, everyday cycling (i.e. not road cycling), a compulsory helmet law would have a negative impact on population health. Cycling and environmental sustainability Through higher use of bikes and lower usage of cars and public transportation, the Dutch lower their ecological footprint and help the environment. Bike usage significantly lowers fossil fuel consumption and energy per capita use, leading to less pollution and other environmental damage. Cycling culture Cycling is a symbol of Dutch culture. It has been considered a national symbol since 1920 and a very patriotic means of transportation since 1938. Bicycling is presented in Dutch qualities and civil virtues of independence, self-control, modesty and stability. Cycling has had a positive effect on tourism, people visit the Netherlands to experience its specific cycling culture. Road cycling and mountain biking is also near-universally frowned upon and disparaged. In fact, the Dutch have a widely accepted derogatory pejorative for road cyclists called "wielrenner"(wheel runner in Dutch). Health effects and the economics of cycling Cycling prevents about 6500 deaths each year, and Dutch people have half-a-year-longer life expectancy because of cycling. The health benefits correspond to more than 3% of the Dutch gross domestic product. It is confirmed that investments made in bicycle-promoting policies (e.g., improved bicycle infrastructure and facilities) will likely yield a high cost–benefit ratio in the long term. Very slow bicycles and equipment The long-standing bike culture has meant that most