A Sikh motorcycle club is pushing for helmets to be made exempt for riders so they won’t have to remove their turbans before getting on their bikes.
The Sydney-based Singhs Social Motorcycle Club, which has 30 members, is hoping an exemption could be made for religious reasons.
One of the club’s founders, Mavleen Singh Dhir, 37, said the push was bigger than just wanting riders to go helmet-free.
‘Turbans are a symbol of freedom and equality in our religion,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
The Sydney-based Singhs Social Motorcycle Club, which has 30 members, is hoping an exemption could be made under religious reasons so riders can wear their turbans without having to wear a helmet
Sikhs can ride a motorbike without a helmet in New Zealand if they travel no more than 50km/h.
When asked if his club had a set speed in mind for helmets to be exempt, Mr Dhir said it would be impossible to have police monitoring how fast every turbaned rider was going.
‘However, inexperienced drivers should not be given these freedoms,’ he said.
‘L-platers and P-platers shouldn’t be given the exemption.’
![One of the founders of the club, Mavleen Singh Dhir, 37, said the push was bigger than just wanting riders to go helmet-free](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/07/11/00/60111269-10993789-image-a-9_1657496688617.jpg)
One of the founders of the club, Mavleen Singh Dhir, 37, said the push was bigger than just wanting riders to go helmet-free
![Mr Dhir said it took up to 15 minutes to put the turban on correctly](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/07/11/00/60111259-10993789-image-a-10_1657496692382.jpg)
Mr Dhir said it took up to 15 minutes to put the turban on correctly
Mr Dhir stressed that not wearing a helmet would be a ‘personal choice’.
‘It’s an option, not a mandate,’ he said.
‘Can any helmet company guarantee they won’t stop serious injury or death? It’s a freedom of choice and citizens should be trusted with what they’re doing.’
![The group are hoping Sikh riders will be exempt from having to wear helmets](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/07/11/00/60111271-10993789-image-a-11_1657496696865.jpg)
The group are hoping Sikh riders will be exempt from having to wear helmets
![The group recently rode down to Canberra where they spoke about the Sikh contribution to World War I](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/07/11/00/60111265-10993789-image-a-12_1657496701277.jpg)
The group recently rode down to Canberra where they spoke about the Sikh contribution to World War I
He said it takes up to 15 minutes to put the turban on, which has six metres of fabric.
‘We are pushing for this not just for the motorcycles. It’s more to do with freedom of choice,’ he said, adding that Sikh soldiers in Gallipoli didn’t wear helmets.
‘When I’m wearing that turban, I have that sense of responsibility, it won’t allow me to do anything wrong. I have to treat everyone equal.’
The Australian chapter of the SSMC was founded in April last year.
Since then, the group has dedicated themselves to supporting the community by helping those affected by floods and feeding the homeless.
They’ve also worked to raise awareness about endangered animals such as koalas, while they recently organised a ride to Canberra to speak about the contribution of Sikhs in World War I.
Mr Dhir isn’t alone in wanting turban riders to choose to wear a helmet or not.
Amar Singh, the president of Turbans 4 Australia, said he was one of many Sikhs who felt discriminated by laws in NSW making helmets compulsory for motorcyclists.
![The group has about 30 members since it was founded in April last year](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/07/11/00/60111275-10993789-image-m-18_1657496858656.jpg)
The group has about 30 members since it was founded in April last year
‘It is a bit upsetting that I can’t ride my motorbike. I love riding bikes. I used to ride them a lot overseas,’ the transport manager told Daily Mail Australia in 2019.
He also said compulsory hard hats on construction sites was another issue for the Sikh community.
‘I’m not in favour of breaking any laws, which is why I’ve chosen not to ride my bike,’ the president of Turbans 4 Australia said.
‘But the Government should be fairer to the people of the Sikh community and allow us to be exempted from helmet and hard hat laws.
‘Wearing the turban is a matter of faith and being Australian is about being fair for everyone else.’
Sikhs who have resorted to removing their turban to wear a hard hat say the process takes about 10-15 minutes.
‘Your hair is often all over the place. Productivity loss is a big thing,’ Mr Singh said.
Sikhs do not cut their hair as a sign of respect for God and the turban is referred to a ‘special crown’.
Meanwhile, for bicycle riders in Victoria, the ACT, Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia, people can be exempt from wearing a helmet under religious reasons.
NSW offers no exemptions for helmets on push bikes, while in the Northern Territory, the head coverings are only mandatory for adults on roads. Those aged 17 and under must wear them on footpaths and in other public places.
![Mr Dhir said the decision not to wear a helmet would be a 'personal choice'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/07/11/00/60111261-10993789-image-m-20_1657496915982.jpg)
Mr Dhir said the decision not to wear a helmet would be a ‘personal choice’
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