About 25 cyclists turned out in Wellington on Saturday to protest for a change to our cycle helmet laws.

New Zealand should be ashamed of itself, says Jeremy Teague.

He is not talking about child poverty, domestic abuse, incarceration rates, or free trade agreements.

Teague is talking about cycle helmets as the organiser for Ride for Choice - a notably-sparse gathering of about 25 cyclists who rode from Civic Square in Wellington to Parliament on Saturday calling for an end to our mandatory cycle helmet rules.

TOM HUNT/STUFF Ride organiser Jeremy Teague.

The cycle helmet laws brought in 24 years ago were putting people off biking, he said.

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"As a country we should be ashamed."

TOM HUNT/STUFF A small crowd gathered in Wellington on Saturday to call for a change to New Zealand's cycle helmet laws.

Teague believed that, if helmets became optional, there would be twice as many journeys cycled in New Zealand by this time next year.

"I just want to see more people cycling."

The idea that cycling was dangerous was simply a misconception and, while he believed that adults should decide if their children wore helmets, he would opt for the helmet-free option.

"It sends the wrong message to kids - that cycling is dangerous."

Rider Daryl Cockburn cited a Wellington school where, he said, cycling numbers dropped from about 200 to 20 daily after the cycle helmet law came in 24 years ago.

"To school children, looking good is the three most important things in their lives. We all want respect."

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