Poll

Do you wear a helmet while cycling?

yes
200 (79.4%)
no
52 (20.6%)

Total Members Voted: 235

Author Topic: do you wear a bike helmet?  (Read 39679 times)

frugalnacho

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do you wear a bike helmet?
« on: March 27, 2014, 01:12:22 PM »
How many of you wear helmets when you cycle?

GuitarStv

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #1 on: March 27, 2014, 01:20:25 PM »
Me!

Just seems like a prudent thing to do, plus it gives me another place to attach a blinky light when it's dark.

thd7t

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #2 on: March 27, 2014, 01:20:34 PM »
Always

Rickk

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #3 on: March 27, 2014, 01:22:27 PM »
ohhhhh - let me go make some popcorn to watch this one!

Yes - When riding to work - as falling down going 25mph really hurts and I am too old to worry about being stylish.

daverobev

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #4 on: March 27, 2014, 01:23:26 PM »
Only when riding a bike!

skyrefuge

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #5 on: March 27, 2014, 01:30:09 PM »
I do, mainly because I need something to attach my rearview mirror to! Secondarily, I wear it to appease drivers, who for some reason seem to get really pissed off at cyclists who don't wear helmets. It's a small concession on my part to keep everyone nearby me on the road in a better mood, and to help drivers have more positive opinions about "cyclists" in general. Using it to directly protect my head is pretty far down on my list of reasons.

Eric

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #6 on: March 27, 2014, 01:31:07 PM »
How about a poll?

Yes, I do every time.

Russ

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #7 on: March 27, 2014, 01:36:13 PM »
probably 90% of the time? every day on the ride to work, which is like 80% of my mileage, and then about half the time for the rest.

YK-Phil

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #8 on: March 27, 2014, 01:39:19 PM »
I never did, until recently. I started using one simply because I could attach blinking lights on it. Now I am used to it and wear it all the time. I find it comfortable and warm for my bald head. I know there are those advocating the use of helmets, and those who do not. They can both find evidence to support their point of view. As a scientist, I err on the side of caution all the time, so I stay out of the debate and just wear mine. I looks goofy with it, but I look goofy without it too...

frugalnacho

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #9 on: March 27, 2014, 01:41:05 PM »
poll added.  I currently don't.  I have read conflicting studies on the effectiveness helmets, so I am refraining from voting for now. 

taekvideo

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #10 on: March 27, 2014, 01:41:21 PM »
Always.
Already saved my life once.
(okay probably not but it at least prevented a concussion when my head hit the concrete on a wipeout).

dodojojo

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #11 on: March 27, 2014, 01:45:18 PM »
Yep.  Thankful I was wearing one when I was sideswiped by a taxi and went over the hood and landed head/shoulder first.  The hairline fracture was on my helmet, not my head.  Still, I did black out and ended up in the ER.  I went home a few hours later.  I firmly believe the helmet saved me from a far more disastrous outcome.

Mlkmn

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #12 on: March 27, 2014, 01:52:30 PM »
I wear one when I am riding on the road. If I am riding on the walk/bike trails I don't since there aren't cars to worry about and I am riding slower.

Russ

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #13 on: March 27, 2014, 01:53:18 PM »
I currently don't.

for the record, I would recommend that anyone who rides on the sidewalk should wear a helmet 100% of the time ;-)

zinnie

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #14 on: March 27, 2014, 01:57:20 PM »
Where is the "other" option?

-When I am going for long rides or riding in traffic/on busy streets--always.
-When I am riding short distances through side streets in my neighborhood--almost never.

This is mostly because I don't like having helmet head on a Saturday afternoon when I am going out to lunch or stopping by a bar to meet a friend. Or when I am wearing a dress--I refuse to wear a helmet with a dress! :)

I acknowledge wearing a helmet at all times would probably be safer for me (even if it makes cars drive closer to you, and makes cycling in general perceived as more dangerous, etc. etc.). And I am fine with this risk.

Russ

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #15 on: March 27, 2014, 02:00:46 PM »
Or when I am wearing a dress--I refuse to wear a helmet with a dress! :)

This is pretty much my reasoning as well

Eric

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #16 on: March 27, 2014, 02:05:40 PM »
Or when I am wearing a dress--I refuse to wear a helmet with a dress! :)

This is pretty much my reasoning as well

Maybe you guys just need a stylish bike helmet to match said dress:


zinnie

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #17 on: March 27, 2014, 02:05:59 PM »
Or when I am wearing a dress--I refuse to wear a helmet with a dress! :)

This is pretty much my reasoning as well

Glad I'm not the only one!

Thegoblinchief

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #18 on: March 27, 2014, 02:06:05 PM »
Yes, especially when I'm biking with the kids.

Has saved me at least two concussions so far. Saved my Mom a broken jaw. As it was, she lost a tooth, she hit so hard.

I don't think they should be required, but it's cheap insurance in my book.

fallstoclimb

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #19 on: March 27, 2014, 02:09:05 PM »
Frugalnacho, you bike on the sidewalk AND don't wear a helmet?  Are you a bike troll?


I always wear a helmet.  My mother-in-law suffered a TBI (she wasn't biking, but still) and I wouldn't ever want my husband to go through that with me.  Yeah, you can still get a TBI while wearing a helmet, and helmets in general could and should be more effective, but it's not going to hurt.

(Yes I know there's some evidence cars are less cautious around helmeted riders but I don't take that to heart.  The situations I worry about are when the car doesn't see me in the first place).

There really is not a debate over helmets.  There is a legitimate debate over whether helmets should be REQUIRED, which as a sort-of public health professional and an amateur bike advocate I have very conflicting views on, which basically distill down to:  Everyone should just wear a goddamn helmet. 

zinnie

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #20 on: March 27, 2014, 02:10:03 PM »
Or when I am wearing a dress--I refuse to wear a helmet with a dress! :)

This is pretty much my reasoning as well

Maybe you guys just need a stylish bike helmet to match said dress:



I have seen these before; they crack up me up. They might be more "stylish" but they make you look like you have a giant head! I'd almost rather it be obvious that I am wearing a helmet...

Although I can't say I wouldn't investigate those scarf things that turn into helmets when you fall off your bike. If they were proven to work/ not too expensive.

hybrid

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #21 on: March 27, 2014, 02:18:07 PM »
When you are a pretty woman, everything is stylish.

rocksinmyhead

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #22 on: March 27, 2014, 02:26:24 PM »
probably 90% of the time? every day on the ride to work, which is like 80% of my mileage, and then about half the time for the rest.

me too.

basically anytime I don't wear it, I start envisioning that THIS will be the ONE TIME I'll crash, and I'll just happen to not be wearing a helmet (even though I wear one 90% of the time!!!), and then no one will even feel bad for me when I'm dead/a vegetable.

so yeah, that's basically why, because if I get in a bike wreck I want people to say "poor girl! at least she was doing the responsible thing and wearing a helmet!" ridiculous, I know.

I do look like a huge dork wearing a helmet and office clothing/a pencil skirt, but I just pretend I'm in the Netherlands*, haters can hate but I'm awesome.

*note: I have never been to the Netherlands and I don't know if wearing helmets is actually common there, but I just picture a lot of office workers biking to work in business-casual apparel.

eil

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #23 on: March 27, 2014, 02:36:23 PM »
I hadn't worn a helmet in 25+ years of off-and-on bicycling because, to be honest, I've never even come close to any kind of accident. Certainly not one severe enough to bump my head. I don't think I've wiped out or fallen since I was a teenager. I do very little riding near traffic. I ride fast, but only in familiar areas.

However, I started wearing a helmet last year. Because I can't very well preach to my kids the importance of wearing their helmet if I don't wear one myself.

frugalnacho

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #24 on: March 27, 2014, 02:37:42 PM »
Frugalnacho, you bike on the sidewalk AND don't wear a helmet?  Are you a bike troll?

I bike mostly in the street.  I do however use the sidewalks for a portion of my ride.  I still think it would be crazy for me to ride in the middle of that particular street I am talking about. 

I just want to get everyone's opinions on bike helmets.  Most people have a knee jerk reaction and will say you are an idiot and it's totally obvious that it will save your life or at the very least prevent a traumatic head injury. 

rocksinmyhead

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #25 on: March 27, 2014, 02:40:22 PM »
However, I started wearing a helmet last year. Because I can't very well preach to my kids the importance of wearing their helmet if I don't wear one myself.

this is a good point too! I don't have kids, but one of the times I was not wearing my helmet I rode past a group of little girls (like a Girl Scout troop or something) and they all waved and smiled at me. I waved and smiled back and felt good about being a positive bike-riding example (I don't see a lot of people riding bikes in Tulsa that aren't either homeless or spandex-clad fitness cyclists), but HORRIBLE about setting the bad example of not wearing a helmet!! and they weren't even my kids!

fallstoclimb

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #26 on: March 27, 2014, 02:42:21 PM »
I just want to get everyone's opinions on bike helmets.  Most people have a knee jerk reaction and will say you are an idiot and it's totally obvious that it will save your life or at the very least prevent a traumatic head injury.

Well no, it won't necessarily prevent a traumatic head injury.  A local cyclist just suffered a TBI while wearing a bike helmet.  However, he was fully conscious within a couple days of the collision (if not sooner, I'm not up on all the details).  My MIL was out for over a week.  The longer you are unconscious, the worse the injury, the worse the prognosis.

Now of course these are anecdotal examples and undoubtably these were different types of and levels of impact.  However, wearing a helmet certainly isn't going to RAISE the odds of a TBI.   So why would you not wear one?

The only debate here is that requiring helmets by law really does decrease the number of cyclists on the road (a fact that drives me crazy), and that makes the cyclists that are still out there less safe.  But the public health argument is that you should require people to limit their risk in situations when the public dollar might pick up the cost of their care (hence, seatbelts, etc).  So that's a tricky situation.

But in terms of an individual decision?  Why would you not wear one?

frugalnacho

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #27 on: March 27, 2014, 02:58:19 PM »
I just want to get everyone's opinions on bike helmets.  Most people have a knee jerk reaction and will say you are an idiot and it's totally obvious that it will save your life or at the very least prevent a traumatic head injury.

Well no, it won't necessarily prevent a traumatic head injury.  A local cyclist just suffered a TBI while wearing a bike helmet.  However, he was fully conscious within a couple days of the collision (if not sooner, I'm not up on all the details).  My MIL was out for over a week.  The longer you are unconscious, the worse the injury, the worse the prognosis.

Now of course these are anecdotal examples and undoubtably these were different types of and levels of impact.  However, wearing a helmet certainly isn't going to RAISE the odds of a TBI.   So why would you not wear one?

The only debate here is that requiring helmets by law really does decrease the number of cyclists on the road (a fact that drives me crazy), and that makes the cyclists that are still out there less safe.  But the public health argument is that you should require people to limit their risk in situations when the public dollar might pick up the cost of their care (hence, seatbelts, etc).  So that's a tricky situation.

But in terms of an individual decision?  Why would you not wear one?

From initial research one of the points brought up is that drivers are less cautious around bikers with helmets causing more frequent cycle-car collisions - which does seem like it could/would raise the odds of TBI.

I'm not saying it's true, just something I read.  I have logged thousands of miles on a bike and never worn a helmet.  I used to commute to a job previously, but it was all side streets, and the one major road was not that major and did have a bike lane, and I could avoid that road entirely if I chose to do so which I usually did. 

Just recently I started commuting again to a different job that requires me to bike along some major roads.  My previous experience has been almost exclusively residential streets or parks just for the pleasure of biking and not to actually get anywhere, so I never felt unsafe and never even considered wearing a helmet.

cleanshaven

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #28 on: March 27, 2014, 03:01:28 PM »
I do. My dad was broadsided by a car and suffered some vertebrae injuries. If you saw his helmet, you'd never think twice about it again. Kind of like a seat belt, I see the bike helmet as cheap insurance.

I agree that drivers seem to treat you a little better when they see you wearing a helmet, too.

soccerluvof4

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #29 on: March 27, 2014, 03:05:56 PM »
yes. I have 4 kids I make wear them so I don't want to be a hypocrite. Not to mention now a days they are a lot cooler looking then looking like a big Q-tip when I was a kid and then didn't wear them.

fallstoclimb

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #30 on: March 27, 2014, 03:10:26 PM »
From initial research one of the points brought up is that drivers are less cautious around bikers with helmets causing more frequent cycle-car collisions - which does seem like it could/would raise the odds of TBI.

Yeah there is some evidence of drivers being less cautious around helmeted drivers (I am not aware of evidence of the closer-passing necessarily causing more collisions however), which I mentioned in my first post in this thread.  However, I don't take the to heart because:

1) That's part of a bigger picture, which is that cars are more cautious around cyclists they see as behaving unpredictably and less cautious around lycra-spandexed roadies on fancy bikes who are traveling quickly.  The generous interpretation of this, which I choose to believe, is that drivers quickly judge those cyclists as being more experienced and therefore see less need to be as cautious around them. 

2) The collisions I worry about are not the ones where the driver sees me.  Now, you could argue that due to a helmet, driver #1 may pass you closer than they would otherwise, driver #2 follows the car in front and passes you even closer, driver #3 doesn't see you until it's too late.  But, that is a scenario where you should be taking the lane anyway. 

Catbert

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #31 on: March 27, 2014, 03:45:40 PM »
I didn't use to wear a helmet when I was riding around my neighborhood or similar residential areas.  It seemed so safe...until the day I hit a patch of gravel on a residential street, fell, and broke my wrist.  Two things changed: I always carry a cell phone when exercising (it was a long walk home) and I always wear a helmet.

COMO

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #32 on: March 27, 2014, 04:07:35 PM »
My wife is an occupational therapist.  I think some of the cases she sees at work give her a certain perspective on this.  If I were caught riding without a helmet i think the pavement would be the least of my worries.

Shor

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #33 on: March 27, 2014, 04:22:41 PM »
Yes always, Work commute has multiple busy intersections, and vehicles going 55+ mph.
The helmet might not help such a collision, but it's not detracting anything!

Cars give me a nice wiiide berth anyway because I look about as balanced as a grizzly bear on a unicycle...

Clever Name

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #34 on: March 27, 2014, 04:31:02 PM »
I usually do not.  I generally only bike to work, which is a short (2 mile), wide, flat ride along a paved trail by the edge of a lake.  There are also pedestrians on this trail, so I don't go very fast in the first place.  If I biked on a major highway or something I would definitely wear one.

Nancy

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #35 on: March 27, 2014, 07:22:29 PM »
Yup, I always wear it.

katie

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #36 on: March 27, 2014, 07:32:49 PM »
Yes.  And it came in handy when I took a nasty spill when doing the STP.  The helmet broke in two places, but my head was is in tact.  No concussion even.  My bike on the other hand....it took some major repairs to be rideable again.

bikebum

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #37 on: March 27, 2014, 07:57:03 PM »
Yes, mostly because I have a side mirror attached to it. I recommend every cyclist try out a side mirror. And if you still don't want to wear a helmet, you could attach the mirror to a headband.

dodojojo

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #38 on: March 27, 2014, 07:58:15 PM »
Yes always, Work commute has multiple busy intersections, and vehicles going 55+ mph.
The helmet might not help such a collision, but it's not detracting anything!

That's how I see it and it's perplexing why some do not.  My accident resulted in a terrible headache for about 1 week and some shoulder/neck pain.  Without the helmet, it could have a life-altering accident.  Instead, I was riding my bike less than a month later.

And I had another accident a couple of years later where the helmet helped once again.  It was a minor accident where I landed on my side/back but my head snapped onto the paved trail.  I got up and finished my ride.  But I was struggling a couple of days after and went to see the doctor.  She recommended the hospital if I was still affected a week or so which is what happened.  I got scanned and was told that I probably had a concussion but otherwise there wasn't anything of concern.  Again, a little incident and without a helmet, it could have been much more serious.

I admit, I do not ride much anymore as the little niggling injuries (wrist, neck and shoulder) make riding less enjoyable.  Most important, the head injuries have had some effect.  Nothing major, but never quite felt the same...(or I'm just getting older).

awakenedsoul

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #39 on: March 27, 2014, 08:06:42 PM »
Oh yeah. I always wear a bike helmet and I always wear a seat belt when in a car. I bike every morning along a highway. I have my dog with me. I use a walkydog. It's a bar that attaches to the bike. Most people like dogs, and they are friendly to us when we ride. The driveways are where I am the most careful. I stopped  biking for a while and walked both dogs instead of riding them one at a time. I can't tell you how many people pulled over and said, "Hey, how come you don't ride your bike anymore?" Most of them see me every a.m. on their way to work. Once my hip healed, I was back on the bike again.

My brother used to ride his bike every day. He was really fit. He had a stroke at 49 and became a vegetable. He passed away a few days later. Once I saw someone like him in a coma, it really hit me that it could be me.   

TreeTired

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #40 on: March 27, 2014, 08:10:40 PM »
When I ride my road bike I always wear my helmet:  It's part of my biking "outfit" along with shoes for the clipless pedals,  bike shorts and shirt.

However,  when I ride one of my casual bikes over to the nearby Starbucks or to the community pool I don't typically wear a helmet.  Probably not a good practice, but that's how I do it.


« Last Edit: March 27, 2014, 08:13:38 PM by NC_MJ »

m8547

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #41 on: March 27, 2014, 09:14:11 PM »
My helmet saved me from some bad abrasions on my head once. There were leaves all over the street, and my front wheel washed out, and the next thing I knew my helmet was sliding on the ground. I got up, brushed the leaves off and continued on my way.

Another time I fell when my chain skipped a gear slightly while accelerating hard. I lost control and fell over. I don't remember if I hit my head (not in a bad way), but I sprained my thumb from the way the handlebars twisted, and that took months to get better.

I've used my helmet a couple times while mountain biking, but that's expected. Nothing major though. I actually have two helmets, one is dedicated to commuting since it sees more abuse (being strapped to my backpack or left in the sun). My mountain biking helmet has better coverage, too. Helmets are surprisingly difficult to break, though. Next time you need to retire one (every 5 years is recommended), try to break it and you will be surprised! I was not able to break one with a 1lb hammer, and I ended up crushing it in a vise. Another time I got to throw a few in a commercial trash compactor, but that was disappointingly uneventful.

johnintaiwan

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #42 on: March 27, 2014, 09:31:00 PM »
I really should, but I don't even wear a helmet when I ride my scooter. From what I have seen helmets are not common here.

greaper007

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #43 on: March 27, 2014, 10:16:57 PM »
I don't think we should have helmet laws, but I do think anyone who rides a motorcycle or maybe even a bicycle without a helmet should be required to carry a considerable amount of insurance and be an organ donor.    It's just fair.

Nudelkopf

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #44 on: March 27, 2014, 11:37:15 PM »
Yes. It's a legal requirement in my country.

homehandymum

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #45 on: March 28, 2014, 12:00:29 AM »
Legal requirement here, too.

Adding to that, I live in a city with a medical school.  I was chatting to someone who worked nearby there and she said you can always tell when each group of students do their first stint in the ER.  Until then, their helmet-wearing is fairly sketchy, but after they do a rotation in the Emergency Department, they become religious helmet wearers.

GuitarStv

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #46 on: March 28, 2014, 06:32:03 AM »
I don't think we should have helmet laws, but I do think anyone who rides a motorcycle or maybe even a bicycle without a helmet should be required to carry a considerable amount of insurance and be an organ donor.    It's just fair.

I've often thought that people should be organ donors by default and have to carry a card on them at all times if they wish to opt out of the program.

thd7t

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #47 on: March 28, 2014, 07:43:28 AM »
From initial research one of the points brought up is that drivers are less cautious around bikers with helmets causing more frequent cycle-car collisions - which does seem like it could/would raise the odds of TBI.

Yeah there is some evidence of drivers being less cautious around helmeted drivers (I am not aware of evidence of the closer-passing necessarily causing more collisions however), which I mentioned in my first post in this thread.  However, I don't take the to heart because:

1) That's part of a bigger picture, which is that cars are more cautious around cyclists they see as behaving unpredictably and less cautious around lycra-spandexed roadies on fancy bikes who are traveling quickly.  The generous interpretation of this, which I choose to believe, is that drivers quickly judge those cyclists as being more experienced and therefore see less need to be as cautious around them. 

2) The collisions I worry about are not the ones where the driver sees me.  Now, you could argue that due to a helmet, driver #1 may pass you closer than they would otherwise, driver #2 follows the car in front and passes you even closer, driver #3 doesn't see you until it's too late.  But, that is a scenario where you should be taking the lane anyway.
What about a bright colored helmet?  This conversation makes me realize that the day-glo yellow helmet that my son wears is probably safer as an alert than my black one.

acroy

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #48 on: March 28, 2014, 07:56:55 AM »
Only on days I want to live

FIREman2036

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Re: do you wear a bike helmet?
« Reply #49 on: March 28, 2014, 08:24:31 AM »
I only where a helmet when i am on country lanes on my road bike. Never in the city.

I have been living in the Netherlands for 3 months and have not seen a single person wearing a helmet. I more likely to see someone cycling along in high heals, chatting to their friend beside them while the simultaneously write a text message and and smoke.

A big part of this is that a lot of the cycle routes are separated from vehicles, but not all in my city. The main difference is in the attitude of drivers. Nearly all people in cars are also cyclists most of the time, they just happen to be in cars at that moment. It makes for a really safe feeling around town as everyone is super respectful of the cyclists space.