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bicycle safety and helmets

I found this link earlier today.  It seems to be from around 2003.  It's about bicycle safety, and more specifically, about whether wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle makes sense.  

 

http://neptune.spacebears.com/opine/helmets.html

 

I don't wear a helmet on my 15mile one-way commute to work.  I ride very slow.  It takes me an hour and ten minutes to get to work.  I understand that you don't have to go very fast to get a debilitating head injury, but the odds of that happening are very low so I take my chances.

 

What do you think?

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on August 17, 2011 at 9:29pm

Did you actually purchase and read the whole article?

The description is grossly inaccurate. None of these conclusions can be drawn from the 'preliminary study' that Walker carried out, but apparently never followed up on with actual research.

The guy's a yahoo, sorry.

Damir said:

I agree that

There is also a research article that found that traffic gets much closer to a helmeted cyclist when overtaking versus non-helmeted cyclist:  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457506001540#....  

Permalink Reply by Damir on August 17, 2011 at 10:08pm

I work for the university so I could read it for free.  I am sorry for posting a link that is not accessible for free.  I would post the article here, but that would be illegal...so I won't do that.  

 

Have you read it?  I agree using 320km traveled by bicycle as a basis for this study is not enough, but then again, where is the data that shows the benefit of helmet use while riding a bicycle?  I am not trying to be a combative and I don't have a hidden agenda.  I am simply trying to learn.  As a father of a 3 year old boy, I want to set a good example.  Being tricked into buying useless equipment that on top of doing nothing for safety hurts the cycling image as a safe activity is not setting a good example.  

 

I also play soccer, and I go for a run very often.  Should I be wearing a helmet while I play soccer?  That activity is done at a relatively high speeds and I have fallen and gotten injured many many many more times playing soccer compared to riding my bicycle.  I also ride dirt motorcycles, and have had number of street motorcycles.  I would not dream of even going down an alley without a helmet, jacket, boots etc. so I am not some daredevil looking for trouble.  

 

I hope this helps.  

dingyourbelldotorg said:

Did you actually purchase and read the whole article?

The description is grossly inaccurate. None of these conclusions can be drawn from the 'preliminary study' that Walker carried out, but apparently never followed up on with actual research.

The guy's a yahoo, sorry.

Damir said:

I agree that

There is also a research article that found that traffic gets much closer to a helmeted cyclist when overtaking versus non-helmeted cyclist:  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457506001540#....  

Permalink Reply by Allen Wrench on August 17, 2011 at 10:27pm
http://www.iihs.org/research/fatality_facts_2009/bicycles.html gives data. Look at previous years to compare. Helmets are partway down.
Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on August 18, 2011 at 12:08am

Not sure how to discuss this without the article.


This was discussed to death when Walker and his school publicized the crap out of it, and I even had a personal exchange with him for clarification of a few points.

 

I never saw anything resembling a peer-reviewed research article, which is what I'm assuming this is that you're referring to.  Just what he released and what was reported a few years ago. I'm disappointed that any effort was made to write his 'study' up as research.

Do you know how many different subjects he used for the study?

 

Damir said:

I work for the university so I could read it for free.  I am sorry for posting a link that is not accessible for free.  I would post the article here, but that would be illegal...so I won't do that.  

 

Have you read it?  I agree using 320km traveled by bicycle as a basis for this study is not enough, but then again, where is the data that shows the benefit of helmet use while riding a bicycle?  I am not trying to be a combative and I don't have a hidden agenda.  I am simply trying to learn.  As a father of a 3 year old boy, I want to set a good example.  Being tricked into buying useless equipment that on top of doing nothing for safety hurts the cycling image as a safe activity is not setting a good example.  

 

I also play soccer, and I go for a run very often.  Should I be wearing a helmet while I play soccer?  That activity is done at a relatively high speeds and I have fallen and gotten injured many many many more times playing soccer compared to riding my bicycle.  I also ride dirt motorcycles, and have had number of street motorcycles.  I would not dream of even going down an alley without a helmet, jacket, boots etc. so I am not some daredevil looking for trouble.  

 

I hope this helps.  

dingyourbelldotorg said:

Did you actually purchase and read the whole article?

The description is grossly inaccurate. None of these conclusions can be drawn from the 'preliminary study' that Walker carried out, but apparently never followed up on with actual research.

The guy's a yahoo, sorry.

Damir said:

I agree that

There is also a research article that found that traffic gets much closer to a helmeted cyclist when overtaking versus non-helmeted cyclist:  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457506001540#....  

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on August 18, 2011 at 12:15am

I appreciate that there's not a lot of useful data readily accessible . . . there's not much to be taken away here that's relevant to a discussion of the effectiveness of helmets.

 

Ninety-one percent of bicyclists killed in 2009 reportedly weren't wearing helmets. Information on helmet use became available in FARS in 1994.

 

Need to know what percentage of cyclists as a whole wear helmets, what percentage in non-fatal crashes weren't wearing helmets, whether there was head trauma involved, and a buncha other stuff to even start to make a judgment.

 

Allen Wrench said:

http://www.iihs.org/research/fatality_facts_2009/bicycles.html gives data. Look at previous years to compare. Helmets are partway down.
Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on August 18, 2011 at 12:20am

By the way-- not bad. Kind of a lost art these days.  I give it a 7 out of 10 for technique.

 

Damir said:

where is the data that shows the benefit of helmet use while riding a bicycle?  I am not trying to be a combative and I don't have a hidden agenda.  I am simply trying to learn.  As a father of a 3 year old boy, I want to set a good example.  
And then Damir said:
Being tricked into buying useless equipment that on top of doing nothing for safety hurts the cycling image as a safe activity is not setting a good example.  

 

I also play soccer, and I go for a run very often.  Should I be wearing a helmet while I play soccer?  That activity is done at a relatively high speeds and I have fallen and gotten injured many many many more times playing soccer compared to riding my bicycle.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Dan Korn on August 18, 2011 at 1:15am
h' said:

Everyone knows there are no head injuries within dutch borders.

 

Oh my god, it's not just Amsterdam, it's the whole country!

 

 

Seriously, these people need some help.  Educate them!

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on August 18, 2011 at 7:59am

I'm not hostile, I'm annoyed at your own failure to use your head and actually think for yourself.

 

Of course cycling is more dangerous than walking; you are riding in the street with 3,000 pound plus vehicles all around you piloted by people who may not be paying any attention.  You are, even going slow on a bike, hitting speeds higher then you ever could walking.

 

Riding a bike down an empty path is as safe as walking, riding a bike in an urban environment now so much; if you took a minute to put some real thought into the issue rather than just regurgitating info you found other places this may have occurred to you naturally.

 


Damir said:

Why so hostile?  

 

If you read the article the answer would not be so mind-numbingly simple.  If you believe the data, biking is as safe as walking.  Do you protect your head and brain while walking?  If you don't think biking is as safe as walking, please let me know why?  Do you have data to back it up?  

 

As to what makes me nervous about people on bikes and helmets - it's really simple.  It telegraphs that biking is somehow inherently dangerous activity.  As such, it may deter people from ever trying to commute on a bike.  Please see the following (and try to read it this time instead of slinging insults):

http://jrsm.rsmjournals.com/cgi/content/full/97/8/409

 

I hope this helps.


notoriousDUG said:

I really cannot believe you need to post the question of why wear a helmet.  The answer is mind numbingly simple:

 

To protect your head and brain!!

 

Of course if you need to have that spelled out to you there is a good chance it may already be to late for you...

 

I'm curious as to what makes you nervous seeing other riders wearing helmets; how is the choices made by other cyclists even a factor in how you feel safety wise?  If seeing other people in helmets makes you question your safety without one then maybe you should be wearing one yourself. 

 

You should be nervous about not wearing a helmet.  No matter how slow you ride the inattentive motorists who may plow into you moves just as quickly when they hit you as when they hit a faster rider.  I do not wear a helmet because I am worried about an accident I cause; I am worried about the one I never saw coming and therefore cannot prepare for.

 

The debate bores me because it is not required.  You can find about ten million articles that debate both sides of the helmet coin.  The only reason I can see for you to spark discussion here is either straight trolling or a desire to have other validate an opinion you are not entirely confident in.

 

Damir said:

I agree that statistics, studies and numbers can be manipulated to suit whatever point the author supports.  What would be a reason for skewing data to support helmet-less riding?  To sell less helmets?  I don't know.  

 

I posted this article out of pure curiosity.  I am passed every morning - being that I move really slow - by countless riders that wear helmets.  This makes me paranoid.  After reading this article, I wanted to know what is the motivation for helmet use.  I have not read a lot of helmet articles, so I can't really make any good points in support of helmet use.  That they are inexpensive and harmless, however, is not good enough reason for me to use one.  

 

There is also a research article that found that traffic gets much closer to a helmeted cyclist when overtaking versus non-helmeted cyclist:  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457506001540#....  It's a good article that is not specifically about helmets.  I would recommend reading it if you have time.

 

Since this is a forum dedicated to commuting on a bicycle, I thought conversation about helmets and helmet use are worthy of discussion.  I am sorry if it offends/bothers you. 

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on August 18, 2011 at 8:00am
What is there to debate about personal choice? 

Duppie said:

Damir, Welcome to the Chainlink.

 

First off: my suggestion is to ignore our resident bully. He is not interested in having a real discourse, so your time there is wasted

 

Secondly, the helmet debate is never ending and is one surefire way to get divisive. Much like religion, politics, there is very limited room for nuanced opinions.

 

You may want to search (search bar on the top right) to see previous discussions on helmet use. It might help in answering your question.


Damir said:

Why so hostile?  

 

If you read the article the answer would not be so mind-numbingly simple.  If you believe the data, biking is as safe as walking.  Do you protect your head and brain while walking?  If you don't think biking is as safe as walking, please let me know why?  Do you have data to back it up?  

 

As to what makes me nervous about people on bikes and helmets - it's really simple.  It telegraphs that biking is somehow inherently dangerous activity.  As such, it may deter people from ever trying to commute on a bike.  Please see the following (and try to read it this time instead of slinging insults):

http://jrsm.rsmjournals.com/cgi/content/full/97/8/409

 

I hope this helps.


notoriousDUG said:

I really cannot believe you need to post the question of why wear a helmet.  The answer is mind numbingly simple:

 

To protect your head and brain!!

 

Of course if you need to have that spelled out to you there is a good chance it may already be to late for you...

 

I'm curious as to what makes you nervous seeing other riders wearing helmets; how is the choices made by other cyclists even a factor in how you feel safety wise?  If seeing other people in helmets makes you question your safety without one then maybe you should be wearing one yourself. 

 

You should be nervous about not wearing a helmet.  No matter how slow you ride the inattentive motorists who may plow into you moves just as quickly when they hit you as when they hit a faster rider.  I do not wear a helmet because I am worried about an accident I cause; I am worried about the one I never saw coming and therefore cannot prepare for.

 

The debate bores me because it is not required.  You can find about ten million articles that debate both sides of the helmet coin.  The only reason I can see for you to spark discussion here is either straight trolling or a desire to have other validate an opinion you are not entirely confident in.

 

Damir said:

I agree that statistics, studies and numbers can be manipulated to suit whatever point the author supports.  What would be a reason for skewing data to support helmet-less riding?  To sell less helmets?  I don't know.  

 

I posted this article out of pure curiosity.  I am passed every morning - being that I move really slow - by countless riders that wear helmets.  This makes me paranoid.  After reading this article, I wanted to know what is the motivation for helmet use.  I have not read a lot of helmet articles, so I can't really make any good points in support of helmet use.  That they are inexpensive and harmless, however, is not good enough reason for me to use one.  

 

There is also a research article that found that traffic gets much closer to a helmeted cyclist when overtaking versus non-helmeted cyclist:  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457506001540#....  It's a good article that is not specifically about helmets.  I would recommend reading it if you have time.

 

Since this is a forum dedicated to commuting on a bicycle, I thought conversation about helmets and helmet use are worthy of discussion.  I am sorry if it offends/bothers you. 

Permalink Reply by igz on August 18, 2011 at 9:22am

 

note the perfect helmet shape embedded in the windshield. note the lack of pieces of skull and blood.

 

accident was caused sun glare.

 

car was making a legal left turn into a service drive along humboldt blvd at a speed of no more than 10mph. windshield and egos were the only casualties. and a few bike parts.

Permalink Reply by dan brown on August 18, 2011 at 9:56am
nice one iggi. sometimes a picture really *is* worth a thousdand words. and free too. ;-)
Permalink Reply by Ron Y on August 18, 2011 at 10:35am

Where is this?  Utopia?  On my way!



Dan Korn said:

h' said:

Everyone knows there are no head injuries within dutch borders.

 

Oh my god, it's not just Amsterdam, it's the whole country!

 

 

Seriously, these people need some help.  Educate them!

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