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 Dan Korn on August 17, 2011 at 7:15pm
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 1:59am

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 2:00am
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 3:22am

 

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 3:56am
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 4:35am

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!

Permalink Reply by Michael J Blane on August 18, 2011 at 6:13am
Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on August 18, 2011 at 6:36am

Do I always wear a helmet while cycling?  No, but I'm very well aware of the additional risk I'm taking.  Do I think helmet laws should mandate helmet use?  No, I believe we should all be free to make our own choices in life.  If one is aware that smoking may well cause cancer, I believe smokers should still be allowed to make their own bad choice in life to smoke, if they so desire.  But I'm all for the warning labels on packages of cigarettes, so that at least an informed decision can be made.  And the same should be true with helmets.  Trying to make the odd case that helmet use actually causes more injury than not using them obscures informed risk assessment.

 

"Summary of bicycle helmet studies

In all studies reviewed, there are consistent data indicating that wearing an industry-approved bicycle helmet significantly reduces the risk of head injury during a crash or collision. The reduction in risk is somewhat dependent on whether the controls originate from the emergency department or the population at large. However, population-based controls provide the best estimate of helmet effectiveness and allow it greatest generalizability. Overall, helmets decrease the risk of head and brain injury by 70 to 88 percent and facial injury to the upper and mid face by 65 percent."

--summary of a review of the literature by Harborview Injury Prevention & Re..., affiliated with the University of Washington and Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.  "Founded in 1985, the Center is one of 12 injury-control centers supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the country."

 

Extensive bibliography on the helmet issue here

A discussion of the various issues within "helmet wars" debates

Should I Wear a Bike Helmet?

 

Permalink Reply by Shawn Benscoter on August 18, 2011 at 6:57am
Its not the pace that YOU are going... rather the pace of the OTHER people. SHIT HAPPENS. be prepared.
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on August 18, 2011 at 10:16am

I am against any law that bans helmets.  

 

People should be allowed to wear a helmet if they want to -or a crucifix, rabbits-foot, plastic jesus or buddha on their handlebars, or any other bit of religious jewelry or icon that they feel protects them from bad ju-ju.  

 

It's a free world -or at least should be. 

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