Bikeshare users-- what are you doing about helmets?

(this would be a good use of a poll feature if there was one, so users could respond anonymously)

I have not yet made use of Divvy but will very likely be perusing Denver's B-Cycle on an upcoming trip.... looking to travel light and not excited about dragging a helmet along... plus the friend I'm going with doesn't own one as far as I know.

So are you generally carrying a helmet around with you? Or have you just got comfortable going without? Or some other solution I am not touching on?

Thx.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joe Studer 8.0 mi on August 13, 2013 at 6:57am

I don't actually know that the odds of a crash are lower. I just perceive them to be lower. All other factors of my ride are essentially the same when I ride a Divvy. However, me being on a Divvy is different and the way I ride the Divvy is different, and that greatly changes my perception of risk.

If there were something that demonstrated that my risks of an accident on a Divvy were equal to or greater than my risks of an accident when I ride my other bikes, that might change my perception, and cause me to lug the helmet around.

Or, if there were some ultra-portable helmet that I could just fold up and keep in my bag, that might change the calculus. I would likely not use some sort of shared helmet that might be available with the shared Divvy bike. Putting the helmet on my head makes it much too personal for me to want to use a helmet that who-knows-whom-or-what was also using.

h' 1.0 said:

As I unsuccessfully tried to point out, I'm not getting exactly where the "odds of a crash are lower." Asking for clarification as I personally consider intermingling with cars to be the main risk to one's head, and the speed of the auto, not the rider to be the primary determinant of the outcome of a crash.

Cameron 7.5 mi said:

Helmet use is always a bit of a cost benefit analysis. Helmets offer the benefit of protection in the event of a crash at the cost of dealing with the hassle carrying a helmet around. With Divvy I don't usually view the helmet as worth it both because as others have discussed the odds of a crash are perceived to be lower, therefore reducing the benefit of a helmet and the cost is higher because carrying a helmet around when not riding is a hassle. On normal bike I typically wear a helmet partially because I perceive the risks as higher and therefore the benefit greater, but mostly because the cost is lower. I can simply lock my helmet up with my bike, making it hardly a hassle at all, therefore any benefit makes it worth it.

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Permalink Reply by BruceBikes on August 13, 2013 at 7:21am

In 15 years of downtown bike commuting, I have been in several crashes (say 8-12). In one of them, I even smacked my helmeted head hard enough on the pavement to make me a little woozy. (Good thing I was wearing a helmet, right?) In all of those crashes, however, I perceive the primary factor leading to the crash to be my own speed and risk taking (e.g. cutting between rows of traffic, riding too fast for conditions, disobeying traffic control devices, etc.) and not the presence and speed of autos.

Over the years, I have slowed down quite a bit and take far fewer risks, and my crash rate has definitely gone down (to basically zero.) Divvy further reduces my speed and increases my risk aversion.

While I have no data to back it up, I perceive my odds of getting into a crash on a Divvy to be far lower, by the nature of how I ride, than the odds of crashing on my own lightweight bike. By extension, the risk I associate of getting into a crash on a Divvy does not outweigh the inconvenience of carrying a helmet when I otherwise would not.

And before someone compares that inconvenience against a lifetime of disability, I'd like to compare this risk against the risk of sustaining a head injury during a bus or train crash, or by falling or being hit as a pedestrian on the sidewalk, or falling down the steps at home. These things definitely happen, but no one questions the lack of protection in those cases.

Is cycling that much more risky, that we should be wearing a helmet no matter what? I would argue that for some people in some cases, no, it is not. In lieu of hard data to review, each individual must decide for themselves.

h' 1.0 said:

As I unsuccessfully tried to point out, I'm not getting exactly where the "odds of a crash are lower." Asking for clarification as I personally consider intermingling with cars to be the main risk to one's head, and the speed of the auto, not the rider to be the primary determinant of the outcome of a crash.

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Permalink Reply by Duppie on August 13, 2013 at 7:25am

Ah, now your response starts to make sense.

I think that if I ride more relaxed the odds of a crash are indeed lower. I think the risk is largest at intersections. More than once when trying to make the yellow light on my regular bike, I have nearly been hit by car wanting to turn (left cross). By deferring to that car, I minimize one potential risk point. And I like to think that when I am using Divvy I do ride more relaxed, since I mainly use Divvy for leisurely destinations (to go to that nice lunch place, or a date with my wife, for example)

Before you respond, keep in mind that this is my opinion. It is not backed up by any research. And you are free to ignore it.

But then again, can you point to research that validates your assumption that the odds of a crash are the same or similar across all types of bikes?

h' 1.0 said:

As I unsuccessfully tried to point out, I'm not getting exactly where the "odds of a crash are lower." Asking for clarification as I personally consider intermingling with cars to be the main risk to one's head, and the speed of the auto, not the rider to be the primary determinant of the outcome of a crash.

Cameron 7.5 mi said:

Helmet use is always a bit of a cost benefit analysis. Helmets offer the benefit of protection in the event of a crash at the cost of dealing with the hassle carrying a helmet around. With Divvy I don't usually view the helmet as worth it both because as others have discussed the odds of a crash are perceived to be lower, therefore reducing the benefit of a helmet and the cost is higher because carrying a helmet around when not riding is a hassle. On normal bike I typically wear a helmet partially because I perceive the risks as higher and therefore the benefit greater, but mostly because the cost is lower. I can simply lock my helmet up with my bike, making it hardly a hassle at all, therefore any benefit makes it worth it.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on August 13, 2013 at 10:57am

Should we just have a topic for Howard, Duppie and Kevin to rant at each other? ;)

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Permalink Reply by Bez on August 13, 2013 at 11:25pm

Wait, isn't that what the Chainlink is?

Anne Alt said:

Should we just have a topic for Howard, Duppie and Kevin to rant at each other? ;)

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Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on August 28, 2013 at 5:57am

When Julie put out the call for a Chainlink tagline, this is all I could think of.

Dann B (5.25 mi/8.75 mi) said:

Wait, isn't that what the Chainlink is?

Anne Alt said:

Should we just have a topic for Howard, Duppie and Kevin to rant at each other? ;)

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Permalink Reply by Bez on August 28, 2013 at 7:11am

I very nearly posted "A place for Howard, Duppie, and Kevin to rant at each other" as a tagline suggestion. Then I decided I didn't want the Wrath of Julie™, so I didn't.

Tony Adams 7 mi said:

When Julie put out the call for a Chainlink tagline, this is all I could think of.

Dann B (5.25 mi/8.75 mi) said:

Wait, isn't that what the Chainlink is?

Anne Alt said:

Should we just have a topic for Howard, Duppie and Kevin to rant at each other? ;)

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Permalink Reply by David Barish on August 28, 2013 at 9:40am

I have not read this thread in a while. I am not going to read the comments behind but take it there has been some disagreement. I will relay this story and a call to the engineers and wannabe designers out there.

While riding with a friend recently we talked about Divvy and what to do about using a helmet. We wondered when somebody will design a foldable,portable, reusable but ultimately disposable helmet. ( I recall reading about the Israeli who designed a cardboard bike) We imagined a type of cardboard that could be used perhaps 5, 10 or 20 times but would eventually need to be recycled. If such a helmet could be sold for $10 in a vending machine by a station I suspect it would get well used. As we rode we riffed on the subject. Perhaps a sponsor could put their logo on the helmets to help underwrite costs. That sponsorship could change. Perhaps local artists could put their work on the helmet and be featured for a while adding to the cultural landscape. Neither of us are engineers, marketers or entrepreneurs. Just dreaming cyclists.

Go create. We await what may follow.