Bicycle helmets good and bad.

Message

JC Viper · #1 Unread post by **JC Viper** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 8:26 pm

While I was watching the news there was a report that using a bicycle helmet is much more dangerous than not wearing one. Apparently this is mostly due to car drivers driving closer to the cyclist.

Then there's an article in the newspaper about how the state government wants to mandate the use of bicycle helmets because there's a high percentage of deaths in relation to lack of a helmet. In fact they will be handing out free bike helmets to kick off the safety measure.

Now... I don't know about you but I think I just heard that the big reason was in part due to the driver but the government now wants to make it mandatory to wear a bicycle helmet if the "study" says they're dangrous?

Sounds like motorcyclists aren't the only ones dealing with the helmet issue.

* I am looking for a link but FOX news is being gay.

Mintbread · #2 Unread post by **Mintbread** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:58 pm

We have had helmet laws for bicyclists for many years now. I have no problem with it.

Ninja Geoff · Wed Sep 13, 2006 11:14 pm

if i still rode a pedal bike i'd so rock my HJC MX helmet on it.

Loonette · #4 Unread post by **Loonette** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:24 am

Different municipalities in our state have different laws. In most, if it's not required for all, it is at least required for those under the age of 16. Hmmm... We wear bicycle helmets in our family. A good friend of ours took a very small spill off his bike on the bike path in Chicago - it was a hot day and one of the very few times that he didn't wear his beanie. The result was pretty bad for such a small fall. He recovered, but his noggin took quite a beating.

The times when bicycle helmets can be more dangerous is when they aren't strapped on properly. I've seen many people wearing their helmets with the strapping all wrong. The "triangle" of the front and back strap should come to its point right under the ear with the helmet sitting horizontally level atop the head. Otherwise the helmet has a greater chance of getting knocked around during an impact.

As far as legislation... I kind of feel the same about bicycle helmets as I do with motorcycle helmets - let the grown adult decide. As far as personal comfort goes, I don't really like wearing my helmet on either ride, but I do it in part because I believe it to be safer, and it also sets an example for my kids that reflects my beliefs. If they turn 18 and decide they don't want to wear their helmets (motorcycle or bicycle), then that's their choice - or at least I hope they still have a choice.

Cheers,
Loonette

CNF2002 · #5 Unread post by **CNF2002** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:32 am

Is bicycling really that dangerous? I can understand helmets for the little kids and the professional racers but...hmm...I never wore a helmet on a bike. In my pre-teens and early teens I don't remember anyone wearing a helmet, and just about all the kids in the neighborhood rode to school. Not one of them had a head injury from falling. Falling off your bike resulted in skinned elbows and palms, not cracked skulls.

Of course we never rode around on major streets with crazy traffic except on the weekends.

DieMonkeys · Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:55 am

CNF2002 wrote:Is bicycling really that dangerous? I can understand helmets for the little kids and the professional racers but...hmm...I never wore a helmet on a bike. In my pre-teens and early teens I don't remember anyone wearing a helmet, and just about all the kids in the neighborhood rode to school. Not one of them had a head injury from falling. Falling off your bike resulted in skinned elbows and palms, not cracked skulls.

Of course we never rode around on major streets with crazy traffic except on the weekends.

Yeah, I never wore a helmet while bicycling. The most damage caused was when I was going too slow and ended up skinning the side of my face against a brick wall (tipped over, was like 6 years old). Nobody wore helmets except the "special" kids (no offense) on their bikes.

However, when it came to rollerblading I always wore a helmet as a kid, considering that my brother ended up cracking his skull the first day (Christmas day!) we got them. You're much more wobbly on 8 wheels than two. Oh, and I fell on my "O Ring" several times on rollerblades, usually comedically.

NorthernPete · Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:36 am

This study was done in the UK, and found was done by one researcher messuring the distance between his bike and passing motorists (infra red distance calibrator) APperently, the motorists drive closer to cyclists wearing helmets because they feel the biker is more expirienced. the researcher was hit twice during this expiriment BTW (wearing a helmet both times)

I dont think this is a helmet issue as much as a driver issue.

BTW I dont wear a helmet when I bike, but I havent sat on a peddle bike in years either. and helmets were not manditory when I was riding my peddle bike. My kid WILL be wearing one though, and if I do get back on a peddle bike I will as well. Lead by example.

Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:37 am

Bicycle helmets are just as important to safety as motorcycle helmets though I'd imagine the later are more critical to have in most cases. When I was still running rescue in college we had one guy die from just falling off his feet and hitting the concrete. Doing it at any speed and any greater height only increases the possibility of injury.

I ride a road bike for triathalon stuff and I'll never be without my helmet. I've had my fair share of spills from past mountain bike experience and from the road bike to know that at the very least it prevents some scrapes on this pretty mug.

Shiv · #9 Unread post by **Shiv** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:44 am

Eh I still ride a pedal bike to get around campus but don't wear a helmet. Very few people do.

I've never heard of anyone being seriously injured from a pedal bike unless it was a freak accident (falling off a bridge, for instance).

The one time I wish I had had a helmet was when I was younger. I was doing a wheelie on my bicycle and hit a patch of gravel. Apparently gravel is bad for motorcycles and bicycles because I went down and opened my head a bit on the gravel. Had to get stitches but luckily the cut was clean.

Just really big.

Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:57 am

Shiv wrote:I've never heard of anyone being seriously injured from a pedal bike unless it was a freak accident (falling off a bridge, for instance).

I think you start hearing about this more when you get into it. If you ride to get around campus, it's probably not a problem. If you're barrelling down a mountain, flying down a road or commuting alot through traffic then you start hearing the stories and seeing your fair share often enough.