Comments on: The Helmet Debate

By: BornInZion

BornInZion — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 08:30:41 +0000

Get some 3M reflective tape and cut into thin short strips. I have covered my old Bell hemet compleatly that way and I have been very happy with the result.
While I would never ride without my helmet, I oppose any law to mandate their use,
Cheers!

By: Brian Miller

Brian Miller — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 04:13:09 +0000

I crashed at 17mph in the weeds, and I flipped end-over-end three times. After it was over, a ligament in my left knee was destroyed, I had a divot missing in the flesh over my kneecap, and my helment no longer fit at all. I’ll ride with a good helmet, thanks very much.

By: pat shearer

pat shearer — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 09:44:56 +0000

As a Respiratory therapist I can say that I have seen my fair share of traumatic injuries come into the emergency room. In all the years the number of people with significant brain injuries have always been people NOT wearing a helmet. As a cyclist and a healthcare worker I strongly encourage helmet use.

By: Marc Wadaga

Marc Wadaga — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 15:13:17 +0000

I’m a huge helmet supporter and I like the argument of increased visibility. One question I have, however, is why don’t helmet manufacturers do a better job at increasing the visibility of their helmets? Would it be so bad to make a helmet completely reflective, or glow in the dark? Heck, I’d settle for a small reflectrive stripe on the helmets, like in the old days. I ride home from work at 9 or 10 p.m. I would love to have more reflectivity on the darned thing.

By: pj

pj — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 02:34:56 +0000

Well, first of all, how do you know if the helmets saved you from a serious injury? The only way to really find out would be to have you have two same accidents, one with helmet and one without. Since no one can or would do such an experiment anyone’s tale of saving skull and brain with helmet is an anecdotal evidence.
Second, the issue of safety in bike commuters is, I believe, not protecting your head from a racing car that will hit you. How much of added protection do you get when you are still exposed to dangerous road conditions with maniacs who drive right next to you? And seriously, when was last time you fell and banged your head while you were biking on a quiet road without disturbance? Even biking through kilometers in pot-hole filled streets with speedy cars, I have never had a major accident.
On the other hand now let’s look at countries like Japan and China where millions of people commute everyday on bike. In China, there are one full lane on most large streets just for the bikes on each direction. No one wears helmets. But I bet they are much better protected from a serious accidents than any joe in North America who bikes alone in a large streets filled with SUV’s. It’s all in numbers. The more people commute on bike, the more privileges they will get on the road and the safer it will be to commute on bike with or without helmet. Having a safe bike path or bike lane is a much better protection than stupid piece of styrofoam on your head.
On the other hand, forcing people to have helmets probably discourage quite a large population of fashion conscious animals that we are. Just ask a lady with $100 hair do to wear one of those things and then take shower when they get to work. Ask a teen ager boy with spikes all over to wear it. In fact, I bet the helmet cultures not only give minimal protection for your head but make you lose potential bikers who could fill the street for more privilege for you.

Seriously, I think making everybody wear the stupid helmet doesn’t help much of anything to promote biker’s right. I do believe in helmets and I would never hit MTB trail without one, and I do have my own stories of saving precious brain cells because of my helmet. But requiring helmets for all commuters doesn’t add up, in my humble opinion.

By: Richard Gravois

Richard Gravois — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 17:07:06 +0000

Helmets seem to make the rider more sober and conscious of the mismatch between the bike and the car.

If it helps the car driver see the bicyclist, then good. In retrospect, maybe this increased visibility is the most important feature of the helmet.

Whether the bike hits the car or the car hits the bike, it’s going to be bad for the bike.

By: todd

todd — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 16:09:45 +0000

Lies, damn lies, and statistics. Numbers can be twisted to prove anything you’d like.

I can’t say the helmets have “saved my life” but they have saved me from significant injury. I wouldn’t ride without one either.

Good point about the vents, though.

By: BC

BC — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 08:38:14 +0000

I know from experience that my helmets have saved my life 3 times (although all 3 times were on the road, and not the dirt). Twice from my own stupidity, and once from being hit by a car. I definitely feel safer and more confident with my helmet on, and won’t ride without it now.

By: Commute by Bike » To Lid or not to Lid

Commute by Bike » To Lid or not to Lid — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 05:21:07 +0000

[...] . So its a helmet a life saver or just a marketing ploy? [...]