Comments on: Are you safer without a helmet? http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/05/14/are-you-safer-without-a-helmet/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:38:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Kate http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/05/14/are-you-safer-without-a-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-99747 Kate Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:26:42 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/05/14/are-you-safer-without-a-helmet/#comment-99747 I survived being hit by a truck from the side. I had the right of way but the driver obviously didn't see me. After being unconscious in the ICU for 3 days with a TBI I had to relearn how to use my right hand. I know that if I hadn't been wearing my helmet I wouln't be alive today. And I learned that having ID is just as important as a helmet. In my situation, it took hours before my family was notified. One of the doctors who just happened to live in my neighborhood remembered seeing my bike parked at my house. He told the police which house to notify. That lucky coincidence is the only reason I was identified before I regained consciousness. I survived being hit by a truck from the side. I had the right of way but the driver obviously didn’t see me. After being unconscious in the ICU for 3 days with a TBI I had to relearn how to use my right hand. I know that if I hadn’t been wearing my helmet I wouln’t be alive today. And I learned that having ID is just as important as a helmet. In my situation, it took hours before my family was notified. One of the doctors who just happened to live in my neighborhood remembered seeing my bike parked at my house. He told the police which house to notify.
That lucky coincidence is the only reason I was identified before I regained consciousness.

]]> By: KOOL KID http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/05/14/are-you-safer-without-a-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-64494 KOOL KID Sun, 09 Dec 2007 07:01:27 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/05/14/are-you-safer-without-a-helmet/#comment-64494 tim goss has a point if i where riding fast down a slope and fell down hard head first on a pointy side walk edge i would rather have something like a helmet to absorb some of the shock waves instead of my bare skull tim goss has a point if i where riding fast down a slope and fell down hard head first on a pointy side walk edge i would rather have something like a helmet to absorb some of the shock waves instead of my bare skull

]]> By: Tim Goss http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/05/14/are-you-safer-without-a-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-32982 Tim Goss Wed, 23 May 2007 16:35:20 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/05/14/are-you-safer-without-a-helmet/#comment-32982 In the 30 years I've been commuting by bike, and wearing a helmet, I've never been hit by a motor vehicle. I guess I'm lucky. I've been hosed down with a fire extinguisher and had chewing tobacco spit poured on me but never been hit. I have, however, fallen off my bike more times than I'm probably willing to admit because of road conditions, dodging animals, forgetting to unclip my shoes, being stupid and twice just getting off my bike. To get an idea of what it would be like to have your head hit the pavement without a helmet, assuming you are going about 12 miles an hour when you fall, try dropping a cantelope from that height and watch what happens. Tim In the 30 years I’ve been commuting by bike, and wearing a helmet, I’ve never been hit by a motor vehicle. I guess I’m lucky. I’ve been hosed down with a fire extinguisher and had chewing tobacco spit poured on me but never been hit. I have, however, fallen off my bike more times than I’m probably willing to admit because of road conditions, dodging animals, forgetting to unclip my shoes, being stupid and twice just getting off my bike. To get an idea of what it would be like to have your head hit the pavement without a helmet, assuming you are going about 12 miles an hour when you fall, try dropping a cantelope from that height and watch what happens.

Tim

]]> By: tom http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/05/14/are-you-safer-without-a-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-32976 tom Wed, 23 May 2007 16:21:43 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/05/14/are-you-safer-without-a-helmet/#comment-32976 Back in highschool; some "accident" films were shown to drivers. Sometimes they showed these mainly to those drivers who had received a number of speeding tickets. The films showed some bad accidents but probably not too graphic I would think but enough to make a point. I have seen graphic photos of motorcycle accidents and a friend of mine did once come upon a motorcycle accident where the guy was not wearing a helmet (and a woman was riding on the motorcycle too; though I did not go into wanting to know all of the details). Needless to say, my friend saw a gruesome sight. Just for the protection of the cerebellum; and all that; I would think it would be worth it; especially with any bicycles with real speed and that are out on the highway. I pedal a classic English 3-speed in the neighborhood too; and no, I don't really feel the need as far as this goes but I have. Back in highschool; some “accident” films were shown to drivers. Sometimes they showed these mainly to those drivers who had received a number of speeding tickets. The films showed some bad accidents but probably not too graphic I would think but enough to make a point. I have seen graphic photos of motorcycle accidents and a friend of mine did once come upon a motorcycle accident where the guy was not wearing a helmet (and a woman was riding on the motorcycle too; though I did not go into wanting to know all of the details). Needless to say, my friend saw a gruesome sight. Just for the protection of the cerebellum; and all that; I would think it would be worth it; especially with any bicycles with real speed and that are out on the highway. I pedal a classic English 3-speed in the neighborhood too; and no, I don’t really feel the need as far as this goes but I have.

]]> By: Thomas Arnold http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/05/14/are-you-safer-without-a-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-31721 Thomas Arnold Fri, 18 May 2007 15:17:49 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/05/14/are-you-safer-without-a-helmet/#comment-31721 Speaking as someone who has personally survived a face first launch from his bike onto the pavement and is around to talk about it solely because of his helmet I would NEVER even think of not wearing one. Anyone who doesn't wear a helmet is an idiot. Speaking as someone who has personally survived a face first launch from his bike onto the pavement and is around to talk about it solely because of his helmet I would NEVER even think of not wearing one.

Anyone who doesn’t wear a helmet is an idiot.

]]> By: Paul of N.W. GA http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/05/14/are-you-safer-without-a-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-31252 Paul of N.W. GA Wed, 16 May 2007 18:39:23 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/05/14/are-you-safer-without-a-helmet/#comment-31252 I am an assertive and aggressive rider. I tend to take turns too fast and love the speed as I build up strength, which means I wreck more often. Then add the oil and other liquids from motor vehicles mixed with wind and gravel. If I go six moths with out laying my bike down, I've been lucky. Some motorist don't care if we are wearing a helmet, all they care about is us being in there way or making them selves feel bigger by picking on us. Statistics say we are going to have wrecks. Are you willing to loose the ability to talk or care for your self? Not only do I wear a helmet, I don't buy the cheapest one either. Where I live, sidewalks are too dangerous for the speeds I travel and the roads have little if any shoulders and no bike lanes so I take the lane 99% of the time. I believe it is my responsibility to make my self as visible as possible as that seems to keeps most motorists away from me, as they have more time to change lanes or plan passing better. Last week I was up in Minneapolis, it is a totally different world up there as bikes were every where and I did not feel like a freak being the only vehicular cyclist. Road cycling is an art not a science. I am an assertive and aggressive rider. I tend to take turns too fast and love the speed as I build up strength, which means I wreck more often. Then add the oil and other liquids from motor vehicles mixed with wind and gravel. If I go six moths with out laying my bike down, I’ve been lucky. Some motorist don’t care if we are wearing a helmet, all they care about is us being in there way or making them selves feel bigger by picking on us.

Statistics say we are going to have wrecks. Are you willing to loose the ability to talk or care for your self? Not only do I wear a helmet, I don’t buy the cheapest one either.

Where I live, sidewalks are too dangerous for the speeds I travel and the roads have little if any shoulders and no bike lanes so I take the lane 99% of the time. I believe it is my responsibility to make my self as visible as possible as that seems to keeps most motorists away from me, as they have more time to change lanes or plan passing better.

Last week I was up in Minneapolis, it is a totally different world up there as bikes were every where and I did not feel like a freak being the only vehicular cyclist.

Road cycling is an art not a science.

]]> By: Tim Goss http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/05/14/are-you-safer-without-a-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-31216 Tim Goss Wed, 16 May 2007 15:41:59 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/05/14/are-you-safer-without-a-helmet/#comment-31216 I read an article in the paper today about a medical students from Wisconsin who while biking was run over by a truck whose driver apparently didn't see him. The wheel of the truck went right over the guy's head. The picture of the guy, who survived with just a concussion, holding his mashed helmet is enough for me to wear my helmet every time I ride: http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/7506277.html Tim I read an article in the paper today about a medical students from Wisconsin who while biking was run over by a truck whose driver apparently didn’t see him. The wheel of the truck went right over the guy’s head. The picture of the guy, who survived with just a concussion, holding his mashed helmet is enough for me to wear my helmet every time I ride:

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/7506277.html

Tim

]]> By: Mike in Florida http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/05/14/are-you-safer-without-a-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-31099 Mike in Florida Wed, 16 May 2007 01:35:02 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/05/14/are-you-safer-without-a-helmet/#comment-31099 As someone who has actually been hit IN THE HEAD by a truck mirror, I say----wear your helmet. Whether helmets increase one's risk of being hit is immaterial. When the hit occurs, you want to be helmeted. As someone who has actually been hit IN THE HEAD by a truck mirror, I say—-wear your helmet. Whether helmets increase one’s risk of being hit is immaterial. When the hit occurs, you want to be helmeted.

]]> By: Ludwig http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/05/14/are-you-safer-without-a-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-31079 Ludwig Tue, 15 May 2007 22:43:09 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/05/14/are-you-safer-without-a-helmet/#comment-31079 This report came out sometime last year ago here in the UK and everyone picked up on it. Unfortunately for those of us that live in metropolitan cities the results were completely useless, regardless of whether the research is faulty or not. The study was done on amply wide rural roads, where drivers had plenty of space to actually give a cyclist more room should they choose. Here in London, and most metropolitan cities for that matter, it's just not possible. And even if it were I seriously doubt it would happen. I don't wear a helmet for my own reasons and most drivers don't think twice about cutting it within inches. As for whether I'm safer with or without a helmet - there's lots of information published arguing both sides. My advice to anyone taking up cycling would be to read it, and make your own decision rather than rely on a single study. This report came out sometime last year ago here in the UK and everyone picked up on it. Unfortunately for those of us that live in metropolitan cities the results were completely useless, regardless of whether the research is faulty or not. The study was done on amply wide rural roads, where drivers had plenty of space to actually give a cyclist more room should they choose.

Here in London, and most metropolitan cities for that matter, it’s just not possible. And even if it were I seriously doubt it would happen. I don’t wear a helmet for my own reasons and most drivers don’t think twice about cutting it within inches.

As for whether I’m safer with or without a helmet – there’s lots of information published arguing both sides. My advice to anyone taking up cycling would be to read it, and make your own decision rather than rely on a single study.

]]> By: dabac http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/05/14/are-you-safer-without-a-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-31022 dabac Tue, 15 May 2007 15:55:33 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/05/14/are-you-safer-without-a-helmet/#comment-31022 I have big trouble accepting the risk compensation line of reasoning. A fall in traffic is ALWAYS scary and unpredictable and anybody who believes in the concept of a controlled accident is naive beyond belief. I've used a helmet for so long that when I use the bike to run an errand, for commuting, or some other everyday purpose the helmet is just another neutral part of the gear, like the shoes or a pair of sunglasses, and I can't see it affecting my riding style or risk level at to any significant degree at all. Then there are occasions when I gear up for a particular purpose, but on those occasions the increased risk is my choice, and the helmet is the consequence - not the other way around. Blaming the helmet for the increased risk in those circumstances is like saying that wearing bike shorts increases the risk of the rider exerting himself. I have big trouble accepting the risk compensation line of reasoning. A fall in traffic is ALWAYS scary and unpredictable and anybody who believes in the concept of a controlled accident is naive beyond belief.
I’ve used a helmet for so long that when I use the bike to run an errand, for commuting, or some other everyday purpose the helmet is just another neutral part of the gear, like the shoes or a pair of sunglasses, and I can’t see it affecting my riding style or risk level at to any significant degree at all.
Then there are occasions when I gear up for a particular purpose, but on those occasions the increased risk is my choice, and the helmet is the consequence – not the other way around. Blaming the helmet for the increased risk in those circumstances is like saying that wearing bike shorts increases the risk of the rider exerting himself.

]]>