The CycleChat Helmet Debate Thread

[ufkacbln]

Several years ago I took part in bike week at Southampton University manning a stand for the University promoting cycling as a healthy activity

Along with us are a couple of bike shops the Uni BUG and a stand giving away helmets

They were simply handing them out!

The LBS stall objected as there was no attempt made to see whether they fitted or adjust them

We concurred pointing out that a poorly fitted helmet can increase injury and also cause injury

They simply stated that "any helmet was better than none" so it didn't mater whether they fitted

Dangerous evangelism leading people into a false sense of security

 

[mjr]

I can agree with high heat.....

My Giro Aspect

Yebbut that was cooked on the hob, which I hope most people think makes it unwearable!

 

[simongt]

And there is the 'view' that those who wear helmets are more likely to takes risks / cycle in a more cavalier fashion etc., thus increasing the 'likeleyhood' factor of having an accident.

 

[Mugshot]

And there is the 'view' that those who wear helmets are more likely to takes risks / cycle in a more cavalier fashion etc., thus increasing the 'likeleyhood' factor of having an accident.

It's a little more than a "view"' see post #1505

 

[growingvegetables]

And there is the 'view' that those who wear helmets are more likely to takes risks / cycle in a more cavalier fashion etc., thus increasing the 'likeleyhood' factor of having an accident.

Hmm - the research evidence suggests that "risk compensation" is indeed relevant.

Not however in the sense of cyclists taking increased risks. More a case that idiots in vehicles assume a helmet guarantees that the cyclist will bounce, unhurt and impervious to any harm caused by contact with a ton of metal driven at 60mph.

 

[ufkacbln]

Yebbut that was cooked on the hob, which I hope most people think makes it unwearable!

I did say HIGH heat

Slightly OT
I have forwarded the recipe to Nigella!

She can then make lascivious remarks about helmets

 

[martint235]

I thought this thread had finally died.

I headbutted another cyclist once. I broke his cheekbone. He sued me. He was wearing a helmet, I wasn't. I don't think it helped.

 

[newfhouse]

eliminates the risk of a driver trying to pull the "It's your fault I drove into you without looking because you weren't wearing a helmet" card

That's one of many reasons why I don't wear one on the road. It's the same reason I don't wear knee or elbow protectors or a back brace.

 

[mjr]

I tend to wear one because it keeps my bald head warm and eliminates the risk of a driver trying to pull the "It's your fault I drove into you without looking because you weren't wearing a helmet" card in the unfortunate case I had to go to court after an accident.

The only times I've seen a motorist attempt to play that card, it has been flatly rejected by the court, for example http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/QB/2009/53.html (reader warning: also contains IMO-faulty reasoning and taking the highway code helmet advice as well-founded) because "the burden is on the Defendant to establish that the Claimant's head injuries would have been reduced by the wearing of an approved helmet" and that's basically impossible while many helmet manufacturers are including statements like "No helmet can protect the wearer from all foreseeable accidents, including those involving bicycle to motor vehicle collisions" in their manuals (Source).

Helmets aren't designed for collisions with motorists, so bogus motorist claims can be rejected in other ways and fear of them really shouldn't be a key reason to wear one.

 

[theclaud]

However, after wiping out a stupid pedestrian at 25mph the other week who stepped out right in front of me without looking giving me about 1 metre to react, I can say that helmets are definitely useful for headbutting pedestrians. I distinctly remember headbutting some part of her as I cartwheeled off my bike and judging by the large crack sustained to the front of my helmet I am pretty sure it saved me from worse injuries than a slightly grazed cheek.

Is it old-fashioned of me to think that we simply shouldn't run into pedestrians? And that when travelling at 25mph we ought to be on the lookout for the entirely routine occurrence of pedestrians stepping out without looking?

 

[Profpointy]

Is it old-fashioned of me to think that we simply shouldn't run into pedestrians? And that when travelling at 25mph we ought to be on the lookout for the entirely routine occurrence of pedestrians stepping out without looking?

yebbutt pedestrians should wear high viz and helmets and should be taxed and insured

 

[ufkacbln]

I'm generally not much of a helmet activist/supporter, whether you wear one or not should definitely be your personal choice and I really doubt the usefulness of cycling helmets in many collisions with motor vehicles. It really annoys me when the media reports on cycling fatalities with statements like "Mr. X, who was crushed by a 44 tonne left-turning lorry, was not wearing a helmet at the time" as if that would have magically saved their life.

I tend to wear one because it keeps my bald head warm and eliminates the risk of a driver trying to pull the "It's your fault I drove into you without looking because you weren't wearing a helmet" card in the unfortunate case I had to go to court after an accident.

However, after wiping out a stupid pedestrian at 25mph the other week who stepped out right in front of me without looking giving me about 1 metre to react, I can say that helmets are definitely useful for headbutting pedestrians. I distinctly remember headbutting some part of her as I cartwheeled off my bike and judging by the large crack sustained to the front of my helmet I am pretty sure it saved me from worse injuries than a slightly grazed cheek.

......and the pedestrian?

 

[Ian H]

Is it old-fashioned of me to think that we simply shouldn't run into pedestrians? And that when travelling at 25mph we ought to be on the lookout for the entirely routine occurrence of pedestrians stepping out without looking?

I understand that many cyclists would support the introduction of strict liability rules. That might reduce the credibility of the '(s)he stepped straight out in front of me' excuse.

 

[Justinslow]

Is there a glitch in the matrix?
Could of sworn a post just disappeared........

 

[martint235]

Is there a glitch in the matrix?
Could of sworn a post just disappeared........

Which one?