The CycleChat Helmet Debate Thread

[mjr]

You need to come to Cambridge.... cycle parking at Adenbrookes is at a premium the demand is so high

And yet, the Nobber's Health Service is in charge, building more car parking than cycle parking and still sending appointment letters out that have one sentence asking you not to drive onto site and then half a page to telling you where to park cars! The rampant flyparking hasn't been enough of a clue so I've started wheeling my bike into the consultation room. They're still not taking the hint yet!

But at least no-one there seems remotely surprised that people cycle without helmets.

 

[srw]

But, 8 months since wearing one, I find that I still feel myself more hesitant and nervous on busy roads than I'd normally be when wearing one. As I'd never worn a helmet before I was about 55 I'm slightly surprised that it's taking me so long to get my courage back.

An alternative way to look at the same story is that the helmet - "magic talisman" as you describe it - was encouraging you to take more risk than you used to.

Chalk up +1 for the theory of risk compensation.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

An alternative way to look at the same story is that the helmet - "magic talisman" as you describe it - was encouraging you to take more risk than you used to.

Chalk up +1 for the theory of risk compensation.

Yebbut as I'm a bit of a scaredy pants, helmets ''allow'' me to ride places where I sometimes have to go but wouldn't normally choose to go to, even if they're roads that other braver cyclists don't give a second thought about. A helmet scarcely gets me up to the level of assurance that I used to have.

 

[swansonj]

Yebbut as I'm a bit of a scaredy pants, helmets ''allow'' me to ride places where I sometimes have to go but wouldn't normally choose to go to, even if they're roads that other braver cyclists don't give a second thought about. A helmet scarcely gets me up to the level of assurance that I used to have.

Surely you are both right. It's clear evidence of risk compensation - the level of risk you are choosing is influenced by your perception of the protection provided. But risk compensation isn't necessarily a bad thing. We are all emotional subjective people, and if psychological perceptions put us in the mental space where we are able to do something we want to and would not otherwise do, well, nowt wrong with that in my book.

 

[mjr]

We are all emotional subjective people, and if psychological perceptions put us in the mental space where we are able to do something we want to and would not otherwise do, well, nowt wrong with that in my book.

I would agree, were it not for this country's low level of helmet usage being a major reason that the government hasn't yet forced through a compulsion law. So there is still something wrong with it, sadly. I think we need to sort out why some roads scare people and fix it, although that's much easier said than done.

 

[srw]

I would agree, were it not for this country's low level of helmet usage being a major reason that the government hasn't yet forced through a compulsion law. So there is still something wrong with it, sadly. I think we need to sort out why some roads scare people and fix it, although that's much easier said than done.

A lot of that is also about risk perception. Cycling is an incredibly safe activity.

 

[ufkacbln]

A work mate recently bought a bike as he wanted to lose weight, a full suspension, uber tyred MTB 29 'er from Halfords. A week or so later I asked him how he was getting on, he said he hadn't ridden it yet as he hadn't had time to buy a helmet. I said he might want to have read online and see if he thought he really needed one to ride a bicycle, his eyed glazed over and I knew I'd be wasting my time pushing it.

He turned up yesterday with his new helmet, it is so large and badly fitting that I reckon he could get another one under it. Now he feels safe to ride.

PS We work together in A&E and despite seeing many head injuries every single day, after 2 years in there (one of the busiest in the UK), I still haven't seen a cyclist come in with one. Still........wish I had a £ for every clinically trained professional who has mentioned my lack of a helmet.

As I point out frequently to colleagues

Try asking one why they are not advocating the Thudguard next time you have a toddler coming in

You can reiterate ALL of their justifications back to them, from medical endorsement. Through the emotional blackmail to the Thudgaurd saved my child's life

Best one for doctors is pointing out that the professional body for casualty medics have endorsed the Thudguard, so they should be promoting it

 

[hatler]

Purely for the purposes of adding another data point, when I started cyclo-commuting I bought a helmet simply because, as far as I could make out, that's what regular cyclists did.

I had no idea there was anything contentious about it at all.

I was then introduced to the C+ forum and from there I found my way to acf. Somewhere along that route I realised that there was little point to wearing a helmet for the cycling I do. I don't think I've worn one since, other than when trying to blat along the South Downs Way where the chances of my falling off are significantly increased. (But not for bimbling along the SDW, only when blatting.)

I hadn't realised until now that I was a twat.

 

[benb]

At one point I used to drive HGV's & collect from Immingham docks, I always found it funny that I had to wear a hard hat inside the cab as they loaded a 29 ton 40ft container onto the trailer, it the chains did snap & it fell on the cab I figured it wasn't going to help a great deal.

Have you considered getting out and standing 10m or so away?

 

[snorri]

Have you considered getting out and standing 10m or so away?

Container terminals are usually pedestrian free zones for safety reasons, unlike our public roads network where lower safety standards are deemed acceptable.

 

[ufkacbln]

Biscuits are an effective item of safety equipment

Buy the crane operators a packet

Then they will like you

Then they are less likely to drop a container on you


Common sense..... Innit

 

[anothersam]

I hadn't realised until now that I was a twat.

"Someone called me a twit for not wearing a helmet. It really made me think. As a result of that teachable moment, I decided to wear a helmet. Not only that, I now call other people twits if they're not wearing one. It's a virtuous circle."

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Have you considered getting out and standing 10m or so away?

Container terminals are usually pedestrian free zones for safety reasons, unlike our public roads network where lower safety standards are deemed acceptable.

As said getting out is not an option, you pull into a specific area, get out, unlock the empty container which you are bringing back, once you go over a yellow line, or through a set of gates/barrier (depends port to port) you are not allowed to get out. This is then lifted off normally with what looks like a huge fork lift truck with a grab on it. You then pull forward & round to the area to be loaded, the container is loaded & then you have to drive off without it being locked to the trailer until you are back into the safe zone where you get out & lock it on.

 

[mjr]

Today's Brooks Dispatch includes the tragic news that Brooks are co-developing two helmets. I'm not posting the preview link because I hope they fail to gain a market - surely traditionalists won't want helmets and hipsters won't want copper rivets on their hat? I've emailed a reply to say that I feel producing helmets undermine the Brooks brand image of supporting traditional cycling and as a consequence, I've decided to hold off from buying the third Brooks product that I was considering purchasing (and I really was).

 

[doog]

Today's Brooks Dispatch includes the tragic news that Brooks are co-developing two helmets. I'm not posting the preview link because I hope they fail to gain a market - surely traditionalists won't want helmets and hipsters won't want copper rivets on their hat? I've emailed a reply to say that I feel producing helmets undermine the Brooks brand image of supporting traditional cycling and as a consequence, I've decided to hold off from buying the third Brooks product that I was considering purchasing (and I really was).

Its a choice isnt it.....I have a Brooks and I wear a helmet at times. What's this nonsense that 'traditional cycling' doesnt include helmets ...when did that happen ?