This is a helmet debate

[david k]

thats a jesters hat of some kind. It isnt designed for protection so i presume its affect in the event of a bump to the head would be minimal

 

[thelawnet]

thats a jesters hat of some kind. It isnt designed for protection so i presume its affect in the event of a bump to the head would be minimal

Never assume, we need EVIDENCE man.

 

[Dan B]

arent helmets desinged to protect you in the unfortunate event of hitting your head?

Are they? Brian Walker runs Head Protection Evaluations, the principal UK test laboratory for helmets and head protection systems of all kinds. Here's what he says

 

[thelawnet]

Never assume, we need EVIDENCE man.

My personal view is that jester's hat provides more safety benefit than a helmet, as it increases your visibility, marks you out as eccentric and quite possibly hazardous, thereby earning you more space, and because you are unusual, not just another cyclist, you get treated differently.

 

[david k]

My personal view is that jester's hat provides more safety benefit than a helmet, as it increases your visibility, marks you out as eccentric and quite possibly hazardous, thereby earning you more space, and because you are unusual, not just another cyclist, you get treated differently.

that affect would be reduced if everyone wore one

 

[Norm]

My personal view is that jester's hat provides more safety benefit than a helmet, as it increases your visibility, marks you out as eccentric and quite possibly hazardous, thereby earning you more space, and because you are unusual, not just another cyclist, you get treated differently.

Indeed, the whole issue of primary vs. secondary safety is often ignored.

 

[david k]

Are they? Brian Walker runs Head Protection Evaluations, the principal UK test laboratory for helmets and head protection systems of all kinds. Here's what he says

he makes a fe interesting points but no more than already mentioned here. although he is t times critical the basic primay function of a cycle helmet is protection

 

[Jezston]

Are they? Brian Walker runs Head Protection Evaluations, the principal UK test laboratory for helmets and head protection systems of all kinds. Here's what he says

That interesting that he says you'd be hard pressed to find helmets in the UK that meet Snell standards - is that the case? I'd like to think that if I buy a helmet it's actually effective to at least what cycle helmets are claimed to be effective for!

 

[Rebel Ian]

If it's one of our company's 'shared service centres' you should wear full body armour ....

Ha!! Fair point!!

 

[thelawnet]

that affect would be reduced if everyone wore one

But they don't, and those no evidence that will change.


Cycle helmet wearing however is relatively prevalent.


As an individual capable only of deciding things for yourself and with very limited influence over others, the best safety decision you could make is to cycle wearing a jester hat.


If you are saying you should wear a cycle helmet as example to others, the problem with that is it deters more people from cycling by making them think it is dangerous (requiring special safety equipment - I went ice skating yesterday, and apart from a few small children, nobody was wearing a helmet) and unpleasant, requiring you to wear a silly hat.

That being so, your decision to wear a cycle helmet is purely selfish - to protect yourself. Which is absolutely fine, but it's just not as good a safety device as a jester hat, so you are not acting rationally even in the interests of your own safety.

 

[MacB]

That being so, your decision to wear a cycle helmet is purely selfish - to protect yourself. Which is absolutely fine, but it's just not as good a safety device as a jester hat, so you are not acting rationally even in the interests of your own safety.

couldn't he wear a jesters hat over the top of a cycle helmet?

 

[thelawnet]

couldn't he wear a jesters hat over the top of a cycle helmet?

No, I don't think it would fit - cycle helmets enlarge the size of your head.

 

[Red Light]

They have a very useful purpose in our society and for one, wouldn't like to go back to the horse and cart.

Its interesting to look back at the issues faced by a horse based transport system. There were major major problems of streets awash, literally, with horse shoot, piss and carcasses and in the summer air was laden with horse shoot dust. That Utopia was not very pleasant in practice.
http://www.enviroliteracy.org/article.php/578.html

 

[Red Light]

thats a jesters hat of some kind. It isnt designed for protection so i presume its affect in the event of a bump to the head would be minimal

So you agree then that the effect of a helmet is also minimal except in a simple fall from a stationary bike. Glad we cleared that up.

 

[ufkacbln]

arent helmets desinged to protect you in the unfortunate event of hitting your head?

Says who ?

Are you saying we should rely on the likes of RoSPA, the College of Emergency Medicine etc to advise us that they are?

Should we simply be accepeting this advice and wearing helmets?