To think that ALL cyclists on a road should wear a helmet?!

[justneedsomesleep]

Is it illegal if they don't? I mean it's for their own safety. Was in the car this evening and old(ish) man on bike - about 60 was merrily cylcing along, not at a great speed either and was causing a huge back log of traffic. But the most alrming thing was that he wasn't wearing a helmet!?

Have visions of his head splitting open on the ground like a watermelon in the case of an accident.
He didn't seem to care at all - no concern for safety and as if he was out for a Sunday pm bike ride.....

Aaaargghh!

[SalBySea]

I hate seeing people on bikes with no helmet - I always wear mine

even worse is headphones an no helmet

[JuneBugJen]

There is a strange study that shows that if a cyclist is wearing a helmet, cars will pass closer to them when overtaking (by a significant amount) as they see them as being safe.

So paradoxically they can put lives at risk by inconsiderate drivers.

Its a wierd world!

[Bronze]

Also the majority of helmet wearers wear them wrong.

[TheArmadillo]

it drives me barmy when people don't wear helmets.

They can and do save lives.

at least 50% of the cyclists I see don't have them - and they also don't have lights on their bike, wear dark clothing and no reflectors, basically no safety gear at all.

YANBU.

Oh and people who cycle alongside great big articulated lorries with their kids in one of those crappy trailer things also piss me off - especially when they are next to the downs, big open green space they could cycle on with no risk to th ekids. They cycle alongside the lorries so they can actually touch them, seemingly oblivious to the fact the visibility on those things isn't great.

[southeastastra]

i don't know, i never wore one when i cycled alot.

[JuneBugJen]

Which downs armadillo?

[TheBlonde]

YABU

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

It's a legal requirement on a motorcycle, but not on a pushbike - and as JuneBugJen has said, recent research says vehicles pass closer to the bike if the rider is wearing a helmet. In other countries, a compulsory helmet law reduced the number of cyclists by up to 75% because it was suddenly perceived to be a dangerous activity.

[ChirpyGirl]

YANBU, It should be the same as motorbikes, wear a helmet or don't ride, simple as.
I wouldn't have a brother if he hadn't have been wearing his helmet, it split straight down the middle when a car pulled out into him. As it was he smashed his teeth up and was in HDU for nearly a week with severe concussion.

[melontum]

People would cycle much less if required to wear helmets, they would then miss out on the fitness benefits (result of studies where they have been made compulsory). So much so, that it's argued that the benefits of the exercise are greater than the injuries caused, so better not to require them (argues the CTC, until recently this argument was accepted by the BMA).

People wearing helmets take more risks (lots of indirect evidence).

It's a complicated issue.

[prettybird]

I'm perhaps biased, but my mum fell off her bike on holiday in India, going at c.25 miles an hour, bounced on her pelvis (multiple fractures) and then on to her head. 18 months later and my dad is still getting full attendance allowance, as she sustained frontal and temporal lobe injuries. She is getting better, very very slowly - but she will never be the woman, my mum, that went off on holiday

And that was wearing a helmet You can see how compressed the helmet was at the impact point.

If she hadn't been wearing it, she would be dead.

[prettybird]

I'm perhaps biased, but my mum fell off her bike on holiday in India, going at c.25 miles an hour, bounced on her pelvis (multiple fractures) and then on to her head. 18 months later and my dad is still getting full attendance allowance, as she sustained frontal and temporal lobe injuries. She is getting better, very very slowly - but she will never be the woman, my mum, that went off on holiday

And that was wearing a helmet You can see how compressed the helmet was at the impact point.

If she hadn't been wearing it, she would be dead.

[madness]

I never have worn helmet have read some research in the BMJ that was inconclusive. Besides, in the country were i was born no one uses a helmet despite a lot of biking

[FairyMum]

I wear a helmet. LOL at some of the reasons for not wearing helmets on this thread. Wearing a helmet can prevent serious head injuries. I look at people who don't make their own children wear helmets as complete morons!

[FairyMum]

So just because you could potentially tip and fall over while walking, you should not wear a helmet to protect your head when cycling? Sorry, but (luckily for our children perhaps) we think differently. This is a bit like people who don't want to give up smoking because there is a risk they might be killed crossing the road tomorrow anyway......LOL

[LittleMyDancingForJoy]

Armadillo - that road along the Downs is a disgrace, no cycle lane, no room to pass, and 'no cycling' painted on all the Downs paths?

Flipping ridiculous! DS and I would always take the road past Torwood House instead, it's much safer.

[pointydog]

Helmet hair - no one wants it.

[prettybird]

A pedestrian does not travel at speeds of up to 30+ miles an hour.

A helmet won't stop you being injured if a car hits you at full pelt - but will help you if you skid and fall at speed - which can happen to even the best of drivers.

Would the people who argue against helmets also argue against wearing seat belts? I remember similar arguments about "people driving more dangerously when wearing them" before they became compulsory. (Yes, I am that old )

[madness]

well will happily be called a moron

ds does wear a helmet sometimes (my suggestion) and it in fact worries me when I see him