Page 2 | Helmets and cycles

MemorableTrenchcoat · 03/07/2025 15:52

Anon9898 · 03/07/2025 15:36

Is it wrong of me to think when somebody's on a bicycle they should wear a helmet. I have seen loads of children riding bikes and scooters without wearing one.

I know it's parents choice but I won't let my kids go on a bike or scooter with out one.

Am I being a reasonable to think that if a person not just a child an adult as well is going out on a bicycle they should be protected with a helmet

No, you’re not being reasonable, unless you think the occupants of motor vehicles should also wear helmets. This would likely prevent a lot more injuries and deaths than would all cyclists wearing helmets.

Parky04 · 03/07/2025 15:52

When I worked for a bus company two children on bikes were hit by a bus. Impact was very low speed. One child died and the other one was relatively unscathed. The one who died was the one who wasn't wearing a helmet. Of course, we will never know if the helmet would have made a difference, but it couldn't have made it worse.

Alexandra2001 · 03/07/2025 15:50

Anon9898 · 03/07/2025 15:39

I don't tell people off I just think people would think of safety first.

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What have other peoples choices got to do with you?

Now i always wear one but it shouldn't be compulsory, we have freedom of choice.. & wont protect you if hit by a car at 60mph.. which is the real danger for cyclists children walkers etc etc.

Redpeach · 03/07/2025 15:50

A helmet wont save your life if you get caught under the wheels of a lorry

OverlyFragrant · 03/07/2025 15:49

Different strokes for different folks.
Helmets are only designed to protect a head injury from a low speed glancing blow.
Behavioural studies show drivers take more risks around cyclists wearing a helmet, than they do when passing a cyclists without one.
A helmet doesn't make cycling any safer.

Knnniggets · 03/07/2025 15:49

She was on a cycle path and can't have been going fast, as the path had narrowed due to some building work. She would have been better off with a helmet.

Yougetwhatyouget · 03/07/2025 15:48

roundaboutthehillsareshining · 03/07/2025 15:44

Studies of helmet effectiveness, especially in preventing paediatric injury, are ambivalent. Only approximately 2% of paediatric head injury admissions to hospital are a result of cycling related head injuries to an area of the head that a helmet would protect. Conversely, 60% of admissions are pedestrian or fall related, but we don't require kids to wear a helmet as they go about their daily lives. Studies from the mid 2000's have also found similar percentages of head injuries occurring to cyclists, pedestrians and occupants of cars. However, you don't make your kid wear a helmet when they're in the car either?

The way to make cycling and scootering safer is to have more people cycling/scootering, control traffic speed effectively and have clear differentiation of space between motorized traffic, pedestrians and cycle/scooters.

All of this. While wearing a helmet can give protection against head injuries vs not that is true in a wide range of scenarios. In most cases we would never realistically consider putting on a helmet. I believe one of the riskiest activities was walking down stairs.

Rowgtfc72 · 03/07/2025 15:48

I bike about 45 miles a week for work commute. I wouldn't dream of not wearing a helmet. I'd prefer something else to hit the concrete before my skull.
About 5 or 6 people at work wear helmets.
Each to their own I guess.

Redpeach · 03/07/2025 15:46

Knnniggets · 03/07/2025 15:45

I just saw a lady today who was bleeding from the head, having come off without one. Her handlebar hit a railing and she disbalanced. She was barely conscious so I would strongly recommend wearing one if you value your brain.

I've seen road traffic accidents where peoples heads are smashed, no bikes involved

Knnniggets · 03/07/2025 15:45

I just saw a lady today who was bleeding from the head, having come off without one. Her handlebar hit a railing and she disbalanced. She was barely conscious so I would strongly recommend wearing one if you value your brain.

roundaboutthehillsareshining · 03/07/2025 15:44

Studies of helmet effectiveness, especially in preventing paediatric injury, are ambivalent. Only approximately 2% of paediatric head injury admissions to hospital are a result of cycling related head injuries to an area of the head that a helmet would protect. Conversely, 60% of admissions are pedestrian or fall related, but we don't require kids to wear a helmet as they go about their daily lives. Studies from the mid 2000's have also found similar percentages of head injuries occurring to cyclists, pedestrians and occupants of cars. However, you don't make your kid wear a helmet when they're in the car either?

The way to make cycling and scootering safer is to have more people cycling/scootering, control traffic speed effectively and have clear differentiation of space between motorized traffic, pedestrians and cycle/scooters.

Redpeach · 03/07/2025 15:42

So why aren't you starting a thread about other lifestyle choices you dont happen to agree with. Very few wear them in holland

Original poster

Anon9898 · 03/07/2025 15:39

Pootles34 · 03/07/2025 15:37

Meh? I would wear one, my kids wear one, beyond that, not my business. I don't tell people off for smoking or drinking either?

I don't tell people off I just think people would think of safety first.

OP posts:

Pootles34 · 03/07/2025 15:37

Meh? I would wear one, my kids wear one, beyond that, not my business. I don't tell people off for smoking or drinking either?