DS2 cycles to work without a helmet

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He's 18yo. Cycles 3 miles each way along real cycle paths separated from the road by a kerb. Mixed with pedestrians. A fairly sedate pace on my a hybrid bike.

He had been wearing a helmet but I've noticed this week he's stopped. He says it's because he can't wear his headphones with the helmet.

I hate this. I don't really think he should be wearing headphones while cycling and he certainly should be wearing the helmet.

However:

• He's 18yo.
• At least he's getting out and some exercise, after a year wfh and socialising in front of the same screen. He loses is only exercise if I drive him, which I could do fairly easily, although he doesn't want this.
• He is at least safe from the most significant risk to a cyclist (road traffic) although of course not protected from all potential accidents.
• The cycle path he uses is well used by people travelling to the industrial estate where he works. Morning and evening there is a steady stream of cyclists going to and from work on a variety of mountain type bikes.(Road bikes will be in the road with helmets on). Many wear high viz but hardly any wear helmets, so I expect part of this is to fit in with what is normal on this trip. On MN everyone must wear a helmet, IME people rarely do for a leisurely commute.

I've explained the risks and told him what I think, but I just have to live with it, don't I?

Don't know the answer, but by wearing a headphones, he is increasing danger even more. I wouldn't be happy if that was my dc too.

While it is unwise as he is 18 there is nothing you can do well technically you could kick him out but that would be a bit drastic

You can’t do anything about it although that would worry me. The headphones alone are dangerous

I'd be more concerned about the headphones making him a target for mugging than the lack of a helmet.

It would really concern me too, both the headphones and lack of helmet. But like others, also not sure what you can do apart from try and persuade him

In Holland helmet wearing isnt that popular and I read an article that said head injuries were still relatively low because the cycle lanes are well protected from traffic and culturally courtesy to bike riders is much better than many other countries. However, when I worked in A&E cyclists without helmets were known as organ donors. He is 18, invincible and thinks you are fussing. Could he find headphones that work with a helmet? The headphones make him vulnerable in other ways but it may be a reasonable compromise

You could buy him a bluetooth helmet, which he can use to stream music more safely?
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07HQYQQDM?psc=1&th=1&geniuslink=true&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

@legoagogogo they also ride "grandma bikes" which sees them in an upright position which gives them a better view for an issues. This is a really interesting video on the bikes.

Dh used to commute on a bike, has come off twice luckily just leg injuries not head but did wear a helmet. He realised the burden he would be putting on his loved ones if he had a brain injury from stupidity of not wearing a helmet.

Would he consider bone conducting headphones? These allow you to hear a bit more of the outside environment as they don't cover your ears, amd I can imagine they would fit with a helmet on
Aftershokz are great but pricey, cheaper ones available on amazon
www.amazon.co.uk/Tayogo-Conduction-Headphones-Bluetooth-Open-Ear/dp/B07QRG2B3K/ref=asc_df_B07QP6QJWT/?hvlocphy=20343&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=205217260000&hvpone&hvlocint&th=1&hvpos&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-717558694521&hvrand=18231588035802622068

[quote OnTheBenchOfDoom]@legoagogogo they also ride "grandma bikes" which sees them in an upright position which gives them a better view for an issues. This is a really interesting video on the bikes.

Dh used to commute on a bike, has come off twice luckily just leg injuries not head but did wear a helmet. He realised the burden he would be putting on his loved ones if he had a brain injury from stupidity of not wearing a helmet.[/quote]
I'm going to guess it took a few years after turning 18 before he came to that realisation though

I'd be more worried about the headphones too. You need to be fully aware of your surroundings.

Can't get overexcited about helmets - most people don't wear them properly anyway.

My brother went over his handlebars at that age cycling to work. He split his nose right down the middle and fractured his upper jaw, knocking several teeth out and knocking several more into a jaunty (permanent) angle.

Feel free to use that story as "this happened to someone I know" … whatever it takes to make him wear a helmet!!
And also to wear a helmet properly so it is sat on top of your head, with the peak protruding level with your nose. You see far too many people wearing them too far back, on the backs of their heads with absolutely no face and forehead protection!

When DH and I were at uni (we met there) we both had bike helmets that both our parents thought we wore. Our teen DCs know we expect them to wear a helmet and currently do but loads of kids and adults don't round here so I'm a bit heavy hearted about the expectation that they will probably do as we did at some point and want to stop. They ride on busy roads so hopefully they'll still see sense. My DH has had accidents where his helmet has been damaged (we wear them now!) so that might help a bit as well. It's hard when as a parent you feel hypocritical.

A family member of mine died in a cycling accident in the days before helmets were popular, he clipped wheels with another cyclist, hit his head on the kerb and died instantly, it’s not just cars he needs to worry about!

Excuse my ear, I’ve been in the garden today.
I’ve sourced headphones from the kids, and also included my own. They all ‘fit’ with the helmet, so his excuse is exactly that - an excuse.
“I won’t wear a helmet because I want to plug my ears with loud music that makes me more at risk therefore more in need of a helmet!” is one way to put it!

I do wear the the blue/black headphones in the picture myself, the ones that sit in front of the ear. It’s not a perfect solution, but they are bone conduction and leave my ear canals unobstructed. I can hear everything around me and if I’m on a road and it’s busy they get muted!

@Happyface120

Would he consider bone conducting headphones? These allow you to hear a bit more of the outside environment as they don't cover your ears, amd I can imagine they would fit with a helmet on Aftershokz are great but pricey, cheaper ones available on amazon ]]

I have a pair of Aftershox, they fit brilliantly with my helmet! They were pricey, but my last birthday was a special one so they were a treat