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!

I don't think people realsie just how horrific head injuries are until they have been affected by one - directly or indirectly.

And helmets would help in reducing the probability. My mum wasn't hit by a car: she just skidded going round a corner. others in the group also skidded - there was some sand or gravel there - but didn't fall off. There was an army doctor in the group (they were allon an orgnaised cycling holiday) who helped my dad look after mum while they travelled the 5 hours to a decent hospital. She said she had never had to deal with an injury so bad.

I don't wrap ds in cotton wool. I know that shit happens. I am one of those mothers who lets him walk to school at 7 on his own - even though many here on Mumsnet wouldn't. I assess the risk and deem it accpetable.

Wearing a cycle helmt seems an easy thing to do to reduce that particular risk.

This is a bit like the motorbike threads that crop up every so often. It's good practice to cycle as safely as possible and most responsible cyclists do - but why on earth can't it be our own decision? Bicycles give so much freedom for young people and those who can't or prefer not to drive - why hedge cycling around with legislation so it dies out like everything else to do with normal, active, outdoor life. I thought we were trying to encourage fitness and non-polluting transport, before our society implodes on itself.

Someone like my dad could be that 60 year old man "merrily cycling" along the OP's road (although he'd probably wear a helmet TBH). He is a fit, sensible and safe cyclist of many years. How can you judge that he didn't care and had no awareness of safety, just because he was cycling slowly (not a crime IME)? You are in a car, you can make up the time, don't be so impatient. You were probably at more risk of causing an accident while distracted by tutting at him!

Yanbu. I hating seeing people with no helmets, especially kids, and even worse parents with young kids on their bike, no helmet on the child . I see it all the time it makes me cringe.

blithedance I hope if you don't have a helmet on and someone kills you they have the same attitude and don't spend their life blaming themself.

The other day I saw a Mummy riding along with a very newborn baby dangling off her front in a baby bjorn!!

I was

It is law in Australia that all cyclist must wear helmets or you are fined.

Helmet hair is annoying but I guess it is preferable to being brain damaged or dead!

If people chose to not ride their bikes because they don't want to wear a helmet then so be it.

I love the fact that there is no longer any argument with my 15 year old about wearing a helmet (not cool in the UK) as, as superloopy said, it's illegal here not to and you WILL be stopped and fined. Sorted.

The way the cost of fuels going everyone will end up cycling anyway

What Riven said.

There seems to be an angry obsession with cyclists breaking rules - sometimes I think that is because motorists don't understand them, e.g. with roundabouts, cyclists are meant to stick to the outside.

On my way to work I need to move to a right turning lane on my bicycle, I signal clearly and move across when safe to do so but am often blasted with a horn. Why? Do they think I shouldn't need to turn right? Even where cyclists are in the wrong, they are really just a notch above pedestrians. They pose little danger* to other road users and nobody really seems to get angry about people jay walking.

I do think that cyclists who don't drive are often unaware of how very dangerous it is to not make themselves as visible as possible to dozy drivers. When driving I have often been shocked by someone emerging in the twilight wearing dark clothing and with no lights on their bike.

• before piping up with an anecdote that proves cyclists are really dangerous, please consider the number of pedestrians killed by motorists

Cyclists in Bristol are dreadful. Dh cycles into the centre of Bristol every day, and he is shocked by the number that ignore red lights.
But I agree, it is faster by bike.

pedestrians ignore red lights too - crossing when they judge it safe to do so

Though I don't generally do it, turning left on a bicycle when the lights are against you, and there is no traffic/pedestrians, is actually much safer. It gets you out of the stream of traffic.

I lost a cousin 20 years ago when he was 17, and cycling home from work. An old woman pulled out in front of him, didn't look, and he died from head injuries. He wasn't wearing a helmet, and to this day I wonder if he would still be here if he had - there is still a huge gap in our family, even after all these years.

My own kids are not allowed out on their bikes without helmets - it's non negiotable.

lol unfortunately they dont seem to be very good at judging tho Upwind at least not round this neck of the woods. Been knocked off my bike by pedestrians wandering into the cycle lane 3 times this year. Funnily enough they seem to come out of it ok and I'm the one who ends up injured.

I dotn think that a law on helmet wearing is a good idea either tbh tho I do wear one myself when riding to work and back. Not sure how much good it'll do if I get hit by a Chelsea tractor mind.

we all cycle here and we all wear them
i couldnt tell ds to do it and not do it myself, always..
there are too many nutters on the roads and pavements! to take that chance..

helmet hair lol but really who cares when compared to having head in one piece..
mind you it might be tricky if you have a beehive..

i have found there are great drivers who will give us time with ds and also selfish gits, same as ever really...

riven

All cyclists should wear a helmet but no adult cyclist should be compelled by law to wear one.

You can't use the "but look at what it costs the NHS" argument. That can lead to some very sinister thinking about who "deserves" to be treated for their illness or injury.

I feel the same way, DeeRiguer, I couldn't tell my DSs to wear one and not wear one myself. They would quite rightly point out the hypocrisy of it. It makes me wear one, which on the whole is a good thing.

Man arrived on earth and he used his legs to get around, then he used a bicycle then he used a car.

With regards to the whole if you don't wear a helmet when cycling then you should not cycle [sticks out tongue and makes noise]... if you can't drive a car without driving into the cyclists on the road then you cannae drive and should not be sitting behind a wheel blowing hot air.