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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

134 replies

justneedsomesleep · 21/08/2008 19:45

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!

OP posts:
Tortington · 22/08/2008 22:56

i ride on pavement ergo don't need helmet

more · 22/08/2008 22:57

lol custardo

MoccaMint · 12/09/2008 13:02

Haven't read all the posts so sorry if I'm repeating:

People like to mention Holland as a great example of no helmet = more safety. Actually, it might have something to do with the fact that cyclists ALWAYS have right of way (unless coming from the right) and if there's an accident involving a cyclist and a motorist it's the motorist's fault. That's the law!!!

Also ppl will give just about any excuse not to exercise if given the chance.
If you decide not to do something that can increase your life expectancy and give "helmet embarassement" as an excuse you're taking the p**s...

If car drivers take more risks around me because I'm wearing an helmet, surely they should be the ones changing/being educated about their unsafe behaviour...

All I know is that I can hit my head at speed on the sidewalk because of a pothole. Irrespective of whether a driver was involved or not, I'm sure my skull would appreciate the helmet.

Sorry about the angry tone but feel very strongly about this!

Scotia · 12/09/2008 13:24

YANBU. My brother would not have been killed on his bike if he had been wearing a helmet. Unfortunately, it was 29 years ago, so I can't even remember if they existed back then.

casbie · 12/09/2008 13:58

i always give a thumbs-up to people who over take me correctly (single lanes and country roads).

there are always more considerate ones than inconsiderate ones!

re: helmet

helmets should be made compulsary. if it can save your life, wear it. all my children have helmets (only son groans).

NB i wear lycra and fluoro jacket and lit up like a christmas tree in winter!!! after nearly being pulled under a white van doing an illegal left turn, i'd wear a santa's hat with bells on if i thought it would keep me safer!

rebelmum1 · 12/09/2008 14:16

my dp cycled from lands end to john o groats without one. He reckons they offer very little protection indeed and the helmet wears you for protection. A motorcycle helmet is the only real protection.

casbie · 12/09/2008 14:17

rebelmum - would you make your children wear one?

rebelmum1 · 12/09/2008 14:21

look

rebelmum1 · 12/09/2008 14:23

If it protects against grazes and cuts so yes I would if dd was on the road, you don't want them to even get a graze do you? Wouldn't make it law though.

casbie · 12/09/2008 14:26

just thought i'd ask.

lovetolaugh · 12/09/2008 17:52

Good link rebelmum.

My husband cycles with many friends, and they all wear helmets - as do the entire local bike shop team and it is encouraged by all bikers he knows to do so.

Why? Because they have seen umpteen accidents (on road and off road) where some people have been wearing helmets and some where people haven't - the latter being very messy.

The ones that weren't, now do .

Like anything, experience is the only real teacher, but certainly with the people we know, they all do, and my kids would never be allowed on a bike without one now-a-days.

The article in rebelmums link is also correct though, drivers are a nightmare and need educating, they think they rule the road. Along with several of his friends over time, my husband has been knocked off his bike without doing anything wrong, but it was their helmets that saved them from serious injury.

halia · 14/09/2008 14:08

I don't wear a helmet because its my own neck I'm risking. I do wear bright/light clothing AND have 2 sets of lights AND have reflective strips on the bike etc.

I hate helmets (tried one once) because they reduce my ability to look over my shoulder/ out the corner of my eye to judge traffic and they impede my hearing.

I've read the research too and it really really isn't as simple as helmets save lives. There's some excellent studies which show that in minor accidents helmets don't make a huge amount of difference for cyclists.

btw 30 miles an hour?!??! I'm lucky to do 10 miles an hour on our roads through town.

Better cycle lanes would massivly reduce accidents. I'd like to see more actual cycle paths that are divided from the main road by a kerb, I'm sick to death of cars straddling over the green painted cycle space and tbh those green painted lanes are too narrow for many bikes anyway.

barnsleybelle · 14/09/2008 14:21

I think as an adult it's totally up to the individual if they choose helmet or not. I personally do wear one, but dh hates them.

What i hate to see is the amount of children that ride around without them.

My son knows, it's helmet or no bike, simple as that.

The simple, obvious fact is, you fall off a bike and bang your head with force, it could be the difference between a mild concussion or being pushed around in a wheelchair for the rest of your life. I certainly don't want to take that risk with my children. When he's an adult it's his choice.

cheshirekitty · 14/09/2008 15:59

I lived in Aussie where it is the law to wear a helmet.

I have seen patients who have sustained head injuries whilst cycling with/without a helmet.

Helmet wearers = stood a good chance of going home with good/reasonable life left.

Non helmet wearers = hooked up to machines for the rest of their lives. Usually ended up with pneumonia and died.

Your life, your choice. But if you do not wear a helmet you are an idiot (imho).

madness · 14/09/2008 16:31

Thanks, I'm an idiot then. IMHO I would be more so by following others people advise blindly.

cheshirekitty · 14/09/2008 19:29

So I am likely going to be turning you 2 hourly, wiping away the faeces from your bum, tube feeding you, sucking out your tracheostomy tube, emptying your urinary catheter.

And all because you did not wear a helmet.
Thanks for keeping me in a job.

noonki · 14/09/2008 19:53

My friend fractured her skull cycling last year, she normally wears a helmet but on a cycle path decided not to.

She is a really keen cyclist, but was unlucky, She hit a bump badly, came off her bike and lost two days unconcious, she now suffers from headaches, is tired all the time and has mood swings, has had to go part time, might lose her house and can't play as much with her kids

she now advocates for people to wear helments all the time

Anifrangapani · 14/09/2008 20:02

I used to be ambivilent about wearing a helmet until I came off on black ice ( no car involved). Luckily because it was cold I had decided to wear my helmet. I had a bad limp where my pedles didn't release. My head was fine, despite the helmet being in two pieces. I now wear it even for really short journeys.

re the original post - YARNBU, if your concern is that all cyclists need to set a good example for your children. You are unreasonable if it is mearly a rant about cyclists in general. Most of us are law abiding, just like you fail to notice the vast majority of motorists that are, you fail to notice the good ones and fixate on the bad ones.

And don't get me started on bad drivers..... I mean whaat is it about a bollard that tells a driver that there enough space for a cyclist and a car between the bollard and kerb. Hello! if there you are closer than the height of the cyclist ie 6 feet then you are too close. All it takes is a pot hole or an oil patch for a cyclist to slip over. Most car drivers give a horse and rider loads of space in case they come off, why not afford the same manners to a cyclist..... AND BREATH

DonDons · 14/09/2008 20:06

My DH was hit by a speeding car 4 years ago as he crossed the road (he was pushing his bike but was wearing his helmet).

He hit the car head on and flew at least 10 feet into the air. His broke his pelvis, neck and suffered internal bleeding resulting in 9 hours of surgery. AFter 3 weeks in intensive care and 6 months in a wheelchair he started walking again and is now fine.

He has a severe brain injury from which he will never recover. The helmet saved his life.

'Nuff said.

maidamess · 14/09/2008 20:08

I think cyclists shouldn't tell me to F* off when I ask them to slow down whilst on the pavement.

madness · 14/09/2008 20:10

that is what is called evidence

DonDons · 14/09/2008 20:10

oh, and sorry to argue with you prettybird, but the car was proven to be travelling at over 50 miles per hour, so a helmet can save you if you are hit by a car going at full pelt. (DH has frontal lobe injuries too - it is a slow process but can improve slowly. Best wishes for your mum)

WEAR
A
HELMET

suey2 · 14/09/2008 20:24

only read op. Yanbu. Why is it always the ones without a helmet who are also listening to an ipod? Nutters

MsSparkle · 14/09/2008 20:47

suey2, i find it quite scary when a cyclist has headphones lisening to their ipod. By doing that they have absolutly no idea what's going on around them. I mean do they know when an ambulance is coming up behind them?

My dp once saw my sister walking down the road with her ipod on. He said he drove up beside her and didn't hear the car, he then beeped his horn and she STILL didn't hear him! I find that quite scary but find it even scarier that people do that on bikes

Rubyrubyruby · 14/09/2008 20:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.