Helmets Are Cool

I wear a bike helmet 100% of the time and am bicycle commuter for 15 miles across town roundtrip almost every day.

Still, I'm always confused as to media's mention of whether or not a cyclist that was run over by a car was wearing a helmet or not. If you're run over by a car, a lot of the times all the helmet will do is keep your brains in one easy to clean up place. Your body will still die if it's hit by a car, which I think is the main issue.

I encourage all to wear a bike helmet, but I see it as a way to cast blame on the vulnerable cyclist when the real issue is how can cars and bikes share roads and not have the much heavier car injure the much lighter bike?

If a person is gunned down on their way to work the headlines do not say: "Local person shot -- wasn't wearing a bullet proof vest."

Cyclists should wear helmets, but at the very forefront of the issue is that things need to change in a major way (more driver ed, more penalties to idiot motorists, more car-free routes)to make the streets safer for cyclists.

helmets are the equivalent of a safety belt in a car.

for instance, if a person is in a car accident, news reporters will ALWAYS let you know if a safety belt was or was not being worn. so just wear a helmet and a seat belt, ok? no big deal.

there are idiot drivers and idiot bikers alike. let's share the road and make it safe for EVERYONE.

Of course a helmet won't save your life in all cases. Just like a seatbelt won't save your life at 80 mph and a condom isn't 100 percent effective birth control. But without those things the rate of injury, death and pregnancy would undoubtedly be much higher. Of course, a helmet or 3 ton pickup truck shouldn't replace everyone's sense of awareness and vigilance.

Also, I posted this blog to remind myself to wear my damn helmet, as I rode the four blocks to the bike shop without one (the first time I've done so in over six years). Had I been the bicyclist in the accident, we're talking major irony...

Yes, horrific accidents happen, but bicycle helmets are not designed to protect you in a horrific accident. Bicycle helmets are designed to protect you when you fall off your bike and hit your head. Wearing one because a 4000 lb car may mow you down is silly.

The illusion of safety provided by bicycle helmets does as much harm as good. Drivers think it is less bad to hit a helmeted rider, and riders become more cavalier about crashing. Ride cautiously; ride like it is going to hurt you if you crash. Wear a helmet if you like, but be wary of thinking of it as anything more than a Styrofoam hat.