Use bicycle helmets!!!

[shadow2k]

Interesting thing... that fear-thing.
There are two kinds: reasonable and unreasonable.

It is reasonable to fear of cracking your skull in a trafic accident, since they are not very uncommon... especially for someone who rides a bike every day for a couple of hours (that would be me - and many others). I remember reading that there were about 1000 head injuries related to bicycle accidents in Finland in the year 2005.

But it is unreasonable to fear of dying in a terrorist attack, since they are more than very rare. In the last decade, I think seven Finnish people died in one terrorist attack. Now that's less than 1 death per year related to terrorist attacks.

So, do the math: if it's 1000 times more likely to get in an accident which you know how to protect yourself a bit, than to get in a terrorist attack how you don't know how to protect yourself from... wouldn't it be a smart thing to do to wear a helmet (instead of buying a gasmask)?

I can twist stats to say whatever I want. Some insane lady called up a local radio show yesterday, using stats to prove it was more dangerous for a 16-21yr old kid in America to drive a car, than it would be to serve in Iraq. Of course, she completely ignore the ratio aspect of it. But the point stands, I can use numbers to say about anything I'd like.

How many lives would be saved per year if we required fully enclosed helmets to drive a car? Or heck, how about full padding? Would you support that bill in your state?

How about the 1,000's of people that die each year from drowning? No more going into bodies of water deeper than 1ft. So all bathtubs are now outlawed, you can only take showers. But you have to wear spiked shoes with a dirt floor, so there's no slipping. Or maybe you should just wear a helmet in the shower?

People's lives are their OWN. As long as they aren't screwing with you, stop trying to screw with them.

 

[EolTheDarkElf]

Heck, everyone that ever leaves their house to do any sort of physical activity in which they move at more than a brisk walk shall henceforth be required, under penalty of law, to be in a protective bubble. And no touching each other outside of said bubble. Ever.

What you say doesn't make sense. There is an unreasonable discomfort to risks avoided ratio.

I see your out for a quarrel though. Not with me. HF.

(and just BTW, I was joking, I thought the would give a hint, but apparently not)

 

[shadow2k]

What you say doesn't make sense. There is an unreasonable discomfort to risks avoided ratio.

I see your out for a quarrel though. Not with me. HF.

(and just BTW, I was joking, I thought the would give a hint, but apparently not)

Read right through it, was only half paying attention.

And yes, of course it doesn't make sense. But it's the same general idea. Where do you draw the line? (rhetorical)

 

[Perfection]

There's no need for bike helmets when you have training wheels.

On an somewhat related note:
Are bicycle helmets unicycle compatable?

 

[Raisin Bran]

all Im going to add is ..... If you have a bycicle in Montreal ... wear a helmet Montrealers are known for their I-dont-care-about-cyclists attitude while driving.
This is why I bought a car.

More on me ! I had a accident where a car hit me when I was riding a bike, I was lucky I had nothing. I did not wear a helmet. The police told my mom that I was made out of concrete because they seen others die for less than what hapenned to me.
I have a Kid now, I never wore a helmet but if I go on a bike with my kid Ill wear one to give him the good example.

In my opinion ..... If you don't want to wear a helmet ... don't, but don't come here crying (or dying)!

 

[MjM]

Its law here. I never do it, ******** law. Ive got fined once, which sucks even more.

 

[Babbler]

There's no need for bike helmets when you have training wheels.

On an somewhat related note:
Are bicycle helmets unicycle compatable?

Yes, expect for unicycle hockey. You need a hocket helment for that (no vistors; only sissy Frenchmen and Europeans need them...).

 

[Babbler]

I've never worn a helmet on my bike in my life and I never will.
It's not needed in my country due to aware car-drivers and seperated bicycle paths.

Why do you always buy those smoke alarms? We never once had a fire!

Accidents happen, even in the safest of conditions.

 

[Valdy]

I had an accident last year and cracked my head pretty hard, and yet I still don't wear a helmet, despite still cyclin over an hour everyday. I'm an idiot. I intend to buy one very soon though, despite them being possibly the uncoolest things to wear in the history of wearable things.

 

[shadow2k]

Originally Posted by Homer Simpson
Why do you always buy those smoke alarms? We never once had a fire!

Accidents happen, even in the safest of conditions.

I JUST had a house fire on Feb 28th. Fire alarm saved my life, no doubt about it. But I still wouldn't wear a fire alarm on my head.

 

[aaglo]

I JUST had a house fire on Feb 28th. Fire alarm saved my life, no doubt about it. But I still wouldn't wear a fire alarm on my head.

That would be a reasonable thing to do...

 

[Mr. Blonde]

My mother works as a physical therapist and when I was a kid I once joined her to a patient because we went shopping afterwards.

It was a man suffering from the long term effects of a brain trauma after he crashed with his bike. He could basically only ly in bed, had spastic muscles and could not speak properly. His mind was not affected that severely (not like the Shiavo case that was in the media half a year ago). He still exists that way 15 years after the accident.

Needless to say that I only bike with helmed since then.

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

Ok some people seem to see the risks with bicycling and some don't (like me before I got bashed up). IT'll be hard to change this unfortunatly. The people arguing against wearing helmets are not wanting to admit that they an get hurt.

 

[kingjoshi]

If you don't look cool with a helmet on, you probably don't look cool to begin with!

It's likely people complaining about the aesthetics of glasses. I look good with or without a helmet

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

If you don't look cool with a helmet on, you probably don't look cool to begin with!

It's likely people complaining about the aesthetics of glasses. I look good with or without a helmet

thats the spirit!!!

 

[Stylesjl]

Its illegal here not to wear a helmet. People complained but then they just sat down and shutted up.

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

In Sweden it is illegal not to wear one if you are under 16. I just said screw the law and it screwed me!

 

[Leifmk]

How in the hell do you fall off a bike ?

Bike malfunctions somehow (e.g. the brakes suddenly seize).

Front wheel hits small and difficult-to-spot obstruction such as a rock or a patch of loose gravel or a hole, bike goes sideways, you continue moving forward and have to shed your velocity by friction between the road and your own skin.

Someone else, whether a pedestrian or a motorist or another bicyclist, acts like a total idiot and causes a situation where no reaction on your part can prevent a crash or a fall (this one is a biggie, as there are many idiots in the world and most of them are allowed to roam freely).

 

[Ren]

I'm all for the laws to be abolished. It's well within someone's right to go without if they want to IMO.

That said, I've never go cycling without a helmet, except for the few times where circumstances have prevented me from using one (IE didn't have one with me). I don't ride motorbikes but if I did it wouldn't be without a helmet. But that's my choice, yours is up to you.

I agree with EolTheDarkElf's comment below (sans crazyeye, of course)....

I would propose a much simpler law - if you crack your shull open on a bike while wearing no helmet that's all fine and dandy, only you have to pay for your treatment yourself

...unless you have private health cover which specifically covers such behaviour

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

All I am saying is wear helmets so you won't get bashed up