Moving the Conversation Beyond Helmets

Comments

• News flash!

  Here's a newsflash. Life is a terminal condition and - everything - has an element of risk.
  Fortunately, cycling (even without helmets) on a regular basis can be relied upon to lengthen and improve the health of those participate, and that makes cycling a relatively safe activity.
  Promoting helmet use simply spreads the notion that cycling is extraordinarily dangerous, something that is not only not true, but also distracts advocates from taking more effective measures to reduce the already small element of danger cyclists do face

  Posted by Brad December 19, 2012 02:31:41

• Reply to CH1

  CH1, I may have used the graphic of the helmet campaign, but my post was about how we've allowed the helmet debate to distract us from the real issue; safer streets. I pretty much said exactly what Mia said.
  
  "In many ways, that highly conspicuous bicycle helmet is like the presence of body fat on an overweight American. It is a very visible symbol for something that is not quite right, yet we're uncomfortable pointing it out, let alone talking about it. It's a symptom of a much larger problem. The bike helmet is really just a mask for a whole host of underlying and interconnected issues to hide behind."
  
  I agree with you, more cyclists on the road is the answer! We need to move beyond the helmet debate and work on safer road designs that help us build critical mass.

  Posted by Brent Cohrs December 18, 2012 18:36:19

• Please don't discourage cycling

  Brent, unfortuately helmet promotions discourage cycling. More cyclists on the roads improve not only road safety, but also makes cycling even safer. The effectiveness of bike helmets in real crashes are also very questionable. Riding safely on a safe road is the best.

  Posted by ch1 December 18, 2012 17:41:37

• Took the words right out of my...

  Blog post at Chicago Now. http://www.chicagonow.com/easy-as-riding-a-bike/2012/11/wearing-a-bike-helmet/
  
  I think of my helmet as a hard hat because we still have a lot of work to do to make bicycling safer for those who want to take it up.

  Posted by Brent Cohrs December 18, 2012 15:49:59

• Reply to Brad

  Newsflash Brad, like driving a motor vehicle, cycling can be dangerous if you don't pay attention or know the rules of the road. Wearing a helmet or not makes no difference if you aren't aware of those basic tenets.

  Posted by Prattle On, Boyo December 18, 2012 15:44:32

• I wear a a helmet because. . .

  . . . brains work better INSIDE the skull.

  Posted by Bruce Alan Wilson December 18, 2012 15:28:45

• Responsible use

  alliwant, are you wearing your helmet for more dangerous activities than cycling as well?
  Like driving a car, being a passenger in a car, walking, showering, walking down stairs...

  Posted by ch1 December 08, 2012 14:57:24

• Wearing the crown?

  I prefer to use a helmet, mostly as a mirror holder. I really like being able to see what's going on behind me, and a mirror on the helmet is the best way to do that. I've never taken any substantial impact to my helmets; I've gone over the bars once, slipped on ice a few times, skinned my shins on pedals but never really needed helmet protection. Still I am in favor of using the styrofoam crown, because when the head takes on pavement the head always loses. It only has to happen once.

  Posted by alliwant December 05, 2012 14:59:41

• In the words of...

  Kasper, Momentum Magazine runs a contrary position to yours and is unlikely to be swayed to your position.
  
  regarding your viewpoint, the words of BS NYC point out its problem:
  
  " something like this has the potential to set the cause of cycling as transportation back at least 20 years. It's hard enough for people to wade through the morass of bicycle marketing, so once they've actually gotten a bike you can't then tell them, "Oh, one more thing, you have to wear this wooden turtle shell on your head so you won't die." That's going to be a deal breaker, and their next stop is going to be the Hyundai dealership. "
  
  Convincing people they need helmets convinces people that cycling is dangerous, and that just pushes people away from bicycles and into cars.

  Posted by Brad December 04, 2012 07:13:16

• Wearing a helmet should be as standard as the safety belt

  This magazine should help making the helmet a standard, just like the safety belt in a car is.
  
  Wearing a helmet should be for granted in a couple of years. That takes time, and image building is part of it. By displaying nice fotos of well known people with a helmet in bicycle magazines, we can get there. Children and even adults need role models.
  
  So please alter your ignorant opinion regarding this matter, and publisch only pictures of people with a helmet.

  Posted by Kasper November 27, 2012 10:41:19

• Examples

  To further my point re helmet use being thrust upon cyclists, here are three typical stories from Google news saying helmets prevent cycling deaths, public interest groups aggressively targeting cyclists without helmets, and the logical next step which is the implementation of helmet laws
  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/helmets-can-prevent-bicycling-deaths-study-finds/article4616479/?cmpid=rss1
  http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/specials/2012/11/10/boston-goes-aggressively-after-helmetless-bicyclists/C22TJvfPTZl9R7s0wYogcM/story.html
  http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/law-on-bicycle-helmets-due-soon-177211211.html
  
  Again, if the conversation is not brought to me, I will not argue it, but when cyclists are told they need to wear helmets a debate will start

  Posted by Brad November 14, 2012 09:38:44

• its not about the helmet

  I agree, its fair to let adults choose whether or not they want to wear a helmet. However, bike races and organized bike rides (grandfondos) should enforce a helmet rule; higher risk of crashing.
  
  Personally, I almost always wear a helmet, its my choice. Although every time I've gone down on the bike, never once has a helmet helped to prevent any of the road rash, scrapes and bruises I've suffered - it did however protect my head that one time my front wheel fell on my head when I was 15 and doing something stupid on my bike. A helmet doesn't help those who break their collarbones (most common injury amoung cyclists, professional and recreational), arms, legs, wrists....which all cases require medical attention, irresponsibly sucking up our tax dollars as some comments imply.
  
  Wearing a helmet doesn't make cycling any safer, only when every individual out the roads takes responsibility to be safe (stop at stop signs, look before you turn, etc) and be AWARE. Riding a bike is as safe as you make it.

  Posted by joe cyclist November 07, 2012 17:38:28

• Good

  I love your statement on helmets! In my opinion it all depends on the infrastructure and speed. If it's safe leave the helmet! Momentum is read all over Europe!

  Posted by Norwegian October 02, 2012 01:13:56

• Helmets

  Totally disagree with you and I think your magazine is in a great position to be great role models for helmet use. Also, how do you explain to your kids why they have to wear helmets, if you don't?

  Posted by Karyn Climans October 01, 2012 16:00:55

• Encourage cycling, lose the helmet

  From the NY Times
  
  “Pushing helmets really kills cycling... because it promotes a sense of danger that just isn’t justified..."
  
  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/30/sunday-review/to-encourage-biking-cities-forget-about-helmets.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

  Posted by Brad September 30, 2012 07:11:39

• But...but...but

  I want to share this horrible tragic story with you about how my aunt rode that one time and then tripped on a log and then fell and landed on her head and then died a slow, bloody death because she wanted to be all "chic". My uncle was with her and went down with her and yet miraculously survived because he was wearing a foam force field on his head that kept him alive. Today his head is that much more stronger because of his foam force field.

  Posted by Sam September 22, 2012 23:00:20

• how about...

  How about the publishers represent people on bicycles as they are? Is 50/50 an accurate representation? I suppose that depends upon where you are, but I believe in most places it is not.
  The publishers statement is reasonable, "Momentum Mag will continue to publish photographs of people biking with and without helmets because we proudly promote the bicycle as transportation and present everyday people riding bikes in everyday situations in whatever clothing and accessories they choose to wear." If less than 50% wear helmets, why should Momentum misrepresent reality by showing more cyclists wearing helmets than they do?

  Posted by Brad September 21, 2012 06:17:07

• how about 1/2 the pictures?

  If you REALLY want to get beyond the helmet issue, then make 1/2 of your photos in any issue helmet wearers. This should be especially true for the posed photos or the photos you have to set up. THAT would really get behind the helmet debate, at least in terms of your magazine.

  Posted by sarah heyman September 20, 2012 18:30:56

• Birth control, helmets, abortion, peanuts

  All a matter of personal choice where legal and permitted. Make a choice and move on to better and safer infrastructure. (that can also be peanut free ) ;)

  Posted by Xander September 19, 2012 08:16:04

• Did you READ the editorial at all?

  So this is moving beyond the helmet debate is it?
  Marc, I will remember your statement if you happen to fall ill due to any self-inflicted aspect of your lifestyle. If you injure yourself by slipping in the shower, without a helmet, byt tripping on the footpath, without a helmet, or by driving or travelling in a vehicle which is involved it a collision, without a helmet. All of these carry the same amount of legal compulsion to wear a helmet (none), and carry greater sirks statistically, of sustaining the particular, narrowly defined kinds of injuries which helmets are designed to protect against.
  Surely your contributory negligence is similar if not greater in those cases?
  
  I deplore these irresponsible people who walk around, climb stairs, take a shower, and travel in vehicles, unhelmetted! how DARE they?!

  Posted by Rowan De Bonaire September 19, 2012 07:54:58

• Less than half

  I believe there are many that refuse to see more than half the story.
  Certainly there is research that shows many benefits from helmet use, the trouble is, there is just as much research that shows no benefit. Further, my initial point stands, there isn't any conclusive evidence that cyclists suffer injuries to any greater degree that that of the general population.
  I agree it doesn't take much effort to put a helmet on, so the question is, why should a helmet be removed when one gets off a bike if the risk of head injury is still there? Why single out cycling? Isn't that being discriminatory?

  Posted by Brad September 18, 2012 21:59:17

• Research Studies

  For examples of research on helmet use and decrease of injury:
  1. Thompson D C, Rivara F P, Thompson R. Helmets for preventing head and facial injuries in bicyclists. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 1999. 4CD001855.
  2. Royal S T, Kendrick D, Coleman T. Non‐legislative interventions for the promotion of cycle helmet wearing by children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005. 2CD003985.
  3. Macpherson A, Spinks A. Bicycle helmet legislation for the uptake of helmet use and prevention of head injuries. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2007. 2CD005401.

  Posted by corrie September 18, 2012 20:17:40

• helmets

  To respond to Brad:
  Sure, bicycling has overall health benefits but I stand by my statement that helmets should be used. I'm not misinformed or ignorant; I have read research that clearly correlates helmet use with decreased severity of injuries. They may not prevent them entirely, but there is a world of difference between a concussion and brain matter leaking onto the pavement (if you think I'm being graphic, it's just reality). I have seen these injuries and they almost always occur from unhelmeted riders vs riders with helmets.j
  As far as the slippery slope, I understand your point. It always has to be a consideration of burden to the individual vs good to society. And really, is it that much of a burden to put a helmet on?

  Posted by corrie September 18, 2012 20:12:54

• Example

  The comments by corrie and Marc are also what I wa referring to when I posted a misinformed public is bad.
  
  Cyclists (even bre-headed cyclists) on average live longer and healthier lives which require less medical care than that of the general population, yet these two commentaries are of the opinion that cyclists who ride without helmets are a cost burden to society. They are anything but.
  
  Corrie and Marc are also of the opinion that helmet use decreases costly injuries cyclists suffer, yet data shows this is far from the case.
  
  Ignorance is not bliss, in fact it can be quite destructive at times

  Posted by Brad September 18, 2012 16:57:51

• Good stance

  The comments by Corrie and Marc are so typical of what you hear in this debate. A very simple extension of this logic is government intervention in all aspects of our health care. Why should my taxes go to pay for someone who chooses to live an unhealthy lifestyle? How much money is being wasted treating problems brought on by obesity? Do we want government intervening in our food choices? I imagine Corrie and Marc both probably do. How about people who injure themselves skiing? Why pay for their health care? It's a short trip to this slippery slope argument. I thought it had been brushed aside by more logical arguments.

  Posted by chris September 18, 2012 12:51:55

• helmets

  OK, I do believe people should have the right to make decisions when it impacts only themselves. In that vein, if you have good health insurance, by all means don't wear a helmet. But if you don't, guess who pays for your ICU stay and extensive recovery (to whatever extent that may happen)? Society does, and that is a considerable burden. I work in a hospital and I frequently see people with serious head injuries. You may be the safest rider out there, but it doesn't matter if someone in a car makes a bad decision; you are definitely going to come out on the worst end of it.

  Posted by corrie September 18, 2012 10:43:39

• Self-importance

  You don't have to wear a helmet so long as I don't have to pay to scrape your uninsured brain off the pavement.
  
  Except that I do. And so you do. Welcome to shared responsibility.
  
  I'm fine with my side of this bargain. I think it's fair. I think you deserve treatment, even if you're uninsured, if you get hurt in spite of taking completely reasonable precautions. I'm even fine with you shirking your side (wearing a helmet) so long as it's implicitly understood that I get to shirk my side (covering the cost of your treatment, should you be amongst the far too many uninsured) in the event of your need.
  
  I'm also more than a little put off by your having followed "don't impose your will on my headgear" with "everyone on the road should slow down in order to accommodate my self-imposed risk of injury".
  
  It's kinda one-sided, don't you think?
  
  Look. Helmets are sweaty. They almost all look silly. We wear them because it is part of both a collective and individual good.
  
  And because Gary Busse.

  Posted by Marc September 18, 2012 10:28:29

• reaction

  Personally, I rarely evoke the H issue unless it is first brought to me.
  
  If the H issue wasn't raised, if it wasn't touted as the "single most important preventative measure in reducing injury", if I wasn't questioned for my choice in head gear, I don't think I would discuss helmets at all.
  
  I applaud the publishers stance, but I think it's a bit of a dream. The H issue is here because it has been brought to us. Promotion leads to laws. Debate is good, a misinformed populace is bad, that said, if the merits of my choice is not questioned, I will not breach the subject.

  Posted by Brad September 18, 2012 06:11:57

• Thanks

  Yes! This is what it's about!
  
  What if everybody who wanted to ride a bike could simply get on one and ride it?

  Posted by Erik September 17, 2012 20:40:29

• Applause!

  Thanks for this statement editors!
  I find it hilarious that people can't make their kudos without giving their personal opinions about if they wear helmets or not. So I will not tell you my preference.
  
  I just get so fed up with every six month on every bicycle infrastructure list I am on the helmet debate flame war coming up again. Maybe this statement will travel far and wide and we can focus on something more worthwhile!

  Posted by BIKELEPTIC September 17, 2012 12:16:01

• Helmets

  I applaud making such a statement. As someone that likely will always wear a helmet I personally believe that the sum total health risks and and costs to society will be most positively impacted getting more people on bikes so,.. and if that is assisted in any way by removing the helmet restrictions, I'm for it.
  I am not, however, against policing other aspects of cycling safety such as lights. Huge pet peeve of mine when someone comes ripping around the the roundabout on a stealth fixie smoking pedestrians in the West End (yes seen this), or almost colliding with me on 10th. I say lets go full on draconian there, but let people choose about the helmets.

  Posted by Steve September 16, 2012 22:36:56

• Discrimination

  Until I see good, unbiased evidence that cyclists receive more head injuries than that of the general population, I will continue to see the promotion of helmets for cyclists as discrimination against cyclists.
  
  If one wants to ride in the back of the bus that's fine, but to be told to go there, when there is no will or need to go to the back of the bus is wrong.
  
  

  Posted by Brad September 15, 2012 06:37:53

• Who? When? Where? Why?

  *affixes large piece of styrofoam to head with duct tape*
  
  Am I adequately encumbered to go on my daily bike ride now, AB? After all I would hate to think I lack your approval before plopping down on the saddle.

  Posted by CD September 15, 2012 04:56:01

• What?

  Well you know what they say about brains; If you don't use it you lose it. Thanks for tidying up the gene-pool guys!

  Posted by AB September 15, 2012 04:14:27

• helmets

  Please then, PUBLISH AS MANY PHOTOS of RIDERS W/ HELMETS. (btw/ I have done, do and always will be doing the important lobbing you wrote about. I do it on a local, state and federal level at every chance I get. And yes I ALWAYS were a helmet, even when it is 110 degrees out. I just stop, take it off and pour water on my head in the shady parts of my ride. I ride every day)

  Posted by sarah heyman September 14, 2012 16:07:11

• helmet

  not gonna wear one riding a bicycle, living in a state where motorcycle riders don't even require to have one

  Posted by Peter Smolinski September 14, 2012 14:41:36