Opinions

December 2, 2010

Mikael-Colville Andersen, founder of Copenhagen Cycle Chic, shares his anti-helmet opinion and research at a TEDx talk.  As expected, there are great comments on the video post.

December 2, 2010

Latest Comments

  • It's a wonder...

    Our great grandparents, our grandparents, our parents, and we all didn't die from not wearing helmets.

    I am a non-helmet wearer, but I do suggest however, that we MUST tune and maintain our bikes regularly as things do fail and can cause injury. And yes, don't tell me to wear one for all your good reasons to do so. I have my own good reasons for doing the contrary.

    Posted by ted May 18, 2012 11:18:30

  • Wear a helmet!

    But stop the promotion.

    Posted by Arne April 30, 2012 04:54:36

  • Bowl Heads

    I am sixty, ride all year round in Canada (yes, through snow) and have never worn a helmet. What could be simpler than staying upright on a bike? I'd be more likely to slip and fall walking on ice than riding over it. Mountain bike with wide tires, low psi in winter. If you fall, land on hip or shoulder, in winter those parts are well padded anyway. In summer, losing skin off legs in a fall is far more likely than bonking head. But who would wear leather jeans to ride a bicycle? See, helmets are ludicrous. They are for scaredy cats or maybe unco-ordinated types who think it will make them safer. But these conformists should try a few days without one to know the sweet joy of wind blowing freely through their hair. Then, choose joy over fear.

    Posted by Vanessa April 25, 2012 02:08:23

  • Surely it's up to the individual...

    In the long run, whether they are mandatory or not, it is an individual's choice to wear a helmet. Me - I certainly wouldn't venture onto London's streets where I live without it on, but on the flip side, when I was living in Holland I never bothered...it was about the perceived risk which was minimal, and I don't think there is a more lovely place to ride than Holland. That said, when I took a cycling holiday there I did a cartwheel when not yet used to the different balance of all the loaded panniers...and I'm glad I had my helmet on!

    From my point of view it's a simple, relatively unintrusive piece of protection. Helmets are never going to be the solution in all situations as like nearly all protective equipment they have their limitations, but I'd certainly prefer to have one on IF I happen to hit the deck.

    As for Brad's comment about people stopping cycling because of compulsory helmets - I'm not going to dispute it because I believe it's true...but for someone to decide not to cycle simply because they have to wear a helmet just seems more than a little daft.

    Posted by Matt Brown April 24, 2012 08:18:10

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