Poll: Is Wearing a Bike Helmet Worth it?

[EightGaugeHippo]

I wear a bike helmet when ever im riding long distances, but if im just going to the shop and back I dont bother.

Also I hardly ever ride my bike. The last time I did was last year.

 

[Koeryn]

I don't wear helmets when I ride a bike, becuase I don't ride bikes. If I get a motorcycle, I will. When I do aggressive inline, I do. 'Cause brain damage sucks.

 

[DeleteMe1112311]

I'd let him keep that opinion, that way when he hits something unexpectedly, he'll crack his skull and further natural selection. I assume you can guess my stance on this.

...But I know what they so about assuming so here goes. If your only defense for not doing something that could save your life is that you look stupid, you deserve no pity in my book.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

Uh...I can't tell what kind of "bike" you're talking about.

Bicycle: No

Motorcycle: Hell yes

I can't really see you going fast enough on a bicycle to really screw yourself up if you crashed. However, I also don't ride a bicycle very often. Now, a motorcycle on the other hand...you're a flat out idiot if you don't wear one.

Part of it might depend on where you land should you fall off. Falling off a bike onto grass, mud, even a dirt path would just be a matter of cuts and scrapes, but as I mentioned in my earlier post it doesn't matter how fast you're going if you come off onto gravel or concrete, it's going to hurt. It's just logical, if you were sprinting and tripped onto a concrete pavement you'd knock yourself unconscious and possibly crack your skull, if you're on a bike doing ten miles plus per hour (I once had a babysitter who got stopped by a cop because she was doing 26 down a hill in a 20 mph zone) and you come off onto concrete or gravel, it will do significantly worse, and if you are wearing a helmet it could at the least prevent skull and brain damage, and even deflect the angle at which you hit the road saving yourself from serious cosmetic damage (again see previous post regarding sanded faces and a mashed in skull)

 

[twasdfzxcv]

So I guess the argument is that if you use a helmet you're less likely to die, but when you do die you die looking like a fag, where as if you don't wear one you're more likely to die but you die without looking like a fag. Did I get that right?

 

[Beastialman]

Yes, yes, and fucking yes. My brother had into a head on collision with some drunken high school students and their car trying to play chicken with him. The helmet broke in half and took pretty much all of the impact. If my brother hadn't been wearing a helmet he could have died or be stuck in a coma for the rest of his life.

 

[Sovvolf]

I guess it depends on how much you like life... And how you like your chances when your face hit's the concrete. My friend made the same mistake when he his the back of the truck with his bike... Was launched right into it face first without a helmet. He lived, though his face was destroyed and he was in the hospital for a good couple months having his face put back together.

So yeah... I'd recommend wearing a helmet.

 

[Dana22]

Please, dont wear helmet while riding a bike. Many people desperately need your organs.

 

[Hafnium]

I don't, but I keep telling myself to get one.
I don't mind the way they look, more the way they feel.

 

[The Stonker]

Yesterday, I got in a conversation with a guy from school about whether wearing a bike helmet is worth it. I thought it was worth it, since it's not a big deal and it can save your life, which mine has. He thought it wasn't worth it "Because it makes you look like a fag." So I thought I'd put up a poll and see what the Escapist thinks. Feel free to discuss bike helmets and the percieved fagginess thereof.

So he thinks that people that wear helmets are english cigarettes?
Oh my I guess the intelligence level is undoubtfully low there.

But yes a helmet can save your life and I would wear one if I would have the balls of riding one of these motorcycles.

 

[Semitendon]

If you are talking about a motorcycle, then YES! absolutely wear a helmet! Better yet, sell the damn thing and buy something ( read: virtually any other motor vehicle) that has a lower death rate.

But, if you are talking about a regular bicycle, than I would say it depends on where you ride, and if you lack skill or balance.

If you are a complete klutz, then you should probably be wearing a helmet while you walk, let alone riding a bicycle.

If you plan on doing stunts, tricks, riding on heavy-traffic roads, or plan on mountain biking, then a helmet is advisable.

But, if you plan on doing small neighborhood riding, and bike paths, then no, you probably don't need a helmet.

You can liken the bike paths and small neighborhoods to wearing a fireman's suit while lighting a cigarette. Is there a chance of danger? Theoretically, yes, but it's overkill in the real world.

 

[Psub Xero]

Why do so many people say "What if you fall on your leg?" or "What if a car hits you?" or "It won't protect you from sniper fire,"? No one ever said they helped anything other than your heads. Your arguments are as empty as the "Helmets make you look like a fag" kid (and by the way just say "no you" whenever he calls something faggy and keep replying to his insults with "no you" until he stops insulting you even if he says "If you say no you one more time that makes you a fag" trust me it works).

Serioulsy no one said that no one even implied it. It serves its purpose: keeping you alive. And by that I mean it protects your brain and nothing else. That is what regenerative health power armor suits are for and by the way those are totaly worth it.

 

[Johnny Cain]

Laugh when that person splits his head after a spill.
Karma, gets them every time.

Helmets are mandatory as far as I'm concerned, all those 'safety first' campaigns were put out for a reason: saving kids (and adults) from their own bullhorn stupidity.

 

[alittlepepper]

In simple answer, yes. Wearing a bike helmet is very smart and very worth it. It makes you feel safer, it can save your life and prevent terrible, lifelong injury, and I think in a lot of places it's actually required by law, especially if you're on a main street or something.
Appearance is irrelevant when it comes to whether you wake up in the morning or not; always wear proper safety equipment when doing anything hazardous.
It's just that simple.

 

[sunburst]

So he thinks that people that wear helmets are english cigarettes?

Stop it. Stop it! STOP IT!

For the love of god, please stop using this joke. It's been said a dozen times in this thread and it wasn't funny the first. I get that calling someone a fag is retarded and perpetuates homophobia and all that jazz, but this joke must be stopped. We all know what someone means when they use the word fag derogatorily. Pointing out that fag is also a slang term for cigarette is not clever or witty. Please don't do it.

To keep this from being off topic, I agree that all of this justification for not wearing helmets is ridiculous. Wearing a seat belt doesn't protect me from explosions but I still wear it because it does protect me from other things. The same principle applies here. Wearing a good helmet is significantly safer than not wearing a helmet. That doesn't mean I'm going to do it, but at least I can admit that.

 

[jeejvebe]

I'd rather be a "fag" with an intact skull then "cool" with a shattered one.

 

[NorthernTrooper]

It saved me from dying, so yes, they are quite useful.

 

[TimeLord]

Used to, don't now

Mainly because the forcefield I created to surround my head while cycling works just fine!

 

[ooknabah]

My physics professor calls people who don't wear helmets when riding a motorcycle "Organ Donors"

I think that pretty much sums up my whole viewpoint on this

Never mind wearing a helmet. Motorcycles are not safe vehicles to begin with, so much so that they are commonly nick-named "Donor-cycles" by hospitals.