Poll: Is Wearing a Bike Helmet Worth it?

[PurplePlatypus]

Is it worth it, probably and that was pretty much a stupid argument on his part and he really should be ashamed that he didn?t come up with anything better.

I did not wear one, there isn?t really all that good of a reason I didn?t. I had plenty of falls off my bike but I don?t think I ever came close to hitting my head. I hurt my legs and arms the most. Although my brother did hit his head once and ended up with a concussion, a helmet would have helped. His handlebars came off and his bike hit some steps and he ended up hitting his head off of them.

Moral of the story, wear a helmet and make sure your bike isn?t going to fall apart before you set off on it.

 

[Communist partisan]

If you mean one of these http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31O8ujIcQ2L._AA280_.jpg yeah if not NOPE.

 

[Mercsenary]

I'd rather look strange then be braindead.

 

[Sheinen]

I didn't when I rode to school...or work...or, well anywhere on my old bicycle. I got run down by a van once too, white one it was, but look at me! I'm fine! I didn't wear it for 2 reasons - 1, it made me look like an infected penis. 2, it felt like it was choking me, and when riding as far and as fast as I was you really need to suck in that air!

I ride a 600cc CBR sports bike now though and BOY do I wear a helmet with that! Helmet, armoured gloves, massive boots, leather, armoured jacket, anti-abrasive jeans, the lot! Just under £1000 worth of protective gear. It's worth the money if it saves my life, and even if it never gets the chance to it looks kick-ass!

 

[DeathChairOfHell]

i've slipped on ice several times when i've been riding my bike. at almost every occasion i would have hurt mu head badly if it wasn't for the helmet

 

[ryanxm]

really if you get a decent helmet you dont look too dumb and you dont die if you crash (well atleast its less likely)

 

[JokerCrowe]

I don't wear it but I think I should. i know this guy who is just about the most intellgent human being I have ever met, and he uses a helmet. But I guess he has a lot more to protect .
But I'm thinking I should follow his example. (I just can't find a helmet that doesn't make me look rediculous.

 

[rees263]

I'll admit I haven't read the entire thread, but this is for everyone who says it's not worth wearing a helmet.

My girlfriend works at a rehab centre for people with brain injuries - the number of people who have permanent disabilities because they chose not to wear a bicycle helmet is ridiculous. People riding without helmets is her biggest pet peeve.

So unless you want someone else dressing you, feeding you and wiping your ass wear a helmet!

 

[Singularly Datarific]

Yeah well, I think you look dumber with your head split open than with a helmet on, personally...

 

[Wicky_42]

Well, I don't bother with one - I generally have confidence in my cycling ability. My dad's had a good few crashes, banged his head and done OK, so it can't be all bad.

I just find wearing a helmet inconvenient, too hot, and a hassle when leaving the bike somewhere. Plus there's the added bonus that every bonk your standard bike helmet gets its integrity goes down, and it's only effective at 30mph. In the event that I'm not able to avoid a crash, I'm likely to be bombing down a hill at that speed, so it's not going to do me much good lol. Or it was oncoming traffic going at 30+ anyway.

I guess it's one of those things - I kinda should cos I'll regret it if I do have a crash and wasn't wearing one and got a head injury... but then again, I love cycling free, wind in my hair n all that. I'll just have to spent time pre-framing crash responses to sacrifice as many of my less major organs and appendages as necessary in order to save my head

 

[crazypsyko666]

If you're just riding around residential zones, or riding locally, it's okay to not wear one. If you're riding where people can drive faster than 30 MPH, wear a goddamn helmet.

 

[RamirezDoEverything]

Wearing a helmet makes you look like a cigarette?

I see what you did there..

OT: I don't wear one simply because I would be the laughing stock of my neighborhood as a teenager, but I only ride around my neighborhood, not down Broadway.

 

[Sinclair Solutions]

Of course it is. What, are you kidding me or something? Saving your life is much more important than not looking like a "fag." Tell your friend he is a moron.

 

[Imsety]

I'll admit I haven't read the entire thread, but this is for everyone who says it's not worth wearing a helmet.

My girlfriend works at a rehab centre for people with brain injuries - the number of people who have permanent disabilities because they chose not to wear a bicycle helmet is ridiculous. People riding without helmets is her biggest pet peeve.

So unless you want someone else dressing you, feeding you and wiping your ass wear a helmet!

I'll just quote a bit of Wikipedia. Stop painting the entire world with this huge brush of yours.

Helmets are non-existent, and when people asked me where I was from, they would grimace and mutter: "Ah, yes, helmet laws." These had gained international notoriety on a par with our deadly sea animals. Despite the lack of helmets, cycling in the Netherlands is safer than in any other country, and the Dutch have one-third the number of cycling fatalities (per 100,000 people) that Australia has."

The UK's CTC say that cycling in the Netherlands and Denmark is perceived as a "normal" activity requiring no special clothing or equipment. Pucher and Buehler state: "The Dutch cycling experts and planners interviewed for this paper adamantly opposed the use of helmets, claiming that helmets discourage cycling by making it less convenient, less comfortable, and less fashionable. They also mention the possibility that helmets would make cycling more dangerous by giving cyclists a false sense of safety and thus encouraging riskier riding behavior."

In other words: Whether or not a helmet is 'safer' is hugely dependent on the country.

 

[Bobzer77]

I think everyone in this thread is simultaneously underestimating and overestimating the dangers of falling off your bike.

Yes helmets are important and they can save your life.

Are you liable to die or get seriously injured falling off your bike? Not likely.

The helmet is for that 1/1000 time when you could actually seriously hurt yourself.

Although it becomes more important in urban enviroments or when mountain biking etc.

 

[Fellwarden]

I usually wear a helmet. If I didn't, I might have had brain damage of some sort due to a rather nasty crash many years ago. Also, Murphy's Law. I don't want to be without a helmet the day I do crash.

 

[XJ-0461]

If we're talking pedal bike here, I'd only wear it if I intend to cycle on roads for a long period of time in heavy traffic. When I'm riding on paths or around parks or whatever, I usually don't wear my helmet.

If we're talking about motorbikes however, always wear it. ALWAYS.

 

[Berserker119]

Always. They save lives..

 

[Crazyshak48]

Even though I never crashed, I always wore a helmet. I was never the popular kid anyway, so I never gave a crap what people thought I looked like. Never stopped the girls I knew from stopping by and saying hi either.

To the OP: If the person you refer to does in fact end up cracking his skull, it sounds like he'd be no loss to the gene pool. Besides, he'd be boosting the economy by providing business for his local neurosurgeon or mortician.

 

[Chancie]

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.