Comments on: Save the planet — ban cycle helmets http://adrianshort.co.uk/2009/08/24/save-the-planet-ban-cycle-helmets/ Design, citizenship and the city Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:36:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: tom http://adrianshort.co.uk/2009/08/24/save-the-planet-ban-cycle-helmets/comment-page-2/#comment-987 tom Mon, 17 May 2010 00:52:05 +0000 http://adrianshort.co.uk/?p=456#comment-987 I taught myself to cycle during the mid 1960's without all that health and safety crap, and to this day and for the rest of my life I will always cycle my cycle without a helmet, reflective lycra and all the other commercial crap that has become associated without simple cycling, that includes even if it's made law, helmets are not needed, unless people are brainwashed into wearing them, Heath and Safety Nanny, who needs it,? I Don't, We Don't, Lets remain free from all that crap. Tom, Crystal Palace, London I taught myself to cycle during the mid 1960′s without all that health and safety crap, and to this day and for the rest of my life I will always cycle my cycle without a helmet, reflective lycra and all the other commercial crap that has become associated without simple cycling, that includes even if it’s made law, helmets are not needed, unless people are brainwashed into wearing them, Heath and Safety Nanny, who needs it,? I Don’t, We Don’t, Lets remain free from all that crap.

Tom, Crystal Palace, London

]]> By: Pat http://adrianshort.co.uk/2009/08/24/save-the-planet-ban-cycle-helmets/comment-page-2/#comment-893 Pat Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:41:17 +0000 http://adrianshort.co.uk/?p=456#comment-893 Paul, Do you wear a helmet in the shower? “showering is more dangerous than not showering?” Of course it is. I’ve been showering for fourty three years, most of that time without a helmet. Today I wouldn’t get in the shower without one. Why? because I choose to wear one. I’ve looked at the arguments, assesed the data and decided it’s better to wear one. I might have a heart attack or stroke while showering, neither of which I can do anything about, but if I slip and hit my head my helmet might save me. I started wearing helmets years ago when a friend who worked as a nurse in the local hospital, told me of a case where a showerist had been showering in her shower, slipped on something, went back and banged her head on the tub and got a cracked skull, she said it was one of the worse things she had seen. Personally I couldn’t care less what anyone else does. I choose to wear a helmet. I know, reductio ad absurdum, couldn't help myself sorry. Paul,
Do you wear a helmet in the shower?

“showering is more dangerous than not showering?” Of course it is. I’ve been showering for fourty three years, most of that time without a helmet. Today I wouldn’t get in the shower without one. Why? because I choose to wear one. I’ve looked at the arguments, assesed the data and decided it’s better to wear one. I might have a heart attack or stroke while showering, neither of which I can do anything about, but if I slip and hit my head my helmet might save me.
I started wearing helmets years ago when a friend who worked as a nurse in the local hospital, told me of a case where a showerist had been showering in her shower, slipped on something, went back and banged her head on the tub and got a cracked skull, she said it was one of the worse things she had seen.
Personally I couldn’t care less what anyone else does. I choose to wear a helmet.

I know, reductio ad absurdum, couldn’t help myself sorry.

]]> By: Paul http://adrianshort.co.uk/2009/08/24/save-the-planet-ban-cycle-helmets/comment-page-2/#comment-846 Paul Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:39:30 +0000 http://adrianshort.co.uk/?p=456#comment-846 "cycling is more dangerous than not cycling?" Of course it is. I've been cycling for thirty years, most of that time without a helmet. Today I wouldn't get on my bike without one. Why? because I choose to wear one. I've looked at the arguments, assesed the data and decided it's better to wear one. I might get hit from behind by some idiot or get crushed by an lorry, neither of which I can do anything about. But if I get knocked off and hit my head my helmet might save me. I started wearing helmets years ago when a friend who worked as a nurse in the local hospital, told me of a case where a cyclist had been cycling down a gravel path, hit something, went over the handlebars and got scalped, his scalp had to be sewn back together, she said it was one of the worse things she had seen. Personally I couldn't care less what anyone else does. I choose to wear a helmet. “cycling is more dangerous than not cycling?” Of course it is. I’ve been cycling for thirty years, most of that time without a helmet. Today I wouldn’t get on my bike without one. Why? because I choose to wear one. I’ve looked at the arguments, assesed the data and decided it’s better to wear one. I might get hit from behind by some idiot or get crushed by an lorry, neither of which I can do anything about. But if I get knocked off and hit my head my helmet might save me.
I started wearing helmets years ago when a friend who worked as a nurse in the local hospital, told me of a case where a cyclist had been cycling down a gravel path, hit something, went over the handlebars and got scalped, his scalp had to be sewn back together, she said it was one of the worse things she had seen.
Personally I couldn’t care less what anyone else does. I choose to wear a helmet.

]]> By: Steve Wildesmith http://adrianshort.co.uk/2009/08/24/save-the-planet-ban-cycle-helmets/comment-page-2/#comment-664 Steve Wildesmith Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:27:57 +0000 http://adrianshort.co.uk/?p=456#comment-664 Great rant. I posted it as a reprint on my blog. Love your sense of humour. I like slow biking, it's pleasant and fun. My wife and i cycled all around paris and Amsterdam. In Canada it's very hard to find slow bikes. I had to have two shipped to me from a used shop in Amsterdam. Cost me about $600.00 Euro all in, but the same Batavus bikes in Canada New are about 700.00 Euro each and there arn't any used because anyone who buy one keeps it becasue they are so f-ing great to ride. cheers sw canada Great rant. I posted it as a reprint on my blog.
Love your sense of humour. I like slow biking, it’s pleasant and fun. My wife and i cycled all around paris and Amsterdam.
In Canada it’s very hard to find slow bikes. I had to have two shipped to me from a used shop in Amsterdam. Cost me about $600.00 Euro all in, but the same Batavus bikes in Canada New are about 700.00 Euro each and there arn’t any used because anyone who buy one keeps it becasue they are so f-ing great to ride.
cheers

sw canada

]]> By: Dottie http://adrianshort.co.uk/2009/08/24/save-the-planet-ban-cycle-helmets/comment-page-2/#comment-661 Dottie Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:07:54 +0000 http://adrianshort.co.uk/?p=456#comment-661 YES! So well said! I live in America, and we have that same culture of fear. Sadly, I will continue wearing a helmet because it is so deeply ingrained in me - unless I'm on a bike path, I feel paranoid without one. I still live the happy bicycling lifestyle by keeping everything else simple. YES! So well said! I live in America, and we have that same culture of fear. Sadly, I will continue wearing a helmet because it is so deeply ingrained in me – unless I’m on a bike path, I feel paranoid without one. I still live the happy bicycling lifestyle by keeping everything else simple.

]]> By: CMcK http://adrianshort.co.uk/2009/08/24/save-the-planet-ban-cycle-helmets/comment-page-2/#comment-658 CMcK Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:55:26 +0000 http://adrianshort.co.uk/?p=456#comment-658 Of course the proposal to ban helmets is tongue in cheek, but many of the responses prove Adrian's basic point - people wildly overestimate both the dangers of cycling and helmets' ability to reduce them. Sadly it is all too easy to think of the worst case, however unlikely it is in reality, and base your planning on that. If you are wondering whether or not to wear a cycle helmet, consider: - increases in helmet-wearing rates have never led to reductions in cyclist injury rates - a human skull can stand a harder impact than a cycle helmet can - life-threatening impacts are way beyond the design strength of cycle helmets - serious head injuries from cycling are rare - about as rare per mile as ones from walking - any impact slow enough to be within cycle helmets' design speed is slow enough for normal human reactions to prevent head impact altogether - overall, cyclists live longer - the extra health is worth a couple of extra years of life on average. Of course the proposal to ban helmets is tongue in cheek, but many of the responses prove Adrian’s basic point – people wildly overestimate both the dangers of cycling and helmets’ ability to reduce them.

Sadly it is all too easy to think of the worst case, however unlikely it is in reality, and base your planning on that.

If you are wondering whether or not to wear a cycle helmet, consider:
- increases in helmet-wearing rates have never led to reductions in cyclist injury rates
- a human skull can stand a harder impact than a cycle helmet can
- life-threatening impacts are way beyond the design strength of cycle helmets
- serious head injuries from cycling are rare – about as rare per mile as ones from walking
- any impact slow enough to be within cycle helmets’ design speed is slow enough for normal human reactions to prevent head impact altogether
- overall, cyclists live longer – the extra health is worth a couple of extra years of life on average.

]]> By: spiderleggreen http://adrianshort.co.uk/2009/08/24/save-the-planet-ban-cycle-helmets/comment-page-2/#comment-657 spiderleggreen Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:34:47 +0000 http://adrianshort.co.uk/?p=456#comment-657 Viva La Revolution! Once you stop drinking the cycle-fear cool-aid, things look different. Want people safely riding bikes? Safety in Numbers. Get more people out there. Thus, avoid things that make biking look like a dangerous, pain in the ass. Now, that the cool-aids is wearing off, my head feels better. Oh, that's cause I don't have that dammed helmet on anymore...(Unless the conditions warrant(Snow...)). Viva La Revolution! Once you stop drinking the cycle-fear cool-aid, things look different. Want people safely riding bikes? Safety in Numbers. Get more people out there. Thus, avoid things that make biking look like a dangerous, pain in the ass. Now, that the cool-aids is wearing off, my head feels better. Oh, that’s cause I don’t have that dammed helmet on anymore…(Unless the conditions warrant(Snow…)).

]]> By: roy http://adrianshort.co.uk/2009/08/24/save-the-planet-ban-cycle-helmets/comment-page-2/#comment-642 roy Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:42:52 +0000 http://adrianshort.co.uk/?p=456#comment-642 Old people shouldn't cycle either. As a society we should discourage them from cycling whenever possible. Place them together in assisted living facilities and drive them around in buses. Much safer. Much better for them. If they were to cycle, then they would want nicely built bicycle paths and a transportation infrastructure that supported cycling. It would be like Amsterdam everywhere. Who wants that? Old people shouldn’t cycle either. As a society we should discourage them from cycling whenever possible. Place them together in assisted living facilities and drive them around in buses. Much safer. Much better for them. If they were to cycle, then they would want nicely built bicycle paths and a transportation infrastructure that supported cycling. It would be like Amsterdam everywhere. Who wants that?

]]> By: World Carfree Day 2009 « ME, BOB & SURLY: THREE FRIENDS BIKE SOUTH AMERICA http://adrianshort.co.uk/2009/08/24/save-the-planet-ban-cycle-helmets/comment-page-2/#comment-635 World Carfree Day 2009 « ME, BOB & SURLY: THREE FRIENDS BIKE SOUTH AMERICA Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:51:53 +0000 http://adrianshort.co.uk/?p=456#comment-635 [...] has not be given serious consideration in many parts of the world. Here is a comical perspective why not. There is real potential to improve the appearance and functionality of our cities, public health, [...] [...] has not be given serious consideration in many parts of the world. Here is a comical perspective why not. There is real potential to improve the appearance and functionality of our cities, public health, [...]

]]> By: TedRe123 http://adrianshort.co.uk/2009/08/24/save-the-planet-ban-cycle-helmets/comment-page-2/#comment-630 TedRe123 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:48:14 +0000 http://adrianshort.co.uk/?p=456#comment-630 If I think this is about helmets and am missing the point, could you please explain the point? Who's running this conspiracy?? When I go to work, everyone just says how much they hated trying to overtake the cyclist on the way in. I think that's the biggest impediment to cycling: other road users hate us. I wear a helmet and cycle every day. I would always wear one under any circumstances, as I value my head and wish to protect it. I've crashed and struck my head on a bus, and the road, and walked away twice. My helmet is the most valuable item I have, and cost about 1/20th that of my bike. It is hardly noticeable while riding, so why wouldn't you? If I think this is about helmets and am missing the point, could you please explain the point?

Who’s running this conspiracy?? When I go to work, everyone just says how much they hated trying to overtake the cyclist on the way in. I think that’s the biggest impediment to cycling: other road users hate us.

I wear a helmet and cycle every day. I would always wear one under any circumstances, as I value my head and wish to protect it. I’ve crashed and struck my head on a bus, and the road, and walked away twice. My helmet is the most valuable item I have, and cost about 1/20th that of my bike. It is hardly noticeable while riding, so why wouldn’t you?

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