helmets are not optional

[Beane]

I CANNOT BELIEVE how many people I've seen lately riding around without a helmet on!!!! :mad:

How stupid do you have to be???

[RoadBunner]

+1

I also think this when I see people riding horses without helmets.

[kerrybelle]

I totally agree!! How can anyone even think they couldn't get seriously hurt on a bike? I went over the bars on my mtn bike a few years back and cracked my helmet and the Styrofoam inside, in several places. Can't imagine what would have happened to my head had I not had a helmet on.

I work for an orthodontist and we see a lot of kids. There was a boy in last week, who rode his bike to his appt, no helmet of course. We always encourage our patients to wear helmets and stress the importance of it.

We talked to this kid and his mom, who came to pick him up and told him to stop at the LBS on his way home and get a helmet. He was in again today and when asked if he got a helmet he said: "No, but I got a new bike" Go figure!

On a side note, my boss knows this family on a personal level.

[KSH]

Oh yea, this past weekend we saw a great Darwin Awards candidate in the making.

So I'm out with my cycling club and we are at a stop light. We see this lady riding (she's going North, we are going East)... on a VERY BUSY STREET! She's riding along, on a cruiser style bike, with no helmet on.

Seriously, this is a road I would NEVER rides on alone. In fact, our cycling club won't even ride on it in a pack.

So we go through our light and to the next one (we are now going North, she is now going East).

She crosses our path again. One of the older fellows in our group yells out to her, "wear a helmet".

To which she politely replies that she has a helmet and points to the bag hanging off her fender.

Apparently the helmet was in a bag on her bike... covered... and being kept clean. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

STUPID LADY!

[Trek420]

Folks, along with the normal crew of Darwin Award recipients the spike in gas prices is bringing a lot of newbies out. Some just took the bike down from the garage and thought "here, this will save me a buck or two".

Let's give 'em a break.

Offer suggestions "your helmet is on backwards, can I show you how to put that on?" :) Worst we can do is yell at 'em which just adds to the whole "cyclists are elitests" thing and may just scare them so much they fall over.

Some may keep riding, that's a good thing.

I sometimes use the "big smile, point at helmet, pat the head" jesture.

OTOH, when my neighbors 70's French-threaded fully lugged steel Motobecane stoped working because they did not pump the tires :rolleyes: :cool: and they abandon it on the bulk waste pick up in my condo complex, I did not offer "here, let me show you how easy this is"

I'll let them go replace with a box store bike and then we'll educate them from there ;-)

[Grog]

I sometimes can't help it, I just like irony too much sometimes:

"Cool bike! Nice helmet." as I pass someone without a lid on on the road.

[Trek420]

Me too, "nice job of calling out" when racers blow by me :rolleyes:

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Me too, "nice job of calling out" when racers blow by me :rolleyes:

I usually call after them- "Thanks for the heart attack!" :rolleyes:

[crazycanuck]

Do you want the racers to ring their little bells as well :rolleyes:

[OakLeaf]

A month or two ago I saw a family out riding. The little kid had her helmet in her front basket. In case a cop showed up, I supposed, same as they do on the motorcycles :(

Now you've made me remember that, I have to spend another couple of hours damping my outrage down.

-Oak, still alive because of the helmet I was wearing that day 21 years ago.

[OakLeaf]

Do you want the racers to ring their little bells as well :rolleyes:

The little bell means "prime sprint." Ring their bells if they want me to kick their *sses on the way to the city limit sign!!! :D;)

[Mr. Bloom]

Riding with a new cycling buddy tonight. Busy road - crossing Railroad Tracks at an obtuse angle - requiring a cyclist to take the lane to cross safely.

We signaled. Took the lane - and some red neck tried to pass buddy on the right side.

He went down hard - hitting his head and CRACKING his helmet.

We got him home and I called a few minutes ago to confirm he's OK. Other than road rash and a little headache, he seemed fine :) His girlfriend is there in case some issue emerges...

Now I know at least two people (including Silver) saved by a helmet!

I will NEVER ride without a helmet!

Viva La Helmet!

PS: My regret??? Appropriately, I focused on getting to him...but if I got that license plate, I guarantee you I would have sworn a wreckless driving and vehicular assualt warrant on that driver!

[smilingcat]

Dear Mr. Silver,

I'm a bit of a klutz at times and I can tell you that the brain bucket saved my life on two separate occasions.

Yes thank goodness for the helmet.

------------

I did have a talk with a young man about wearing a helmet. We were standing and waiting for the light to turn green. He told me no need since he isn't riding like one of the racers. To him, I looked like a racer of sort.(okay so I'm decked out in full cycling gear sans CSC, Team Discovery... jersey. I wear "normal" jersey not even a kit). The light turns green, the young man trying to look like Joe cool starts up, mashes on his pedal to get in front of me and proceeded to jack knife his front wheel. Down he went. Oh poor boy.

I didn't want to add insult to his bruised ego, so I went on my cherry way.

I hope he has enough sense to buy a helmet.

------------
I say nothing to the ones without a brain. I just tap my helmet two or three times as I pass by.

Smilingcat

[Crankin]

Whether or not kids around here wear a helmet seems to totally depend on the socio-economic make up of the community. I have noticed this on my drive home from work, which goes through 4 towns.

Working class communities, not necessarily low income: maybe really young kids (less than 8) wear them
hardly any adults wear them

middle class, mix of blue collar and white collar: a little bit better than the above, but I rarely see an older kid or teen wearing a helmet

mostly professional communities: the kids all wear them, but when parents ride with them, the parents don't! (unless they are "cyclists")
About 5 years ago, the police department in the town I teach in gave any student who wanted one, a free helmet. We found some of them thrown on the parking lot. I rarely see any kids wearing them when they ride to school. A few have them hanging from their handlebars. When I ride to school, I leave my helmet prominently hanging from the drop bar of my bike.

[Mr. Bloom]

I often tell riders when their helmets are fitted improperly.

I am polite and non-condescending (I hope...). I explain that a helmet saved my wife...and that they may want to wear it like this...

It's always been received well...but if it's not...I don't really care.

I can't keep someone from jumping off a cliff...but I'd feel guilty if I could have intervened and didn't.

[KSH]

With all of that said... I have to say that honestly I don't care if someone wears a helmet or not. It's their life. Their head. It's not my place to tell them to protect it.

We let people ride motorcycles, legally, without a helmet. They drive 60-70-80+ mph, with a helmet. It's legal.

I don't care if that person chooses to wear a helmet or not.. and I don't care if a cyclist cares or not. Honestly.

My cycling club gets all in a huff about it, and no one is allowed to ride with us, without one... but I personally don't care.

But I did think it was funny that the lady was carrying her helmet on her bike and not wearing it. I also think it's equally funny with a see someone on a motorcycle doing that as well.

With all of that said... I wear a helmet at all times. I did when I rode motorcycles (for 2 years-no other transportation)... and I do it riding my bike. :)

[F8th637]

I feel exactly the same way you do, KSH. It's their head and they are responsible for it. Kids I would encourage but adults, well, you are on your own.

[K8sgotgame]

I always wear a helmet (partly) because I had a bad accident as a kid.. front wheel came off my mtb on a dirt road (super cool older brother had been "playing" with my bike earlier), the fork dug in and I flipped over. I just happened to land on the wheel which punctured my stomach and the rest of the bike landed on my head. I ended up with a very deep gouge in the helmet and it was also cracked in half. It felt great :eek:

I always wear one when I ski, snowboard or rock climb.

BUT.. I also ride horses, and although I wear a helmet 99% of the time I do have a tendency to hop on quickly to show someone something or will jump on one of the horses out in the field with no saddle/bridle/helmet (I'm a genius, I know). I'm less strict with myself around the horses, probably because I'm more solid riding them than a bike or walking on my own two feet. :p

Helmets are great.. but what really grinds my gears are people who have them just kind of sitting on the back of their head or they just don't fit properly. What's the point if it's not going to stay on anyway? :confused:

[makbike]

New bike shop in town has brought out a lot of new riders in my small community. After our three hour faculty meeting today I went out for a spin to work off some of my frustrations of the day (long meeting + a full day of student testing!). I passed a cyclist heading the opposite direction - no helmet on his head. I simply shook my head (helmet in place) and said to myself "there goes another organ donor." I will never understand why people (cyclist/motorcyclists, etc) have such an aversion to protecting their brains.

[farrellcollie]

I wear a helmet, but if other people don't want to - it doesn't bother me. I think americans have become way too hysterical about such things - not just bike hemets - but life in general. I usually don't wear a seatbelt, I eat food after the expiration date and will ride in the back of pick up trucks if the occasion arises.

[Kano]

middle class, mix of blue collar and white collar: a little bit better than the above, but I rarely see an older kid or teen wearing a helmet

My daughter admitted to something one day, as she was finishing up the classroom part of driver's ed.

"Until I took this class, I wasn't buckling my seatbelt when I was sitting where you couldn't see me." She went on to say that "after watching all the movies in these classes, I buckle my seatbelt no matter what now."

A little bit of rebellion, mixed in with a dose of they don't know the why, and the invincibility of inexperience!

The ones who ride carrying them instead of wearing them PROBABLY wore them until they got out of mom's sight. Then they took them off, cuz they're not cool, before any of their friends saw them!

Karen in Boise

[KnottedYet]

I have been in a bike accident without a helmet, and in a car accident without a seatbelt.

Got some distorted facial bones to remember them by. I was very lucky.

Every time Sknot tried to get out of wearing either, I told him the stories and played show-n-tell.

[boy in a kilt]

There are times when I feel it's appropriate to wear a helmet and times when I don't think it's necessary.

When I started rock climbing in the early 90's there was a lot of arguments about whether a climbing helmet should always be worn, or whether the individual should be allowed to determine when it was appropriate. There was always some pompous jackass in the letters section of the climbing mags pontificating about how all us crazy people climbing without helmets were begging for death (Darwin Awards weren't known then).

Fortunately, it's ultimately impossible to legislate this sort of thing on climbing crags and mountains.

For the record, I've also soloed mountains and done significant amounts of back country travel by myself. Just me and my skills. Cheap insurance is one thing, but learning to be aware of your skills and your surroundings will prevent far more injuries than any helmet.

[Meg McKilty]

With all of that said... I have to say that honestly I don't care if someone wears a helmet or not. It's their life. Their head. It's not my place to tell them to protect it.

We let people ride motorcycles, legally, without a helmet. They drive 60-70-80+ mph, with a helmet. It's legal.

I don't care if that person chooses to wear a helmet or not.. and I don't care if a cyclist cares or not. Honestly.

Yeah, and it's my back breaking when they end up on the neuro floor flipping their bodies that happen to breathe while no long-term care facility will take them for 5-8 months.

However, it does give me plenty of job security.

[Mr. Bloom]

Helmets are great.. but what really grinds my gears are people who have them just kind of sitting on the back of their head or they just don't fit properly. What's the point if it's not going to stay on anyway? :confused:

To clarify...this is when I intervene. It's the folks who have a false sense of security that benefit from the awareness & education. The folks who don't care? I agree with KSH and f8th on that (although I silently disapprove...)

In the wreck I described tonight, cycling buddy had two tiny scapes over his eyebrows from impact. If his helmet was on the back of his head, he would have had a serious head trauma...and just 20 minutes before, I had demonstrated to him the proper position for the helmet (he's a fairly new rider)...and I'm glad I did.

[lph]

Yeah - I'm with those that don't get it, but don't get upset about it either.

That's not quite right, it upsets me a *little* when I see someone decked out like a lean+mean French racer dude on a hotshot fast bike winging down a busy road without a helmet, for the same reason that it upsets me a little when obviously good rock climbers lead pitches without a helmet, because it gives the impression that "kids, if you're good enough, you don't need a helmet".

On the other hand, it is their head and their life they're risking, and I can't force people to be good examples. Nor do I feel that people should be good examples at all times.

But the average joes out trying what it's like to ride to work or whatever, riding slowly and staying way out of traffic - I don't worry too much about the lack of a helmet. If I can I try to mention it as a friendly tip, and tell them about the times it's saved me from head injury, and about the time not wearing one gave my dh a bad concussion and 8 stitches to his head.

But I do wear a seatbelt. Never know when some other idjit is going to rear-end you, people do the strangest things in cars.

[Crankin]

Well, I do get upset and I do care. I am sorry if some think that we legislate too many things. Meg, you summed up my opinion, perfectly. I'm not a nurse, but sure, don't wear your helmet or your seatbelt. When you crash, and you will, "we" will be paying for it. Especially if you don't have health insurance. My state has a new mandatory health insurance law. It is reasonably priced and covers a lot of stuff (my son has it). People complain about that, too.
I went through a car windshield when I was 15. I have not been in a car without wearing a seatbelt since then. And in 1969, I don't think anyone else wore one.
One time, I said something to a a young teenaged couple who were holding their baby on their lap, no car seat. They got enraged and tried to follow me. I just drove home and they gave up.
Until people think about the consequences of not following safety rules, I will keep saying stuff to them.

[OakLeaf]

Oh goodness, I didn't expect to see this debate on this board ;):rolleyes:

I have no passion left on this issue. I've been online on motorcycle boards for over 15 years now. I'm not interested in talking about helmet legislation and I'm not interested in hearing other people's opinion about it.

There are things I would like to say related to the medical/industrial complex in this country and its unholy alliance with the insurance industry. About insurance companies' threats and scare tactics, and about the pricing of medical services. If we want to drift this thread that direction - although I expect the level of censorship on this board won't allow it - then I'm in.

[farrellcollie]

My underlying point here is that life is not safe and that what someone decides to do with their body is none of my business. For all of the people who get upset about helmets (or lack thereof) another group gets just as upset that we are on the road at all because of how dangerous it is. the one and only time I wore high heels - I fell off them (and they were not very high or spiky) and broke my ankle - but I don't feel the need to tell everyone else not to wear them - despite evidence that they can deform feet, cause back pain etc. (of course - an argument can be made that if I cannot walk in high heels - I should not be on a bike at all, let alone on the road on a bike. Rollerblades should be right out).

[rij73]

I usually don't wear a seatbelt, I eat food after the expiration date and will ride in the back of pick up trucks if the occasion arises.

I really don't want to offend, but feel the need to say this... If you go through a windshield and get killed or get thrown from a truck bed and killed in an accident that you would have otherwise survived, it creates enormous guilt for the driver of the other car even if they weren't necessarily at fault. If you don't care about your life enough to take some basic precautions, I don't consider that my business, but I do feel bad for the others who will be affected if you are killed, paralyzed, suffer severed limbs, etc.

[farrellcollie]

Actually I think most people would just blame me for being stupid and go on with their lives. Death is not the worst thing that can happen to a person in my opinion - this is the main reason I don't wear a seatbelt. When I was practicing law as a plaintiff's atty - I saw more people injured by seatbelts than I want to be. People not wearing seatbelts are often just dead. But I was really just using those as an example of choices people make that others may or may not agree with - helmets, smoking, steroids, and seatbelts do get people on both sides riled up.

[rij73]

Actually I think most people would just blame me for being stupid and go on with their lives. Death is not the worst thing that can happen to a person in my opinion.

Sorry you feel that way. I know I would be devastated if I was involved in someone losing their life whether it was their own fault or not. And, like I said, there is the possibility of paralysis, vegetative state, limb loss, etc. too. If you already feel that your life isn't very valuable, I'd hate to see you get into one of those states. I do wish you would be more careful.

[Aint Doody]

I think not wearing a helmet is totally irresponsible. A dog caused my accident, and a helmet saved me. It had nothing to do with how fast or slow I was riding. It had nothing to do with how busy a road I was on. Things happen. Why wouldn't you want to protect yourself with something as simple as wearing a helmet?

But it's the children not wearing them that upsets me. It may not be cool, but it's not cool to be brain damaged either. There is a wonderful poster in a neurologist's office that has all sorts of medical devices and a helmet. The words at the bottom say, "Which one of these would you rather wear?"

I had a child approximately 8 years old who was not wearing a helmet tell me he'd been riding for years and didn't crash. I told him I'd been riding for over 50 years when I crashed. No impression was made. Parents have to insist that children wear helmets. They--some parents & children--don't understand the consequences of a crash without a helmet. Sorry-this is my personal soapbox.

[VeloVT]

On the local bike path, not only is it the case that probably 70% of riders are not wearing helmets (you definitely see a lot more "recreational" riders than "serious" riders, but still), but I'm astonished how many parents I see riding with young children (like 4-8 year olds), and the children have helmets but the parents do not. :confused::confused::confused:

[farrellcollie]

I think that people who do and do not wear helmets should have wills, guardians named for their children (or pets), and living wills and/or health care directives.

[KSH]

On the local bike path, not only is it the case that probably 70% of riders are not wearing helmets (you definitely see a lot more "recreational" riders than "serious" riders, but still), but I'm astonished how many parents I see riding with young children (like 4-8 year olds), and the children have helmets but the parents do not. :confused::confused::confused:

I don't care if adults wear helmets... that's their choice. I do care about kids though.

Adults should teach kids to wear helmets and should make them wear them properly from a young age, so the kid is OK wearing them when they get older.

One day I was out riding the lake, and on the side where a lot people ride in the street with cars (the path is skinny and beat up on that side)... I saw a Dad riding in front of his son (not watching the kid or protecting him by riding behind him)... the kid was maybe 8 years old, riding in the street, with the adult in front of him... and no helmet. I was upset seeing that. Of course the Dad was sans helmet, and smoking a cigarette while riding. NICE!

I have a friend who rides... and she refuses to wear her helmet properly. She won't tighten it on her head... it slides half way over her head... and she has taught her daughter (11 years old) to do the same thing. I pointed out that if she had a wreck, the helmet wouldn't do any good. She said it was uncomfortable the other way. So she wears it, but it's pointless really. Her and her daughter might as well not bother wearing them.


Otherwise, I know a lot people think a path is safer than the road so they don't wear a helmet. False sense of security there. My boyfriend demolished his first bike on a bike path.

[Aint Doody]

Liza, I think that sends the worst message of all. "When you grow up and are smart, you won't need to wear a helmet."

I still have an image of a young mother with a toddler in a child seat on the back of her bike and a baby in one of those pappoose sorta slings on her. The three of them were on a bicycle and not a helmet in sight. I wish I'd have called the police. She was definitely endangering those children. They were approaching railroad tracks. What was she thinking????

[Bad JuJu]

were approaching railroad tracks. What was she thinking????
She wasn't! :eek:

OT: Hiya, Susan. How was Cycle Zydeco? If you posted a ride report, I missed it. I'm hoping to do that next year!

[malloreigh]

Portland helmet advocacy is a good scene... encountered it at the Multnomah County Bike Fair last year. Helmets aren't mandatory by law in Oregon so they have a cute program advocating their use.

That said, the bike snobs here in Vancouver are all about not wearing helmets. Those little cycling caps may make you look cool but they won't protect your brain... and I must admit I do feel pretty dorky wearing my helmet riding with the cool kids... but my head will be okay if anything happens, so I feel a bit better bombing down main streets.

[7rider]

Saw this...thought it was a fit with this tread...

http://safetyissexy.blogspot.com/

[Mr. Bloom]

Yes, this can be contentious.

Tonight, I was talking with a neighbor while he was watching his kids ride. I told him about last night's wreck and how it cracked my buddy's helmet rather than his head...he said "these kids need helmets, don't they?"

"Yep"

I didn't lecture, I did berate...he was comfortable in a narrow perspective...and made a choice based on an expanded horizon. He imagined his kids hitting the pavement and was compelled to act.

This is an approach I'm personally comfortable with - effect change through a positive perspective and choice rather than mandate and control. I've always felt this way, but am now learning how to apply it in issues closer to home as well.

[KnottedYet]

I got to witness a woman crashing on a MUT with her baby (helmetless) in a backpack carrier on her back.

The friend I was walking on the MUT with was so upset by the carnage that I never did find out if the child survived. We had to walk away or my friend would have fainted or puked or something.

I agree, adults are one thing (mom wasn't wearing a helmet, either) but children are something else entirely.

[OakLeaf]

Oh, man.

Prayers for the baby, hugs for you and your friend.

[OakLeaf]

Oh, man.

Prayers for the baby, hugs for you and your friend - and baby's mom, too.

[Tri Girl]

I even wear a helmet when I ride to the "Red Box" less than a half mile from my house, or to the grocery store a mile away. I'm on residential streets with no traffic, but in the off chance that a kid or dog or rock happen to throw me- I want my noggin safe and sound (well, safe anyway). Plus, I think I'd look more stupid for NOT wearing one than looking dorky for wearing one.

[Beane]

Whether or not there should be laws requiring people to wear helmets is really just an issue of politics.

My point was simply that it seems awfully stupid to bike without a helmet.

[Wahine]

A helmet saved my life and I'll tell the story to anyone that'll listen. Like Mr. Silver, I believe in educating people that I have contact with. I'm lucky enough to be in a profession where I get to chat to a lot of people who ride or are thinking of riding and I do make a difference. I won't go anywhere on my bike without a helmet and I make it pretty clear to my friends that I don't want to ride with them if they won't wear one. The downside is that some people will then choose not to commute because they don't want helmet head when they get to work. Vanity is a powerful thing.

[RolliePollie]

When I first tried clipless pedals, I tipped over and slammed the back of my head into the pavement. Thank heavens for my helmet! The helmet seemed to be fine, but a couple weeks later, I dropped it and it cracked in two. There is no way I would ever get on my bike without my helmet on. It bothers me when other people don't wear helmets because as mentioned previously in this thread, it becomes everyone's responsibility when someone gets hurt and doesn't have health insurance. And lots of people in CA don't have health insurance.

CA has a helmet law for motorcyclists (I'm actually shocked we don't have a bicycle helmet law yet). The other night, I noticed a Highway Patrol car stopped on the other side of the freeway. Next I saw a motorcycle (also on the other side) driving the wrong way on the shoulder. He was not wearing a helmet. I guess he saw the cop and instead of passing him and getting a ticket, he decided to drive the wrong way back to the last on ramp. I found this kind of entertaining.

[OakLeaf]

Anyone in the US who thinks her expensive health insurance covers her for a head injury needs to (1) educate herself about what is involved in rehabbing a TBI and (2) read her policy. Very, very, very few of even the most expensive policies will cover extended neuropsych rehab or occupational therapy. And that gets fewer every day.

I'm not even going to begin to address the rest of it at this hour in the morning, except to say that anyone in the US who thinks the public (government, taxpayers, however you want to phrase it) is NOT subsidizing her expensive health care insurance to a MASSIVE degree, also needs to educate herself.

Go ahead and have your debate, but let's not bring red herrings into it.

[Crankin]

I am not dumb enough to think that my medical insurance would pay the entire price of a major brain injury rehab (although my insurance pretty much pays for everything without questioning. And I mean some pretty expensive stuff, no referrals, etc). I only brought up the health insurance aspect because medical costs and not wearing a helmet are related. Also, with the advent of mandatory, state sponsored health insurance in MA (for those who don't have it through work), people are saying the same thing that they say about helmets and seatbelts: "The government should not tell me I have to..."
Last year my son had the norovirus. He was really sick and used his mandated state sponsored health plan (he works for a company with less than 10 people). His girlfriend, who had no insurance, because she is too cheap to pay the small premium for her income level, went to the emergency room and got "free care." Who do you think paid for that?

[OakLeaf]

And what is the Massachusetts program, but a massive state subsidy of four private health insurance/managed care companies? Who's paying for that?

(And what would be wrong with it if my tax dollars did go to help people who really need it, rather than helping insurance and drug company executives buy new yachts as they do now?)

Really, uncompensated ER care is the most innocuous of the bunch, because there's a complete disconnect between the funding and the usage. The hospital gets construction/development money from the feds, and everyone benefits from the existence of the hospital. In exchange they're obligated to treat all emergent needs.

In your example, State and federal dollars probably paid less for your son's girlfriend than they did for your son. Almost certainly so. And that's before you take into account the fact that his services would've been billed at a deep discount, whereas she will be taken to collection for the face value of whatever the hospital wants to charge.

[OakLeaf]

A helmet saved my life and I'll tell the story to anyone that'll listen. Like Mr. Silver, I believe in educating people that I have contact with.... I won't go anywhere on my bike without a helmet and I make it pretty clear to my friends that I don't want to ride with them if they won't wear one.

+1

And part of how I educate people is with my hairstyle. Not everyone wants a helmet-friendly haircut, I understand that. Still, I get comments all the time when I pull off my helmet and fluff up my hair. "Wow, no helmet head, how do you do that?" :D


Another story I tell people a lot is the story of the last time DH and I rode without helmets - because it's not the story of how my helmet saved my life, it's the story about how wearing it shows my concern for my loved ones. I might have told this one here before - but here I go again :rolleyes:

The last time DH and I rode without helmets was just a couple of months after we'd started dating. He'd been living in a helmet-law state for many years, and although he hadn't ridden bareheaded in a long time, he'd done it in his youth, and I guess he was just curious to re-experience what it felt like. I lived in a state without a helmet law, and although I always wore one for long trips and highway travel, I often scooted around town without one. On this particular day, we'd gone camping, and we were going to get dinner at a restaurant near our campsite. It was a mile and a half, and we decided that we'd leave the helmets in the tent.

On that little mile and a half scoot, each of us was so terrified for the OTHER one, that we promised each other then and there never to do it again.

[HoosierGiant]

I said it in a previous post, but I'll do it again:

Unfortunately, too many people subscribe to the I-don't-ride-fast-enough-to-need-a-helmet philosophy.

Every potential cyclist should be required to read Dangerous Decision: The Consideration for Helmet Use at Any Speed by J. Raleigh Burt, an 8th grader who earned 1st place in the Junior Division of the 2005 Colorado State Science Fair.

To quote:

"From the height of a recreational riding position, a simple tip-over fall can create enough speed and energy to cause substantial damage to the human head and brain. In other words, it is the height of the potential fall and not just the speed the cyclist is traveling where the threat of injury exists....

The results from the experiment showed that the velocity, force, and energy created in a simple tip-over fall onto a hard surface are more than great enough to cause a serious head and/or brain injury to a cyclist not wearing a helmet. Even collisions with softer surfaces produced potentially hazardous forces."

Update: For a podcast interview with Raleigh plus a link to the complete report, see http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/00000194.

For a rather lengthy list of references to scientific journal articles dealing with helmets and bike safety (many linking you to abstracts only, but certainly still informative), visit the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute at http://www.helmets.org/journals.htm.

[Tuckervill]

Hey, could that post go in its own thread, so we can find it simply with a search?

I bought Zen's bike for my DIL and she's going to use the baby trailer I bought for my dog. I want them both to wear helmets.

Karen

[indysteel]

When I first tried clipless pedals, I tipped over and slammed the back of my head into the pavement. Thank heavens for my helmet! The helmet seemed to be fine, but a couple weeks later, I dropped it and it cracked in two.

I've repeatedly heard that you should replace your helmet anytime it sustains an impact, even if it otherwise looks okay.

[Jolt]

Really, uncompensated ER care is the most innocuous of the bunch, because there's a complete disconnect between the funding and the usage. The hospital gets construction/development money from the feds, and everyone benefits from the existence of the hospital. In exchange they're obligated to treat all emergent needs.

In your example, State and federal dollars probably paid less for your son's girlfriend than they did for your son. Almost certainly so. And that's before you take into account the fact that his services would've been billed at a deep discount, whereas she will be taken to collection for the face value of whatever the hospital wants to charge.

That may be true, but the other problem with people going to the ER for things like that is that it contributes to overcrowding and long waits in the ERs. A lot of people seem to think it's OK to go to the ER for minor/non-emergent things because they know they'll get treated and possibly for free, but it really isn't appropriate use of the ER. That's what urgent-care centers are for.

[cyclinnewbie]

With all of that said... I have to say that honestly I don't care if someone wears a helmet or not. It's their life. Their head. It's not my place to tell them to protect it.



<climbing onto my soapbox>
I'm gonna throw my 2 cents in here, for what it's worth. I guess I don't care if adults don't wear a helmet, because they're making an "informed" decision. Except for when they wreck, have a massive head injury, become a vegetable, require nursing home care for the rest of their lives, and then I have to pay for their stupidity. That is irresponsible.

The other thing that makes me mad is kids not wearing a helmet. Who wants to see their child in the above situation? I did an ICU stint in nursing school, and took care of not one, but TWO 18 year olds (ok not kids, by no means were they adults either), who had severe head injuries from crashing on their skateboards. They were going to be in a vegetative state for the rest of their lives. One of the mom's said her son wouldn't wear a helmet because it wasn't cool. I get that it's vitally important to be cool, but even at 18, I got that it was also vitally important to be alive. I have never ridden without a helmet, I require my kids to wear helmets, and even my 13 year old will not get on his bike without one despite the fact that some of his friends don't. He tells them "When you've lost the ability to talk or wipe your nose because you've hit a car with your head, I will come to the nursing home and visit you, but I won't be the one in that bed". And, God willing, he won't be.

I know that a helmet is not a guaranteed life-saver, but geeze, it's pretty much all we got, so why not do all you can? Having said that, I have not and would never be rude when speaking to someone about their choices.

I also realize that this mentality goes for other irresponsible acts such as drunk driving, drugs, unprotected sex, etc. I could go ON AND ON, but I shall spare you LOLOL.
<climbing off my soapbox>

[motochick]

The other day I was riding in a rural area and another cyclist came toward me going the other way. He was not wearing a helmet and I gave him a very small kind of flippant wave hello. He gave me a big wave hello and said hi. He must have thought I was being rude because he turned his head around and gave me a huge "what's-up-with-that-attitude" wave. I wish I wasn't going uphill and had more time to prepare, I would have skipped the wave and pointed to my helmet instead.

My husbands life was saved wearing a helmet, and a friend of ours has permanent brain damage from not wearing one. We won't even take short test rides up and down the street without one. Same with the motos, never ride any distance without one. I guess I am so used to wearing a helmet because everything I participate in requires one. Another reason to have really short hair!

Brenda

[Blueberry]

I didn't have a helmet until I bought my first bike in college for transportation. I've *always* worn one ever since. As does my DH.

Yep - I rode bikes as a kid. It was never even suggested I should wear one, much less that anyone would buy me one. It just wasn't an option. I don't think my parents knew any better. I would have worn it.

If someone makes an informed, rational choice that they don't want to wear a helmet - then fine. Kids should have to wear them, and we need to work towards making it socially acceptable to wear them.

CA

[Crankin]

Well, Oakleaf, I guess that I am just an old hippie. I have no problem at all with the government paying for things for people who need it. I guess my problem is that one, people just complain about all of these things that are mandated, but are too irresponsible to take responsibility for their health, safety, etc. In the end, it is really not my problem. But, I wish we could find a way to make things equitable. I don't know why this country has to be so "individualistic" that we have come to this point. Sure, EU countries are highly taxed, but the quality of life just seems better. My husband manages several EU branches of his company and I am envious of the benefits and the lifestyle. Some people would tell me to move, or that I am anti-American, but somehow, there has to be a solution. I am not an expert on this topic. All I know is that my son is very happy to have good coverage for a reasonable premium. He paid about a hundred dollars a month more before this, to insure himself, while most of his friends had none. I don't love insurance companies, but in the past year I have had occasion to use mine for some very expensive diagnostic tests and specialists; 3 MRIs, a CT scan, several ultra sounds, blood work galore, PT, and specialists at the Brigham. I was not questioned on anything. A couple of years ago my husband had 2 stents put in and 2 angioplasties within a year period, which was all paid for, 100%. And there's people on this forum who have to wait months to get approval for an MRI! It's really not fair that all people can't have this; I mean I only have it because the policy at my husband's company is really good.

OK, this is way off topic of helmets. I do get on a rampage about safety and health issues. Just riding with Denise G. and hearing the story of her accident on a personal level has given me a view on this issue that most don't get.
I won't say anymore.

[OakLeaf]

((Robyn,)) how can you and I agree on all that stuff, and have gotten into a disagreement on some technicality? :D:rolleyes::cool:

[bean fidhleir]

+1 on preferring social coverage of all medical costs, even those caused by an individual's negligence. I reckon that no matter what it costs the rest of us in dollars, the victims are paying the most in every other way, every day.

Apropos wearing a helmet, I like this aphorism: don't bother with a helmet if you've nothing to protect.

Ages ago, I came across a 2-page excerpt from a trial transcript. The case involved a 40yo man, hs grad, responsible job, solid citizen, who was clipped by a car as he was peddling along. Not a big hit, just a brush with the fender, enough to knock him off the bike. But he wasn't wearing a helmet. Despite how minor the accident was in superficial terms, he suffered permanent brain damage to the point he could no longer work and could barely function at any level. The transcript made poignantly clear that the poor soul could hardly string a coherent sentence together, and it was questionable whether he could truly understand much that was said to him. The excerpt closed with him saying (not as clearly as this) "I should have been dead. They tell me I should have been dead".

I wish I still had that excerpt, because it was terrifying to read. I can't imagine anyone reading it and then going out on their bike without a helmet. They'd truly have to have nothing to protect.

[Tuckervill]

That may be true, but the other problem with people going to the ER for things like that is that it contributes to overcrowding and long waits in the ERs. A lot of people seem to think it's OK to go to the ER for minor/non-emergent things because they know they'll get treated and possibly for free, but it really isn't appropriate use of the ER. That's what urgent-care centers are for.

I've used the ER three times since I've lived here. That's 3 times more than the last 10 years before that.

Because we don't have urgent care centers. We have walk-in clinics, but they don't have xrays or do stitches, and they're not open 24/7.

Karen

[Jolt]

I've used the ER three times since I've lived here. That's 3 times more than the last 10 years before that.

Because we don't have urgent care centers. We have walk-in clinics, but they don't have xrays or do stitches, and they're not open 24/7.

Karen

I guess I was referring to the walk-in clinics when I said "urgent care". Stitches and possible broken bones are perfectly reasonable things to go to the ER for (and some ERs now have a "fast track" section for those types of patients, separating them from the more acute ones); things like the norovirus (unless it's a young child and they're getting dehydrated) not so much. People with that type of issue (or other more minor things that sometimes show up in the ER) should go to the walk-in clinic--if they have to wait until the next morning it's not going to hurt anything.

[OakLeaf]

Oh, that's hard! I hear ya - but that's still hard.

I don't go to the ER for just anything, and I've got the kind of pain threshold where when I spilled hot oil and melted my carpet, it didn't really hurt my foot; when I cut my thumb so deeply I had a scar contracture for a year, it didn't much hurt my hand (and I kept on cooking after I got the bleeding stopped), and I never needed medical care for either one of those.

But when I had food poisoning a couple of weeks ago, another eleven hours of moaning in pain with a headache that ultimately Demerol and a liter of fluids helped but didn't eliminate (actually I think mostly it made me stop caring about the headache), and the most miserable nausea you can imagine - sorry, another eleven hours of that wasn't in the cards.

No, I wouldn't have died of it. But to say that was an abuse of the ER is just hard :o

Mostly what I've done that I would consider an abuse of the ER is when my PCP has refused to see me for a sprain because "I'd have to send you to the ER for X-rays anyhow." :mad: I wonder how in tune ER staff are with the state of primary care in this country.

[Jolt]

Oh, that's hard! I hear ya - but that's still hard.

I don't go to the ER for just anything, and I've got the kind of pain threshold where when I spilled hot oil and melted my carpet, it didn't really hurt my foot; when I cut my thumb so deeply I had a scar contracture for a year, it didn't much hurt my hand (and I kept on cooking after I got the bleeding stopped), and I never needed medical care for either one of those.

But when I had food poisoning a couple of weeks ago, another eleven hours of moaning in pain with a headache that ultimately Demerol and a liter of fluids helped but didn't eliminate (actually I think mostly it made me stop caring about the headache), and the most miserable nausea you can imagine - sorry, another eleven hours of that wasn't in the cards.

No, I wouldn't have died of it. But to say that was an abuse of the ER is just hard :o

Mostly what I've done that I would consider an abuse of the ER is when my PCP has refused to see me for a sprain because "I'd have to send you to the ER for X-rays anyhow." :mad: I wonder how in tune ER staff are with the state of primary care in this country.

Sorry if my previous post came across as a bit harsh--that's the problem with typing things rather than saying them sometimes. I agree with you that a lot of the problem is the state of primary care. As far as your food-poisoning incident, from what you describe it sounds like it was worse than the standard stomach bug (which is more what I was thinking of in the previous post) and I can't really blame you for going to the ER in that case. Again, apologies if my post was offensive.