Car hits bike... spring in New England

[Deanna]

I don't understand why they don't just make a law... preferably a federal law that states "under 16 helmet required". Put it out there like a child protective thing and what legislator would have the cojones to vote nay.

I know they won't pass one for adults because adults are supposed to have common sense... heck NH doesn't require motorcyclists to wear helmets; which I think is soooooo stupid. Been there, done that (when I was 18-19) and now I go on the "sweat is cheaper than skin grafts" theory.

spazz-bouncing off the little soapbox

There is such a law in California. I believe helmets are required for anybody under 18, but it could be 16. And you are correct, it would not pass for adults. It drives me crazy to see a young kid in a childs seat on the back of a bicyle being ridden by a parent without a helmet. I want to run up and ask them who will take care of the kid if it survives a crash and they don't because their head got smashed like a watermelon.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I have all I can do not to stop and talk to people when I see riders without helmets - to encourage them to wear helmets. I'm afraid my comments wouldn't be accepted too well, but maybe I'm just being a chicken.

I know that when you fall you don't always hit your head, but I'm not willing to take that chance myself. In fact, I probably err on the other side since if I stop for a break on a ride my helmet usually stays on my head. I forget I have it on, and I have been given some funny looks when I walk into a store still "dressed" in my helmet.

--- Denise

[Surlygirl]

In my house, no helmet, no bike, motorized or not. If I catch you without one, say goodbye to your bikes. Its been the rule since they've been old enough to ride. Since they've always had to wear them I don't get any grief. It drives me crazy to see families on outings and not wearing helmets. How can the kids learn if the parents don't wear them.
I think Mass has a kids under 12 helmet law but who knows if anyone enforces it.

[singletrackmind]

I have all I can do not to stop and talk to people when I see riders without helmets - to encourage them to wear helmets. I'm afraid my comments wouldn't be accepted too well, but maybe I'm just being a chicken.

Not chicken, it is hard to mention helmet use to a complete stranger. I usually work up the nerve to say something about 20% of the time. Sometimes I'll tell a dude a helmet would look cool on him, or simply say 'Helmet??' to someone as I'm riding by, as in where's your-. Rarely I end up chatting to someone as I'm helping them with a mechanical. That's a great time-talk about a captive audience who's willing to at least pretend to pay attention to what you're saying! I'll also compliment a kid who's wearing one and then ask the parent 'where's yours?'. I try hard to keep my tone as non-judgemental as possible. For a lot of people it's a simple matter of education. For the rest it's Darwin. Too bad it's their kids they're using as bait for natural selection.

[Trek420]

singletrackmind "For the rest it's Darwin. Too bad it's their kids they're using as bait for natural selection. "

as they say, no brain, no pain.

What's unfortunate is accidents make the news, parents use that as an argument that the kids should not ride, in most cases the accident would not have been fatal if the rider had a brain lid.

As others have said it's not just the kids. I took a call at work the other day from a gal in her 80's, not sure how the subject came up but her husband is a bay area rider. She said he never wore a helmet. 80+ years young and he'd be riding still but took a fall and suffered a fatal head injury.

On the other hand our family friend Bill McGee was wearing a lid when he had just a freak accident. 79, a very experienced rider he was decending, either he touched a wheel in front of him or vice versa, he knew what to do then so did the other rider, they should never have fallen but they did. His buddy got scrapes, Bill died. He was an incredible guy.


http://www.peaceandjusticesonomaco.org/billmcgee.html

[nuthatch]

How very sad about Bill McGee! Sounds like he still had so much to give the world.

My mother told me one of her good friends (in her 60's) has a very aggressive form of brain cancer that the doctors are tracing back to a childhood head injury. You may be able to get up and walk away when you're young but it's just not worth having a head injury on any level! Wear your helmets, kids!!!

[singletrackmind]

I suppose like seatbelts helmets don't guarantee life and freedom from injury but they save more brains more often than not by either lessening the severity of trauma or eliminating it. Sometimes our sport and sanity saver takes a great person no matter what we do. True of everything in life. I am sorry to hear about Bill McGee and I am glad he was able up to the last to do what he enjoyed.

[Trek420]

Yeah, the thought occurs to me that to go at 70-80+ years old doing the sport you most love, and being able to be active at that level for that long...that's not bad if I can train till then and I plan to be "a lifer".

It doesn't make it any easier on those left behind but what a way to go, and what a life! If we stay indoors these accidents can't happen but think of all we miss.

[Bike Goddess]

Okay- I'm going to get my two cents in here.

Sunday, May 15th, a fellow in my bicycle club crashed on the way down from the summit of Mt Diablo (a very tall mountain here in the SF Bay Area). Although we don't know all of the details, his wife said that if it hadn't been for his helmet he wouldn't have made it. As it is, he was in Intensive Care overnight and may still be in the hospital today.

We think (no one saw him go down) from seeing the front tire in the truck that brought him down the mountain, that he had a flat on that tire. If this is true, then the accident makes sense. If YOU LOOSE YOUR FRONT TIRE you are toast! Always have a GOOD TIRE on the front wheel of your bike.

When I ride, I try to remember to check my tires BEFORE descending for this very reason. I have avoided two front flats from this practice. Yes, he could have picked up something on the way down, we don't know. But it doesn't hurt to be on the cautious side. Also when descending it's a good idea to check the inflation of your tires to make sure no leaky tires- I just bounce the front and back tires while standing. (use that time to eat/drink. etc.)

I mention this in the California section as the women who look at that area of the Forums know where this occurred. I'll keep you all posted over on that thread.

P.S. Spazz- you are one of the experts here. Anything else to add?

[DeniseGoldberg]

...We think (no one saw him go down) from seeing the front tire in the truck that brought him down the mountain, that he had a flat on that tire. If this is true, then the accident makes sense.

We should all remember that crashes happen with no reason too. It's quite possible that a flat caused the crash - but I can tell you from experience, there's not always a reason. Emily can tell you how she crashed (ouch!), but I have no idea what caused me to flip my bike and land on my head a year ago. I've been back over that section of road, and there are cracks in the pavement, and it's likely there was stuff on the road. But a reason? Couldn't tell you. I'm not trying to be a fatalist, but sometimes **** just happens. I'm sure I wouldn't be here today if I hadn't been wearing my helmet - just like Bike Goddess's bike club fellow.

--- Denise

[spazzdog]

Nothing to add except this:

Always wear a brain bucket unless you are 100% sure that you're not gonna land on your head, your god is riding tandem AND you are certain there is nothing/nobody out on the road that might affect the direction your bike may travel unexpectantly.


Other than than no brain - no helmet - no headache... early demise.

spazz

[RoadRaven]

We should all remember that crashes happen with no reason too. It's quite possible that a flat caused the crash - but I can tell you from experience, there's not always a reason. Emily can tell you how she crashed (ouch!), but I have no idea what caused me to flip my bike and land on my head a year ago. I've been back over that section of road, and there are cracks in the pavement, and it's likely there was stuff on the road. But a reason? Couldn't tell you. I'm not trying to be a fatalist, but sometimes **** just happens. I'm sure I wouldn't be here today if I hadn't been wearing my helmet - just like Bike Goddess's bike club fellow.

--- Denise

Yeah... my biggest/ worst crash earlier this year was a combination of factors, and possibly could be avoided now because of the knowledge I gained... riding around a corner at a faster speed then usual cause I was sucking a small groups wheels, a small skiff had left the road slightly wet before we came through, my back tire slipped sideways, I nudged the curb and hit the ground doing 38+km per hour.
Perhaps it would be different if I did it again, but maybe not... I don't know

The cause of a crash is sometimes indefinable or difficult to pinpoint

My helmet had a piece the size of a fist hanging free
Always wear a helmet

[LBTC]

My helmet had a piece the size of a fist hanging free
Always wear a helmet

I hope you've replaced it already??

Namaste,
~T~

[RoadRaven]

Oh yes, T... I went in to the shop and replaced it 2 days later, though my headache was so bad and continuous I didn't get on a bike again for a week and then only for 2 kms! (About 1 mile)
But am back pushing my boundaries again and trying to ride a bit further each week...