Occasional or regular non-bike helmet cyclist?

[shootingstar]

emilync: When we are in Belize, do I wear a helmet and thus immediately put a label on myself of "different", "outsider", "ex-pat", "gringo", and, quite possibly "rich"; or do I do ride sans helmet in order to fit in and live as the locals and not appear ostentatious? For safety purposes, a helmet is obviously the way to go; but there are cultural issues at play that are very different from those where I live now.

Emily you will be noticeable as a non-local --no matter what you wear....how you walk, your skin colour, your speech, etc.

A rule of thumb: If you were moderately injured does your health care insurance cover yourself? Is there excellent, comprehensive medical care in Belize for significant injuries, surgeries or would you have to be flown back to the U.S. My siser, ER doctor worked in the tiny Carribbean island of Dominica for 4 months as part of program for medical care in daveloping countries, where it's very rugged and local medical care very sparse. Not enough good road access.

Then I would wear my helmet if I knew I could not get the same level of comprehensive care as I would get in a major city in Canada.

If people think I sound whatever...this what I personally know:
a cousin, a strong swimmer who drowned off the coast of California at age 18 yrs.
a sister of a close, long-time friend who drowned by a beach in Acapulco --a rip tide pulled her out as she walked along a beach
her 55 yr. mother hit and died in car accident as a pedestrian

and so on. Of course I hear some stories from ER sister-doctor.


I don't get paranoid but I value my life and its quality long-term.