how many times have you seen this

[solobiker]

Today on my ride I saw someone with their helmet on backwards. We passed each on one of the local bike paths going in opposite directions. After he passed me I realized that his helmet was on backwards. I saw someone else last summer doing the same thing. Well, at least they are wearing it

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I was roller skating at the rink the other day and saw a skateboarder around 10 yrs old with his helmet on backwards. I pointed it out to him and he said No it's on the right way. I said No I think it's backwards....
So he took off his helmet and showed me inside where the manufacturer had it clearly labeled, sprayed on in paint, BACK and FRONT. He was right! But it sure looked like a backwards helmet!
Maybe it's the new style?

[Andrea]

How about this (courtesy of a poster on roadbikereview forums)...

[KnottedYet]

Oh.
My.
Goodness.

[Eden]

I've only once or twice seen backwards people, but I do see a lot wearing helmets in a manner that is not going to protect their heads.... (usually pushed so far back that their forheads are totally exposed). I've wondered if there is any gentle way to let them know - heck I could fit them properly in about 5 min, but how to approach it?

[KnottedYet]

My favorite line is: I work in healthcare, and I'm concerned your helmet might not be set properly. Can I help you for a second?

You could have one like: I do a lot with bike racing, and I'm concerned...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Why not just be polite and straightforward? Just say like "I see that you are wearing your helmet pushed way back off your forehead. Helmets need to be worn down low over the forehead to protect your head- I worry that you might hurt your head badly in a crash....just a thought." Just give them the info quickly and simply, and don't worry whether they are annoyed or not.

[Eden]

My favorite line is: I work in healthcare, and I'm concerned your helmet might not be set properly. Can I help you for a second?

You could have one like: I do a lot with bike racing, and I'm concerned...

in a strictly literal sense I could say both.... my positions have never been clinical, but except for about 3 years, I have (and am now back to) worked in healthcare since I graduated college

[DDH]

Okay, I'm trying to figure out HOW do you put it on backwards? Wouldn't the straps and where you clip it be out of wack?

I think I would rather someone approach me and tell me if I am doing something wrong rather than let me continue putting myself in danger and or being a laughing stock. Of course that is me and I usually don't offend easily. Never have I ever thought that I was perfect and could do no wrong. Of course many these days seem to be offended way to easily.
I guess we could look at it as "at least we tried to help" the rest is their responsibility.

[mimitabby]

after riding 90 miles to Centralia once, I took my helmet off and put it back on backwards. (I was really toast) but i could not fasten it properly, so i took it off and discovered the problem. A photo documents this folly.

I've seen lots of people with helmets on their handlebars or on their arms. and a good number wearing their helmets but neglecting to fasten them. (ooops, i did that last week for a mile!!)

[MM_QFC!]

I find that it's most worrisome to me too when I see kids with ill-fitted helmets; either jauntily propped on the back of their head or slip-sliding from side to side with really loose straps. While it's great that the parents have helmets for them and put them on, it'd be oh so much better if they actually protected their foreheads, eh? Sometimes, the kids have helmets and the parents don't too. I guess that it's the 'Mom' in me, that appreciates the need for parents/adults to model the safety example...

[Trek420]

No helmet, no brain sighting of the day: On BART (our light rail) a man enters the train with a mountain bike and a back pack. He's stagering awkwardly like "dude, put the backpack on your back and then try to balance the bike instead of drape the strap on your elbow"

So he gives up, puts the bike on the floor, in front of the door. And sits down next to me and opens a book.

I finaly had enough and said quietly "the next station enters on that side, you should pick your bike up" . Not a move from bike dude. I don't think English was his first language judging from the book.

After a few seconds of no action 2 ladies got up and started screaming at him "get your bike out of the way of the door "

[MM_QFC!]

No helmet, no brain sighting of the day: On BART (our light rail) a man enters the train with a mountain bike and a back pack. He's stagering awkwardly like "dude, put the backpack on your back and then try to balance the bike instead of drape the strap on your elbow"

So he gives up, puts the bike on the floor, in front of the door. And sits down next to me and opens a book.

I finaly had enough and said quietly "the next station enters on that side, you should pick your bike up" . Not a move from bike dude. I don't think English was his first language judging from the book.

After a few seconds of no action 2 ladies got up and started screaming at him "get your bike out of the way of the door "

and did he understand that time?

[Geonz]

Last year we did have a fellow put the helmet on backwards. Most of us didn't even notice. Sigh. The first *guy* to come along did.
I remember a tangled traffic situation at a gas station once - veyr much like the backpack guy, where somebody was just blocking everything but seemed clueless. I was all busy trying to find a way to communicate diplomatically ... and somebody just hollered "BACK UP, YOU MORON!!!" (and he did), and I realized that yea, it could have been done without the insult but it was a heck of a lot more effective than my creative efforts would have been and got the job done lots faster.

[aicabsolut]

I did see this once. Seemed to be a roadie out for a typical weekend ride with what looked like a nice Decibel helmet. Only my teammates and I were 100% positive that it was on backwards when we passed him. It was not just a funky helmet design. Definitely a common helmet. Definitely backwards. Weird.