Does Helmet normalisation deter cyclists?

[rogerzilla]

There are people who won't come on my group rides because *I* don't wear one. I cannot ride with the local club any more, nor take part in my employer's annual charity ride. Compulsion is here already, in an insidious form.

 

[MarkF]

I don't know. I used to get rude comments from uber parents when my kids were younger, but mine are still cycling as adults. I do recall a really bizarre incident when my daughter, then about 13, was refused permission to take part in her schools "cycling activity" day, designed to encourage kids to cycle to school. I don't know why she refused to wear a helmet but before and after that day, she was the only girl cycling to school!

 

[carlosfandangus]

@mjr
Thanks for that..... I live here and didn't know!!!
I always wear a helmet, however I would never dream of remonstrating with someone who didn't its each to there own (choice)
There has been a lot of local Facebook backlash recently from the non cycling public about helmet wearing and Hi Viz, its a load of bollocks to be honest

 

[matticus]

To answer the original question I wonder if it would be more useful to count those that decide not to cycle at all because of a perception that it is an unsafe activity requiring specialist headgear.

Yes!!! that's exactly what I meant. Sorry if my terse title was ambiguous.

The trouble is, I'm not sure anyone has been able to count these people scientifically ...

 

[matticus]

...
And some in Denmark claim that even just showing helmets (not compelling them by law and not even promoting them) discourages cycling: http://www.copenhagenize.com/2013/10/promoting-cycling-positively-now-with.html
...

Thanks - that seems a lot stronger than just an opinion piece!

It doesn't seem to be peer-approved science, but the study looks to be carried out diligently.

(Interesting that pictures of cyclists with helmets make you more positive about buying a car. )

 

[oldwheels]

I've actually never been asked in a snarky / sarcastic way where my helmet is. Or been asked in any way in fact, or had a lack of one commented on. I don't feel any public pressure to wear one. I'll disclose that I sometimes wear, and I sometimes don't, it all depends. I'm about 50/50.

On CC I've seen very many snarky and sarcastic comments about those who wear helmets. "Plasctic hat wearers" and similar jibes are common, which saddens me given that CC is somewhere that prides itself on inclusion and personal choice.

I was once shouted at by what I presumed to be car rally marshalls for not wearing a helmet. They looked a bit foolish when they realised that I had nothing to do with their unsavoury pastime and in fact lived there.

 

[mjr]

The Isle of Man seems about to try to prove the same effect again by making helmets compulsory for cycling: https://cyclingindustry.news/isle-of-man-compulsory-cycling-helmet/

This story has been "clarified" that it's only legislation that will enable helmet compulsion at any future transport minister's whim and they have no plans to compel now

 

[rivers]

I think it needs to be kept as personal choice. I wear a helmet, mainly because I always have and it feels weird to cycle without one. When I was about 8, my home state introduced a law that all kids under 12 needed to wear a helmet. I remember my parents taking us to the store (I think it was Toys R' Us) to pick out helmets because "if we wanted to ride our bikes, we needed to wear a helmet". As a kid, I liked riding my bike with my friends, so I didn't argue.

 

[RichardB]

I wear a helmet, mainly because I always have and it feels weird to cycle without one. When I was about 8, my home state introduced a law that all kids under 12 needed to wear a helmet. I remember my parents taking us to the store (I think it was Toys R' Us) to pick out helmets because "if we wanted to ride our bikes, we needed to wear a helmet". As a kid, I liked riding my bike with my friends, so I didn't argue.

I learned to drive when seat belts were mandatory to be fitted in cars, but were not mandatory to wear. On my first lesson, my instructor said "decide now whether you are going to wear a seat belt or not, because what you do today will stay with you for the rest of your driving career". I decided to wear it, and almost 50 years later I still feel uncomfortable if I take the bins to the bottom of the lane without wearing my seat belt. It's totally ingrained, so I can see why those who were made to wear helmets as children feel they must always do so.

But I have been cycling from about the age of 8 (and tricycling before that) and never even owned a helmet until I got married a second time and we got my wife (a non-cyclist) a bike so we could ride together. She thought a helmet would be a good idea, so we bought two and wore them. I never felt very comfy in it and would prefer not to wear it. However, she gets very anxious if I don't, so I tend to put it on. I regard it as the price I have to pay to be allowed out to play (She doesn't cycle any more.)

I was a motorcyclist for many years and always wore a helmet because the statistics were unambiguous and the safety case was unarguable. The m/c helmet industry has several testing schemes which are rigorous and well-respected, and manufacturers of helmets will quote test ratings and certifications proudly in their adverts. We don't see the same for cycle helmets, and there's a reason for that.

 

[classic33]

This story has been "clarified" that it's only legislation that will enable helmet compulsion at any future transport minister's whim and they have no plans to compel now

Might be better if you go with what was intended, over three years earlier.
https://www.three.fm/news/isle-of-man-news/cycle-helmets-wont-be-made-compulsory/

 

[rogerzilla]

Looking at recent government advertising where pretty much no-one is helmeted, I think they've decided not to change anything. Which is nice.

 

[Gunk]

I wear one because I’m used to having to wear one on a motorcycle, but that my personal choice and I live in a very busy city, so sort of makes sense, but if someone else decides not to wear one, that’s their personal choice and absolutely none of my business.

 

[mjr]

I wear one because I’m used to having to wear one on a motorcycle, but that my personal choice and I live in a very busy city, so sort of makes sense, but if someone else decides not to wear one, that’s their personal choice and absolutely none of my business.

Nope, not seeing the sense in that because cycling is more active than motorcycling so the limitation on cooling is a bigger hindrance and cycle helmets aren't designed for collisions with other vehicles so how busy it is doesn't matter much.

 

[Moon bunny]

I can quite believe that the sarky remarks alone from the self appointed helmet police would be enough to put off many. I'd give them a good resounding "F off and mind you one business" by way of a reply, but others just won't bother riding instead.

With motorbikes the choice was taken away from us by the government - no lid, no ride, and it did indeed put some people off. Prior to that there weren't gobby, self appointed smart arses getting in the faces of non helmet wearing motorcyclists like there is with cycling today, so it snot really comparable.

Today on the way to work, a passing helmet busy after he has passed turns and snarls “Where’s your helmets?” Perhaps the irony of him cycling towards a T-junction on a blind bend, wearing dull black clothes and looking backwards, not towards where he was going was lost on him.

 

[Drago]

There are people who won't come on my group rides because *I* don't wear one. I cannot ride with the local club any more, nor take part in my employer's annual charity ride. Compulsion is here already, in an insidious form.

Yet I bet every one of them theyd happily accept a lift from someone driving a Euro Ncap 3* Dacia without giving it a moments thought.