Why are UK cyclists fixated on helmets

[totallyfixed]

[QUOTE 2987068, member: 259"]I have two neighbours who also commute to work, and I've never once seen them wearing a helmet on the way to work.

They also go out with a club, and they do wear helmets then, along with all the club/team kit. I guess they're going a lot faster, but looking the part is a big factor too. I'll have to interrogate them!

(I live in Belgium, by the way).[/QUOTE]
This.
On a recent tour of the Netherlands with a foray into Germany, the only cyclists we saw who wore helmets were those out riding with a club, not all but most. Now this is interesting because you would expect club cyclists to be more experienced, ride in a disciplined way, be more skillful generally and therefore less likely to fall off. The only conclusion I can reach is that no matter where people cycle, if you want to look cool you must dress like a pro, and in the UK we do like to idolise and emulate professionals and celebs.
Maybe in Europe they have stats that are readily available to the public showing helmets as being ineffective. Having lived and cycled in Europe I always felt safer there, when I moved back here the last thing I thought about was wearing a helmet after a close family member was killed wearing one and in which the helmet was the factor that caused the injury.

 

[Colin B]

As well as using this forum, I also use cycling forums in Denmark, Germany, Holland, France and Spain.

I am not being flippant or funny, I am genuinely curious about this topic.

How did the UK cyclists become so obsessed with the subject of cycle helmets, when most of the commuting cyclists in the rest of Europe dont wear them and dont talk about them on their forums.

I accept that cyclists who race wear them all over Europe. But to see cycle commuters wearing helmets in the rest of Europe is rare. Look at any Youtube clip of cyclists in Holland or Denmark. To see what I mean.

On this forum the subject of cycle helmets is often raised, even if the original post has nothing to do with helmets. They are defended and derided vehmently, but they seem to sneak into every topic.

Personally, I think they are a personal choice and I have several. I sometimes wear them I sometimes dont, as is my choice.

So why is the UK the only country, probably in the World, that is so adamant about helmets. Is it media or advertising pressure? What is it?

Steve

OK I did what the original post suggested and watched Danish cycling and I have to admit to a bloke years out of the saddle its a beautiful vision , but here's the difference between the Danes and the Brits . The Danes have embrassed cycling and as such have an infrastructure dedicated to cyclist , but not only is it dedicated cyclists take priority over motorists with early light systems , buses blocking traffic not bikes I assume is a bus lane in traffic not bikes with buses . Denmark also encourages cycling in fact some could say forces it and I like it , petrol is expensive , 200% car tax to name a couple .
What I'm getting at here is the Danes mentality to cycling , the place is called rightly the city of cycling its a place where cyclists are king and other motorised vehicles take second place and I dare say per head Denmark invests more in its cyclists .
Now to Britain and this is just my observation , in the country the car is king and motorist see cyclists as an inconvenience our infrastructure is poor at best and our population consists of families who own more than one car , our roads are full to capacity with car driving commuters stressed to get to work taking risks everyday . The small minority of people who commute to work using a bicycle are literally taking their lives in their hands every day and some rightly or wrongly feel there's a need to wear one . I wear one because I feel safer and it stops the wife moaning , but if our Infrastructure goes like Denmark then no I wouldn't wear one .
There should be no debate on do you don't you , all there should be is choice so for me do it don't do it its your choice , but better use of debate would be how to get Britain's cycling infrastructure even close to the Danes

Sorry for waffling

 

[Markymark]

I could be wrong but I thought you said the fixation comes from non-wearers. If non-wearers are getting annoyed at being told to wear one then surely the fixation is coming from the wearers?

Ah, I see. I see the fixation on all sides but mostly stemming from more non wearers being told to do so.But the debate has just as often been started by non wearers!

 

[Mugshot]

OK I did what the original post suggested and watched Danish cycling and I have to admit to a bloke years out of the saddle its a beautiful vision , but here's the difference between the Danes and the Brits . The Danes have embrassed cycling and as such have an infrastructure dedicated to cyclist , but not only is it dedicated cyclists take priority over motorists with early light systems , buses blocking traffic not bikes I assume is a bus lane in traffic not bikes with buses . Denmark also encourages cycling in fact some could say forces it and I like it , petrol is expensive , 200% car tax to name a couple .
What I'm getting at here is the Danes mentality to cycling , the place is called rightly the city of cycling its a place where cyclists are king and other motorised vehicles take second place and I dare say per head Denmark invests more in its cyclists .
Now to Britain and this is just my observation , in the country the car is king and motorist see cyclists as an inconvenience our infrastructure is poor at best and our population consists of families who own more than one car , our roads are full to capacity with car driving commuters stressed to get to work taking risks everyday . The small minority of people who commute to work using a bicycle are literally taking their lives in their hands every day and some rightly or wrongly feel there's a need to wear one . I wear one because I feel safer and it stops the wife moaning , but if our Infrastructure goes like Denmark then no I wouldn't wear one .
There should be no debate on do you don't you , all there should be is choice so for me do it don't do it its your choice , but better use of debate would be how to get Britain's cycling infrastructure even close to the Danes

Sorry for waffling

I feel that your statement "people who commute to work using a bicycle are literally taking their lives in their hands every day" is rather emotive, however even if all you've said is true concerning road riding, it doesn't explain the cyclist that will insist on wearing a helmet when they never ride anywhere near a road, that only ever ride on cycle lanes and canal paths.
I don't mean cycle lanes by the side of the road by the way, I mean dedicated shared use paths without a road in sight.

 

[Colin B]

I feel that your statement "people who commute to work using a bicycle are literally taking their lives in their hands every day" is rather emotive, however even if all you've said is true concerning road riding, it doesn't explain the cyclist that will insist on wearing a helmet when they never ride anywhere near a road, that only ever ride on cycle lanes and canal paths.
I don't mean cycle lanes by the side of the road by the way, I mean dedicated shared use paths without a road in sight.

Yeah it was a bit of a waffle but I don't think we can compare say Denmark to Britain and because and this is my opinion I feel Britain traffic wise is busier some cyclists feel the need to wear a helmet . As for cyclists taking their lives in their hands out driving I see em every day swerving to avoid some idiot trying to save 10 second in a queue mate . I think our pitiful infrastructure almost forces people to wear helmets just incase . I have no idea of stats but I wear one on main roads

 

[Mugshot]

Ah, I see. I see the fixation on all sides but mostly stemming from more non wearers being told to do so.But the debate has just as often been started by non wearers!

I don't know whether that's true or not, I don't know many cyclists and those I do know wear a helmet. If by debate you mean raise the subject then in my experience it is always someone that either doesn't ride or does but wears a helmet that brings it up, if you mean debate as in discuss the issue then I will hold my hands up and admit to being guilty as charged if someone suggests I should wear one. The problem is they never want to debate back, I get a literal or figurative "You're really stupid and selfish", and that's where the debate will end.

 

[Markymark]

When I fell off my bike, the only ones who asked if I was wearing a helmet are those that don't. I don't many many cyclists (no club and never joined any ride) so my sample is unrepresentative.

 

[Mugshot]

Yeah it was a bit of a waffle but I don't think we can compare say Denmark to Britain and because and this is my opinion I feel Britain traffic wise is busier some cyclists feel the need to wear a helmet . As for cyclists taking their lives in their hands out driving I see em every day swerving to avoid some idiot trying to save 10 second in a queue mate . I think our pitiful infrastructure almost forces people to wear helmets just incase . I have no idea of stats but I wear one on main roads

I understood that bit, what I was asking was why do you think cyclists that do not use the roads feel the need to wear a helmet?
Here are some pictures of my local stretch of NCN4, its about 12 miles long looking like this without a car in sight, so why the helmets?

 

[Mugshot]

When I fell off my bike, the only ones who asked if I was wearing a helmet are those that don't. I don't many many cyclists (no club and never joined any ride) so my sample is unrepresentative.

Would I be right in guessing they didn't cycle either?

 

[Colin B]

I understood that bit, what I was asking was why do you think cyclists that do not use the roads feel the need to wear a helmet?
Here are some pictures of my local stretch of NCN4, its about 12 miles long looking like this without a car in sight, so why the helmets?
View attachment 40351
View attachment 40352
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Would it be better if I said some cyclist using major road networks are taking their lives etc . Nice commute to work by the way . YouTube wilmslow road commute that's a fun relaxed bike ride for mancuniun cyclists

 

[JonUK4]

Colin B - i like your waffle and I agree with the idea that infrastructure implies confidence and safety for the user.

And mugshot - does explain it - It makes them feel safe.

 

[MarkF]

I understood that bit, what I was asking was why do you think cyclists that do not use the roads feel the need to wear a helmet?
Here are some pictures of my local stretch of NCN4, its about 12 miles long looking like this without a car in sight, so why the helmets?
View attachment 40351
View attachment 40352
View attachment 40353

Same on the canal, Leeds to Skipton on a Sunday has whole families in hi-viz and wearing helmets, it's just silly.

 

[Mugshot]

Would it be better if I said some cyclist using major road networks are taking their lives etc . Nice commute to work by the way . YouTube wilmslow road commute that's a fun relaxed bike ride for mancuniun cyclists

I'm sorry Colin, maybe I'm not explaining myself very well. You seemed to be arguing that cyclists in the UK wear helmets due to poor infrastructure when compared to some of our European neighbours. Because they perceive the road network in the UK as being dangerous they wear a helmet to protect themselves. I understand though disagree with your opinion, in order to demonstrate this I wanted to know why you thought cyclists that never use the roads felt the need to wear helmets, if it's dangerous roads that are the problem why do people that are not on the road wear a helmet?

 

[morrisman]

Same on the canal, Leeds to Skipton on a Sunday has whole families in hi-viz and wearing helmets, it's just silly.

My experience of towpath riding would lead me to wear a life jacket rather than a helmet as I've never hit my head, but I have ended up up to my waist in the canal whilst still sat on my bike.

 

[Mugshot]

YouTube wilmslow road commute that's a fun relaxed bike ride for mancuniun cyclists

I had a look and found some footage somebody had shot from the top deck of the bus, I enjoyed the chap riding his bike without a helmet on
Of course it's ugly and dirty and horrible and not cycle friendly but I would disagree with you that wearing a helmet makes you safer, however if wearing a helmet which makes you feel safer is the difference between you riding and not, then you should of course wear one.