Embrace Life - Always Wear Your Helmet

[JNB]

Been riding for 37 years and have always worn a helmet, even though it's not required in AZ. I also wear sensible riding gear from top to bottom year-round. My personal motto has always been to dress for the fall, not the ride. Nothing stupider than a kid on a crotch rocket with a full face wearing shorts, a baggy basketball jersey, and flip-flops.

BTW, fatal head trauma can occur sitting at a stoplight and merely falling over. That's less than six feet, which happens to be the distance used to test helmets for impact protection. The final impact speed has little to do with the survivability based on head injuries. 10 mph will kill you just as dead as 100 mph if it's your head taking the brunt of the impact.

 

[Queso]

If helmets are required for motorcycle riders, they should be required for bicyclists on the road too.

Yes they should. Someone I was at school with died at the age of 21 after coming off his bicycle whilst riding down a hill. The police report estimated his speed as between 25-30mph when the accident occurred and resulted in him hitting his head as he fell. The conclusion was that wearing a helmet would most likely have saved his life.

I also wear sensible riding gear from top to bottom year-round. My personal motto has always been to dress for the fall, not the ride.

Sage advice. I've worn full protective equipment on the bike ever since coming off whilst wearing jeans and messing up my leg in 1994. In the time since I've come off four or five times, once at over 50mph, yet I've walked away each time with only bruises.

A decent set of bike trousers may cost £300, but it's much easier to replace them than your kneecaps.

 

[robbieduncan]

Wow, I'm the second person to vote no.

If helmets are required for motorcycle riders, they should be required for bicyclists on the road too.

I would happily support compulsory helmets for bicyclists. On the rare occasions I ride mine I always wear a helmet. As I do when I go snowboarding or skiing (I am surprised it's not a requirement for insurance in these activities). I also wear a helmet in my car whenever I'm on a track day.

I think the helmet helps focus your mind on "this is actually a bit dangerous, don't behave too much like a dick" which is never a bad thing.

Edit: @Queso: I've had a mountain bike up to 40mph coming down a mountain pass (on the road) overtaking cars. Yes I was young and probably stupid but I'd not even have considered that without some sort of protective gear (although I was wearing shorts and t-shirt so had I fallen off I'd have been lacking skin very quickly)