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If bicycle helmets were essential for causal-speed, safe path, everyday bicycling, the Dutch would use them. Interesting fact: in the US, riders without helmet

If bicycle helmets were essential for causal-speed, safe path, everyday bicycling, the Dutch would use them. Interesting fact: in the US, riders without helmets receive more average buffer space from road vehicles than those with. If you're downhill mountain biking, wear a proper helmet. If you're racing in Manhattan, wear an equally suitable helmet. If you're leisurely riding on a wide, empty side road in a residential area and cycle often, it may lend more placebo overconfidence to the rider than it confers necessary protection. It seems like gearing-up in knee and elbow pads to go for a simple walk.

c0nsumer 5y ago
I'm sorry, but what you're saying has nothing to do with what I linked to. The linked article is about the development of helmet safety standards and their use in bicycle racing. Please read the linked article, you may find it interesting.
emteycz 5y ago
Those Dutch who don't wear helmets do it because they're idiots, it's as simple as that. Any fall - even if you're standing with your legs on the ground - on a bike can break your skull. You try to avoid a dog or a ball and pull the front brake instead of both - boom broken skull. It's just plain dumb.
- Ichthypresbyter 5y ago
  Most Dutch bikes don't have front brakes to pull.
  - emteycz 5y ago
    Makes the whole thing even worse.
  - brummm 5y ago
    Yes they do.
- Beltalowda 5y ago
  Pulling the front or back brakes makes almost no difference at normal speeds (≤15 km/h), and even if it did you can't just say "emergency stop equals broken skull". Many things can "break your skull", and there are many things you can do to improve safety. A whole bunch of years ago the then-UK government tried to promote "pedestrian helmets". No doubt this improved safety, but they were widely mocked. You need to draw a line somewhere.
  - emteycz 5y ago
    It makes enough difference that I myself landed on my head a few times in my life. Fortunately I had a helmet. And yes I was going slow. The line is drawn around your bike. Don't ride it without a helmet.

c0nsumer 5y ago

I'm sorry, but what you're saying has nothing to do with what I linked to. The linked article is about the development of helmet safety standards and their use in bicycle racing. Please read the linked article, you may find it interesting.

emteycz 5y ago

Those Dutch who don't wear helmets do it because they're idiots, it's as simple as that. Any fall - even if you're standing with your legs on the ground - on a bike can break your skull. You try to avoid a dog or a ball and pull the front brake instead of both - boom broken skull. It's just plain dumb.

Ichthypresbyter 5y ago
Most Dutch bikes don't have front brakes to pull.
- emteycz 5y ago
  Makes the whole thing even worse.
- brummm 5y ago
  Yes they do.
Beltalowda 5y ago
Pulling the front or back brakes makes almost no difference at normal speeds (≤15 km/h), and even if it did you can't just say "emergency stop equals broken skull". Many things can "break your skull", and there are many things you can do to improve safety. A whole bunch of years ago the then-UK government tried to promote "pedestrian helmets". No doubt this improved safety, but they were widely mocked. You need to draw a line somewhere.
- emteycz 5y ago
  It makes enough difference that I myself landed on my head a few times in my life. Fortunately I had a helmet. And yes I was going slow. The line is drawn around your bike. Don't ride it without a helmet.