3 ms·

Incidentally, Dutch law does not require helmets based on research that shows this 'dehumanizes' cyclists; car drivers take disproportionally more risk when the

by brnt 5y ago

Incidentally, Dutch law does not require helmets based on research that shows this 'dehumanizes' cyclists; car drivers take disproportionally more risk when they see helmets, assuming that they are safe.

onlyrealcuzzo 5y ago
My biggest cycling friend in the US convinced me not to where a helmet for this reason. Where I am - there's pretty good bike infrastructure - and I can get to and from work and anywhere else I bike on good separated but not completely protected bike paths. I'm assuming not wearing a helmet was proved to be good on an individual level? Does it mean you're less likely to get in an accident? When you get in an accident, are you also less likely to be severely injured? Also - are there any stats on how likely you are to be injured on different types of bike paths? Like just sharing the road vs separated paths vs protected paths?
- Freak_NL 5y ago
  There are statistics for head injuries incurred riding a bicycle, but some find that these alone do not show the full effect of making a helmet mandatory. The Dutch Cyclists’ Union is particularly vocal about this¹. Their take is that creating a culture where wearing a helmet on a bicycle is normal has a significant negative effect on health in general and safety by raising the barrier of riding a bicycle. When you need a helmet, you have to lug it around even when you're just popping out for some groceries. The effects of mandatory helmets in neighbouring countries show that these have a non-negligible effect on participation, leading to fewer cyclists. For cyclists however, there is safety in numbers; motorists are more considerate of cyclists simply because they are everywhere and part of the normal roadscape². There is also the simple weighing of risks: head injuries are, comparatively, very rare. The energy devoted to making helmets mandatory are better spent in improving road safety by different means. For children the risk of head injury occurring is simply higher, which is why you will see many children wear helmets in the Netherlands until they reach their teens. 1: https://www.fietsersbond.nl/ons-werk/fietsers-en-veiligheid/fietshelmen/ https://www.fietsersbond.nl/ons-werk/fietsers-en-veiligheid/... 2: Almost exclusively low speed roads; up to 30 km/h within built-up areas, 60 km/h without. Faster roads tend to have separate cycleways near or parallel to them and prohibit cyclists from using the roads themselves.
  - Moru 5y ago
    What I love most with wearing a helmet as an adult is hearing kids walking with their mother (it's always a mother) after a stare at me asking "Mum, why don't you wear a helmet?". Always makes me smile :-) No law in Sweden for adults but many do wear it. Just not mothers apparently. Or students. Or people way past pension. Come to think about it, is it only middle age white males wearing a helmet? Ouch. I don't have any problem going for some groceries on my bike, the helmet stays on in the store. But we have a pretty cold climate so most hats stays on too, nothing strange there.
snthd 5y ago
Famously Henry Marsh (neurosurgeon) wears a cowboy hat instead.
KaiserPro 5y ago
I think that with their level of infrastructure, along with how the law weighs fault when collisions do occur I can see why thats the case. In the UK its not a legal requirement, but at least during my commute about 60-70% of people wear a helmet cycling. (I do)
Zigurd 5y ago
In China you can tell the Americans by their helmets, well oiled chains that don't squeak, and they are going 2x-3x the speed of other cyclists. I ride fast, too.i feel a bit naked without a helmet. But I ride mainly for fitness. The Dutch ride for transportation. The bike racks at train stations are filled with thousands of bikes. Very few of them with drop bars. A totally different thing.

by brnt 5y ago

onlyrealcuzzo 5y ago

My biggest cycling friend in the US convinced me not to where a helmet for this reason. Where I am - there's pretty good bike infrastructure - and I can get to and from work and anywhere else I bike on good separated but not completely protected bike paths. I'm assuming not wearing a helmet was proved to be good on an individual level? Does it mean you're less likely to get in an accident? When you get in an accident, are you also less likely to be severely injured? Also - are there any stats on how likely you are to be injured on different types of bike paths? Like just sharing the road vs separated paths vs protected paths?

Freak_NL 5y ago
There are statistics for head injuries incurred riding a bicycle, but some find that these alone do not show the full effect of making a helmet mandatory. The Dutch Cyclists’ Union is particularly vocal about this¹. Their take is that creating a culture where wearing a helmet on a bicycle is normal has a significant negative effect on health in general and safety by raising the barrier of riding a bicycle. When you need a helmet, you have to lug it around even when you're just popping out for some groceries. The effects of mandatory helmets in neighbouring countries show that these have a non-negligible effect on participation, leading to fewer cyclists. For cyclists however, there is safety in numbers; motorists are more considerate of cyclists simply because they are everywhere and part of the normal roadscape². There is also the simple weighing of risks: head injuries are, comparatively, very rare. The energy devoted to making helmets mandatory are better spent in improving road safety by different means. For children the risk of head injury occurring is simply higher, which is why you will see many children wear helmets in the Netherlands until they reach their teens. 1: https://www.fietsersbond.nl/ons-werk/fietsers-en-veiligheid/fietshelmen/ https://www.fietsersbond.nl/ons-werk/fietsers-en-veiligheid/... 2: Almost exclusively low speed roads; up to 30 km/h within built-up areas, 60 km/h without. Faster roads tend to have separate cycleways near or parallel to them and prohibit cyclists from using the roads themselves.
- Moru 5y ago
  What I love most with wearing a helmet as an adult is hearing kids walking with their mother (it's always a mother) after a stare at me asking "Mum, why don't you wear a helmet?". Always makes me smile :-) No law in Sweden for adults but many do wear it. Just not mothers apparently. Or students. Or people way past pension. Come to think about it, is it only middle age white males wearing a helmet? Ouch. I don't have any problem going for some groceries on my bike, the helmet stays on in the store. But we have a pretty cold climate so most hats stays on too, nothing strange there.

snthd 5y ago

Famously Henry Marsh (neurosurgeon) wears a cowboy hat instead.

KaiserPro 5y ago

I think that with their level of infrastructure, along with how the law weighs fault when collisions do occur I can see why thats the case. In the UK its not a legal requirement, but at least during my commute about 60-70% of people wear a helmet cycling. (I do)

Zigurd 5y ago

In China you can tell the Americans by their helmets, well oiled chains that don't squeak, and they are going 2x-3x the speed of other cyclists. I ride fast, too.i feel a bit naked without a helmet. But I ride mainly for fitness. The Dutch ride for transportation. The bike racks at train stations are filled with thousands of bikes. Very few of them with drop bars. A totally different thing.