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In Germany it's actually discussed quite heavily whether to make helmets a legal requirement. I also don't see how you don't think of bikes driving on roads as

In Germany it's actually discussed quite heavily whether to make helmets a legal requirement. I also don't see how you don't think of bikes driving on roads as risky. Even with a helmet, you can get very seriously injured; a helmet will just help you to not die and (hopefully) still walk again afterwards. Feel free to look up images from serious bike accidents; I can't imagine anyone sane risking that, helmet or not.

_Wintermute 4y ago
I cycle 10,000km+ a year in London, so I think I have a better idea about this than the vast majority of HN commenters. I generally wear a helmet, but encouraging and definitely enforcing helmet use is the least effective thing we can do to protect people [0]. https://lmb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/FJKHORIVUAI799Z.jpeg https://lmb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/FJKHORIVUAI799Z.j...
- Sebb767 4y ago
  Well, if you think wearing a helmet increases risk, why do you wear one? Don't get me wrong, I don't want to force anyone to wear a helmet. It's completely fine if one wants to take that risk. But forbidding them is just insane. Also, helmets are not a get-out-of-jail-free-card. They increase your chances of survival in case of a crash, you will still get injured. Protecting people might be the least effective thing compared to eliminating the hazard, but splitting cars and bikes is simply not always an option.
  - _Wintermute 4y ago
    I never said I think wearing a helmet increases risk. I was pointing out their reasoning which many people here seem to be missing.
    - Sebb767 4y ago
      Fair enough, I did indeed miss that! But I stand by my original comment, even if they do think forbidding helmets avoids a few accidents, they should have smelled the shitstorm from a mile away (and people running a bike company should really be more empathetic towards bikers).
- jstanley 4y ago
  If you generally wear a helmet, aren't you either encouraging risk-taking, or giving the illusion that the activity is risky?
- yellowapple 4y ago
  Nobody's even "encouraging" (let alone "enforcing") helmet use in this case. This is purely staff riders choosing on their own whether or not they should wear a helmet, and Pedal Me throwing a fit over it over some patently absurd "safety reasons".

_Wintermute 4y ago

I cycle 10,000km+ a year in London, so I think I have a better idea about this than the vast majority of HN commenters. I generally wear a helmet, but encouraging and definitely enforcing helmet use is the least effective thing we can do to protect people [0]. https://lmb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/FJKHORIVUAI799Z.jpeg https://lmb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/FJKHORIVUAI799Z.j...

Sebb767 4y ago
Well, if you think wearing a helmet increases risk, why do you wear one? Don't get me wrong, I don't want to force anyone to wear a helmet. It's completely fine if one wants to take that risk. But forbidding them is just insane. Also, helmets are not a get-out-of-jail-free-card. They increase your chances of survival in case of a crash, you will still get injured. Protecting people might be the least effective thing compared to eliminating the hazard, but splitting cars and bikes is simply not always an option.
- _Wintermute 4y ago
  I never said I think wearing a helmet increases risk. I was pointing out their reasoning which many people here seem to be missing.
  - Sebb767 4y ago
    Fair enough, I did indeed miss that! But I stand by my original comment, even if they do think forbidding helmets avoids a few accidents, they should have smelled the shitstorm from a mile away (and people running a bike company should really be more empathetic towards bikers).
jstanley 4y ago
If you generally wear a helmet, aren't you either encouraging risk-taking, or giving the illusion that the activity is risky?
yellowapple 4y ago
Nobody's even "encouraging" (let alone "enforcing") helmet use in this case. This is purely staff riders choosing on their own whether or not they should wear a helmet, and Pedal Me throwing a fit over it over some patently absurd "safety reasons".