3 ms·

I think the helmets would just be too much of a hassle, making them mainstream would take people off bikes again? It messes with your hair, it's hot in summer,

I think the helmets would just be too much of a hassle, making them mainstream would take people off bikes again? It messes with your hair, it's hot in summer, difficult to combine with a hat in winter, you have to put it somewhere when going places, like bars. And make no mistake, here we jump on an off bikes all day, I would really hate to have to wear one on a bike. (I do wear one when mtb-ing btw!) I'm 40, lived for all of my life in the Netherlands, I hardly saw any accidents, and I never ever saw any accident where a helmet would be of any use. Yeah it's anecdotal, but I feel it's just safe enough. I feel the same about biking as I do about walking. Helmets wouldn't make it safer. But, show me the data to convince me otherwise. Still, lets say it makes things safer, I wonder if the net effect would still be negative because it would drive people into cars, where you don't need a (stupid!) helmet. I think it's difficult for people from other places to imagine just how little cars you encounter with good bike paths, and how people drive around you when everybody is a "cyclist" (hate the word, it's just normal here) and a driver. For example in a collision, it's always the car's responsibility [0], because pedestrians and people on bikes are considered vulnerable, they always get 50-100% off their damages paid. It creates a certain culture. [0] https://www.anwb.nl/juridisch-advies/aanrijding-en-dan/aansprakelijkheid/voetganger-of-fietser https://www.anwb.nl/juridisch-advies/aanrijding-en-dan/aansp...

notch656a 4y ago
I left my motorcycle helmet attached to a motorcycle for YEARS in high-crime areas and never had it stolen (arguably worth more than a bicycle helmet -- but who really wants to buy a used helmet). Realize it's an anecdote but honestly I don't see the big risk in leaving the helmet on the bike when you go in the bar.
undefinedzero 4y ago
> I think the helmets would just be too much of a hassle While probably true, I think the emphasis is misplaced. The primary reason helmets aren’t as encouraged as elsewhere is the immense bike infrastructure that keeps cyclists safe. The risk is much much much smaller than in car focussed places.
vl 4y ago
There is integrated chain and wheel lock on dutch bikes already, it is trivial to add basket for helmet storage as "standard" feature. In the last 20 years large shift happened in skiing, for example. 20 years ago almost no-one would wear ski helmet is US, now almost anyone does, although it's not required.
- teekert 4y ago
  You mean the basket where my bag is in? Or the groceries? Or do you want put it where my kids' seats are? In any case, it's annoying and unnecessary, I hope this never changes, wearing a helmet will fundamentally downgrade the relaxed, casual biking experience that is so normal here. Yeah I saw it in skying, one year nobody wore a helmet then suddenly I felt very self-conscious about it. Same thing for MTBing. Skying, Snowboarding and MTBing are much more dangerous though and I happily wear a helmet going down slope over 25 km/hour. Biking 10 km/hour, essentially running speed... No. Bikes look like this here [0] and they are everywhere, don't forget, it's very different from this: [1] [0]: https://denhaagfietst.nl/wp-content//uploads/2020/02/DHKruger0002-scaled.jpg https://denhaagfietst.nl/wp-content//uploads/2020/02/DHKruge... [1]: https://www.triathlon365.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Vrouwen-fiets-verschil-mannen-racefiets.jpg https://www.triathlon365.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Vrouw...

notch656a 4y ago

I left my motorcycle helmet attached to a motorcycle for YEARS in high-crime areas and never had it stolen (arguably worth more than a bicycle helmet -- but who really wants to buy a used helmet). Realize it's an anecdote but honestly I don't see the big risk in leaving the helmet on the bike when you go in the bar.

undefinedzero 4y ago

> I think the helmets would just be too much of a hassle While probably true, I think the emphasis is misplaced. The primary reason helmets aren’t as encouraged as elsewhere is the immense bike infrastructure that keeps cyclists safe. The risk is much much much smaller than in car focussed places.

vl 4y ago

There is integrated chain and wheel lock on dutch bikes already, it is trivial to add basket for helmet storage as "standard" feature. In the last 20 years large shift happened in skiing, for example. 20 years ago almost no-one would wear ski helmet is US, now almost anyone does, although it's not required.

teekert 4y ago
You mean the basket where my bag is in? Or the groceries? Or do you want put it where my kids' seats are? In any case, it's annoying and unnecessary, I hope this never changes, wearing a helmet will fundamentally downgrade the relaxed, casual biking experience that is so normal here. Yeah I saw it in skying, one year nobody wore a helmet then suddenly I felt very self-conscious about it. Same thing for MTBing. Skying, Snowboarding and MTBing are much more dangerous though and I happily wear a helmet going down slope over 25 km/hour. Biking 10 km/hour, essentially running speed... No. Bikes look like this here [0] and they are everywhere, don't forget, it's very different from this: [1] [0]: https://denhaagfietst.nl/wp-content//uploads/2020/02/DHKruger0002-scaled.jpg https://denhaagfietst.nl/wp-content//uploads/2020/02/DHKruge... [1]: https://www.triathlon365.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Vrouwen-fiets-verschil-mannen-racefiets.jpg https://www.triathlon365.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Vrouw...