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In bike-friendly places like Amsterdam and Copenhagen, it's super rare to see a helmet. A bike helmet offers reasonable protection in a solo fall, but it has ne

In bike-friendly places like Amsterdam and Copenhagen, it's super rare to see a helmet. A bike helmet offers reasonable protection in a solo fall, but it has nearly cosmetic effect if you're hit by a car. But one thing you don't see in those places is huge, flat-front trucks with poor visibility and worse pedestrian impact safety. Until the US mandates pedestrian safety measures, we won't see a reversal in this trend. Edit: I mostly bike places here in California, and I do wear a helmet 99% of the time, but I don't judge those who choose not to, because the biggest factor in bike safety is having other bikes on the road.

bagels 1y ago
"nearly cosmetic effect" Do you have studies to back this up? I did a quick search, and the first study I turned up didn't agree with you.
nickff 1y ago
I was hit by a car while riding my bike, the accident was significant enough to write-off a brand-new bike (I was riding it home from the store), and I was glad to have been wearing a helmet. I would like to know why you think helmets have only a cosmetic effect.
giantg2 1y ago
Just for context of this thread, about half of all pedestrian deaths involve alcohol or drugs as well.
clan 1y ago
Super rare is untrue. Rare would even be a stretch. I live in Copenhagen and use a helmet. I would claim it is common to use a helmet. Not everyone - but many do. And it is not even mandatory. Helmet usage is actually increasing: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022437523001329 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00224... We recommend it for tourists as well. Though it is rare with helmets for that group who might need it the most: https://www.visitcopenhagen.com/sites/visitcopenhagen.com/files/2024-07/How%20to%20cycle%20in%20Denmark.pdf https://www.visitcopenhagen.com/sites/visitcopenhagen.com/fi... Helmets are not compulsory and interest groups works to keep it that way: https://www.cyklistforbundet.dk/english/use-of-helmet https://www.cyklistforbundet.dk/english/use-of-helmet But less scary F150s and good bike infrastructure, yes.
DangitBobby 1y ago
> but it has nearly cosmetic effect if you're hit by a car. I highly, highly doubt that. Your skull is much more likely to hit the pavement in a car accident, and a helmet can turn that from instead death to a concussion or TBI. People, PLEASE just wear a helmet. All it takes is falling one time to realize how good it is to have one.

bagels 1y ago

"nearly cosmetic effect" Do you have studies to back this up? I did a quick search, and the first study I turned up didn't agree with you.

nickff 1y ago

I was hit by a car while riding my bike, the accident was significant enough to write-off a brand-new bike (I was riding it home from the store), and I was glad to have been wearing a helmet. I would like to know why you think helmets have only a cosmetic effect.

giantg2 1y ago

Just for context of this thread, about half of all pedestrian deaths involve alcohol or drugs as well.

clan 1y ago

Super rare is untrue. Rare would even be a stretch. I live in Copenhagen and use a helmet. I would claim it is common to use a helmet. Not everyone - but many do. And it is not even mandatory. Helmet usage is actually increasing: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022437523001329 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00224... We recommend it for tourists as well. Though it is rare with helmets for that group who might need it the most: https://www.visitcopenhagen.com/sites/visitcopenhagen.com/files/2024-07/How%20to%20cycle%20in%20Denmark.pdf https://www.visitcopenhagen.com/sites/visitcopenhagen.com/fi... Helmets are not compulsory and interest groups works to keep it that way: https://www.cyklistforbundet.dk/english/use-of-helmet https://www.cyklistforbundet.dk/english/use-of-helmet But less scary F150s and good bike infrastructure, yes.

DangitBobby 1y ago

> but it has nearly cosmetic effect if you're hit by a car. I highly, highly doubt that. Your skull is much more likely to hit the pavement in a car accident, and a helmet can turn that from instead death to a concussion or TBI. People, PLEASE just wear a helmet. All it takes is falling one time to realize how good it is to have one.