3 ms·

I don't want to dwell on the negative, but a big reason I don't wear a helmet is because I think they send the message that what I'm doing is dangerous when it'

by jchrisa 13y ago

I don't want to dwell on the negative, but a big reason I don't wear a helmet is because I think they send the message that what I'm doing is dangerous when it's exactly the opposite. And that message is part of the whole complex of ideas keeping otherwise healthy people in their cars. It's been documented (and backed up by my and others anecdotal experience) that motorists are more respectful of riders without helmets. There are plenty of resources here's one http://cyclehelmets.org/ http://cyclehelmets.org/

rdtsc 13y ago
> I think they send the message that what I'm doing is dangerous when it's exactly the opposite. I would imagine most people would qualify what you are doing as dangerous. There maybe nothing technically wrong you do while riding, but if you are sharing the road with cars it takes one tired, drunk, texting or senile or otherwise inattentive driver to squash both you and your daughter. They don't even need to go that fast. I have seen it myself -- dad hauls his kid in one of those trail-behind carriers, it is nighttime already. Rush hour traffic. Flag barely seen, not big or high enough. People coming home tired and overworked, I've seen a close call once. Very scary stuff. Honestly I was thinking "what a dumbass" about that particular parent. And I can't see how it would be otherwise in that one case. Most bicyclists I know have had serious falls. Some been hit by cars on rural roads. Out of my acquaintances that are motorcyclists, many are now ex-acquaintances and that is not because we fell apart but because they are dead now. It is often not their fault, it is a drunk driver, or other drivers' fault, it just they are exposed and vulnerable around large heavy SUV sized cars moving around. > that motorists are more respectful of riders without helmets. Use of "respectful" here is a bit funny? It would seem they are not thinking exactly "respectful" thoughts, probably thinking "What is this crazy guy doing here? He is going to get himself killed!". Well ok maybe it doesn't matter as long as cars stay away, but that doesn't' help promote the idea of safety, it promotes the negative idea -- people who bike are crazy unsafe and need to be protected from themselves.
- jchrisa 13y ago
  Maybe where you live but here the city makes big strides and on nice days easily 20% of the dropoffs in our preschool are by bike.

by jchrisa 13y ago

rdtsc 13y ago

> I think they send the message that what I'm doing is dangerous when it's exactly the opposite. I would imagine most people would qualify what you are doing as dangerous. There maybe nothing technically wrong you do while riding, but if you are sharing the road with cars it takes one tired, drunk, texting or senile or otherwise inattentive driver to squash both you and your daughter. They don't even need to go that fast. I have seen it myself -- dad hauls his kid in one of those trail-behind carriers, it is nighttime already. Rush hour traffic. Flag barely seen, not big or high enough. People coming home tired and overworked, I've seen a close call once. Very scary stuff. Honestly I was thinking "what a dumbass" about that particular parent. And I can't see how it would be otherwise in that one case. Most bicyclists I know have had serious falls. Some been hit by cars on rural roads. Out of my acquaintances that are motorcyclists, many are now ex-acquaintances and that is not because we fell apart but because they are dead now. It is often not their fault, it is a drunk driver, or other drivers' fault, it just they are exposed and vulnerable around large heavy SUV sized cars moving around. > that motorists are more respectful of riders without helmets. Use of "respectful" here is a bit funny? It would seem they are not thinking exactly "respectful" thoughts, probably thinking "What is this crazy guy doing here? He is going to get himself killed!". Well ok maybe it doesn't matter as long as cars stay away, but that doesn't' help promote the idea of safety, it promotes the negative idea -- people who bike are crazy unsafe and need to be protected from themselves.

jchrisa 13y ago
Maybe where you live but here the city makes big strides and on nice days easily 20% of the dropoffs in our preschool are by bike.