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He makes a good point, but I have friends who have been in bike accidents who would have had severe head trauma if it weren't for the fact that they had helmets on. There's been riders on this site who have suffered concussions and one has seizures and loss of some motor skills because they didn't have a helmet.
I don't trust myself enough skill wise some times on a bike to ride without one and I've been riding most of my life.
I am opposed to Viaraigosa's pushing for mandatory helmet laws as well. I just don't want to be told Not to wear a helmet just as much as people warn me to wear one.
I understand how you feel about how unnecessary helmets are. I've heard your rant many times. I just don't feel anyone should me convincing me I do or don't need one is all. How can anyone know they are so right about something makes me suspicious.
I ride with and sometimes without a helmet dependent upon conditions in the weather, road terrain, or type of traffic I am under. Call me a nerd or a worry wort, but I feel more confident when I wear one.
Cool video! But he didn't really convince me on the whole..."Stop wearing helmets" part.
Although cycling in itself is safe, riding in urban streets with automobile drivers that have road rage issues is not, thats not factoring in how many drunk drivers are on the street each day.
Cycling will not be safe in Los Angeles until we learn to ride on our without the LAPD's help...(jk palucha) lol
He makes a good point, but I have friends who have been in bike accidents who would have had severe head trauma if it weren't for the fact that they had helmets on. There's been riders on this site who have suffered concussions and one has seizures and loss of some motor skills because they didn't have a helmet.
--Borfo
Exactly.
godmode responding to a comment by Joe Borfo
11.30.10 - 2:12 pm
I just recently started rocking a helmet after decades of not rocking one (this goes back to the 80's when I wasn't even a teen yet) and quite frankly, I could care less either way. It's my life and I'll choose to live it how I want and so should the next person.
Notice I didn't take a stand on either side. Just be you.
If you like em rock em... if you don't, then don't.
But don't create laws telling me I HAVE TO cus now you're intruding on my right to live life and express myself however I may want to (so long as I'm not killing or stealing from anyone)
Yeah, there is a lot of out of context shit that isn't factored in. Like if you're racing, wear a helmet. If you're doing stunts, wear a helmet. The point is that for a typical, leisure, slow ride in a typically safe time of day, type of ride - helmets aren't necessary.
The point is the facts and science has NOTHING TO DO with laws, marketing and our personal anecdotes that "tell you" to wear one.
Also, if some dude-bruh fruit chucks a projectile at the back of your head while riding, you won't be injured as bad.
My helmet is getting kind of old though, I heading down to the surplus and picking up a phased out, PASGT, or even a current MICH-2000 if I could find one.
This video bummed me out and i generally love T.E.D videos.
@Marino,
"The point of the video was that even educational campaigns promoting helmets, promote fear and fear reduces bike ridership. "
Then that's a problem with the campaign/'spin' of what is trying to be communicated to the viewer. But i'm not convinced that the american public is in general going to NOT ride a bike because the media says its dangerous and to wear a helmet. I think this is pretty low on the radar for levels of 'fear'.
I agree that 'fear' is a problem in our media, etc. today and they should knock it off. I also agree with @joe borfo that I should be able to my own decision and not forced to wear a helmet (or anything for that matter). I do recognize that medical costs could rise because of the increase of head trauma injuries but i can't really wrap my head around that subject right now.
I also want to call bullshit and challenge the information that he is sputtering. Any study, survey, etc. can be 'spun' to fit what you are trying to promote. Greater chance of getting into an accident if you where a helmet? Pedestrians have a higher risk of head injuries than cyclists? I don't believe it. It is a fact that cycling is one of the most dangerous sports to be involved with. So, maybe he's spinning this to fit his speech? Maybe the data he is using is for Denmark which is a very different environment than here in LA or even America? The Car Culture & Bike Culture have a much better symbiotic relationship in Europe than it does here. All that has to be taken in consideration.
Everyone should be able to make their own decision about wearing or not wearing a helmet. But you will never convince me that not wearing a helmet is safer than wearing one. I've witnessed first hand the results of a girl who's head hit the ground, blood pouring out and died. If she had been wearing a helmet, she may still have been hurt, but i bet she'd be back on her bike today.
Josef and Marino are saying don't wear a helmet, not the guy on the video.
The guy on the video's best interest is GETTING MORE PEOPLE ON BIKES, as opposed to insurance companies who's best interests is FINDING MORE WAYS TO INVALIDATE INSURANCE CLAIMS and helmet companies who's best interests is to SELL MORE HELMETS and that these companies in the form of SPECIAL INTERESTS that stick their fingers in the pockets of POLITICIANS who's best interests is GETTING THEMSELVES REELECTED and the only reason anyone is a politician (these days it seems) is to collect on the FRINGE BENEFITS (such as limo rides to operas, first class seating on trips to other countries, expensive dinners and celebrity parties.)
OF COURSE the speaker is going to stretch "facts" into his favor, but anybody can do that. I don't have access to that information, so I can't check or scrutinize it. But his mission is something I do stand by, and his "facts" are irrelevant. Even though I WOULD agree that there are way more pedestrian activites that result in head injuries than cycling (football and hockey) and cars STILL KILL and INJURE way more people than bikes.
He may have gotten a bit carried away in the "evidence" to where it's seems like his point is Don't Wear Helmets. But his point is don't let a helmet get in the way of you riding a bike, which I totally agree with.
"He may have gotten a bit carried away in the "evidence" to where it's seems like his point is Don't Wear Helmets. But his point is don't let a helmet get in the way of you riding a bike, which I totally agree with. "
That, you and i both agree with. But i'll still (gently) advocate wearing a helmet. I always try not to be preachy about it.
stevo4 responding to a comment by the reverend dak
12.1.10 - 10:14 am
Yes the dude lack a nuanced view of science/stats, but aren't all TED talks like that? They're not intended to address an audience of experts. Closer to home, here is our own public health department's page on cycling safely:
_________
Every time you ride, always follow the bicycle safety rules below.
* Protect your head. Always wear a helmet!
* Ride on the right side of the street with the flow of traffic.
* Always ride in a straight line.
* Wear bright-colored clothes that make you more visible.
* Stop and look each way before crossing the street from the sidewalk.
* If you ride your bike at night, be sure your headlight and reflectors are clean and can be seen!
* Ride on the sidewalk if you are under 9 years old.
* Stay alert! Watch for potholes, dogs, water, rocks and people.
* Know the rules of the road! Obey all traffic regulations!
* It's against the law to wear headphones or ear plugs in both ears.
* Use proper hand signals.
* Select a safe route to your destination and use it.
* One person per seat.
* Walk your bicycle across busy intersections.
* Watch out for pedestrians
* Stop at all stop signs, yellow and red lights, and flashing railroad signals.
* Avoid busy streets and intersections.
* Look both ways before crossing alleyways and driveways.
* Always be aware of the traffic around you.
* Do not swerve in and out of parked or moving cars.
* Stop at the end of driveways and look both ways before entering the sidewalk or street
Slip and falls and hitting one's head for pedestrians in icy areas are much more common per capita than bike crashes yet I see no one wearing their helmets back east in the winter.
There are more head injuries per mile traveled in automobiles and yet no one wears a helmet while driving.
Bicycle helmets are not designed to be effective over about 14 mph. Do the math. Over that speed 20mm of foam isn't enough to slow the deceleration of one's brain against inside of one's skull. Over that speed bicycle helmets only protect one from contusions and abrasions, they are very ineffective at protecting the brain.
i read in a cycling magazine recently that tests have shown how helmets can prevent serious head trama, but are not designed to prevent concussions and minor traumas. So there
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