[*BCM*] This Saturday: Bike the Seven (Or More) Hills of Somerville

[Anne Wolfe]

What I never understand about these conversations is the logic that
wearing a helmet is somehow being suggested as The One True Answer, to
the exclusion of all else. Wearing a helmet compliments riding safely
and riding safely compliments wearing a helmet. A helmet will never
once prevent a crash, just like a seat belt will never prevent a
crash. On the other hand, a helmet substantially reduces your odds of
serious head injury when you're in a crash, just like a seat belt in a
car.  Whether or not the crash could have been prevented is an
entirely separate matter.

What does happen though is the amount of sympathy goes down, like it
or not, if there is an accident for whatever reason and the cycling
victim wasn't wearing a helmet. Whether or not this translates into
law I will leave to those in the know. But if there's a cycling
fatality the first question your average person in the street asks is
about the helmet as wearing one is easy to do and known to help. If
there was no helmet, people feel ( rightly or not) the victim was more
at fault. I find the same thing happens in motorcycle crashes without
helmets and automotive accidents without seatbelts -  people are less
sympathetic as the perception is the victim caused their own problem.
They'll still care, but sympathy levels go down. And they won't
believe it isn't the cause even if the true cause us proven to be
something else entirely.

But the only people who seem to go on that helmets shouldn't be worn
are those who speak as though helmets prevent accidents, which pro
helmet advocates have never said. Helmets help prevent a certain type
of injury in an accident. Just like car cages, seat belts, air bags,
etc. Driving or biking safely will prevent more accidents. Helmets and
safety features prevent more injuries once that ice, drunk driver,
person who wasn't looking or running a red light on a bike causes that
accident. So where is the big source of conflict?

Sent from my iPhone

On 18 Oct 2009, at 16:01, Erik Wile <esw at alum.mit.edu> wrote:

>
> jb wrote:
>> yea, but that's what fuckin' grinds my gears. saying that cyclists
>> "should" sport helmets in this town in any situation isn't helping
>> anything. in that sense you're not saying anything. wearing a helmet
>> isn't going to prevent a bus from sneaking up on your left and
>> clipping you.. wearing a helmet isn't going to make you more aware
>> of what you need to look for in order to avoid getting
>> doored.. wearing a helmet certainly won't help you out at all in
>> many situations where basic knowledge will save your ass.
>> ...
>
> JB -- would you rather it said "you should have basic knowledge of
> urban riding?"  That would scare people off, needlessly.  These rides
> are a good way to get people who usually drive-to-ride on their first
> urban ride.  This seven hills ride had a police escort, so most people
> will be riding in the middle of a lane, outside the door zone, with
> policemen corking intersections, making sure buses aren't sneaking up
> on the left, etc.
>
> These organized rides are the safest riding I ever do.  Except that
> you're in close proximity to a lot of other riders, so if you or your
> neighbor is erratic that could lead to an accident.  About half of my
> accidents are from when I've done something stupid [like giving a hug]
> while riding in formation.  Typically I land on my gloved hands.  I
> _always_ ride with gloves, they've saved my skin a half dozen times.
> Yeah, I really should learn how to roll.
>
> But about helmets.  This ride had some fast downhills.  A fall at
> speed is exactly when you want a helmet 'cause things happen faster
> and you have less time to get in a good position to hit the ground,
> etc.  It doesn't seem out of line to me to recommend using a helmet.
> At least they're not requiring it.
>
>
> If I ever organize a ride I'll say "gloves are recommended, but not
> required."  And let the flames begin.
>
> -erik
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