I didn’t know this, but it some states and DC, you are required to wear a bicycle helmet when bicycling if you are 16 years old or younger. Has this resulted in less bicycle deaths? According to this article, about 19% less in the under 16 age group, but since bike death is already low, that is only about 8 less deaths per year.
Did you wear a bicycle helmet when you were a kid? How often do you now? Do you think bicycle helmets are dorky?
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I remember there was a big bicycle safety campaign at my grade school and my parents bought me a yellow helmet. I don’t remember wearing it at all though.
I DO wear a helmet almost all the time now. The only time I don’t is when casually riding bikes where my grandparents live in Guttenberg, IA.
And I don’t think they’re dorky. I think they’re sexy!
But, I know some people DO think they are dorky. That article started with talking about how people criticized Barack Obama for wearing one because it was dorky. And the article mentioned how designers in Denmark are trying to make helmets look more like hats. The article even said bike ridership has gone down in the states where helmets are required for kids because they look so dorky!
Steven even wears his helmet to follow me while I run!
I don’t know. I just don’t mind looking like a dork (obviously, you know that if you’ve been reading this blog for awhile). I have a coworker who rides her bike in Chicago without a helmet and that really worries me. I guess I know too many bicyclists who have had close calls with cars.
P.S. I miss riding my bike! I haven’t since August!
I don’t think they’re dorky at all. They’re smart and smart is sexy!
I don’t think they’re dorky. But dorky or not, I feel like they are non-negotiable. Safety first 🙂
I don’t think they’re dorky… way smart!
I used to never wear them when I was a little kid. My parents didn’t make a big deal of it because we mostly rode around on our farm versus the road. But looking back at it, we should have been wearing them the whole time…
I didn’t realize people rode bikes to look cool… I just think it’s a dumb argument. Same as I think it’s dumb when people choose not to wear a seatbelt because it’s not comfortable (or cool, come to think of it). I always have and know I always will – the time I got hit by a car while I was riding my bike on the sidewalk, I did hit my head when I fell and was fine with the helmet. Probably wouldn’t have been the same story without!
Thank you for sharing your story! Yet another person protected by their helmet!
Hey Kim! I don’t comment much in the blog world but I’m still reading. Just wanted to say good luck this Sunday!! This has been a long time coming. Kick ass sister!
Since I got my new bike I’ve worn my helmet every single time I’ve ridden it! The only time I’ve been on a bike recently sans helmet was when we were riding the bikes between your family’s cabins. I had a helmet growing up but I never, ever wore it and my parents didn’t insist on it. I *do* look pretty stupid with my helmet on (damn my small head!) but I think I’d look even stupider with brain damage.
Jason doesn’t wear his when he rides on the bike path through the forest preserve but he wears it when he rides on the street.
I don’t ride – I’m a chicken when it comes to riding in traffic. Maybe when my littles get a bit bigger I will. That said, I force my kids to wear them every time they ride. They give me a hard time about it, since MANY of the kids in the neighborhood don’t wear helmets (!!!) but it is non-negotiable for me.
I think they are super dorky but I also wear one almost every time I bike – any time I go out of my neighborhood on my bike, it is on. I’m ok w/ being a dork! 😉
I don’t own a helmet anymore *hangs head in shame*. I also don’t ride my bike on the streets. I pretty much stick to the bike path around the lakes by my house and the park trails at the park nearish my house. I had to borrow a helmet from a friend the time I did my triathlon. I should really break down at get one since I am hoping to do a triathlon in 2011. (I also need to figure out a way to take my bike on my car)
I think at some point when I was a kid (middle school maybe?) they passed that law in MD about kids wearing helmets. I owned one but rarely wore it. I did always carry it with me though.
What kind of car do you have? I have a bike rack for my car, but before, I could fit it in the back if I put the back seats down.
Get a helmet! 🙂
I don’t bike so I can’t really vote in the poll. However growing up, we didn’t have helmets. Nobody wore helmets. If biking on a paved trail, I really don’t see the point of a helmet. Mountain biking and biking in the road, for sure I think it’s smart.
For me, a helmet is crucial even on paved trails. I am pretty clumsy and am surprised I haven’t fallen yet!
I always wear my helmet now even for short rides. But I don’t remember even owning one as a kid. However since most helmets are too small, I actually wear a skater helmet on my bike. Seems more solid. Not necessarily aerodynamic, but I’m not racing.
I did a lot of biking in college. One time I had a bad accident coming back in from a ride. I flew over the handle bars and landed on my back with my head hitting the pavement first. Even with my helmet I had a concussion, and without it I could have easily had severe brain injuries. I always wear it no matter what. However, I do remember as a kid I didn’t want to wear it – none of the other kids did, but my dad always made us wear them.
Helmets are sexy! I think that your are wise if you make sure to wear one. The thoughts of not having one in a worse case scenario is horrible. Besides, no one can even really recognize you when you have a helmet and sunglasses on.
Not dorky at all– a must is what they are! Best of luck to you in Chicago! Go rock it.
I def don’t think they’re dorky..they’re safe. I don’t own one, but I really should. However, when I ride my bike it’s usually to go get ice cream 🙂 But still – ya never know!
Oh, and good luck tomorrow!!!
I don’t think they’re dorky at all. In fact, I was in a bike crash last weekend and my helmet saved my noggin. There’s a huge crack in it as proof of its effectiveness. Go helmets!
Oh wow! Did you get a new helmet already or are you kind of shook up from it all?
I actually just got my new helmet in the mail yesterday. I’m excited to try it out. Nothing is gonna keep me off my bike!
I haven’t been on a bike in about 18 years.
Totally Dorky!
I only own one because the local metro parks require one. But for the same reason I don’t go there very often…
Yes, I understand I should wear one to stay healthy. I should also eat my veggies, exercise more and get 8+ hours of sleep at night.
Dorky, yeah, but still totally non-negotiable!
I missed my first day of high school when the chain fell off my bike and I crashed head first into a metal mailbox. I HAD a helmet on and STILL got a concussion! Imagine how bad that would have been without a helmet!
A friend of mine got hit recently in the city. Riding in the city is totally scary, imo. I cannot imagine doing it without a helmet.
City riding freaks the hell out of me too. I usually stick to trails and STILL wear my helmet!
Oh gosh. That is awful about your concussion!
As stated already- non negotiable! I wear it 100% of the time. As far as I am concerned, not wearing a helmet is like not wearing a seatbelt!!!
I wear mine almost all the time.
But, let me be clear – they are VERY dorky. No two ways about it. VERY VERY Dorky
I wear mine all the time, but it is super-dorky. However, my argument is, “Well, wearing a helmet is less dorky than being a quadriplegic with a helping hands monkey that has to do everything for me….”
I get teased a lot by friends, and Harrison has people yell things like, “Nice helmet!” (sarcastically) when he bikes to campus. Oh well.
My dad once told me that if someone is wearing a helmet, you know that s/he is serious about biking. You don’t see an TdF riders without helmets, ha!
I want a helping hands monkey! Ha ha.
WHAT? Do people really yell “Nice helmet”? Oh my gosh. THOSE people are LAME.
True. What would Lance say about this? 😛
I don’t have a bike, but when I do get one, I will definitely get a helmet! It’s always safety first, especially when you’re on a mode of transportation like that. Even if it’s dorky, I’ll still wear one!
And, I don’t think I would word it as “only 8 less deaths a year”. That’s EIGHT less deaths a year. Eight human beings who are still living, breathing, biking. Even if it isn’t a high number like 25-30, anytime we keep people living, that’s a good thing. 🙂
AH! YOUR MARATHON IS TOMORROW! GOOD LUCK!!!
If you ask my three boys – yes, totally dorky! I really wish they would wear them – they bike to school every day and it is dangerous. All it takes is one moment… Our bike shop sells those Danish helmets that look like hats and some of them are really cute, I was thinking of getting one for myself to be a good example to my kids (but they are pretty expensive) and somehow i think it’s too late to influence my three teenagers on this point – but I could still do it for myself, right?
Oh gosh! You ALL need to get helmets. Stat! Make them wear ’em! 🙂
PS: Rock Chicago today – I’ll be thinking of you!!!
I never wore a helmet growing up, but I think it’s because bicycle safety wasn’t front and center in the 70s and early 80s. As an adult, I used to think they were dorky and was one of those people who would trot around Chicago without one. Then, I started talking to friends who are in rehabilitation fields (physical therapy, speech therapy, etc.) and to hear stories of what cycling without a helmet can do? Well, let’s just say I never leave home without mine now.
And didn’t you get hit last summer? I was thinking of that when I wrote this.
I used to be bad about wearing mine. Then, when I was studying for my PhD, one of my faculty said, “You’re working so hard to fill up that brain, and then you’re going to spill it all over the sidewalk?” Even if you don’t get hit by a car, a helmet could protect you in a fall from the bike. There was a local guy who died because he was wearing a helmet but didn’t have it clipped, and someone knocked him off his bike. If he had the helmet fastened, he probably would have lived. I’m not sure why he even bothered to wear it that way.
So in short — I only have one head, and I want to keep it.
I’m almsot all the time. Any time I ride long distances (more than 5 miles), I ride. Or if I know I’m going to be out with other riders, I wear a helmet.
It’s kind of dorky looking, but at the same time, I know it’s protection for when I’ve needed it (only twice now in all the biking I’ve done in my life time).
I never wore a helmet as a kid. I just dealt with the dangers. Even got hit by a car without a helmet and ended up with no head injuries.
Dude, I don’t care if it is dorky- it you don’t wear one you’re asking for trouble. Plain and simple. When I run past people riding a bike without a helmet I seriously question their intelligence. That may be harsh but come on- what makes them immune from getting hurt?!