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Dylan Reid over at Spacing Wire is slowly fanning the flames sparked by a Kenneth Kidd article in the Star over why about half of Toronto cyclists don't wear helmets. We enjoy a good comment thread so we're going to try to help Mr. Reid out a bit.
First of all, Boy Reporter wears a helmet, always has and pretty much always will. Riding a bike in this city isn't as safe as it should be and while anti-helmet advocates point to helmetless places like Amsterdam and Coppenhagen we'll point out that these places have many many more cyclists and a driving culture that doesn't see cyclists as a nuisance to be driven off the road.
So why not lobby for greater road safety those same anti-helmet advocates might chime in response. True, why don't we. There's no reason why these two campaigns are mutually exclusive. The media does tend to exaggerate the importance of helmets but they do serve a purpose. They prevent many head injuries and while broken arms and broken legs heal, permanent brain injuries are something else all together.
But those against helmets do have a point. Helmets won't save you when you've been clipped by a passing sideview mirror, right-hooked by a yuppie busy with their latte and cellphone, or forced to deal with a sideguardless 18-wheeler.
The two camps are not mutually exclusive, in fact they're complimentary. If anything a helmet should be a constant reminder to every cyclist that the streets aren't safe enough for cyclists and that we should try to change this. Until then, I'll keep my helmet on.
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I usually wear a helmet because it doesn't make too much sense not too, and I fear looking awfully stupid with my head cracked open. I always wear one when travelling with my son (to set a good example). Occasionally, however, I forget to put it on, and I really enjoy the sense of freedom not wearing it gives me. People on the Spacing wire comments mentioned it looks geeky, but I like looking geeky, so that's not a factor.
I'll repeat what I wrote there: the reason for why people don't wear helmets - the one that The Star can't seem to grasp - is that many of them think that it looks stupid. The article is also, incidentally, terribly, terribly written: you want an awkward, cringe-worthy sentence that should have never made it to press? How's “Did we mention that Gardner is not just a young medical student but also a smart, attractive, blond, athletic medical student?”
By all means, people should be wearing helmets, but a lot of us (myself included, I admit, don't) even though I know I really should, and I don't even have a valid reason for not wearing one anymore.
I'm going to get shit for this suggestion, but I'm going to make it anyway: helmets will not catch on until the government and/or helmet manufacturers find a way to make the practice cool. I have no idea how they'd do that (and god knows the city is no good at making things cool), but if that happens I guarantee you'll see an increase in the amount of people who wear them. Sad and true.
But isn't geeky cool? You mean it's not? You mean I've been looking geeky all this time and it's not cool? Is that why I don't have a girlfriend?
Maybe I should be taking off my helmet whenever I'm on a date.
The two campaigns are mutally exclusive.
http://www.helmets.org/veloaust.htm
I won't mock anyone for wearing a helmet.
That should go both ways.
We're adults.
We can make our own choices about safety.
Me, I just wanna ride my bike.
The two campaigns can be mutally exclusive.
http://www.helmets.org/veloaust.htm
I won't mock anyone for wearing a helmet.
That should go both ways.
We're adults.
We can make our own choices about safety.
Me, I just wanna ride my bike.
Its the same stupid argument people make with hockey visors -- you're not tough if you wear one. If you do, you may stick get a puck or stick the face, but the chances of a serious injury are lessoned when wearing one. The same goes for bike helmets.
Stupid Boy reporter also makes it seem like Reid at Spacing is making things worse by posting about it, and that you are here to make it all better. He just posted a link with no commentary. Don't pat yourself on the back too much there, Ron.
It's not that people don't think your tough, it's that people shouldnt be acting tough if your wearing a visor because if your going to fight, you have a visor protecting your face and cutting the other guys hands up.
Everyone seems to agree that wearing visors is a good idea, just don't go looking for fights while if you decide to wear one.
Ron isn't stupid -- I don't think his post suggests Dylan Reid is making things worse, rather he touched on a nerve or something like that. I'm kinda tired and not thinking straight. But I do know Ron's a smart guy. Take it back. Please.