November 21, 2014
by Bikeyface
Headcase
The other day I was relaxing at a cafe when I found myself eavesdropping.
Why did he feel the need to speak to the bicyclist and why did he assume the cyclist was somehow ignorant? Would this guy similarly attack other people doing things that he viewed as poor judgement? Or is it just bicyclists?
I’m sick of the helmet hype. It’s time to hype up infrastructure until “cycle track” is in everyone’s vocabulary. I dream of the day this guy will ask the city what’s up with the street design that makes cyclists feel like they need to wear helmets.
Totally agree. I sometimes wear a helmet, sometimes not, depending on the circumstance. I never appreciate the “YOU MUST WEAR A HELMETS’!!!” screaming at me, or counseling me, or telling me.
Repent, sinner!
True story: Bike to Work Day 2012. After bike 20-something miles from home (with helmet), I doffed the helmet as I approached my first “Energizer Station” of the day so it wouldn’t get in the way of my camera. Volunteer at the station — on a day when we’re all supposed to encourage everybody to bike — immediately jumps loudly down my throat that I should wear a helmet. Put a very sour taste in my mouth and reminded me that we all need to do much better in how we present the message.
Part of this encounter as captured on my handlebar camera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRp2D-mJsWI
wow!
I get this occasionally.
I don’t have a problem with people wearing helmets, I just wish they’d stop going on at me about it.
Mind you as I generally wear a wide brimmed Akubra hat, maybe I’m asking for it…
Ha! So true. Although you know what I got the no helmet Disapproving Glance the other day and it made me think ‘eep, people are safety conscious around here, I better dig my helmet out!!’
But this guy. Ack, we all know him.
I recently came to the conclusion that it’s not anyone else’s business. I can be happy or unhappy with what someone’s doing, but to the extent that it has no effect on me or anyone I know, I should probably just shut up. See: http://lawschoolissoover.wordpress.com/2014/05/13/death-of-a-helmet-nazi/
I get that a lot. But while I love cycling and motorcycles too. I don’t love the magic hat syndrome. It isn’t magic. It won’t save you. It makes other people feel better.
For a while there in the aughties, I would get the “where’s your helmet?” question or the “WHERE’S YOUR HELMET!” passing shout a few times a year while out on my bike commuting or running errands.
It haven’t heard it in years. I’m not really sure why.
I’m sure that the wheresyourhelmet environment varies from region to region and even town to town.
Safety Nazis. Should require knee pads as well because you could crash your bike and bust a knee and need a meat wagon to take you to the hospital. My body, my choice.
I think I guy like that would say everything you illustrated. 🙂
I will never be seen riding my bike sans-helmet, because it was three years ago tomorrow that I was hit by a car and was thrown into the windshield, wearing a helmet. I don’t even want to THINK about what would have happened if I were not wearing one.
Although I try not to belittle others that ride without wearing helmets (based on my “live-and-let-live” philosophy), I certainly am belittling in my mind. I have to find a way to banish the toxic thoughts.
I agree.
I’ve broken two helmets over the years…. Better broken styrofoam than
broken skull, that’s my thinking anyway…
Number one question when I tell people I bike to work: Do you wear a helmet?
I NEVER ask anyone who drives if they wear a seatbelt or have airbags or refrain from texting while driving…
“You drive to work???? Are you sure you’re getting enough exercise?”
You DROVE here? Do you know you could kill somebody that way? Were you texting? Did you look down at the radio? I hope you stop before the crosswalk every time and don’t speed.
No seatbelt – only you are at risk. Texting while driving – that puts lots of other sat risk! Big difference, no? Have a little responsibility.
Actually, no seat belt – only you are at risk is not correct. If the driver does not wear a seat belt he is not able to remain in control of the the car in the event of a crash. Passengers not wearing a seat belt only put themselves at risk. I saw a video about it.
Actually, quite a few front seat occupants are killed when unbelted back seat passengers crash into them.
But I think the point is that while cyclists and walkers accept risk, drivers impose it.
Thanks for this. These days I think wearing a helmet is sort of like wearing a sign that says “Bicycles are Dangerous!” For this reason, I shy away from organized rides where helmets are required (why sign up for something that is advertised as dangerous?).
My standard response to “helmet” is “manners” (“Wear a helmet!” “Mind your manners!”), but I get the helmet comment from some friends who just like to yank my chain. For them, my response is more polite and less political: “My helmet is with my racing bike, where it belongs.” If I ever get a racing bike, I’ll have to come up with a new line.
Helmet wearing is a very personal choice and bicycling is a very healthy thing to do. When asked, I advise people to wear anything that improves their chances of riding a bike.
I could not agree more with your views about the inappropriate nature of others questioning ones helmet choice.
I do wonder how others here feel about whether it is just as inappropriate to call out cyclists that do not use lights at night. I tend to feel that is a different story as their lack of visibility could potentially have an affect on others.
Thoughts?
Not having a helmet on is a safety issue for the rider and the rider alone. Not having lights at night is a safety issue for everyone within a reasonable radius of the rider. I say it’s perfectly acceptable to (politely) call out ninja riders and even have a spare cheap light on hand to offer.
Hi, glad you asked for thoughts! I almost always ride without lights now. After years of using lights, I started going without when the commuting route I took didn’t seem to require it. The route was in a well lit suburban area so I had confidence that I could see in front of me. When a car did appear in front or behind, I just tucked in onto the sidewalk and then back onto the street after it passed. I always hold the mindset that when riding, I am invisible to cars. Its kept me safe for nearly 30 years. I was hit from behind 29 years ago, full lights front and rear plus four rear reflectors and riding on the road (drunk driver, hit and run, I was unhurt but rear wheel was totalled). I don’t feel the need for lights on the routes that I presently ride. I can see clearly, and that’s all that matters because I yield to anyone on the sidewalk and yield to all motor vehicles. (There aren’t many on suburban back streets). That’s my two cents on lights, use them if they’re necessary for others to see you. If you can see well without lights, just be aware that others cannot see you an you are obligated to yield to every thing that moves. This is the way that I ride.
There’s better research showing that lights prevent crashes/injuries (compared to helmets), but in terms of compared-to-what, it does not reach the standard where I’d be comfortable being that rude. I don’t go up to random strangers who smoke and tell them about the health risks, for example.
Note that there’s nice strong research showing that not riding your bike to work (in a general population with the usual shortfall of actions versus intentions for getting enough exercise) is bad for you, and unnecessary driving also potentially has an effect on others — those cars don’t crash themselves. The number of other-people killed in bicycle crashes is tiny, even if you attribute every single one of those to lack of lights — so if that logic justifies harassing cyclists about no-lights, then it also makes the case for harassing people who drive unnecessarily.
I feel fortunate that I haven’t been the target of a helmet-pusher. I don’t often wear a helmet when riding. In warm weather, I wear a wide-brimmed hat to keep the sun out of my eyes and to stay cool; in cooler weather, I usually go with behind-the-head earmuffs or a warm hat, or both. Full disclosure, though: I use behind-the-head earmuffs because they’re helmet-compatible : ) On occasion, such as when going on a long ride off the cycle path, I’ll wear a helmet, but mostly I use it for additional lighting. I don’t view it primarily as a safety device for the head; I view it as a platform for mounting additional lights on my head. I have a front light and rear light mounted to the headlight on a semi-permanent basis. Both of them allow me greater visibility and a backup light in case of a failure in the main (bike-mounted) lights.
sigh.
I will celebrate the day when I read a story re: cycle commuting/touring/travel and The Helmet is not brought up in the comment section. I will also send a personal thank you note to the first newspaper writer I see who writes a story re: a cycling crash (with or without motorized vehicle involved) who doesn’t mention whether the cyclist was wearing a helmet in the first 4 paragraphs.
it’s never people’s lack of helmet that gets me all uppity: it’s wearing helmets incorrectly that gets my Pretentious Cyclist up. It’s a choice to wear one or not, I believe, but why bother if you aren’t going to wear it properly? Cinch the strap, pull it forward to just above your eyebrows, or just take it off.
RFLOL!! You hit the nail on the head!!
Huhn. In my province (Nova Scotia, Canada), we are required by law to wear a bicycle helmet while cycling. I had never really considered that part of the reason for wearing a helmet is because infrastructure makes cycling unsafe. The cycling coalition in my city (Halifax) is fighting hard to have proper (protected and/or designated) bike lanes to make cycling safer here. It’s an uphill battle, but they are fighting hard.
while I definitely see an issue with a stranger coming up and harassing a cyclist like this, but I always encourage use of one to my friends who bike in the interest of their protection (some of them can be idiot riders)
I’m sooo with you on this one. I long for the day when cycling is viewed as viable transportation and everyone can ride on segregated lanes. The helmet debate will go away.
Yet, I will always wear a helmet. Some of us are prone to falling!
More folks would ride if they weren’t eviscerated for their lack of headwear.
I’ve lived in the midwest of the US all of my life but I worked and lived in a city in China for two years. I was in heaven because of the infrastructure for riding. I imagine the Netherlands to be similar. Everyone rode a bicycle so it was thought of as normal activity, no helmet no lights, no worries about parking. It was so peaceful and without stress to go to work or travel anywhere within the city. Its like a dream for it to be that way in the US.
So I used to be one of those guys but stopped because of how the biking culture and infrastructure has changed across the US (I bike in Boston). The change came after my son asked what I thought about bike sharing people riding w/o helmets” and I answered I am glad they are riding because the more bikes on the road the more traffic slows down. I became a helmet evangelist because: 1) urban biking in the 70s to 90s was dangerous; 2) I am typing this note because I wore a helmet (going slow, hit a rock, head whiplashed to the ground – minor concussion & 2 inch crack in helmet), and 3) as a registered nurse I have cared for paraplegics ex-motorcyclists that were not wearing helmets. I have been an urban biker for 42 years, I commute by bike everywhere, I race cyclocross, and ride in pace lines. I always wear a helmet except on leisurely bike path rides and always will even when we have bike infrastructure like the Netherlands. From a stop on a bicycle in an uninterrupted fall a head can hit the ground at 15-20 miles per hour – enough to cause serious damage. For those who say they can do what they want I ask who pays for your hospitalization and long term care when you do get hit, are you sure you can prevent everything bad from happening to you? If so, why do you wear a seat belt? I restrain myself now, except when I see a rider on a busy street helmetless but with earbuds in listing to music. That’s too dangerous to not say something.