Comments on: To Helmet or Not To Helmet http://www.pedalgr.com/2009/07/14/to-helmet-or-not-to-helmet/ A bike blog and biweekly bicycle ride exploring Grand Rapids Sun, 18 Mar 2012 23:10:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Tyler Doornbos http://www.pedalgr.com/2009/07/14/to-helmet-or-not-to-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-679 Tyler Doornbos Tue, 23 Nov 2010 18:30:21 +0000 http://www.pedalgr.com/?p=409#comment-679 A huge part of this is the practices of drivers -- was just watching this Streetfilms video (http://www.streetfilms.org/cycle-chic-in-copenhagen-and-beyond/#more-36121), which posited that one of major the elements to Copenhagen safety is the unstated understanding between cars and cycles. Paraphrasing: "I'm not a driver and you're a cyclist, I'm a driver *right now*, and will likely be a cyclist tomorrow because I chose that mode of transport." A huge part of this is the practices of drivers — was just watching this Streetfilms video (http://www.streetfilms.org/cycle-chic-in-copenhagen-and-beyond/#more-36121), which posited that one of major the elements to Copenhagen safety is the unstated understanding between cars and cycles. Paraphrasing: “I’m not a driver and you’re a cyclist, I’m a driver *right now*, and will likely be a cyclist tomorrow because I chose that mode of transport.”

]]> By: Mike http://www.pedalgr.com/2009/07/14/to-helmet-or-not-to-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-219 Mike Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:01:46 +0000 http://www.pedalgr.com/?p=409#comment-219 When I live in the Netherlands for a couple of years it was interesting to see that NOBODY wears a helmet. I think we all know that the Netherlands is a biking culture, has separate bike lanes, and bikes have the right of way over ALL traffic (including pedestrians) on bike lanes. I am interested in the death stats per mile ridden in the Netherlands versus the US. I bet it's quite a bit lower there than here - because people know what they are doing, and cars/bike are kept separated. From what I have observed, kids growing up today learn dangerous habits from watching others exhibiting dangerous habit on their bikes. The one that I see all to often is a adult riding against traffic on the street. Kids see this and think 'Thats how we should ride...' Additionally, I'm sure another high accident rate exists amongst kids riding on sidewalks that cross driveways. Not many people expect a kid, whipping down the sidewalk at 15 MPH when they back out of the driveway. There are a ton of other things we can do to increase bike safety, however, making me slap a piece of plastic covered styrofoam on my head is the least effective IMHO. When I live in the Netherlands for a couple of years it was interesting to see that NOBODY wears a helmet. I think we all know that the Netherlands is a biking culture, has separate bike lanes, and bikes have the right of way over ALL traffic (including pedestrians) on bike lanes.

I am interested in the death stats per mile ridden in the Netherlands versus the US. I bet it’s quite a bit lower there than here – because people know what they are doing, and cars/bike are kept separated.

From what I have observed, kids growing up today learn dangerous habits from watching others exhibiting dangerous habit on their bikes. The one that I see all to often is a adult riding against traffic on the street. Kids see this and think ‘Thats how we should ride…’ Additionally, I’m sure another high accident rate exists amongst kids riding on sidewalks that cross driveways. Not many people expect a kid, whipping down the sidewalk at 15 MPH when they back out of the driveway.

There are a ton of other things we can do to increase bike safety, however, making me slap a piece of plastic covered styrofoam on my head is the least effective IMHO.

]]> By: Nathan K. http://www.pedalgr.com/2009/07/14/to-helmet-or-not-to-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-207 Nathan K. Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:06:16 +0000 http://www.pedalgr.com/?p=409#comment-207 Great blog - I agree that it's better than the article. I too oppose this legislation, from a personal liberty standpoint. The whole point of the constitution is to protect the rights of the MINORITY, a point many miss these days. We are not a democracy, contrary to public opinion, we are a republic, which protects (or should anyway) the right of boneheads like me to not wear those stupid looking helmets... :) Keep up the good work, Joshua. NK Great blog – I agree that it’s better than the article. I too oppose this legislation, from a personal liberty standpoint. The whole point of the constitution is to protect the rights of the MINORITY, a point many miss these days. We are not a democracy, contrary to public opinion, we are a republic, which protects (or should anyway) the right of boneheads like me to not wear those stupid looking helmets… :)
Keep up the good work, Joshua.

NK

]]> By: Joshua Duggan http://www.pedalgr.com/2009/07/14/to-helmet-or-not-to-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-205 Joshua Duggan Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:58:47 +0000 http://www.pedalgr.com/?p=409#comment-205 Thanks Tim! Thanks Tim!

]]> By: Tim http://www.pedalgr.com/2009/07/14/to-helmet-or-not-to-helmet/comment-page-1/#comment-204 Tim Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:43:53 +0000 http://www.pedalgr.com/?p=409#comment-204 I think that the press should publish your blog entry it is much more informative that Harger's article. TB I think that the press should publish your blog entry it is much more informative that Harger’s article.

TB

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