An observation about cyclists...

I passed about 8 cyclists.  I think I've always been a careful and courteous driver with cyclists but now that I have a bike and road cycle myself I guess I just pay more attention to them.

Anyway, out of the 8 cyclists I passed this morning, only ONE was actually wearing a cycle helmet.  This is in busy but fast moving city traffic, lots of lanes etc.  I'd never noticed it before?  The 7 people not wearing one today were all very different, male, female, commuters, older, younger etc.  The one guy who wore one looked like a pro (clipped in, lycra etc).

I always wear a helmet on the road.  It would be like not putting my seat belt on.  It just wouldn't feel right.  I know just wearing a helmet doesn't make you any less likely to have an accident, if you're not road wise etc.  But surely its safer wearing one?

I just wonder if anyone can shed some light onto why people take the unnecessary risk?  Are they just worried about a bad hair day?

... one of them was bald.

Farnie: err, are you saying that people without helmets have better survival skills?

They are just dumb

I grew up when cycling helmets didn't exist and I will not go on a bike without one.

Some folks just don't think they will need them. I 've seen adults make their kids wear them then promptly get on their own bike lidless.

Nam we are having an on going battle with harry, 11, over wearing his bike helmet,

He "forgets" it, leaves it in the shed and if not I'm pretty sure he takes it off as soon as he is out of sight.  

It's getting to the point where I'm thinking of saying, no helmet, no bike.

We both wer one and he always did until very recently.

You should always look after your helmet, and your helmet will look after you.

(quote from the local Genito Urinary clinic doctor, who is also an avid cyclist......so I hear)

There was a study recently that showed that motorists give cyclists a wider berth if they aren't wearing a helmet. Especially if they wear a long blonde wig instead, and have a little wicker basket strapped to the handlebars of their bike, and wobble around a bit 

So those cyclists were following appropriate safety procedures.

I always aim for lidless people when I am in the car. 

That'll teach em!

I cycle into work (about 12 mile round trip) most days and yes, I do wear a helmet. 

But if I'm just nipping up the shops on a weekend I must admit I don't.

Had one serious accident on a cycle, got T-boned by a bus in 1988, wasn't wearing a helmet and I didn't hit my head so wearing one on that occasion wouldn't have mattered and it hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,hasn't affected me 

Passed one this morning ..........  all the gear, pedalling like buggery

no helmet and plugged into an ipod,  what a pillock.                                        

Seen two mountain bikers being rescued round here recently.

One helicoptered off unconcious. No helmet

One walking wounded. Busted collar bone, bent bike, broken teeth, split helmet.

Go figure....