A Rant At Cyclists...

silverwhistle

It's all a question of risk/reward. I've just got back from a trip to the Alps and spent a fair bit of money (and I'm not flush) on another set of steel wheels with snow tyres: well worth it, if not even essential, given the conditions this year. I have a ski helmet but hardly wear it. if I were planning a day tree skiing or jumps or serious off-piste I would, but as I was skiing on my own the issue didn't arise. I know a local lifty out there who was nearly taken out by a tree branch in the neck: the helmet wouldn't have helped,l so where do you draw the line? Many skiers go too fast for their ability and if I'm ever taken out in a collision I'd bet a pound to a euro they'd be wearing helmets.

I haven't ridden for years but always wore a skull cap, but then horses are even less predictable than motorists, and almost as stupid as some of them. With sailing I was once on a yacht that broached off St. Cats in a race and no one was wearing a life-jacket.. I wouldn't do that now - but it's amazing how many yachting fatalities occur in marinas, or on the way back from the pub.

All my head-gear got left behind when I moved back to the UK, although this last trip retrieved more of my belongings, so I've been riding a bike without a helmet. I still will, depending on circumstances.

The introduction of compulsory helmet wearing in Australia cut cycling drastically, and they have a big problem with obesity. Where is the bigger danger?

This drip-drip-drip of stories about helmets is a complete diversion from the real problem (as mentioned above), and it's a shame people who start them can't see that. Pass the buck to the cyclist and we don't have to do anything, plus they're an easier target and easier to pull over. The minimal sentencing for motorists who cause the death of cyclists is shocking

esuhl

Cloudydaze wrote: »

I'm a cyclist. I wear a helmet. I do because it's the socially acceptable thing to do not because I believe it offers me much protection.

So you wasted a load of your own money and lug around a useless helmet because you think that's what other people want you to do... :rotfl:

Why not trust yourself to make your own decisions?

And what makes it socially unacceptable to not wear a helmet?! "Shriek! There's a naked-headed cyclist! Avert your eyes, children!"

ceredigion

Sportycus wrote: »

From another cyclist!

Who don't Wear a 'FUDGING CYCLE HELMET'!!!

What is your problem? I commute about 16 miles a day on a bike and the number of cyclists i see without helmets is alarming, and from what i can see on the increase.

I personally don't care if you smash your head on the concrete and put yourself in a 'vegative state' for the rest of your lives, after all you won't know much about it.

But your family and friends who will now have to spend the rest of their lives caring for you...i do care about.

I just don't understand and cannot think of one genuine reason why not to wear one?

I cycle in area, where last year 9 cyclists died in the space of a month. What clearer message do you need that you require all the protection you can get?

Rant over, have a nice day.:)

The other scenario with your argument is that I who choose not to wear a lid is killed outright in the accident , very sad for my family, but sh*t happens. Where as you wearing a helmet ends up in a vegetate state because it increased your protection in a small way. Your family might well, wish you hadn't had it on.

photome

Whats with the OP
do you take offence to anyone who chooses to do something different to you and within the law

Mark_Hewitt

You know what I hate? Cyclists who hate other cyclists. Get over yourself.

custardy

AndyBSG wrote: »

Because there has been a long and subtle propganda campaign to con the general public into believing that the reason cyclists die is because they don't wear helmets.

Why has there been this campaign? Because while the majority of the voting public believe this they're not questioning the real reasons behind it and demanding the huge investment it would require to fix the real problems which are poor infrastructure, ridiculously lenient penalties for drivers who do murder cyclists, along with outdated and ill enforced highway code rules.

In Holland for example they have a strict liability law which rules the driver of the car is responsible for any accident unless they can prove otherwise(over here it seems the law is the cyclist is always responsible even if evidence shows otherwise!).

That alone makes Dutch drivers take much more reposnsibility but it will never come in over here because cyclist deaths are seen as acceptable collateral damage...

bit like this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26073797

andrewf75

AndyBSG wrote: »

Because there has been a long and subtle propganda campaign to con the general public into believing that the reason cyclists die is because they don't wear helmets.

Why has there been this campaign? Because while the majority of the voting public believe this they're not questioning the real reasons behind it and demanding the huge investment it would require to fix the real problems which are poor infrastructure, ridiculously lenient penalties for drivers who do murder cyclists, along with outdated and ill enforced highway code rules.

In Holland for example they have a strict liability law which rules the driver of the car is responsible for any accident unless they can prove otherwise(over here it seems the law is the cyclist is always responsible even if evidence shows otherwise!).

That alone makes Dutch drivers take much more reposnsibility but it will never come in over here because cyclist deaths are seen as acceptable collateral damage...

I get all that but what has that got to do with wearing helmets? That still comes down to personal choice as it isn't law and doesn't affect anyone else whether you wear one or not.

Moto2

I wear one most of the time, sometimes I don't bother but mostly I do.

It is a safety thing for me I've totally compressed the side of one in the past and suffered headaches for days afterwards so I believe it mitigated my injuries on that day.
Why do I sometimes not wear one?
I dunno really, maybe for the same reason I ride motorcycles for fun rather than as a form of transport, I just make a subconscious risk assessment and go with it.
On the face of it, motorcycling is comparatively dangerous and to simply go out and take that risk for no other reason than I want to, is a risk too far for some people, not me.
I also cycle as fast as I can, just for fun, so you could argue by doing so I'm putting myself at great risk for no good reason.
It's not like I need to do either to get to work or to do anything else *essential*

skitler

maybe if you had to pay road tax insurance the cyclists would then all have to tow the line and ride within the law.

Moto2

skitler wrote: »

maybe if you had to pay road tax insurance the cyclists would then all have to tow the line and ride within the law.

With all that extra tax from cyclists they could have even paid for better teachers for schools.
At least then there'd be a reasonable chance that people would reach adulthood with an understanding of the use of capitals and even, perhaps, quote idioms correctly.