Originally Posted by
mconlonx
I do take some slight issue with this:
3. I don't know that widespread, voluntary helmet use outside MHL territories drives down ridership. NYC is in the USA where there is that unreasonably fear-driven notion that you need a helmet to be riding a bike safely. Yet they've seen increases in ridership. Cycling in general is increasing in spite of USA fear culture. And while fear-culture might keep people off bikes, helmets are not the only or main cause of that -- contributory, certainly, maybe even significantly, but far from the biggest reason.
You're right. I can't prove it and it hasn't been demonstrated. I didn't mean to state that bike helmets are the ONLY cause of misplaced fearfulness about cycling. I do suspect they're a very important part of it though. Cause of/response to/reflexive amplification of fear? Who knows. But ask yourself this, if walking helmets suddenly started being promoted to the same levels as cycling helmets, what would be the likely effect?