Cyclist0084

Was out yesterday afternoon driving to a job interview. It was quite a few miles from my home and I had to go through a couple of large residential areas to get there. While en route, I saw quite a few parents out cycling with their kids. In almost every instance, the kids were wearing helmets and the parents were not.

Now I'll be the first to admit that I hardly ever wear a helmet, but when my son was younger and was staying with me on weekends and we would ride together, I made sure we both had our helmets on. Wanted to set a good example for him.

Not wanting this thread to be about wearing helmets versus not wearing helmets but rather would like to understand what the thinking of parents is that insist on their kids wearing a helmet but not they themselves. Kind of like telling your kid smoking is bad all the while puffing away on your Marlboro or Virginia Slim.

PlanoFuji

Perhaps the local laws require children to wear helmets, while (rightfully) allowing adults to retain their right to choose?

MEversbergII

That's how it is here - once you hit 17 it's up to you.

M.

Wilfred Laurier

in ontario
children requires helmets
while adults are free

i usually wear my helmet when out with my kids
but sometimes i dont

everything in moderation

contango 

I guess if parents don't regard a helmet as being useful but the law says a child must wear one they follow the law.

If they can only afford one helmet they may put their child before themselves, especially if there's a law requiring children to wear helmets that doesn't apply to adults.

Either way they'll struggle to persuade their children to wear a helmet from the point the children come to the conclusion that helmets aren't cool. I see loads of children in school uniform riding a bike with their helmet hanging from the handlebars.

kaisersling

Contradiction! Whether your kids are with you or not, you should be wearing one as an example. They will know once they see the accident report or your new bald spot....or grey matter on the ground. I do agree with your overall message however.

dramiscram

I agree with the OP: the kids will automatically do it if you give a good example.

With everything, not just helmets.

DX-MAN

Myob.

CB HI

Oh my, lots of people here who have never had a soft drink in front of their kids. Glad none of you drink any alcohol either. I am especially happy that none of you have ever exceeded the speed limit while motoring.

prathmann

I don't really understand the OP's viewpoint. If he feels that helmet wearing is actually important or even necessary for safety while bike riding then I don't see why he usually rides without one.

OTOH, if his view is that bike riding is sufficiently safe without a helmet or that helmets don't increase safety significantly then I don't see why he considers the wearing of one to be "setting a good example" and denigrates parents who don't do so.

Kai Winters

I also bubble wrap my kids...just in case...sheesh...tea cup kids club...

General Geoff

Leading by example is definitely one of the best ways of teaching children, though it's not the only way. I remember my dad wearing a bike helmet when my sister and I were kids, so as to encourage us to wear ours. But he also smoked while insisting that smoking was bad. Then again, he tried to quit smoking a few times while we were kids, and every time he did, my mom practically begged him to smoke a cigarette again because he got so cranky and abrasive after a day!

Btw I've never smoked a single cigarette, because it stuck with me how hopelessly dependent my dad had become on them. So sometimes learning by others' clearly evident mistakes is just as effective.

dramiscram

I wrap myself in bubble wrap but it's not to give the kids a good example, it's to have some fun on saturday nights... oups! wrong forum, sorry!

rebel1916

One of the most important lessons to teach children is how to mind your own beeswax.

Steve B.

Riding on a bike path one day, I saw exactly what you describe, Father - no helmet, kids with.

As I rode up alongside, I commented that the father should wear a helmet, as at least HE's protected. If Dad dies, kids are screwed, if kids die, Dad (and Mom) can alway's have more.

In retrospective, this was the wrong way to phrase it, judging by the response.

Booger1

We are suppose to be the parent.

Theirs is not to wonder why,theirs is to do.....they'll have plenty of time for wondering later.

Booger1

I smoked in front of my kids,still do.....None of my kids smoke.......everytime they see me smoke,their butt hurts... I used to reward them with food but the drooling got out of hand.....

wphamilton

Maybe the parents, after studying the matter have determined that the danger is overstated and are teaching their children that it's ok to be self-reliant and that as adults you don't always have to meekly obey the instructions of strangers. Perhaps the parents are right, and you are mistaken.

Best to mind our own on business.

chasm54

As it happens, helmets make sense for young children, much less so for adults. Kids learning to ride are much more likely to simply fall off and have the sort of low-speed falls onto the ground that helmets might be some use for. And in my view, teaching kids that when they get older, and have demonstrated that they can operate a bike competently, they can exercise their own discretion about helmet-wearing, is an excellent approach.

It goes without saying that if you approached me and told me I should be wearing a helmet, you'd find that there are plenty of things that are more dangerous than going bare-headed. ****.

DataJunkie

I always wear a helmet whether I am riding with my kids or not as I am klutz and momentary lapses in concentration tend to bode ill for me.
However, +10 to myob.

EllaCadell

I think wearing helmet for the safety purpose is really important, you need to realize the value of life so it's good for you to take care and live a healthy life.

FatherAlabaster

Yes, this is exactly it. Kids think their parents are super-duper-cool and want nothing more than to emulate them in every respect. I expect nothing less than a sea change in the younger generation, due to our vigilance against this blatant hypocrisy.

Jax Rhapsody

Im grown, i dont need to be told to wear a helmet. Im not going to wear one.

I-Like-To-Bike

Kids will automatically follow their parents' good example in everything they do? Well I'll be switched!

I-Like-To-Bike

How much time did you spend in the hospital after the response?