Originally Posted by
njkayaker
Helmets might discourage riding but it would seems likely that most the people they might discourage don't ride enough to get any "aerobic exercise" benefit.
And, of course, any discouragement that MHL might induce is something else entirely. And next-to no one here is for MHL anyway.
Agreed that ardent cyclists are unlikely to be discouraged.
But someone who is discouraged from being even a casual cyclist is then unlikely to later become an enthusiast. And while cycling among adults doesn't seem to be diminishing in the US, I see far fewer children cycling now than even 15 years ago - and there are many more jurisdictions that have MHLs for children than for adults. Will those who never did much cycling as kids be as likely to even think about becoming cyclists as adults?