Originally Posted by
Stadjer
There are studies that suggest wearing helmets make people act more unsafely, but that's not really what I mean. My viewpoint is that cycling itself isn't dangerous and safe to the point that a helmet has no advantage. The merit of a helmet comes with added danger, like cycling for sport or cycling in dangerous environments. If that's the only cycling you do you might as well wear a helmet everytime you go cycling. But let's not forget about the possibility, or dream for some, to cycle somewhere in someway that a helmet isn't of any use.
... such as the United States.
I certainly dream of a day when I don't need a helmet.
My own view is that "studies" are not going to settle this matter anytime soon. Look up "replication crisis" in the behavioral sciences. Car safety involves far more vehicles and miles of travel, making it more amenable to scientific study, and still it's difficult. Also, the insurance companies have a vested interest in gathering good data for cars. Cycling will always be rare enough in the US that it won't rise to the level of being a public health issue. We have bigger fish to fry. Driving a car is more dangerous than it should be.
In the absence of convincing studies, the next best thing for me is just to use my own common sense. Naturally I can't force that on anybody else.