Originally Posted by
mr_bill
Well, in fact, about 75-80% of adults on bikes in Boston wear bike helmets, which are not required by law.
Completely coincidentally, about 75-80% of adults in cars in Boston wear seatbelts, which are required by law.
The rate of wearing a helmet rises to 100% for adults riding in a charity ride like Pan Mass or Bike MS. Because they are required - period.
And 100% for group/club rides. Both because they are required by the group/club, and because if they weren't the INCESSANT WHINGING about helmets - both by those who REFUSE to use a helmet and by the those who ALWAYS wear a helmet, makes for a very unpleasant ride.
Around here about 95% of people commuting to work wear bike helmets, even if they are riding a Blue Bike.
And about 20% of people who ride a Blue Bike "occassionaly."
And the lowest rates of wearing a helmet are by adults who can't afford to buy a helmet.
-mr. bill
Thanks for the data and the perspective, both are actually interesting, as opposed to your pointless bickering.
About 20-25% of adults unhelmeted sounds about right to me, it's definitely a minority, which is not inconsistent with anything I've said. It's also a lot more than "none", which was the statement I was pushing back on. Having ridden for several years in California, I found that claim completely implausible for California as well as for Boston.
Why you chose to jump on me with your dopey "tons" comment, I have no idea. You're absolutely an infuriating poster because I want to read your stuff because I learn a lot, but the level of obnoxious put-downs and insinuations always has me with one finger on the /ignore trigger.
So I'm trying to get your perspective on this, and am asking as politely as I can--are you saying that you're in favor of moving towards universal helmet use by giving people free helmets but not mandating them? I think that's what I'm getting from reading between the lines on this post. TBH, I don't have a strong opinion on mandating, but I tend to stray away from things that empower cops to get you off your bike "for your own good". I'm asking for your opinion on mandating their use because a) you know TONS more about it than I do and b) because you've given a lot of thought to it.
I will say that I'm finding the "riding a helmet makes you less safe" arguments just about as credible as anti-vaxx and flat earth.