I'm not degrading people for choosing to wear a helmet. I'm fighting against the lock-steppers who can't stand the thought of other people making the choice not to, and who can't keep their mouths shut on the subject.

As for "promoting cycling" that's the last thing I want to do. The "outdoor spinclasses" that pass for group rides these days are a large part of the attitude problem, IMO -- not to mention the key reason why so many people think cycling is a hazardous activity; the modern bike rider seems to think that falling off and landing on your head is a normal part of bike riding -- and all told, I enjoyed the sport quite a bit more when cycling was below the radar and practiced only by people who took it -- and the skills and knowldege associated with it -- seriously.