I too cringe when I see the photo of the kids without helmets, but I also think of the fun they are having and what a cute sight that is.
Seriously, now, did
you wear a helmet as a kid? No. Any of you? Me either. They didn't even have helmets. And yet we all survived. I don't know of ONE friend of mine who fell, hit their head and suffered life-long brain damage or died. Kids don't get to be kids anymore and that kind of makes me sad.
I wear a helmet now thoug... I'm 55 and no longer am indestructable. But what reall, REALLY bugs the crap out of me is to see a parent out on bikes with their kid(s) and the kids all have helmets (and, in some cases, pads covering every inch of their bodies) but not Mom or Dad. That's wrong on soooo many levels.