View Poll Results: Helmet wearing habits?
I've never worn a bike helmet
178
10.66%
I used to wear a helmet, but have stopped
94
5.63%
I've always worn a helmet
648
38.80%
I didn't wear a helmet, but now do
408
24.43%
I sometimes wear a helmet depending on the conditions
342
20.48%
Voters: 1670. You may not vote on this poll
The helmet thread
#4926
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 922
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#4927
Cycle Dallas
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Land of Gar, TX
Posts: 3,777
Bikes: Dulcinea--2017 Kona Rove & a few others
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 197 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
5 Posts
If cyclists were really so opposed to requiring other cyclists to wear helmets we wouldn't see so many bike clubs with rules requiring helmets on their rides. [BTW, it's not due to insurance policies - the most common carriers insuring bike clubs have no requirement for a helmet rule.]
#4928
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 922
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Rider B heads to the emergency room and has the irritating b*gg@r amputated.
#4929
Senior Member
There's nothing to invalidate this assertion either. Note I specified less than serious head injuries. Even if it only mitigates bruising, laceration, and abrasion, it's still more protective, and still, as I said, marginally safer.
#4930
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NE Indiana
Posts: 8,687
Bikes: 2020 Masi Giramondo 700c; 2013 Lynskey Peloton; 1992 Giant Rincon; 1989 Dawes needs parts; 1985 Trek 660; 1985 Fuji Club; 1984 Schwinn Voyager; 1984 Miyata 612; 1977 Raleigh Competition GS
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1126 Post(s)
Liked 253 Times
in
204 Posts
I'm for mandatory helmets! Why not? The law requires we have to wear seat belts, all but 3 states require motorcyclists to wear helmets, so why should cycling be any different? You can argue about rights all day, but that argument is false because we don't have the legal right to not use seat belts, or MC helmets in 47 states.
#4931
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,401
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
13 Posts
Claiming that a proposed new law is justifiable because there already are similar existing laws is nonsensical. The argument says nothing at all about the quality of the new law, or even of the old one.
#4932
Senior Member
I live in one of those states without mandatory MC helmet laws. One came up again this year and it was shot down. We'll do the same with bike helmet laws.
Until all motorists are required to wear helmets, until one cannot be on a public road in or on a vehicle without a helmet, cyclists should not be forced to wear them.
Until all motorists are required to wear helmets, until one cannot be on a public road in or on a vehicle without a helmet, cyclists should not be forced to wear them.
#4933
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Bay Area, Calif.
Posts: 7,239
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 659 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
Lawyers. I'll bet most of them don't cycle. But they are involved when a cycling club incorporates. And when weighing the likelihood of a lawsuit against their client, they calculate that their chances of winning are higher if they have safety standards written into the by-laws of the club. If the club has no safety rules, regardless of how effective they may or may not be, the odds of them being sued and losing that suit are likely higher.
#4934
Cycle Dallas
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Land of Gar, TX
Posts: 3,777
Bikes: Dulcinea--2017 Kona Rove & a few others
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 197 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
5 Posts
Well, then there you go. You must be right. Every cyclist, everywhere is secretly wishing there were mandatory helmet laws.
#4935
Bicikli Huszár
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 2,116
Bikes: '95 Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#4936
Bicikli Huszár
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 2,116
Bikes: '95 Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
That's not what was said. What was said was the much more reasonable statement that many do. I don't think that's all that earth-shattering considering how heavy "helmet culture" is here. Or for that matter, how we've become such over-the-top safety freaks in every aspect of life.
#4937
Bicikli Huszár
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 2,116
Bikes: '95 Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm for mandatory helmets! Why not? The law requires we have to wear seat belts, all but 3 states require motorcyclists to wear helmets, so why should cycling be any different? You can argue about rights all day, but that argument is false because we don't have the legal right to not use seat belts, or MC helmets in 47 states.
#4938
Cycle Dallas
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Land of Gar, TX
Posts: 3,777
Bikes: Dulcinea--2017 Kona Rove & a few others
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 197 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
5 Posts
That's not what was said. What was said was the much more reasonable statement that many do. I don't think that's all that earth-shattering considering how heavy "helmet culture" is here. Or for that matter, how we've become such over-the-top safety freaks in every aspect of life.
#4940
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times
in
635 Posts
Someone posted their belief that Ins companies dont require bike clubs to require riders to wear helmets on their rides. That may or may not be true. Lets say they dont. But if a rider gets hurt on an organized club ride and sues, you can bet your bottom dollar the Ins Co's lawyers will claim they dont have to pay because it was proven the rider didnt wear a helmet.Look at a lot of accident cases. There have been cases where drunk drivers have hit a cyclist on the sidewalk, and the courts either let the driver go or gave him a slap on the wrist because the cyclist that was killed WASNT wearing a helmet.Everything else that is argued in this thread aside, wearing a helmet is some protection in the courts if an accident happens.
#4941
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,980
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,538 Times
in
1,047 Posts
#4942
Bicikli Huszár
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 2,116
Bikes: '95 Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#4944
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times
in
635 Posts
I likeJust read some of the threads on this forum and others. Several mention that the driver, some drunk, that hit a cyclist got off easy because the cyclist wasnt wearing a helmet. The drivers lawyers always claim that since the cyclist wasnt wearing a helmet he was partly responsible for his own death!! Purely stupid I know but thats what happens in many cases. And what makes it really stupid is the fact cyclist were killed riding on shoulders, bike lanes, and even on sidewalks. The sorry fact remains, courts really dont give cyclist much justice, especially if they are not wearing a helmet.
Last edited by rydabent; 03-28-13 at 04:04 PM. Reason: spacing
#4945
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,980
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,538 Times
in
1,047 Posts
I likeJust read some of the threads on this forum and others. Several mention that the driver, some drunk, that hit a cyclist got off easy because the cyclist wasnt wearing a helmet. The drivers lawyers always claim that since the cyclist wasnt wearing a helmet he was partly responsible for his own death!! Purely stupid I know but thats what happens in many cases. And what makes it really stupid is the fact cyclist were killed riding on shoulders, bike lanes, and even on sidewalks. The sorry fact remains, courts really dont give cyclist much justice, especially if they are not wearing a helmet.
#4946
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times
in
635 Posts
i likeWell-- how about an actual case in the papers here in Lincoln. About 3 years ago a judges wife hit and killed a cyclist waiting to make a lefthand turn at an intersection. This was on a 4 lane street, and he was in the left lane waiting for traffic to clear. The city Att "decided not to prosecute".
#4947
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,980
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,538 Times
in
1,047 Posts
i likeWell-- how about an actual case in the papers here in Lincoln. About 3 years ago a judges wife hit and killed a cyclist waiting to make a lefthand turn at an intersection. This was on a 4 lane street, and he was in the left lane waiting for traffic to clear. The city Att "decided not to prosecute".
#4948
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 14
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
does anyone here know in person someone that would "survive" or would have gotten out easily if they wore helmet?
#4949
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,401
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
13 Posts
Hey, Ryda - There was a case here where the rider was intentionally struck by a motorist and the motorist was let off without even a warning, because the cyclist was wearing a helmet which was supposed to save his life.
And you know my story is true because you read it on the internet.
And you know my story is true because you read it on the internet.
#4950
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,401
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
13 Posts
I asked that question in a poll on the road forum a while back. Before the moderators shut it down, nearly half of participants claimed that a helmet had saved their lives.