In Massachusseytts, if you are 16(my age) or under you must wear one....good think people always ask me what college I go to!!

There will always be people who devalue their own lives and health to the point socio-political activism.

Humanity is truly wonderful but typically, only about 20% of humans are able to make important group decisions. However, 80% want a say-so. Of which, close to 40% not only add nothing to the discussion but actually vehemently stand behind irrational and extreme positions that threaten the progress of the entire group.

It's best to ignore these people when you can but there will be occasions when idiot beat downs are in order to save the collective.

i dont get it....wait....you want me to dip into beer money?

no point in protecting my head if my head cant party!

So when shall we start beating you down, Joe.

You jack booted lackeys tried that already and failed, chip. It was called the 2000 and 2004 elections.

Ahh a Shrub man, are ya? Why am I not surprised.

MD: under 18 need helmets. Good luck seeing it widespread though

Florida's bicycle statutes include these, never enforced at beaches along the Gulf:

3(d) A bicycle rider or passenger who is under 16 years of age must wear a bicycle helmet that is properly fitted and is fastened securely upon the passenger's head by a strap,

and this one violated by every rental facilty there:
16)(a) A person may not knowingly rent or lease any bicycle to be ridden by a child who is under the age of 16 years unless: 1. The child possesses a bicycle helmet; or 2. The lessor provides a bicycle helmet for the child to wear.,

I'm sorry about your friend's dad, but anecdotal evidence is worthless.

I have a friend who lost his balance and fell out of his pickup truck bed while it was parked in his driveway. Coma for more than 2 months, slow recovery for the past year. So what - would you recommend we wear helmets doing household chores?

Life has dangers, don't blow them out of proportion.

Again, I wear a helmet - like the look and it's comfortable. But I don't think it's "essential" for my safety. People are entitled to take their own chances, and riding w/o a helmet is NOT risky.

No there isn't; repealed in 2005. In most parks in Michigan, you can't ride a bicycle without a helmet but you can ride a motorcycle without one.

https://www.insurancejournal.com/news...3/17/52689.htm

Do you wear steel toed boots when you mow the lawn? Do you wear a safety harnes and helmet when you climb a ladder?

Now that you mention it, my guess is that it is more important for a college student to wear a helmet duirng partying than cycling. I've fallen MANY more times because of intoxication than because of cycling.

Woah there buddy. PA's bad, but there's worse out there. CA... NJ... NY...

I'm all for idiot beat-downs as long as I'm the one defining the idiots.

And might I say, good show for the helmet debate. We've only had a couple in the last two weeks. You can tell the weather's getting nice...

I think you are missing the point. When YOU mow the lawn or when YOU climb the ladder you have control over what YOU are doing and can take precautions. If you are riding a bike in the street, it's the OTHER guy in the car (or other obstacle) you have no control over. The helmet IS your precaution!

To be honest, I have always rode a bike without a helmet since I was a kid. It just never seemed that dangerous. I'm not going very fast. I'm usually NOT in traffic. I do however ALWAYS wear one while on a motorcycle. Only recently did I make a purchase of a bicycle helmet. Now I won't sweat it if I do ride in traffic (although I still tend not to). As an adult, it's your choice (if the law allows it in your state).

It's not cheap but they make 'em. Here's one...

Pro-Tec Shovelhead Full Face Bike Helmet
https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Tec-Shovel...769201&sr=1-32

You're joking right?

I've been riding for about 18 years now and have broken THREE helmets in crashes - most recent was three weeks ago when a truck didn't see me and pulled out in front of me. Not sure if any of these crashes would have killed me if I hadn't been wearing a helmet (I was) but it goes without saying that helmets reduce your risk.

a) human skull is pretty tough
b) take your cool looking helmet off and throw it onto the ground, it it still 100% intact and the way it was before? if not, your helmet isnt so cool is it? they do make sturdy ones ya know, sturdy enough to handle even small impacts without damage, seems few wear them though.............

many helmets even survive crashes, but even fewer wear ones like that.........why is that**********??

c) in winter when its old, they dont fit too well over thick knit hats needed when its like 5 degrees F outside
d) when its really hot out, they couldnt direct enough air onto your head no matter how much you think they do
e) some of us dont subscribe to the rec rider peer pressure and fashions
f) there's a multitude of other safety gear that could be worn but isnt, why is it just helmets?

just a few reasons

and for the real kicker, in a situation where you know you are very very likely to whack your head, would you wear a typical plastic coated styrofoam roadie helmet or a real helmet? and why?

Not really arguing with you - but I wouldn't leave home without my gloves.

I dont care if it's a law or not, but i can't think of a good enough reason not to wear one. I've broken 4 helmets in my lifetime; 2 of which would have caused some pretty serious damage had i not been wearing one. Those 4 reasons are more than enough incentive to make me want to wear one.

Why a helmet over everything else? Because i consider my brain my most important organ....it's not just a part of my body; it's what controls everything i do and allows me to interact with the world. Hell, it's what makes me, me. I think its worth a few extra degrees on a hot day and some dorky helmet head when i take it off. Im not that vain.

I assume by real helmet you're talking about a full-face motorcycle helmet as opposed to a lightweight helmet. What about a lightweight hardhat on the job? (I've a cool one with stickers all over it from my days in a shipyard) yeah, I wore one. smacked my head, too, many times.

BMX helmet, even the cheap $20 BMX helmets are quite strong compared to a typical roadie helmet, as in they do survive crashes where roadie helmets dont. They have to, whacking your head happens all the time doing BMX tricks.

I know two people that have been in serious accidents, neither will wear anything but a BMX helmet now. Reason being, the roadie helmets they used to wear turned out not to be so good in a hard crash. They provide very marginal protection really.

If your gonna protect your head, might as well do it and not 1/2 azz it.

When I first started biking I didnt wear a helmet. Now I commute everyday in SF and wear a mtb helmet everytime I hop on my bike. To be honest I dont like wearing a helmet, but just yesterday I went face first over my handlebars and flipped over compleatly... I didnt hit my head but it showed me that despite how carful you are you can still easily get into an accident.

It is amazing how many people I see not wearing a helmet in this city, especially with how dangerous it is to ride anywhere in it. I have almost been hit by a car more times than I can count.

Stop thinking about it and wear a helmet before you are unable to think about it.