harshbarj has it in one the bicycles that you use that are granny bikes are the best for just getting around. The bikes derived from sports are exercise equipment.
Helmets are always a bother if you go shopping. Where do you leave the bloody thing? I've thought of inventing one that converts as a shopping basket, but if the packet of yoghurt or French cheese breaks and spills into your helmet, I guess you wouldn't be too happy either.
very interesting video, here in Edmonton, Canada I cycle a lot and when on trails away from traffic I don't wear a helmet. However If I need to ride in the city streets where we have little or no Cycle infrastructure I wear a helmet due to the poor drivers here that seldom have to watch for bicycles. I want to move to the Netherlands, looks amazing there for cyclists.
Also I have noticed here in the states a LOT of people seem to think you have to wear a helmet. Now I'm not going to stop someone that want to wear them from wearing them, but they simply are not required and don't make you any safer. When that 2 tonne vehicle runs you over a bit of foam is going to do NOTHING to save you. May as well enjoy cycling for what it is.
I have been cycling for 7 years full time (no car and don't ever want one) and outside of when there is ice on the roads I never wear a helmet. I live in the states and see quite a few like me who also don't wear one. Seems those that ride the road/racing style bikes almost always wear them while the one like me that own upright city / utility bikes almost never do. They are simply a safer bike, making helmets unnecessary. You normally don't go faster than about 15kph. More in next post...
@fietsya I live in the US. Our infrastructure is built up around cars more than bikes and even public transportation. A few of our bigger citys have bike lanes and they are growing. It's my choice to wear a helmet.
@fietsya I have had way too many close calls with UPS trucks and 18 wheelers to not wear a helmet. One of my closest friends was hit by a car last year. She went up and over the hood. The back of her helmet had a crack in it. If she hadn't been wearing the helmet it would have been her head with a crack in it.
@MrIce807 Cycling next to 18 Wheelers? You obviously don't live in a cycle friendly country. In this case, sure, wear a helmet. Statistically many more people prematurely die from being inactive due to lack of cycling than from not wearing a helmet while riding a bike. Forcing people to wear helmets is a major hindrance to encouraging people to cycle and therefore utility cycling never becomes 'normal' in these countries. e.g. USA & Australia.
plus the helmet makes your head heavier so it's more likey to hit the ground.
re: "utility cycling" - I'm thinking of giving up my helmet because it puts off other people from cycling. It stops cycling and cyclists from looking normal.
@bored2kGER I agree. I don't care if people want to wear a helmet. If it makes you FEEL safer then go for it. Subjective safety is important. What angers me about attitudes regarding helmets in US is that if you don't wear one, somehow all blame is automatically placed on you with zero sympathy (not that you would get much with one on). I don't understand it. So when you don't wear one, you're somehow asking to be right hooked or run over, and so the driver is at no fault?
5:17 NO, in Germany it is not obligatory to wear a cycle 'helmet'. (And let's all hope it'll never be.) Luckily it's only a minority of countries, where it actually is mandatory to wear those ridiculous styrofoam-hats.
@roadworms You're right, I think it shows though that even if helmets are not obligatory and people still wear them on city bikes, they obviously don't feel as safe as they would as if they were walking down the street.
@fietsya Here in Germany, police and press do their best to make people think cycling is dangerous. In accident reports you can often read s'thing like "the cyclist, who did not wear a helmet, broke his arm" ... Even the self-proclaimed bicycle lobby ADFC gives statements like "we are against an helmet obligatory, but everyone should wear one".
Teaching people that cycling (as in vehicular) is safe would bring much more people to riding bicycles than any of these FUD campaigns.
Guys its a matter of opinion..just give it a rest..
H20fanatic20 1 week ago
harshbarj has it in one the bicycles that you use that are granny bikes are the best for just getting around. The bikes derived from sports are exercise equipment.
andrew097 3 weeks ago
Helmets are always a bother if you go shopping. Where do you leave the bloody thing? I've thought of inventing one that converts as a shopping basket, but if the packet of yoghurt or French cheese breaks and spills into your helmet, I guess you wouldn't be too happy either.
09conrado 1 month ago
very interesting video, here in Edmonton, Canada I cycle a lot and when on trails away from traffic I don't wear a helmet. However If I need to ride in the city streets where we have little or no Cycle infrastructure I wear a helmet due to the poor drivers here that seldom have to watch for bicycles. I want to move to the Netherlands, looks amazing there for cyclists.
bshuchuk 2 months ago
Second post
Also I have noticed here in the states a LOT of people seem to think you have to wear a helmet. Now I'm not going to stop someone that want to wear them from wearing them, but they simply are not required and don't make you any safer. When that 2 tonne vehicle runs you over a bit of foam is going to do NOTHING to save you. May as well enjoy cycling for what it is.
harshbarj 2 months ago
I have been cycling for 7 years full time (no car and don't ever want one) and outside of when there is ice on the roads I never wear a helmet. I live in the states and see quite a few like me who also don't wear one. Seems those that ride the road/racing style bikes almost always wear them while the one like me that own upright city / utility bikes almost never do. They are simply a safer bike, making helmets unnecessary. You normally don't go faster than about 15kph. More in next post...
harshbarj 2 months ago
@Mrlce807 When that 18 Wheeler is riding over you, that helmet won't save you either.
TaoPiet 2 months ago
Great video! Thanks!
TdotFunk 4 months ago
@fietsya I live in the US. Our infrastructure is built up around cars more than bikes and even public transportation. A few of our bigger citys have bike lanes and they are growing. It's my choice to wear a helmet.
MrIce807 6 months ago
Two words: Brain Injury
MrIce807 6 months ago
@MrIce807 Three words: You are misguided
fietsya 6 months ago 17
@fietsya I have had way too many close calls with UPS trucks and 18 wheelers to not wear a helmet. One of my closest friends was hit by a car last year. She went up and over the hood. The back of her helmet had a crack in it. If she hadn't been wearing the helmet it would have been her head with a crack in it.
MrIce807 6 months ago
@MrIce807 Cycling next to 18 Wheelers? You obviously don't live in a cycle friendly country. In this case, sure, wear a helmet. Statistically many more people prematurely die from being inactive due to lack of cycling than from not wearing a helmet while riding a bike. Forcing people to wear helmets is a major hindrance to encouraging people to cycle and therefore utility cycling never becomes 'normal' in these countries. e.g. USA & Australia.
fietsya 6 months ago 16
@fietsya
plus the helmet makes your head heavier so it's more likey to hit the ground.
re: "utility cycling" - I'm thinking of giving up my helmet because it puts off other people from cycling. It stops cycling and cyclists from looking normal.
arushandapushand 2 months ago
@MrIce807 UPS Trucks and 18 wheelers ar not on the cycle path... lol
xzaz2 5 months ago
@xzaz2 If your lucky enough to live in a city with bike lanes.
MrIce807 5 months ago
@MrIce807 Next time, dont cycle next to a truck. They cant see you.
311Rattlehead 4 months ago
@311Rattlehead I have to share the road with whatever passes by.
MrIce807 4 months ago
Search 'Dode hoek' on Google.
311Rattlehead 4 months ago
Finally people with comon sense on the helmet topic :).
bored2kGER 7 months ago 4
@bored2kGER I agree. I don't care if people want to wear a helmet. If it makes you FEEL safer then go for it. Subjective safety is important. What angers me about attitudes regarding helmets in US is that if you don't wear one, somehow all blame is automatically placed on you with zero sympathy (not that you would get much with one on). I don't understand it. So when you don't wear one, you're somehow asking to be right hooked or run over, and so the driver is at no fault?
tetrabee 5 months ago
5:17 NO, in Germany it is not obligatory to wear a cycle 'helmet'. (And let's all hope it'll never be.) Luckily it's only a minority of countries, where it actually is mandatory to wear those ridiculous styrofoam-hats.
roadworms 7 months ago
@roadworms You're right, I think it shows though that even if helmets are not obligatory and people still wear them on city bikes, they obviously don't feel as safe as they would as if they were walking down the street.
fietsya 7 months ago
@fietsya Here in Germany, police and press do their best to make people think cycling is dangerous. In accident reports you can often read s'thing like "the cyclist, who did not wear a helmet, broke his arm" ... Even the self-proclaimed bicycle lobby ADFC gives statements like "we are against an helmet obligatory, but everyone should wear one".
Teaching people that cycling (as in vehicular) is safe would bring much more people to riding bicycles than any of these FUD campaigns.
roadworms 7 months ago
@roadworms Yep I understand Roadworm.... it's a perception problem that has manifested in many countries.
fietsya 7 months ago
Awesome!
I love the outtakes, Paul! :-D
nitramluap 7 months ago
@nitramluap Cheers Paul!
fietsya 7 months ago