Remember kids... always wear a helmet. (The almighty bikeradar helmet thread)

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2016/feb/04/vulpine-bike-clothing-company-models-without-helmets-dont-hate-us

Nice to see a bit of levity and of course, a number of measured, well-thought-out comments.

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best username ever.

changes name to WankSaladonSquarePlate

Cyclists are risk-takers, say Walker and Gamble.

Lads...

Nice article, most people spectacularly miss the point of inactivity >> more dangerous than no helmet, yet of course helmets are visible so preaching ensues.

This lack of understanding statistics mars quote a few debates unfortunately...

In fairness drivers are maybe a bit scared they may hurt us, and therefore prefer a helmet. But when I nearly got sideswiped and then adviced by a motorist to wear a helmet despite cuntyprick not looking at all (which i luckily suspected) I fear my resolve only hardened...

Westland plz!

If you must insist on getting side-swiped, the least you can do is to ensure that you're inadequately protected.

I know...but its so hard to find inflatable full body suits these days... :(

Tl:Dr: Assuming everyone else is legally blind wins over helmet when commuting ;)

I'm in the camp of wearing a helmet because I've got one, it's expected, it might offer some sort of protection in some situations, and besides I might as well because it's not uncomfortable. (But I never bothered on occasional Boris bike journeys because I CNBA carrying it around.)

A few days ago I started a fb discussion about whether I should continue wearing a helmet. By way of playing devil's advocate, I linked one or two articles from here covering the various arguments for not wearing a helmet/having the choice whether to wear one or not. According to most respondents, particularly non-cycling family members, I might as well have suggested that I'm thinking of taking up Russian roulette, or maybe jumping out of a plane without a parachute. I've since discovered that it's difficult to argue that your sister-in-law should extend her risk aversion strategies to include wearing a helmet every time she walks downstairs without sounding facetious.

Should defo wear a helmet for Russian roulette.

I think your last observation about sounding facetious is right.
It'd be great in so many areas of life if everyone in society had a basic grasp of statistical analysis, but much to the benefit of hardcore worriers everywhere, most people can't even add up, let alone interpret stats into probability. Which of course sounds facetious.
Like the lady in the local playground I overheard telling her son that because he was wearing his bicycle helmet on the playground equipment he was twice as safe as normal. Doomed.

the lady in the local playground I overheard telling her son that because he was wearing his bicycle helmet on the playground equipment he was twice as safe as normal

Isn't wearing a helmet on the climbing frame a seriously risky endeavour? A strap caught on one of the frame members can turn a relatively harmless short fall into a lethal hanging.

Should point out the risk of asphyxiation.

Yeah, that ^^.

Riding a bike helmeted or not is a lot like Russian roulette with or without the same helmet. Except the gun can hold millions of bullets and a few hundred spaces will be full of a bit of gravel that'll get stuck in your head if you choose not to wear a helmet, and the helmet is obviously useless against the actual bullet, and if holding the gun to your head was really good for you. Perfect analogy.

Maria Sutton,
Cholsey, United Kingdom.

https://www.change.org/p/public-make-it-law-for-a-cyclist-to-wear-a-helmet

I think it should be a legal requirement for a cyclist to wear a helmet and fluorescent clothing! As a driver it's illegal not to wear a seatbelt and receive a fine. Cyclists should have the same responsibility. I have been involved in an accident with a cyclist and he unfortunately died. He wasn't wearing a helmet or reflective clothing and had flashing lights.

http://road.cc/content/news/180161-woman-hit-and-killed-cyclist-%E2%80%93-then-told-police-her-car-had-been-stolen

I have been involved in an accident with a cyclist

Masterly use of the passive voice.

I'm sure all 15 of her signatories will come and visit in prison; they're obviously caring people.

I guess blaming a lack of flouro-repulsive clothes and helmets is one way to defend your own lack of driving ability & observation skills.

Accused of being double the drink-driving limit

^ ... and alcoholism

Road.cc ... so many typos...

Such typo, much clickbait, best avoid.

It is genuinely astonishing how people's minds work. It seems she really is in such denial of her responsibility that she thinks what happened is the cyclist's fault for not wearing a lid and hi-vis (I'm not calling it fluorescent, cos I'm afraid of getting Shicked).

I can't begin to get my head round that and the whole thing makes me sad.

As a driver it's illegal not to wear a seatbelt and receive a fine.

This sentence makes no sense.