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

We have a thread about her death, of course, but I for one am not going to cross-post that article there.

Headway - “The evidence from Australian and New Zealand is that the number of head and brain injuries from cycling has reduced while cycling has never been more popular.”

I haven't seen any evidence that suggests their comment is true, and as others have posted or implied, it is generally accepted that the evidence from both countries shows the opposite.

This is a charity governance issue. Charities may not make such misleading claims. They open themselves up to complaints and action by the Charity Commission that way.

I thought Headway were funded by a helmet company?

I don't know what their funding sources are. It's quite possible that they receive funding from helmet companies.

However, they are a registered charity (number 1025852), and false claims like that could land them in trouble.

As a forumenger who has had a serious head injury (whilst not wearing a helmet), during all of my communications with Headway, at no point did they push the idea of helmet wearing on me. Most of the doctors I spoke to about the subject said that wearing a helmet would have made marginal difference to my injury. Now, a marginal difference could save a life, so I'm not in any way discouraging the wearing of helmets.

Background: I was hit by a car from behind whilst cycling home at night. My head injuries were a Basal Skull Fracture and also a Cerebral Spinal Fluid Leak, both of which individually are considered serious and often fatal, so I'm lucky I guess. Doctors have been amazed at how well I have recovered so far.

It really surprises me that Headway have made false claims!

Looking for some info on cycling rates in Aus/NZ and came across this page on cyclehelmets.org

Found interesting- the clear seasonal impact on injuries to cyclists.

We are all looking in the wrong place, it shouldn't be about wearing a helmet, instead we should just ban cycling at certain times of the year instead.

Not sure how aerodynamic it is:

http://www.boredpanda.com/lego-hair-bike-helmet-simon-higby-clara-prior-moef/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=BPFacebook

^^ Mmm, could get sweaty!

http://the-riotact.com/bike-helmets-would-remain-compulsory-under-libs/186368

an expert consultant to investigate and assess the potential benefits and situational risks of allowing people to ride a bicycle without a helmet in slower traffic areas such as parks, town centres, shared zones and university precincts

Right so you may only need to wear helmets in Canberra where they are completely useless

(boring warning...)

My commute takes me from Leyton to Southwark via Hackney.

In the morning peaks, going through Hackney there's no more than 50% helmeted, but by the time I get there I'd say 80% of those riding north over blackfrairs bridge from the south wear helmets.

So it seems that south Londoners on bikes are more fond of helmets than east Londoners. I hypothesise that this is because:

• south london has less of a cycling culture, meaning that those who cycle there think it's a scary activity
  
• south london boroughs lack the decent infrastructure found in the east
  
• east london folk on their dutch bikes / fixed wheels / etc blah think of cycling as a way of life and a 'normal activity' rather than something requiring specialist equipment.
  
  

All three are probably related to each other.

(sorry about boring musings)

south london has less of a cycling culture

Be interested to hear how you came to this conclusion.

^ have you been to souths lately?

well there you go.

#4evawifderangles

As clearly stated, it's a hypothesis rather than a conclusion. I want to learn more about this phenomenon.

And apart from anything else it is mere harmless musing, with no offence to south londoners intended.

I expect less people wear helmets in south London on account of it being shit.

fewer, fam.

None taken, I was just asking you to expand. I wanted to see if you had evidence for the claim or from what experience you were drawing on. Have you seen the clusterfuck that is CS7 in peak hours?

Rep x rep

Perhaps there is a less developed cycling culture but it's still there. I've worked in Hackney for the last 4 or 5 years whilst always living south. We have loads of student cyclists as well as other casual daytime cyclists, but there's definitely fewer of them in south London.

I don't think the city commuters are 100℅ representative of people cycling. I've also observed that the 9-6 commuting brigade heading into the city tend to be helmet wearers, regardless of the origin of their journey.

I think you're right about the 'infrastructure' point; there are definitely fewer quiet routes forming a network across Southwark and Lewisham, for example. I'd say that by comparison Hackney and Islington are much better connected if you don't want to ride on the arterial roads. We have a couple of decent routes in the south east, but not many.

I don't think your third point really holds. Obviously Hackney is a fashionable place to live and there is a crossover with cycling, but all those 'types' are in South London too (for whatever reason). It's not uncommon to see the odd bakfiets, cargo bike, or ridiculous fixie skidder commuting in these parts, even during the day. It's not Hackney levels or cycling, but it's there.

Wait, why am I in the helmet thread?

I reckon the pigeons are a better shot here in Saaf London. That'll be it.

And anyway, isn't Peckham the new Hackney?

http://www.independent.ie/life/city-cycling/amanda-brunker-ive-narrowly-avoided-killing-three-cyclists-already-this-week-when-will-they-wise-up-35120681.html

'taunting you to hit them'

fuck off, thick cunt.

Well isn't she the perfect parent...?

Ninja cyclists are not helping themselves, but after that it just descends into a holier than thou rant :)

"whilst fact checking this article"

Oof

http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/jodie-driver-had-traces-of-cannabis-in-system/story-29820052-detail/story.html

driver off his tits on weed and booze.

She was not wearing a cycle safety helmet, the inquest heard.

oh for fucks sakes

http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/jodie-rogers-11-tragedy-mum-calls-cycle-helmets/story-27948165-detail/story.html