Lets Bust this Myth: You are Safer in a Biking Accident Without a Helmet.

08/14/2011

4 Comments

 
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Click on the MythBusters Image to check out the blog and to read some great comments on this question.
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To wear a helmet or not?  I for one have always thought it made complete absolute sense to wear a helmet when biking.  Helmets protect your most valuable asset...your brain right?  I was kinda shocked to come across a TED talk through another Rochester Bike Blogger, where the presenter gave a lecture on advocating against the use of wearing helmets while biking.  Mikael Andersen is deemed the bicycle ambassador of the Denmark City of Copenhagen.  In his talk, he seems to push this idea that helmets are there for the fearful and not for the conscientious or those who care to be safe. You don't need a helmet to be a safe biker, and he even suggests that you may be safer without a helmet.

Given that he is living in Europe, I would argue that biking conditions are very much different here in America.  Having spent some time in Amsterdam, Netherlands, I saw first hand how safe the biking infrastructure is over there.  There are plenty of biking opportunities there along the canals and in biking designated lanes that are far from vehicle traffic.  Hmmm...this also sounds like the trails in Rochester along the Genesee River and Erie Canal.  

I think optimal biking safety will involve including the aspects of proper gear such as helmets to avoid the inevitable falls, and collisions with overhead branches AND use of safe infrastructure (such as all the pedestrian-biking trails) here in Rochester.  In the MythBusters blog, someone left a comment that a former NFL Quarterback was struck in Portland, OR (a city known for its biking movement) while biking and has started advocating for using helmets, since he thinks it helped protect his life.  In Rochester this Summer, I was aware two fatalities where bicyclists were struck by vehicles and died from brain injuries.  Both persons were NOT wearing bike helmets (or using trails for that matter).  How can we get more people to start wearing helmets?

Keeping my fingers crossed that the MythBusters will run a segment to test out this myth...but I am not waiting to find out or taking any chances.  You will see me sticking with my trusty helmet for the indefinite future.  If you would like to get a helmet, check out the online store to purchase one.  We are offering free delivery if you live near Downtown Rochester and affordable shipping otherwise.  

Feel Great. BikeRoch.com

MythBusters Forum: 
http://community.discovery.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=6941912904&f=9701967776&m=45719212901&r=98519412901#98519412901


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Bikes line the canals of Rochester
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Bikes line the canals of Amsterdam
4 Comments