Last week riding home from East Cambridge (hard by the Lechmere Station) to NS&S HQ in Newton Centre, I decided to count the helmet status of every rider I saw. Keeping in mind that it was a highly unscientific count (with a substantial bit of unreliability about my keeping the count correctly), the outcome was 66 with and 33 without. I wouldn't have had a prediction before I started, but it seems disappointingly low.
What did strike me was that the count was pretty close to even until I got to Coolidge Corner. It seems Newton folks are less helmet-averse. (Actually, it's probably that riders in Newton were more likely commuters than the quick-trip riders, especially near the colleges/universities I passed on the early part of the ride).
Also, a sartorial note. I did not see a single person in bike kit (bike shorts* and/or bike-specific shirts) without a helmet. Say what you will about the spandex-clad, they know what protects the noggin!
*Counting only those in bike shorts only. Yours truly and many others, I presume, wear bike shorts under regular shorts. No way to know who they are.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Helmet counts
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5 comments:
I agree that length of trip is important. I won't wear a bike helmet for a 1 mile trip to a shop. I might consider it for a 10 mile commute/adventure.
Anonymous: Why not for a 1 mile trip?
I'll be contrary and say I don't think counting helmets or putting so much emphasis on wearing helmets is key in getting more people to ride etc...
I wear one but mostly b/c I feel like I have to be politically correct when riding with kids. But frankly I hate wearing it, and when I ride my three wheeler I am not sure it's really necessary. Also in full summer I will toss it off while cresting a hill b/c I am way to hot and cranky to have a big helmet on my head. I've been the responder to a trauma of bike vs car and the cyclist was well b/c of his helmet. However the cyclist also admitted to me that he likes to go super fast as it was the only way to get his heart pumping so he ultimately was not able to stop before hitting a dumptruck that turned right. I ride about 4-8 miles an hour... I won't say I am completely without risk but my riding and that man's riding are vastly different and I do believe I am at less risk than he is. ( he also admitted to having several accidents of this nature the whole experience seemed routine for him actually. egad)
I'd rather we focus on making getting on the bike easier. Getting around easier. Less accidents at intersections, than whether or not people wear helmets...
Because I dont like wearing helmets?
People need to understand that cycling is dangerous and that helmets are necessary. (Statistics be damned.)
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