Article: "Safe Bicycling Is A Matter Of Bicycling, Not Clothing"

[consularrider]

After my day of city cycling in Frankfurt yesterday, I am firmly decided I will continue to wear my helmet on all rides. Helmet usage in town here is probably a little under 50%, but is closer to 90% with the road cyclists I see outside of town. For my trip yesterday my speed was significantly slower than my old commuting speed in Arlington. This is due in large part to the nature of the cycling infrastructure. In town most of the cycle paths are just a different colored paving on the sidewalk just wide enough for one bike. They are usually in pairs (both sides of the road way, but cyclists ride in both directions on either side of the street. There also does not seem to be a standard convention for which way a cyclist will veer when approaching someone in that situation. In general pedestrians don’t walk (or run) in the cycle path section, but you can’t count on that. Add to that many driveway and garage openings where a driver can’t see who is on the sidewalk until they start to cross and vehicles parked completely blocking or partially blocking the cycle path, and I ended up riding slower. To me this also means that the magic Styrofoam hat may actually serve a useful purpose, any collision will be at a slower speed.

Here are two photos out one of our bedroom window with the on-sidewalk cycle path. In the two minutes I was taking photos, 15 cyclists passed on my side of the street (two contraflow) and eight on the other side (all with the general direction of traffic). The sidewalk here is a little unusual because the cycle path portion is marked by lighter colored pavers making dashes and there is space to walk on either side of it.

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FYI: Yesterday when I went out for a late afternoon ride on, there was an ambulance EMT tending to a middle aged man across the street. He was lying in the cycle path and a cyclist was standing next to him, don’t know if it was a pedestrian/cyclist collision or not.

[Vicegrip]

@dbb 144791 wrote:

ftfy

I’m cool with eliminating the helmet requirement for motorcycles as long as the rider has a (really big) boatload of long term care insurance in case they suffer a traumatic head injury. Could be accompanied by a different color license plate.

I agree in large part but where do you stop? No seat belt no Med coverage in cars? Lifestyle? I listened to a man of long term very large carriage go on and about the ongoing complications with his knee that was replaced 2 years ago and his hip that was replaced 6 weeks ago. His insurance covered both and the upcoming replacement of the other hip. Along with his griping about the med complications he discussed how he simply does not have the desire to give up the food habits and lifestyle and made a bit of fun at people that live otherwise. He did not directly link his weight to his health issues and was only griping about the complications of the procedures. Not my business but the conversation left me a good bit pissed off.
ER Dr.s call motorcycles “donercycles” The good parts might offset the added costs of avoidable injury.

[huskerdont]

@lordofthemark 144748 wrote:

I also note that helmets are now required for skiing (not bike helmets of course),

I don’t believe this is universally true. Is there a particular resort or state you’re aware of where it’s true? Just curious.

I usually wear one skiing (bonus: helps keep the head warm), but they’re different types of helmets, yes. Once the weather cools in a few weeks I’ll be wearing the bike helmet on the commutes again; then when I get dirty looks I’ll know it’s for something I’ve actually done. I do get the odd comment once or twice a year, but strangers’ vocalized personal opinions have no bearing on my life; their comments say more about them than about me.

[lordofthemark]

@huskerdont 144807 wrote:

I don’t believe this is universally true. Is there a particular resort or state you’re aware of where it’s true? Just curious.

Okay, maybe not required, but a pretty standard thing. Back when we used to ski, it was almost unheard of for regular on resort, downhill skiers.

[huskerdont]

Gotcha. I was thinking it was about 60% to 70% use where I go, so I looked it up, and in 2013 the NYT reported that it was about 70%. BTW, they also reported stats that brain injuries haven’t been reduced during the period studied. They were more effective for scalp lacerations and fractures, as bicycle helmets are.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/01/sports/on-slopes-rise-in-helmet-use-but-no-decline-in-brain-injuries.html?_r=0

[Judd]

@huskerdont 144816 wrote:

Gotcha. I was thinking it was about 60% to 70% use where I go, so I looked it up, and in 2013 the NYT reported that it was about 70%. BTW, they also reported stats that brain injuries haven’t been reduced during the period studied. They were more effective for scalp lacerations and fractures, as bicycle helmets are.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/01/sports/on-slopes-rise-in-helmet-use-but-no-decline-in-brain-injuries.html?_r=0

More importantly: do they make you look cool?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[huskerdont]

@Judd 144817 wrote:

More importantly: do they make you look cool?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It has flames on the side! I suppose it’s designed to, but I don’t think that much helps. As soon as I start skiing, people know.

Like wearing cool cycling glasses while flailing my way up the hill from the Potomac, I just have to assume I look like a complete poser and not worry about it.

[Brendan von Buckingham]

@rcannon100 144749 wrote:

I will avoid entering religious helmet debates – but add one thing

Risk analysis involves these factors

* What is the cost of risk avoidance
* What is the chance of event occurring
* What is the harm if the event occurs

I will go back to my example of car headlights.

I don’t think your headlights example matches up exactly with helmet use. You use headlights to reduce your risk and the risk of other road users. You are being responsible to yourself and others mutually. Helmets reduce your risk, but do nothing for the risks of other road users.

[KLizotte]

@Brendan von Buckingham 144898 wrote:

I don’t think your headlights example matches up exactly with helmet use. You use headlights to reduce your risk and the risk of other road users. You are being responsible to yourself and others mutually. Helmets reduce your risk, but do nothing for the risks of other road users.

Except that if you seriously hurt your head people around you will have to take responsibility for your safety and well-being. That could mean moving your body off a trail/road, figuring out what to do with your bike/belongings, trying to administer first aid, calling the paramedics, etc. That is why most (all?) group ride leaders require helmets; they don’t want to have to deal with a rider being seriously hurt. I don’t think most of us do.

[Anonymous]

Before judging others for engaging in behavior that you think is too risky, just remember that someone, somewhere is making the same judgment about you.

@elbows 144917 wrote:

http://wtop.com/loudoun-county/2016/08/2nd-trail-user-reports-attempted-assault-on-wod/
“Trail users are reminded to never use the trail alone.” I’m glad the bicyclist who rode by and likely thwarted the attack didn’t heed that advice.

How many people upset by the guy Vicegrip described are equally pissed at the lifelong runner or basketball player needing multiple surgeries for his torn up knees but refusing to change his lifestyle, or the cyclist or soccer player who breaks a collarbone and then goes right back to the sport, or… ???

There are nearly an infinite number of things we could do to make small improvements in safety, but anyone who did all of them would basically be diagnosed with a crippling anxiety disorder and unable to function in life. We pick and choose based on our own comfort levels with risk, and with different kinds of risk, and our own priorities about what we are willing and able to do or give up.

[Vicegrip]

@Amalitza 144922 wrote:

Before judging others for engaging in behavior that you think is too risky, just remember that someone, somewhere is making the same judgment about you.

How many people upset by the guy Vicegrip described are equally pissed at the lifelong runner or basketball player needing multiple surgeries for his torn up knees but refusing to change his lifestyle, or the cyclist or soccer player who breaks a collarbone and then goes right back to the sport, or… ???

There are nearly an infinite number of things we could do to make small improvements in safety, but anyone who did all of them would basically be diagnosed with a crippling anxiety disorder and unable to function in life. We pick and choose based on our own comfort levels with risk, and with different kinds of risk, and our own priorities about what we are willing and able to do or give up.

Spot on. Risk is a mix of real and perceived. Much can be carefully calculated. Much is by feel. this is where the great gray area is.

We palpably feel the fear of sharks eating us but die from overeating. Some of the things we think mitigate real or perceived risk exacerbate it. Some risks are well known and have well known solutions. Smoking and morbid obesity comes to mind. We are all independent and linked together at the same time.

[Author]

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