Soapbox

Peter Clinch wrote (see)

The way I see it is that we can all do our best to ride to our abilitym be vigilant and don't do anything stupid. The helmet is there to make sure that when someone else f **ks up and you can't do anything about it you have some degree of protection. 

Oh, it's there for when we fuck it up ourselves too, we should be under no illusions about it being just the Other People who get it wrong.  But to think it has no effect on you or the people around you outside of accidents is quite probably fallacious.

Pete.

Of course, but I thought that was pretty obvious...

Just like you are capable of concluding that you were originally worried riding without a helmet, I can also tell what the effects are on me without the conclusions being fallacious! I am not pretending to know what other people think or what their attitude is. 

Of course, but I thought that was pretty obvious...

The more you delve in to the literature the more cloudy the "obvious" becomes.

Just like you are capable of concluding that you were originally worried riding without a helmet, I can also tell what the effects are on me without the conclusions being fallacious!

We can tell there is an effect but telling exactly what that effect is comes into the realm of the "non-trivial". 

I am not pretending to know what other people think or what their attitude is. 

And if you don't know how it affects those around you then you don't know if you're safer...  For example, there is a mounting pile of evidence that people overtake helmeted cyclists with less space than unhelmeted ones, so that takes you outside the realm of your own control and being clearly safer by wearing the hat.  If you are part of a trend towards helmet wearing that is increasing the speeds on the pistes then you are, to some degree, part of a problem.  The whole thing is very hard to call effectiveness of simple measures, but people like to put on a hard hat and think "of course I'm safer now, that was simple".  Risk just isn't that simple though.

Just out of interest, why do you read all this health and safety stuff? Is it part of your work or does it just interest you?

I used to cycle everywhere in a helmet, for all of the "common sense" reasons people usually have.  And back then I'd have told you you'd be daft not to as well.  During a Usenet discussion someone said I was wrong, it wasn't that simple and I should look at the original research.  I assumed he was a Loon, but being a clinical scientist with a medical research library down the corridor I had the skills and resources to prove that he was, and took the opportunity.  And the more I read the more it seemed that he was right and I was wrong.

And the more I keep reading the more I find we're stumbling blindly into a public health own-goal by promoting and forcing measures of little practical effect except reducing gainful exercise, all because of "common sense" working on simplistic and slightly paranoid misapprehensions.  I don't think that's a Good Thing so in my small way I'm trying to stop it happening.

Pete.

Peter Clinch wrote (see)

If you are part of a trend towards helmet wearing that is increasing the speeds on the pistes then you are, to some degree, part of a problem.  The whole thing is very hard to call effectiveness of simple measures, but people like to put on a hard hat and think "of course I'm safer now, that was simple

Things will no doubt change within a few generations as us who were bought up without helmets peg it.   I'm sure kids (& as adults) in the future will take helmets for granted & like many now they will just be another cool accessory to buy & won't act any differently to how we would without one.  Same with perception of motorists etc.

 Helmet makers will be happy.

Very very interesting the bit about cars passing closer to helmeted cyclists! I must admit I hate riding on the road in this country due to the lack of cycle paths and I avoid it as much as possible!

I do not dispute the fact that people put on a helmet and assume they are safe. People also put on a helmet out of habit and without thinking about it. I have seen a couple of "cool" snowboarders with their helmets barely strapped on, sitting very looseky on the back of their heads. I suspect that this would probably harm them more than do good if they fell... if it even stayed on their heads! 

SO I guess the conclusion is, don't wear a helmet just for the sake of it as it will not make you invinsible. But if you do wear a helmet continue to take the same prcautions that you would if you didnt have one on.

SO I guess the conclusion is, don't wear a helmet just for the sake of it as it will not make you invinsible. But if you do wear a helmet continue to take the same prcautions that you would if you didnt have one on.

Yup, good strategy.