Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

julie78787 t1_j9olzhc wrote

Reply to comment by PaulRudin in ELI5: Why do people wear different types of helmets when skiing and bicycling? by LucasUnited

I've seen all manner of arguments against using helmets which have nothing to do with injuries among "crash involved cyclists".

In a typical year I like to bike about 5,000 miles. Cars have close-passed me, tried to run me off the road, cut me off, yelled, spit, cursed, you name it. I've had drivers mad at me for going the speed limit, not going the speed limit, being in a bike lane, being within 3' of the curb, pretty much all of it. I used to have a bus driver who hated to let me ever get around him because once I got in front of him I'd slowly gain distance because he had to stop to pick up and let off people.

What I care about is what happens if or when my head hits something.

8

Joaquin_Portland t1_j9p8sdv wrote

I wear a helmet for two reasons:

I don’t always see low hanging tree branches

If I am injured or killed by being struck by someone driving a car, I don’t want the damages to me or my family reduced because I wasn’t wearing a helmet.

That’s also the reason why I don’t run stop signs or red lights.

8

julie78787 t1_j9tpvzo wrote

I wear a bicycle helmet because I'm convinced by what I've read that they reduce brain injuries. I could handle major issues with limbs. I couldn't handle a TBI that screwed up my ability to think or reason or function.

I don't think they make me invincible, which I suspect is a confounding factor for overall injuries. 35 years ago I decided to keep my speed down because descending at 55mph was scary as could be. I've not been much over 35mph in the last 5 years and even 30mph is starting to be scary as I get older.

2