Why don't some cyclists wear helmets?

[FizzyImp 1,838]

My recent cycling accident has got me thinking quite a lot about the safety of others, so I wanted to ask you guys something.

Why do you think some people nowadays refuse to wear helmets when they're cycling?

 

I see people every single day riding by without this crucial piece of protection, and all they're doing is putting themselves at risk.

It's quite obvious that helmets are intended to save lives, so why should anyone refuse that sort of equipment in the first place?

 

I suppose one argument is that the people riding their bikes without a helmet believe that they're damn good cyclists.

I can't really say that they aren't good because I honestly have that same mindset, but no matter how good someone thinks they are, accidents can and will happen.

[Bronium 512]

Well, because they want to look cool? I don't know. Maybe they don't like their heads. That's my theory at least. Oh! Maybe their worried that the helmet will ruin their fake bedhead, which took them 3 hours to prepare. It's probably that. Either way, who's complaining, right? I mean, let's proactively filter out the dumb from our gene pool.

[Starshine 16,334]

They want to be closer with their gods, and willing to meet Him faster it should be

 

It's just because they hadn't had any accident yet. Most of cyclist who wears helmet regularly is either forced to do so or already had their own personal accident, whether it's fatal or trivial. They haven't seen anyone got their skull split open yet, so they think everything would turns out okay.

 

Or, they just don't feel very comfortable with their current helmet. idk lol

[Shiki 5,855]

Cyclist? Exercise? Wait, what?

 

Sorry, I'm currently residing in America, where riding a bicycle is just an absolutely ridiculous idea.

 

Just joking. xD Anyway, I think it's just that childish, rebellion side inside of them that makes them refuse to wear helmets. Everyone knows that if there was a "DO NOT PUSH" sign on some kind of button, a few people would push it. Breaking rules is just so exciting to some people. Also, helmets are weird in general. Can't be arsed to wear one.

[moneyshredderofdeath 414]

I can't see any justifiable reason to not wear a helmet. Even if you're a skilled cyclist, you always want to be prepared for an accident. It's like wearing a seat belt in that while there may be no feeling of a difference most of the time, you'll certainly be thankful you wore it in case of an accident that would have badly injured or even killed you otherwise. Someone acting as if they're cool and rebellious isn't worth it in the long run.

[StingeMuffin 244]

I have been meaning to buy a helmet for myself, although I've never felt it necessary to wear one for my very short work commute, but, like Star Weaver mentioned, it's probably because I haven't been in an accident yet and don't think it likely that I will ever be in one.

 

Cyclist? Exercise? Wait, what?

 

Sorry, I'm currently residing in America, where riding a bicycle is just an absolutely ridiculous idea.

 

You pretty much nailed it on the head! I live in what's practically a retirement city, with bike lanes small and sparingly placed. It doesn't help that the older folk like to drive large trucks or suv's either.

[FizzyImp 1,838]

you'll certainly be thankful you wore it in case of an accident that would have badly injured or even killed you otherwise.

I'm certainly thankful that I wore mine on Thursday because when the paramedics came along, they took one look at the massive chunk missing from the front of my helmet and they said that if it wasn't for that, I would have been dead.

[XUNUSEDXXX 3,459]

Probably because helmets aren't the most aesthetically pleasing accessory, and if you wear one, alot of people judge you :x

[CapnKrunk 307]

When I use to ride a bicycle a lot.I rarely wore a helmet.I stopped wearing a helmet once I got better at riding bikes.Even If I do fall on my bike.I never hit my head.Plus my helmets are really uncomfortable on me.So I need to get a helmet that's right for me.Only time I will possibly use a helmet is when I go extreme mountain biking.If I'm riding my bike around the neighborhood.Then you don't really need it.

Edited September 16, 2012 by Flutter derp

[Lost 1,410]

Whenever i ride a bike i don't wear a helmet, In all the years that i have ridden around on a pushbike i have only fallen off once, it was a rather bad accident that left me with a snapped arm and permanent damage. At the time i was wearing a beanie hat, i must have landed on my head as i have scars on my shoulder and blacked out for a few mins but i suffered no damage at all to my head.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,558]

Could have swore a joke was coming along,

 

Perhaps they have no brain to protect??

 

I kid I kid, but still, makes sense does it not?

[talkingmuffin 32]

Most "cyclists" I see usually have a bike as a means of transportation mainly because they can't even afford to ride public transit let along to purchase a helmet.

 

As for me, I ride my bike to school everyday and usually never ran into a accident where it involved my head. Mainly because I consider being cautious when riding rather than distracted. What's funny though is that most of my injuries are knee and elbow related and I recently got road rash and a bad scrape from falling off my bike at a pretty moderate speed. However, I never invested in knee and elbow pads in my life.

[Lightning Fluttershy 1,844]

Whenever I bike it's without a helmet. It's not because I'm stupid or uneducated. I know the dangers. To be honest it's mostly out of lazyness.

Edited September 16, 2012 by Like A Boss

[Dusty Soul 2,611]

They just want to look cool, and as you know sometimes helmets are uncomfortable... I don't wear them, because I don't go on highways or anything...

[Aureity 3,055]

They are so. So. Annoying.

 

I'm not exactly rolling in cash, so my old bike helmet is my only option whenever I go cycling. And let me tell ya, that thing itches like crud. And it gives me a headache. It's just downright uncomfortable, and to tell you the truth, I'd rather take my chances without a helmet than have one on, be constantly aware of how much it's irritating me, then involuntarily fidget with my helmet at exactly the wrong moment while crossing the street or something.

[FizzyImp 1,838]

They are so. So. Annoying.

 

I'm not exactly rolling in cash, so my old bike helmet is my only option whenever I go cycling. And let me tell ya, that thing itches like crud. And it gives me a headache. It's just downright uncomfortable, and to tell you the truth, I'd rather take my chances without a helmet than have one on, be constantly aware of how much it's irritating me, then involuntarily fidget with my helmet at exactly the wrong moment while crossing the street or something.

 

My old helmet (One from around 2004) used to drive me mad, and for many years I thought of helmets as useless itchy annoyances.

Dunno if it's a thing about helmets from that time, but it seems every single one of them was designed to be bad.

 

The recent helmet I had was just a really cheap buy from a supermarket at £7 and it was surprisingly comfortable. It even had a little dial thing attached to the back to adjust how tightly it fit to your head.

The really expensive ones just seem to be another scenario in which you pay more for a brand name.

[PonyHag1 591]

I used to bike without a helmet, until the cops gave me a ticket. It was just a warning, but I decided to wear a helmet rather than pay a fine. And they are safer.

[Crutch 898]

I usually like to go cycling whenever I can around my town...so I pretty much have to wear them (you can get a ticket in my county if you are not wearing one while riding on the street). But even if it wasn't a law, I would still wear one since I have almost been hit by stupid drivers multiple times...

[Sakutama 30]

Well here in Japan, I never see anyone wear a helmet. The only time I see helmets are of course motorcycles and scooters, and occasionally someone who looks like a serious biker (bicycle, not motorbike) who will have a fancy helmet and the sports outfit.

 

I'll admit I don't have a helmet (and thus don't wear one) and no one I know in Japan (Japanese or not) ever wears one. Like most people in Japan my bike is my main mode of transportation for getting around, so it is interesting to wonder why people don't wear helmets here when they use bikes so much. We don't even have a car! Which isn't unusual here either. Otherwise it's the occasional bus, the fantastic trains, and A LOT of walking for getting where I need to go. There's more bike parking available then car parking here, but why everyone doesn't wear a helmet in Japan, I really don't know to be honest.

 

Thought I would share some food for thought on the subject.

[Verde Wub 52]

I recently biked a few miles with 6 other kids from my high school and one teacher. I was the only one in a helmet. Some were lazy, rebellious, or didn't even have a helmet. At least one said it wasn't cool to wear a helmet, but there is nothing cool about a cracked skull. I feel the same about seat belts; these things aren't made to be annoying, they are to save your life!

[Bow Heart 84]

I'll be honest, I don't ride my bicycle often but I never wear a helmet. I don't wear a helmet because again, I don't ride often and the only times I ride are if I'm riding across town or feel like riding it when I have to babysit, and I really don't like them. They're much too bulky for me and hurt my ears and head in general. I understand they're all for safety, but I try to be cautious when I ride.

[null1 606]

I know commuter cyclists don't usually wear helmets that much, though it wouldn't hurt them to try one out. I suppose it's just real inconvenient for them to wear a helmet.

 

But if you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough... for when your skull hits the ground.

Edited September 16, 2012 by DeltaTangent

[Lost 1,410]

I'm just gonna hop back into this thread and explain exactly why I don't wear a helmet. It's nothing to do with how it looks for me, I couldn't give two bucks what someone thinks of how I look, i find helmets to be restricting and uncomfortable and while it would help me were I in a crash or to fall off, chances are that, for me personally, wearing a helmet would be uncomfortable or restricting enough to cause me to crash.

 

I ride a motorbike as my only form getting around ( cycling is just for fun) and in the UK it's the law to wear a motorbike helmet, when I got my bike I used an old helmet that barely fit me, I nearly fell off countless times from having to adjust it while driving or my hair falling loose and obstructing my vision (I have long hair) my new helmet fits me perfectly and I never have these problems, but any cycle helmet I wear has given me similar problems to my first motorbike helmet, which is why I don't wear one.

[rcollinz13 428]

I always wear my helmet when I go biking, because there are a lot of low hanging tree branches on the trails that I follow. If it weren't for my helmet I would have smacked my head on a lot of branches.

[AegisReflector 886]

I never wear a helmet when I go biking, but I will when I go rollerblading. I have no idea why, so don't even ask.

 

I'm also kind of hypocritical. I hate it when motorcyclists don't wear helmets, but the difference is that they are basically on a souped-up bike while my bike goes only like 9 mph.