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No helmet wars here. But when nearly run over while on a rural road on my road bike and remonstrating with the driver, I was knocked back by him shouting at me 'where's your helmet'. Sheer ignorance. Touch wood I am lucky that I have not had an accident on the road since I was a child, however these days I wear a helmet more often than during my early twenties. However i still like to be respected as a vulnerable road user hemet or no helmet. > Tim Jones wrote: >> I would also concur that it is 'perceived danger' from MOTOR traffic >> that puts people off. > > I agree. However people also tend to underestimate the danger due to > their own mistakes or due to other cyclists. In Switzerland we have > "SlowUps", mass cycle rides on roads closed to other traffic. The > standard of riding is appalling, because people feel safe when there are > no or few cars. This results in many minor accidents or near misses. > > I would be interested in how this thread ties in with helmet usage. > Helmet opponents point out that wearing helmets signifies "Cycling is > dangerous" and thus causes an increase in fretful people who do not > consider cycling. This seems to be shown by statistics, although there > must be a few other factors as well. On the other hand, people who do > wear helmets feel safer with them on, which may get them to cycle more. > In my case, I tend to cycle faster when wearing a helmet. Certainly the > perceived safety due to helmets is higher than the actual safety gain, > so much so that highly emotional attitudes are formed. Adults who wear > helmets often complain about adults who don't wear helmets as being > irresponsible and stupid. Adults who don't wear helmets point out that > many "normal" activities are much more dangerous than cycling. > > I take it that on *this* list it is possible to mention such things > without causing a "helmet war"! > > Theo Schmidt, Switzerland >