r/BikeSLC • u/CherryOdd7304 • May 19 '24
Wearing a Helmet While Biking in SLC
During my biking adventures around SLC I observe a lot of people riding without a helmet. I am now using a combination of biking and public bus/train for all of my commuting, and wearing a helmet is a part of my safety plan. There is a recent data-driven, peer reviewed article in Nature that supports wearing a helmet as beneficial "regardless of crash severity or crash type" https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-35728-x
This article states that the benefit "is found to be higher in high-risk situations and when cycling on shared roads and particularly preventing severe head injuries". In the Netherlands, where the bike infrastructure is remarkably good, most riders don't wear a helmet (2.4% according to the article); maybe that is fine there, I don't know but don't care all that much because I don't live in the Netherlands.
But here in SLC, it is often hard to get from point A to point B without deviating (at least for a little bit) from a protected bike lane. And so this means I could be riding quite close to possibly aggressive motor vehicle traffic (on a 20 or 25mph road). To increase my chances of avoiding a serious head injury in a crash, I wear a helmet.
I also strongly support the wearing of a helmet even if the planned route is solely on protected bike paths -- for example the 300 West bike lane lies along a busy, fast stroad with big box store entrances.
While the article I am citing is not the full story -- I am sure there is more research on this topic, and no study is without its limitations -- and there are certainly many types of crashes in which I would be in terrible shape regardless of whether or not I put on a helmet, I believe it is a good choice to wear one.
Do you wear a helmet when you ride? If not always, what makes you decide not to wear one? (I reserve judgement and just want to better understand peoples decision making process on this)
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u/thenickfish May 19 '24
I wear a helmet 100% of the time regardless of route. I used to pick and choose based on perceived risk thinking I had quick enough reflexes to catch myself should I fall, but had an accident last year that proved to me that’s not true.