Great comment? Are you the One Cyclist In Lisbon?

Yes, in the event of a serious collision a helmet may save your life. But the benefits far outweigh the risk! Cycling without a helmet is more convenient, might make you ride safer, and it encourages more people to bike! And when more people bike, drivers become more aware and the danger is far reduced!

The likelihood of a serious collision is low enough that it shouldn’t even be considered. I’m not scared to fly on a plane, why should I be concerned about riding my bike? Driving is actually far more dangerous than we realize. I’m certain that in my life I will experience a nasty car crash.

I don’t have to pay for gas, insurance, or fares, and I’m not putting damage on the roads with a 2-ton cage.
I would still ride my bike even if it was unsafe, because the exercise and the freedom keeps me healthy and I feel great!

If helmets aren’t required, then more people bike. And when more people bike, it helps the city and more people enjoy the above benefits!

If there’s one thing I want, it’s healthy, happy cities. Cycling is a big part of that, so the fewer helmets, the better!

Good for you! I wear a helmet because it’s mandatory where I live, and I don’t want to be hassled by people “why aren’t you wearing a helmet”? But I’m tempted now…

As someone interested in the health of young people, which is the biggest threat to their health, obesity caused by lack of exercise, or injuries from playing, including cycling? Given that cycle helmets have killed children, and there is no proven case of a helmet saving a life, and that we are suffering an obesity crisis which will shorten millions of lives, the answer is clear.

Regular cyclists, those most exposed to the risk, live on average two years longer and suffer less from all forms of illness, so how can something likely to make you live significantly longer be dangerous? As one medical researcher said “If the benefits of cycling could be bottled, it would be the most popular medicine in the world.”

The myth of helmet effectiveness is just that, a myth based on bad science which has been disproved many times, but is still parotted by helmet zealots who refuse to even look at the evidence.

There are two types of evidence about cycle helmets; short term, small scale, rated low for reliability on international scales of reliability, and long term, large scale, rated much more reliable on the same scales. The first shows massive benefits, while the second shows either no benefit or an increase in risk with helmet wearing. The media endlessly report the first and ignore the second, leading most people to believe that helmets are effective.

You might be interested in my MSc Dissertation on the subject of cycle helmets “Do cyclists have an exaggerated perception of the effectiveness of cycle helmets and the risks of cycling?” http://www.fietsberaad.nl/index.cfm?lang=en&repository=Do+cyclists+have+an+exaggerated++perception+of+the+effectiveness+of++cycle+helmets+and+the+risks+of+cycling