. . . There is no difference between the fast racer and the slow recreational cyclist …
both fall at the same speed and hit the pavement just as hard. The laws of Nature (gravity vertical acceleration) cannot be disobeyed.

Want better proof, no bicycle helmet manufacturer would say this. In fact, look at all the marketing for bicycle helmets. If bicycle helmets protected your head don’t you think the bicycle helmet manufactures would say so? Don’t you think they would advertise that fact. NO BICYCLE HELMET MANUFACTURER STATES A HELMET WILL PROTECT YOU HEAD. Why, because they don’t want to be sued when the bicycle helmet wont, can’t and will not protect your head.

I know. I am a member of ASTM F08.53 Headgear and Helmets committee. I am the US representative to the UIAA which creates standards for helmets in outdoor sports in Europe. Bike helmets are not designed and do not protect from trauma.

In the Netherlands and Denmark, they are MUCH lower. Not all European countries have good cycling infrastructure.

No, fight against ecocide and carcentric society. Accidents aren’t the only way cars kill us. I’m a boomer and have never owned or driven one of the bloody things.

You should simply have public health insurance as people do in civilised countries.

Yes, indeed. And like forcing women to wear burkas, tchadors or even headscarves by law or pressure from males, it tends to “disappear” the potential victims, rather than controlling aggression from the potential perpetrators, while overlooking measures to ensure safety and respect for cyclists – or women in macho societies.

I want to make it clear that I have no problem with devout women wearing headscarves or people who believe in magic hats wearing helmets; it is none of my business. The problem is when it is a red herring to avoid struggling to create safe envrionments for all; in this case not only for cyclists but also for pedestrians, especially vulnerable ones such as the very young, the very old and the disabled.

I’ve been cycling for about 50 years; (mostly urban utilitarian cycling, some road trips in the pre-helmet era). It would be rather strange to refer to me as “inexperienced”.

The other odd thing is why on earth is Momentum mag recycling this old article: to sell helmet ads?

What we must be fighting for is dedicated bicycle lanes and safer infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists in general, including legal infrastructure (onus on more powerful vehicle). The helmet crap is a distraction.

In the Netherlands cyclists wear helmets if they are riding fast to race or train, not to commute to work or university, or to do the shopping. Duh.