LollyKat wrote: it's obvious, innit?
But why?
LollyKat wrote: it's obvious, innit?
horizon wrote:LollyKat wrote: it's obvious, innit?
But why?
pjclinch wrote:As to why they see it everywhere in the UK, it's a meme that's reached critical mass. People repeat because they hear/see it a lot.
mjr wrote:pjclinch wrote:As to why they see it everywhere in the UK, it's a meme that's reached critical mass. People repeat because they hear/see it a lot.
As long as they look at mainstream media or even CUK publications like "Cycle Clips" or "Cycle" rather than what's actually happening on the streets where on average the majority don't wear helmets. Why is CUK being part of the helmet problem? Seems rather contrary to its aim to encourage cycling.
horizon wrote:This creates not only a response in the individual concerned but also a social reaction - basically mass hysteria. This is why non-cyclists mention helmet wearing to cyclists. It's been documented in crowd panics but I think you can add, yes, vaccination, personal hygiene, women's body hair, lots of insurance products, fear of germs and fear of epidemics. These are socially constructed hysterics - you can argue where you draw the line of course but helmets I think fit reasonably on the side of hysteria.
Steady rider wrote:These are rough calculation,
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/128190
113 deaths, 3401 seriously injured in 2014
Some European data is available on the number of kilometres cycled and the death rate per billion kilometre cycle . Norway with 11.0 cyclist deaths per billion kilometres cycled, followed by Denmark with 12.1, the Netherlands with 12.4, Sweden with 14.4 and Great Britain with 22.4. Data from GB shows that there is an urgent need to improve safety for cyclists.
Approximately 5 billion km of cycling for the UK it seems
Assuming average person cycled 40 km per week. 5 billion /40 = 125 million weeks
125 million /113 = 1.1 million weeks per death, once in 21153 years of cycling.
125 million weeks divided by 3401 = 36734 weeks per serious injury, once in 707 years of cycling.
So cycling is not particularly high risk but could also be safer.
Research evidence reports that helmets may protect or lower the proportion of head injuries and also may increase the accident rate, by 14% according to one estimate and increase the risk of neck injury. Long term neck problems may also occur it seems. The best available evidence suggests that helmet use increases the total injury risk.
A person may think, yes I will wear one for added protection, seems sensible. A person may think the risk is low and it will make cycling less convenient or comfortable for them and decide not to wear one, seems sensible. Some people may have problems wearing helmets, feeling too warm, not enjoying their cycling as much, Most users will not study the research or understand the risk factors.
In part two forms of education may be helpful, people who wear helmets should understand that non-wearers point of view is just as valid as their own and the overall injury risk is probably lower when not wearing and non-wearers appreciate wearers are probably trying to protect themselves. Cycling organisations should help explain this to their members and the public.
125 million weeks divided by 3401 = 36734 weeks per serious injury, once in 707 years of cycling.