This one is never going to get old for cyclists. No one is ever on the fence about helmets: love em or loathe em, weve all got a very strong opinion one way or the other.
Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»resident Ron van der Eerden felt so strongly about helmets that he recently launched a court challenge against his $29 ticket for not wearing one, arguing it was a breach of his Charter rights. Online reaction split right down the middle between outrage at the audacity of the B.C. helmet law and suggestions that Mr. van der Eerdens foolhardy actions provided ample justification for his brain not being worth the extra protection.
The problem is that the cold, hard facts provide concrete support for both sides of this debate. Studies suggest that wearing a helmet in an urban setting may not make you even slightly less likely to avoid injury; others go so far as to indicate that wearing a helmet may actually make you more vulnerable, either because drivers are less cautious around helmeted cyclists or because the helmet itself provides a sense of protection that encourages the cyclist to ride more recklessly. Making a compelling case on the flip side are studies that show exactly what happens to your skulland the fragile brain it protectswhen it suffers a severe impact with a helmet on, and without.
I found it very interesting when I first came to B.C. and discovered that helmets were required by law. Back in the U.K., I grew up cycling country roads with the wind in my hair, and helmets never crossed my mind. When I moved to London, the sheer traffic volume coupled with the disturbing ratio of incredibly bad drivers put helmets on my radar and I figured it was probably smarter to start wearing one. And then I got in an accident where I hit my headhardand had my helmet to thank for the fact that I limped away with a severe concussion but also my life. After that, I was a convert.
The accident wasnt my fault; the driver who hit me was later found guilty of negligent driving in court and lost his license. But thats the thing; when youre riding in the city day after day, it doesnt matter how careful a cyclist you are or how many dedicated bike routes you have access to. It only takes that one fraction of a seconds bad luck, that one road user who does something stupid when there isnt enough time or space to react, that one slick of spilled oil that looks like just another harmless patch of dirt on the road.
I know plenty of folk on both sides of the helmet debate. Theyre all smart, thoughtful people; theyve put plenty of thought into their position, and have well-reasoned and logical arguments to support it. And I dont pretend to be an activist; I do believe that wearing a helmet is a personal choice, as long as cyclists are willing to participate in discussions around helmet-wearing, insurance, and medical costs, and accept the consequences of their decision. But from a personal point of view, it doesnt matter how strongly someone makes the case against wearing a helmet. For me, nothing is ever going to be more persuasive than the noise I heard when my head hit the tarmac.
Kay Cahill is a cyclist, librarian and outdoor enthusiast who believes bikes are for life, not just for commuting. Read more at sidecut.ca, or contact Kay at [email protected].
