• Home
  • SUBSCRIBE!
  • Garmin Edge Bike Computers
    • Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared
      • ALL Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared with Detailed Chart: Edge 130 Plus, Explore, 530, 830 and 1030 Plus
      • Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030 Plus Bike Computers: In-Depth Comparison, Reviews and Videos
      • Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs. 130 Plus Bike Computers: Premium vs. Budget!
      • Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030 GPS Bike Computers: Full Review and Comparison of GPS Bike Computers with Navigation
      • Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030 GPS Bike Computers
    • Garmin Edge vs. Wahoo Bike Computers
      • Garmin Edge 530 vs Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt
      • Garmin Edge 520 Plus vs Wahoo ELEMNT
      • Garmin Edge 520 vs. Wahoo ELEMNT
      • Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt vs Garmin Edge 130 Plus Bike Computers: In-Depth Comparison, with Videos
    • 9 New Features in the Garmin Edge 830
    • 7 of the Best Fitness Trackers for Cyclists – Fitbit and Garmin
    • How to Upload Your Bike Rides to Strava While Garmin Connect is Down
  • About
    • Start Here!
    • Contact Us
  • Product Reviews
    • Garmin Edge and Wahoo Bike Computers
      • Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared: Versus Posts!
        • ALL Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared with Chart & Video: Edge 130 Plus, Explore, 530, 830 and 1030 Plus
        • Garmin Edge 530 vs. 830 vs. 1030 Plus Bike Computers: In-Depth Comparison, Reviews and Videos
        • Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs. 130 Plus: Premium vs. Budget!
        • Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs Garmin Edge 1030. What’s NEW About the Garmin Edge 1030 Plus?
      • Garmin Edge vs. Wahoo Bike Computers
        • Garmin Edge 530 vs. Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt
        • Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt vs. Garmin Edge 130 Plus Bike Computers: In-Depth Comparison, with Videos
        • Garmin Edge 520 Plus vs Wahoo ELEMNT
        • Garmin Edge 520 vs. Wahoo ELEMNT
      • Garmin Varia Vision and Varia Rear Light Radar
      • How to Upload Your Bike Rides to Strava While Garmin Connect is Down
    • 7 of the Best Budget Indoor Bike Trainers, 2021
    • Bike Computer Reviews
      • Best Cheap Bike Computers Under $65, 2020 – Includes Budget Wireless Computers
      • Best Bike Computers, 2020 – Includes CatEye, Garmin, and Wireless Bike Computers
      • ALL Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared with Detailed Chart & Videos: Edge 130 Plus, Explore, 530, 830 and 1030 Plus
      • Quick Links to our Best Posts about Bike Computers
    • Cycling Gear Reviews
      • 7 of the Best Budget Indoor Bike Trainers, 2021
      • 7 of the Best Women’s Cycling Jackets, 2020 – Waterproof and Windproof
        • Best Cheap Cycling Jackets under $100
        • Best Cycling Jackets
      • 7 of the Best Waterproof Cycling Pants for Men and Women, 2021
        • How to Choose the Best Waterproof Cycling Pants
        • Showers Pass Rogue Cycling Pants – Review by Mrs. Average Joe Cyclist
        • 3 Regular-Looking Pants that Work Well as Cycling Pants
      • 9 of the Best Waterproof Cycling Jackets for Men and Women, 2021
      • 7 of the Best Cycling Balaclavas to Keep Your Head Warm this Winter
      • Best Waterproof Cycling Gear for Men and Women, 2020
      • 7 of the Best Short Sleeved Cycling Jerseys for 2021
      • 7 of the Best Cheap Cycling Jackets Under $100
    • 90 Best Gifts for Cyclists – Our Ultimate Gift Guide for Cyclists
    • Bike Pannier Reviews
      • 7 of the Best Waterproof Bike Panniers, 2020 – for Better Bike Commuting and Touring
      • Best Waterproof Bike Panniers for Touring and Commuting: Ortlieb Bike Panniers
      • Best Commuter/Bike Touring Panniers: Two Wheel Gear Classic 2.0 Garment Pannier Review
    • Bike Light Reviews
      • 7 of the Best Bike Lights for Night Riding and Commuting, 2021
      • Quick Links to Our Best Posts about Bike Lights
      • 3 of the best bike lights for commuter cyclists – Light & Motion Urban 350 vs. CatEye Volt 800 vs. NiteRider Lumina 750
    • Bike Saddles
      • 9 of the Best Road Bike Saddles, 2021
      • How to Choose the Right Bike Saddle
    • Headphone Reviews
      • 5 of the Best Headphones for Safe Cycling in 2021
    • Recumbent Trikes
  • Bike Computers
    • Garmin Edge Bike Computers
      • Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared
        • ALL Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared with Detailed Chart & Videos: Edge 130 Plus, Explore, 530, 830 and 1030 Plus
        • Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030 Plus Bike Computers: In-Depth Comparison, Reviews and Videos
        • Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs Garmin Edge 1030. What’s NEW About the Garmin Edge 1030 Plus?
        • Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030 GPS Bike Computers: Full Review and Comparison of GPS Bike Computers with Navigation
        • Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs. 130 Plus Bike Computers: Premium vs. Cheap
      • Garmin Edge vs. Wahoo Bike Computers
        • Garmin Edge 530 vs Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt
        • Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt vs Garmin Edge 130 Plus Bike Computers: In-Depth Comparison, with Videos
        • Garmin Edge 520 Plus vs Wahoo ELEMNT
        • Garmin Edge 520 vs. Wahoo ELEMNT
    • Quick Links to our Best Posts about Bike Computers
    • Best Cheap Bike Computers Under $65, 2020 – Includes Budget Wireless Computers
    • Best Bike Computers, 2020 – Includes CatEye, Garmin, and Wireless Bike Computers
    • 7 of the Best Bike Computers, 2020 – from Budget to Premium
  • Health Benefits
    • Cycling Knee Pain
      • 5 Doctor’s Tips to Start Cycling Again after Knee Replacement Surgery
      • How to Prevent Cycling Knee and Hip Pain – Complete Guide to Stretching for Cyclists
      • How to Cure Cycling Knee Pain with a Miraculous, Cheap Cure
      • 7 Ways to Prevent Cycling Knee Pain
      • Video: 3 Exercises for Cycling Knee Pain
      • 5 Great Strength and Conditioning Exercises for Cyclists
      • Top 7 Strength Building Exercises for Cyclists
    • Cycling and Strength
      • How Cycling Can Help You to Stay Strong as You Age
        • How Strength Training Can Boost Your Cycling Speed and Quality of Life
    • Cycling and Sleep
      • How Cycling Helps You to Sleep Better and Get Healthier
      • Why Cycling May Be the Sleep Aid You Need
      • How I Became a Bike Commuter and Shed Stress Immediately
      • One in Three Cyclists Experience Reduced Stress Levels
    • Cycling and Aging
      • Study Shows that Interval Training on a Bike is the Best Exercise to Fight Aging
      • Study Shows that Cycling Really Does Fight Aging
      • How Cycling Can Help You to Stay Strong as You Age
        • How Strength Training Can Boost Your Cycling Speed and Quality of Life
        • 5 Great Strength and Conditioning Exercises for Cyclists
        • Top 7 Strength Building Exercises for Cyclists
        • What Is the Function of Myelin in the Body?
    • Kids biking
      • 7 of the Best Baby and Child Bike Seats to Keep Your Child Safe – Reviews and Videos – 2020
      • 9 Simple Steps to Teach a Child to Ride a Bike
      • 5 Tips for Parents to Keep your Kids Safe on their Bikes
      • How to Transport Kids on Bikes (Video and Infographic)
      • 10 Family-Friendly USA Cycling Trails to Visit with the Kids
      • Babies and Bikes: How to Get Kids Active from the Start
      • How to Encourage Kids to Ride Bikes
        • How to Help your Kids Bike to School
A Blog for Average People who LOVE to ride bikes!

Average Joe Cyclist

A Blog for Average People who LOVE to ride bikes!

  • Cycling Training Plans
    • Our Most Successful Cycling Training Plans
      • Average Joe Cyclist’s Beginner Cyclist Training Plan: Phase 1
      • Average Joe Cyclist’s Beginner Cyclist Training Plan: Phase 2 – Interval Training
      • How to Get Bike Fit: Complete Bike Training Plan
      • Average Joe Cyclist’s Beginner’s Bike Training Plan
      • Top 7 Strength Building Exercises for Cyclists
    • Average Joe Cyclist’s Beginner’s Bike Training Plan
      • Top 10 Tips on How to Avoid a Sore Butt from Cycling
    • How to Get Bike Fit: Complete Bike Training Plan
    • Workouts and Stretching for Cyclists
      • How to Prevent Cycling Knee and Hip Pain – Complete Guide to Stretching for Cyclists
      • Updated Video: 3 Hip Stretches to Cure Cycling Hip Pain
      • Stop Doing Crunches! 10 Minute Core Workout for Cyclists
      • 5 Best Core Exercises for Cyclists
      • Muscle Stretching: The Cyclist’s Secret Skill – Why Stretching is Important for Cyclists
      • The 10 Best Stretches for Cyclists
    • How to Protect Your Testosterone Levels from Over-Training
    • 7 Reasons to do High Intensity Training (HIT) on Your Bike – And How to Add Interval Training to Your Cycling
      • Study Shows that Interval Training on a Bike is the Best Exercise to Fight Aging
      • Research shows Amazing Benefits of Sprint Intervals in Cycling
    • 7 Top Tips to Help You Keep Mountain Biking after Age 40
      • How Cycling Can Help You to Stay Strong as You Age
  • Indoor Cycling Training
    • 7 of the Best Budget Indoor Bike Trainers, 2021
    • 5 of the Best Smart Indoor Trainers for Effective Indoor Training
    • How to Set Up a Zwift Indoor Training System on Any Budget
    • What is a Smart Turbo Indoor Trainer?
  • Cycling with Dogs
    • 5 of the Best Dog Bike Baskets to Safely Take Your Dog Cycling in 2021
    • Complete Guide to Taking Your Dog on Bike Rides in a Bike Basket
    • 6 Steps to Gently Train Your Dog to Go On Bike Rides With You
  • Lose Weight!
    • Cycling and Weight Loss
      • 7 Steps to Lose Weight by Cycling
      • 7 of the Best Budget Indoor Bike Trainers, 2021
      • Top 10 Tips to Lose Weight Cycling
      • 5 Quick and Easy Tips to Lose Weight Cycling
      • The Top 10 Ride Your Way Lean Eating Rules, for Effective Weight Loss
      • How Cycling to Lose Weight Saved Phil’s Life – Heartwarming Video
    • A Guide for Fat Cyclists
    • Our Best Lose Weight with Cycling Posts
    • Cycling Nutrition
      • Best Matcha Tea for Cyclists: My Matcha Life
        • How to Make Matcha Tea
      • How Protein Helps your Post Bike Ride Recovery
      • 5 Best Protein Supplements for Exercise Recovery and Health
    • Cycling Training Plans
      • How to Set Up a Zwift Indoor Training System on Any Budget
      • Average Joe Cyclist’s Beginner’s Bike Training Plan
      • Our Most Successful Cycling Training Plans
      • How to Get Bike Fit: Complete Bike Training Plan
      • 7 Reasons to do High Intensity Training (HIT) on Your Bike – And How to Add Interval Training to Your Cycling
    • Cycling and Health
  • Tips & How-Tos
    • How to Prevent & Cure Cycling Knee Pain
      • How to Cure Cycling Knee Pain with a Miraculous, Cheap Cure
      • How to Prevent Cycling Knee and Hip Pain – Complete Guide to Stretching for Cyclists
      • Video: 3 Exercises for Cycling Knee Pain
      • 7 Ways to Prevent Cycling Knee Pain
      • 5 Doctor’s Tips to Start Cycling Again after Knee Replacement Surgery
    • Bike maintenance
      • How to Fix a Flat Bike Tire
    • How to Keep your Bike from being Stolen – Top 10 Tips
      • 7 of the Best Bike Locks to Keep Your Bike Safe, 2021
    • How to Set Up a Zwift Indoor Training System on Any Budget
    • How to Get Your Bike Ready for Safe Winter Cycling
    • How to Pick the Right Size Bike – Complete Bike Frame Size Guide
    • How to Set Up a Zwift Indoor Training System on Any Budget
    • Complete Guide to How to Buy and Sell Bikes on Craigslist
    • How to Understand Bike Terminology
  • Bike Commuting
    • Bike Commuting Tips
      • How to Set Up a Commuter Bike
      • 9 Useful Tips for Women Bike Commuters
      • 7 of the Best Bike Lights for Night Riding and Commuting, 2021
      • 7 of the Best Waterproof Bike Panniers, 2020 – for Better Bike Commuting and Touring
      • Top 10 Tips on How to Avoid a Sore Butt from Cycling
      • How Women Cyclists Can Prevent Saddle Soreness and Associated Issues
        • How to Choose the Right Bike Saddle
      • 9 of the Best Road Bike Saddles, 2021
      • The 7 Biggest Mistakes People Make When They Try to Start Bike Commuting
      • Can Cycling Cause Penis Numbness, Erectile Dysfunction, and Prostate Cancer?
      • Best Commuter/Bike Touring Panniers: Two Wheel Gear Classic 2.0 Garment Pannier Review
    • Winter Cycling
      • Our Top Tips to Keep You Warm and Dry for Fall and Winter Cycling
      • How to Get Your Bike Ready for Safe Winter Cycling
      • Quick Links to Our Best Posts about Cold Weather Cycling
      • 7 of the Best Waterproof Cycling Pants for Men and Women, 2021
      • 7 of the Best Waterproof Bike Panniers, 2020 – for Better Bike Commuting and Touring
    • Benefits of Being a Bike Commuter
      • Ten Reasons to be a Bike Commuter
      • Survey Shows London Bike Commuters are Happier and More Productive
      • What Is the Function of Myelin in the Body?
      • Research shows that cycling makes your brain grow!
      • 5 Ways that Cycling Boosts Your Brain Function
    • Bike Maintenance
      • How to Get Your Bike Ready for Safe Winter Cycling
      • How To Clean Your Bike Chain the Easy Way
      • How to Set Up a Commuter Bike
      • How to Fix a Flat Bike Tire
      • Inspirational Video: How to Fix a Bike Flat – with No Hands
    • Cycling Infrastructure
      • 4 Benefits of Separated Bike Lanes
      • 3 Reasons Why We Need Separated Bike Lanes
      • Research reveals a surprising benefit of separated bike lanes
      • Montreal Cycling, Part 3: Separated Bike Lanes – What Other Cities can Learn from Montreal
      • Cycling and the Post-Covid Transformation
    • Safety for Cyclists
      • How to Use Bike Reflectors to Be More Visible
      • 7 of the Best Bike Lights for Night Riding and Commuting, 2021
You are here: Home / Bike Commuting / Bike Safety / Are Mandatory Bike Helmet Laws a Good Thing?

Are Mandatory Bike Helmet Laws a Good Thing?

January 29, 2015 by Average Joe Cyclist

Pin
Share
Tweet

Avatar

The issue of mandatory bike helmet laws is controversial, to say the least. Some are vigorously in favor; others oppose them furiously. A research study out of New Zealand suggests that the opposition has it right.

Many people are infuriated by mandatory bike helmet laws. Others argue that mandatory bike helmet laws are a no-brainer: cyclists should be forced to wear bike helmets, just as motorists are forced to wear seat belts. Like motorists, cyclists are too stupid to know how to be safe, so we must have laws to force them to be safe.

Start the conversation: Should Bike Helmets be Mandatory?

Click To Tweet

Are Mandatory Bike Helmet Laws a Good Thing. Some like to wear helmets; others prefer not to. Me and Mrs. Average Joe Cyclist usually wear them. But should we all be forced to wear them?
Some like to wear helmets; others prefer not to. Me and Mrs. Average Joe Cyclist usually wear them. But should we all be forced to wear them?

Certainly when Mrs. Average Joe Cyclist had an accident on her bike, she was very sure that her bike helmet had protected her from serious injury, as she reported in this post. However, this is one person’s experience, and so does not prove anything (even if she is my wife, and therefore always right!)

Are Mandatory Bike Helmet Laws a Good Thing. We no longer wear helmets when it makes no sense - such as when cycling on the completely off-road trails of the Whistler Valley
We no longer wear helmets when it makes no sense – such as when cycling on the completely off-road trails of the Whistler Valley

Seat Belts are a No-Brainer – Bike Helmets, Not So Much

With seat belts, there cannot really be any arguments. Seat belt legislation has dramatically decreased death and serious injury in motor vehicle accidents. Research indicates that seat belts prevent more than 10,000 deaths per year in the USA alone.

With bike helmet laws, the evidence is less clear. For a start, bike helmets only protect your head, and most cyclist fatalities are caused by multiple organ damage. Also, there are strong arguments that mandatory bike helmet laws lead to less cycling, which in the long-term big picture is more damaging to the general health of the population than a few accidents in which the cyclist is not wearing a helmet.

Also, it is notable that the Netherlands has the lowest rate of head and brain injuries from cycling in the  world – and it also has the lowest rate of bike helmet use. While most people ride bikes every day, almost no one wears helmets. Even toddlers and small children do not wear bike helmets. The point is that they have safe, separate bike lanes, so they are not exposed to the danger of cars. As has been pointed out, it would make more sense to wear a bike helmet while driving a car in the USA, than to wear a bike helmet while riding a bike in the Netherlands – because your risk of an accident per car trip in the USA is much higher than your risk of an accident per bike trip in the Netherlands. Here’s a quote from a great post about why the Dutch don’t wear bike helmets:

“Once you separate out bikes from cars, people don’t tend to just spontaneously fall off. Thus you’re no more in need of a bike helmet than you are in need of a walking helmet.”

Meanwhile, in New Zealand … this study published in the New Zealand Medical Journal comes down very clearly on the side of those who oppose mandatory bike helmet laws.

All Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared with Chart and Videos

New Zealand introduced mandatory bike helmet laws in January 1994, following the example of Australia. This gave researchers an unusual opportunity to study the “before and after” of mandatory bike helmet laws. They examined data from 1898 to 2009 on walking, cycling, and fatalities.

Following the introduction of mandatory bike helmet laws in New Zealand, the researchers found that:

  1. Cycling decreased by a massive 51%, while the risk of injury to cyclists per hour increased by between 20 and 32%.
  2. At the same time, the decrease in cycling hours was so dramatic that it probably contributed to up to 53 premature deaths per year (caused by not exercising).
  3. Most cyclists killed by cars cannot be saved by bike helmets, because the fatal injuries affected the entire body, not just the head.
  4. Also, thousands of New Zealanders are fined every year for not wearing a helmet.
  5. Cyclists who are involved in accidents while not wearing a helmet may be discriminated against by the legal system and get less accident compensation. In case you think that’s not a big deal – read this story about a speeding motorist who killed a 14-year-old boy on a bike by mowing him down, and then sued the grieving parents because the dead boy was not wearing a bike helmet.
  6. The law has led to more use of cars, which in turn leads to more environmental harm (and secondary harm to human beings).
  7. Finally, the mandatory bike helmet laws are contrary to human rights, because they force people to do something that has not been proven to be a good thing in terms of overall safety.
Are Mandatory Bike Helmet Laws a Good Thing? Maggie's stylish Yakkay helmet
Maggie’s stylish Yakkay helmet

Meanwhile, in Canada … Mrs. Average Joe Cyclist continues to wear her stylish Yakkay helmet (which she reviewed here) most of the time, while I continue to wear various bike helmets most of the time, including my favorite, my Urge Endur-O-Matic Helmet (reviewed here).

Are Mandatory Bike Helmet Laws a Good Thing. Urge Endur-O-Matic Helmet
My cool-looking Urge helmet

We both feel safer wearing helmets, and would continue to wear them even if we lived in a place that did not have mandatory bike helmet laws. Except if we were somewhere where there was decent cycling infrastructure everywhere!

BUT that does not mean that we think that everyone else should be forced to wear bike helmets – especially if it means that it halves the number of people cycling! After all, other research has proven that the more cyclists there are, the safer it is to cycle. Plus, as the helmetless Dutch point out, “for each year of life lost to bicycle crashes in the Netherlands, 25 years are gained from better health because of the exercise.” (Source: Treehugger)

Personally I think that forcing cyclists to wear helmets while not providing safe infrastructure is like refusing to provide sidewalks, forcing pedestrians to share lanes with cars and buses (as is done with cyclists), AND then adding insult to injury by forcing pedestrians to wear pedestrian helmets “for their own protection.”

Are Mandatory Bike Helmet Laws a Good Thing. Montreal has many separated bike lanes, making bike helmets much less necessary.
Montreal has many separated bike lanes, making bike helmets much less necessary.

We hardly ever wore bike helmets while we were cycling in Montreal but we felt safe, because the cycling infrastructure there is so excellent. We strongly support separated bike lanes – as reported here, they keep cyclists safe in more ways than one! We also noticed when we were in Paris that almost no adults wear bike helmets, ever. Yet they cycle casually through heavy traffic, and on sidewalks too, apparently without a care in the world. We cycled all over Paris and never felt unsafe. We were told that the cultural and  legal approach is to treat cyclists like pedestrians. I wish Canada was more like that, instead of treating a normal activity like cycling as if it is a dangerous sport. I wrote about that in my post “Make Cycling Normal Again – What we Learned from Cycling in Paris.”

Almost no adults wear bike helmets in Paris. We were impressed by this women's heels!
Almost no adults wear bike helmets in Paris. We were impressed by this women’s heels!

Perhaps a key difference between seat belt legislation and mandatory bike helmet laws is that people will not quit driving just because they are forced to wear seat belts; on the other hand, it seems that up to half of potential cyclists will choose not to cycle if they are forced to wear helmets. (And really, would it be a bad thing if seat belt legislation caused 50% of drivers to leave their cars at home? Imagine how that would help with traffic congestion!)

Finally, there is this disturbing thought. You are much more likely to be seriously injured or killed in a car than on a bike. Every single day, one thousand people under the age of 25 die in a car crash. In fact, the leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 29 is car crashes. (Source: Asirt) But when was the last time you saw a young driver wearing a helmet in a car? Or parents strapping helmets onto their kids’ heads after they strapped them into their car seats? It just doesn’t happen, even though we all know how incredibly dangerous driving is. After all, wearing helmets while driving would create the perception that driving is dangerous, wouldn’t it? And it would make it harder for us to keep ignoring the fact that the single greatest killer of our children and young people is motor vehicle accidents – not bike accidents! It might even force us to reevaluate whether the convenience of cars is really worth the ongoing slaughter of the innocents …

Check Out Our Most Popular Posts!

  • 7 of the best indoor bike trainers
    7 of the Best Budget Indoor Bike Trainers
  • All Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared
    ALL Garmin Edge Bike Computers Compared, with Comparative Chart & Videos
  • Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030 Plus Bike Computers: In-Depth Comparison with Reviews and Videos
  • Garmin Edge 130 Plus vs. 1030 Plus. Would a much CHEAPER bike computer work for you?
  • Garmin Edge 530 vs. Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt
  • Zwift makes indoor cycling fun!
    How to Set Up a Zwift Indoor Bike Training System on Any Budget
  • 7 of the Best Cheap Bike Computers under $65 – Includes Budget Wireless Computers
  • 7 of the Best Fitness Trackers for Cyclists to Track Bike Rides
  • Best road bike saddles
    Video-packed post - 9 of the Best Road Bike Saddles for Men and Women
  • 7 of the Best Bike Computers
  • 5 of the Best Smart Indoor Trainers for Effective Indoor Training
  • 5 of the Best Dog Bike Baskets to Safely Take Your Dog Cycling in 2020
  • 9 of the best waterproof cycling jackets for men and women. A great waterproof cycling jacket will keep you dry, and at the same time be breathable, so that you don't overheat your core
    9 of the Best Waterproof Cycling Jackets for Men and Women
  • 7 of the best waterproof cycling pants for men and women
    7 of the Best Waterproof Cycling Pants for Men and Women
  • Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030
    Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030
  • Get a new bike, and then get outside and have fun!
    7 Great Budget Bikes You Can Buy on Amazon, 2020 - Cruiser, Mountain, Road and Hybrid
  • Our Most Popular Cycling Fitness Plans
    Our Most Popular Cycling Fitness Plans
  • Average Joe Cyclist’s Beginner Cyclist Training Plan: Phase 1 - Start Getting Fit Now!
  • Waterproof cycling jackets - group of cyclists
    Best Waterproof Cycling Gear - Includes Jackets, Pants, Gloves, and Balaclavas
  • Great bike lights will light up the night for you! Just be sure to get the ones that are right for you
    7 of the Best Bike Lights
  • 7 of the Best Women's Cycling Jackets
  • Garmin Edge 1030 vs 1000
  • 7 of the Best Windproof Cycling Jackets - Find a Great Fall Cycling Jacket Now!
  • How to Choose the Safest Headphones for Cycling
  • 7 of the Best Waterproof Bike Panniers Compared
  • 7 of the Best Child Bike Seats Compared
  • How to Buy the Best Electric Bike
  • 7 best bike locks
    7 of the Best Bike locks Compared. Find the Best Bike Lock For You!
  • How to Choose the Right Type of Bike - Beginner's Guide
    Complete Guide to How to Buy and Sell Bikes on Craigslist

Did you enjoy this post or find it helpful? If so, please support our blog!


average-joe-cyclist-mug-shot copyWe write this blog because we love cycling. But we also need to earn a living, so we REALLY would appreciate if you click through to one of our reputable affiliates for your online shopping. We are proudly affiliated with Amazon, which sells pretty much everything, and has outstanding shipping and return policies. For your cycling and athletic shopping needs, we are also affiliated to Competitive Cyclist, REI Co-op, and Backcountry. When you buy from our affiliates we make a small commission, and this is the only way we earn any income. Plus, it costs you nothing at all - a real win/win situation!
Shop at Amazon in the USA:
Shop at Amazon in Canada:
Shop at Amazon in the UK:
Amazon USA
Amazon Canada
Amazon UK
Buy from the Online Retailer of Your Choice!

Save

Save

Related

Pin
Share
Tweet

Filed Under: Bike Safety, Cycling Infrastructure Tagged With: bike helmet laws, Bike helmets, Cyclist safety, Safe cycling infrastructure, Urge bike helmet

Comments

  1. AvatarMike O'Brien says

    January 31, 2015 at 8:59 am

    Like most statistical studies, the devil is in the detail. If you look at the references for the NZ study (Tin Tin for example), you will see that there are many more bicycles being bought and more cyclists riding in NZ in the recent years. This is based on retail records so is a very reliable indicator of the number of bikes in circulation. So why less hours cycled? Because the riding hours used in the study are only commuter hours and do not reflect a huge increase in recreational riding. Recreational riding in NZ includes some pretty tough mountain biking and downhill trails, and accidents are frequent. One would expect that the frequency of accidents in recreational cycling will be more frequent per hour than for commuting. It is not clear if the accident statistics for cyclists used in the study only include commuter travel or if recreational cases are aggregated. I feel the results of this study without clarification of the split between commuter and recreational accidents, could be invalid and are potentially misleading.
    Not good, if lives could be saved by reaching a different conclusion.

  2. AvatarAverage Joe Cyclist says

    January 31, 2015 at 10:33 am

    Good point, Mike. I am going to forward it to the New Zealand medical journal and give the researchers the opportunity to respond. I would be interested to see the response.

  3. AvatarKen Grubb says

    February 20, 2015 at 7:36 pm

    I always wear a helmet, and I require my kids to always wear a helmet. Most bike clubs require a helmet for club sponsored rides, and it’s almost always a requirement of their insurance carrier. Insurance company actuaries know the statistical risk of just about anything, so obviously helmet usage reduces the risk of injury and death.

    For me, the only issue to discuss vis-a-vis mandatory helmet laws is economics. For many who need and depend upon a bike, a $10 helmet that must be replaced every 4-5 years, and $2 pads that must be replaced annually, can be a significant expense. Realistically, in my experience, unless you spend $40 or more on a helmet, with $10 pads that must be replaced annually, the helmet isn’t going to be comfortable enough for one to actually wear it for anything more than a short ride.

    Unless and until legislators want to put the idea of a bike helmet stipend on the table, I’m remaining opposed to a mandatory law, at least for adults.

    • AvatarAverage Joe Cyclist says

      February 22, 2015 at 10:59 pm

      Ken, thanks for bringing up a really good point, which I must confess I had not thought of before now. This opens up a whole new line of thinking for me – I feel a post coming on! By the way, I notice from your comments that you write really well – would you consider doing a guest post on this topic?

  • Garmin Edge 1030 Plus vs 830 vs 530

Welcome to Average Joe Cyclist!

Average Joe CyclistWelcome to our blog! I’m Joe Goodwill, an average cyclist, and I write a blog for people like me. People who love cycling but will probably never win any races, and who don’t necessarily look good in Lycra! I also write the Electric Bikes Blog and Average Joe's RV Living Blog. To find our most popular posts, check out our Start Here page.

Mrs Average Joe Cyclist - MaggieHi! I'm Maggie Neilson (aka Mrs. Average Joe Cyclist). Joe and I have done a lot of cycling, and we share what we have learned on this blog . We also write reviews of cycling products and trails! Get to know us better HERE.

How our Product Links Work

  • You pay EXACTLY the same price, whether you use our links or go direct to the websites.
  • Earning some commission enables us to spend more time writing posts 🙂
  • THANK YOU to all the good people who have bought through our links. Your support is sincerely appreciated.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Shop at Amazon in the USA.

Amazon USAShop at Amazon in Canada.

Amazon CanadaShop at Amazon in the UK.

Amazon UK

Search Average Joe Cyclist!

Trending – Our Top Posts Right Now!

  • Garmin Edge 530 vs Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt
  • Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030 Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030 GPS Bike Computers: Full Review and Comparison of GPS Bike Computers with Navigation
  • 7 of the best budget indoor trainers 7 of the Best Budget Indoor Bike Trainers, 2021
  • A Guide for Fat Cyclists. I am not exactly your stereotypical cyclist with the body of a greyhound. However, I don’t let my weight stop me from cycling. This was a 15-mile cross-country ride I did with my wife. We are pushing our bikes here because we were on loose gravel A Guide for Fat Cyclists
  • Cycling is a fantastic way to lose weight. And as a bonus: if you lose weight while maintaining your power, you will become faster on your bike 5 Quick and Easy Tips to Lose Weight Cycling
  • tips for success lose weight cycling Top 10 Tips to Lose Weight Cycling
  • If you keep asking your body to do more, it will grow stronger and fitter to adapt to your demands. How to Get Bike Fit: Complete Bike Training Plan
  • We simply did not evolve to sit in front of a computer all day. No wonder exercise is such a mood lifter, when we actually get out and do it. 7 Steps to Lose Weight by Cycling
  • Can Cycling Cause Penis Numbness, Erectile Dysfunction, and Prostate Cancer? Can Cycling Cause Penis Numbness, Erectile Dysfunction, and Prostate Cancer? Can Cycling Cause Penis Numbness, Erectile Dysfunction, and Prostate Cancer?
  • Garmin Edge 530 vs 830 vs 1030 Plus Bike Computers: In-Depth Comparison, Reviews and Videos

​

Special Offer for Average Joe Cyclist Readers – Get 10% off a New Totem Pole Bike Rack!

Transport up to 6 bikes with the revolutionary new Totem Pole Bike Rack! AND get a 10% discount off the price! Just use the discount code AVERAGEJOE

Click here to claim your discount!

9 of the best road bike saddles

How Women Cyclists can prevent saddle soreness and associated issues

World's first folding electric carbon bike

Copyright © 2021 · Average Joe Cyclist, please contact us for syndication rights.