RE: Bike Helmet Issue (Full Version)

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agapetos -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/12/2008 2:49:53 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ellie-Mae

I turned on the news today and lo and behold this was one of the main stories.

How sad. The driver is only young too.



Tinkerbell_ -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/12/2008 3:07:31 PM)

One has to ask, why was there a child on her bike at that age, by herself on that busy of a road?



agapetos -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/12/2008 3:18:59 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tinkerbell_

One has to ask, why was there a child on her bike at that age, by herself on that busy of a road?

From the article
quote:

the little girl was riding to look at the cows across the street from her house.
Way back when, it wasn't compulsary for seatbelts to be worn. Information commercials (whatever they're called) pointed out that most accidents occured within a really short distance from home ~ people just 'popping round the corner'.

Driving a car and riding a bike on 'your own territory' gives you a certain sense of confidence. Problem is, you're not the only one on the roads.

A helmet may not have saved this little girl, but perhaps it would have.



his_chosen -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/12/2008 3:45:31 PM)

Jimbo--perhaps I wasn't clear enough. My former coach was hit by a car, flipped up and over another vehicle (a pickup truck carrying ladders), then landed on the ground. He suffered two broken arms, broken pelvis and minor brain injury. Had he not worn a helmet, certainly he would have been killed.

A helmet will not prevent all deaths. This past weekend I did an organized bicycle tour. One cyclist was hit by a car (hit and run) and was killed.

My house, my rules. No helmet, no bike.



locomom -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/12/2008 4:06:12 PM)

Our house rules are the same. No helmet; no bike riding. The kids in the neighborhood feel sorry for her. Our daughter feels sorry for them that their parents won't make them do what is best and what is the law. She has flipped off her bike and hit her head but had no injury because of her helmet. It happened in the neighborhood, not some big accident. My husband and I wear bike helmets, and my daughter has worn one all her biking life.

To the 14 yo and 7 yo, I would say they have no choice. To the 18 yo, I would say since I am still paying for your medical expenses, you will wear one. If he or she wishes to start paying for his or her own medical care, then we can discuss it.



JimboFletch -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/12/2008 4:57:11 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: his_chosen

Jimbo--perhaps I wasn't clear enough. My former coach was hit by a car, flipped up and over another vehicle (a pickup truck carrying ladders), then landed on the ground. He suffered two broken arms, broken pelvis and minor brain injury. Had he not worn a helmet, certainly he would have been killed.

A helmet will not prevent all deaths. This past weekend I did an organized bicycle tour. One cyclist was hit by a car (hit and run) and was killed.

My house, my rules. No helmet, no bike.

Your house, your rules. Got it.

I rode hundreds of miles sans helmet when I was growing up. I had my share of spills, none life-threatning. I knew the rules of the road (which side, hand signals, etc.) and drivers seemed to be alert and courteous. Today, I would not ride a bike around my city, with or without a helmet. Walking is hazardous enough...



his_chosen -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/12/2008 5:00:55 PM)

Yah, my coach knows the rules of the road, too. However, the car that hit him wasn't following those rules. Same with the cyclist that was killed this weekend. Bike vs car, the bike loses every time. Why not wear a helmet. Unless you have nothing to protect.



dradynsmom -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/12/2008 5:12:53 PM)

I am sorry to say but sometimes it takes an accident for some one to learn. Growing up i owned a helmet but was never required to wear it. Same with my little brother. However, about 5 years ago my little brother lost control of his bike on my mom's gravel road and hit a tree. When my mom found him he had lost all ability in one side of his body. When the ambulance arrived at the hospital they found out that he had lost all periphial vision. After a week in the children's hospital his vision returned to normal as did his feeling. However after further tests it has been determined that he has brain injury. He now has numerous learning disabilitys as well as adhd (which we're told may be due to the head trama). He is now no longer able to be on a skate board, scooter, bike, 4 wheeler, anything without a helmet. It is not a law where we live but it IS law in our homes. When my children get old enough to ride the same rules will apply - no helmet no wheels.
Steph



PrincessDonna -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/12/2008 5:16:08 PM)

Accidents happen. I was almost hit by a truck pulling a horse trailer at the age of 11 when I went to cross the road without looking (and peed my pants in the middle of the road!).

If an accident were to happen to one of my children, I would not want to have to question whether wearing a helmet would have made a difference or not. If they had a helmet on and were being properly supervised by me (if at an age where they needed me to be with them while on bike), and something awful were to happen, AT LEAST I would know I had done what was reasonable, what I could.

To my kids, it's the same issue as wearing a seatbelt in the car. You just do it. If you don't, or if you unbuckle while mom or dad is driving, you can expect an immediate pull-over and probably a spanking. Basic safety is a serious issue to us.

ETA...I am also not the least bit afraid to demand that our children's cousins and friends wear a helmet when riding at our house. Many of them are not required to at home...to that I say...well, you're not at home. Put it on. We keep extras in many sizes.



Consecrated2God -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/12/2008 5:18:10 PM)

I'm curious--are there any statistics about helmet safety? Have they done any studies to find out if people suffer less injuries when they wear helmets?



JimboFletch -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/12/2008 5:23:45 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: his_chosen

Yah, my coach knows the rules of the road, too. However, the car that hit him wasn't following those rules. Same with the cyclist that was killed this weekend. Bike vs car, the bike loses every time. Why not wear a helmet. Unless you have nothing to protect.

Well, I don't have that much to protect, but my point is I have given up riding a bike on the streets in this town because too many drivers are preoccupied with everything except driving. Seriously.



agapetos -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/12/2008 7:50:27 PM)

This is the first hit I got when I did a search.

It's frightening reading...[&:]



Jenny-Fair -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/12/2008 8:43:17 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Consecrated2God

I'm curious--are there any statistics about helmet safety? Have they done any studies to find out if people suffer less injuries when they wear helmets?

I don't know, but I do know that the vast majority of bike-related hospital visits are due to head injury...so simple to prevent, and yet so many people feel it's useless to try[&o]

It's kinda like all those people who claim that 'so and so would have been killed if she'd been wearing a seatbelt' and yet...we KNOW that seatbelts save lives. If you want excuses, there are plenty to find or make up, but the point is, as a parent, you really should be protecting your kids, and a helmet is a very simple, relatively inexpensive, and painless way to do it.



Walker311 -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/12/2008 9:12:37 PM)

When I first started riding many years ago I slid on some rocks and the pedal caught me in the head... no helmet. I ended up with stitches.

I learned my lesson and have always worn a helmet since. I've even busted up a few.

Here is my bold statement.

If you do not force your children to wear a helmet when they ride any unenclosed vehicle, it is proof that you do not love your kids enough. I bet you put your dog on a leash when you go walking near the street. I've seen some very smart dogs stop, look, and listen but have seen more as road kill.



JimboFletch -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/13/2008 7:43:34 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Walker311

When I first started riding many years ago I slid on some rocks and the pedal caught me in the head... no helmet. I ended up with stitches.

I learned my lesson and have always worn a helmet since. I've even busted up a few.

Here is my bold statement.

If you do not force your children to wear a helmet when they ride any unenclosed vehicle, it is proof that you do not love your kids enough. I bet you put your dog on a leash when you go walking near the street. I've seen some very smart dogs stop, look, and listen but have seen more as road kill.

I would expect your bold statement, if it's to be completely genuine and honest, to go something more like, "If you allow your children to ride any unenclosed vehicle where there are motorized vehicles present, it is proof that you do not love your kids enough."
[8|]



Consecrated2God -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/13/2008 12:59:01 PM)

Why stop at unenclosed motorized vehicles? Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of brain injuries.

I did some internet searching on my own, and there are studies that say that helmet wearing actually increases your risk of injuries, because they provide a false sense of security. I'm not sure they are all they are cracked up to be, or if they just make people feel good because they think they are protected. I'm not against helmet use, by any means, but I don't think they are as safe as many assume.
Here's an interesting link.



thisistheday -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/13/2008 1:24:28 PM)

A few years ago John Stossel from 2020 (?) did a report on bicycle helmets. One thing he found was that other drivers behave differently if the bike rider is wearing a helmet. Other vehicles may follow closer if you're wearing a helmet (and I think also if you are perceived to be a male rider). The idea was that helmets weren't as protective as perceived because of the increased risk from other vehicles.

I did a search though and couldn't find more information about that.

I do tell my kids no helmet, no bike. Unfortunately then they just don't ride their bikes much. Well, my oldest anyway. I need to decide when I'll leave it up to her. She is 17.

Dee



agapetos -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/13/2008 1:25:48 PM)

I have a friend who's oldest boy (he's just 11) has been doing his cycling proficiency course. He's learnt about bike maintainence, about why he needs to be wearing a helmet, about responsible bike riding.

Wearing a helmet may provide a 'false sense of security' but so does riding a bike in your own area, as I mentioned earlier. Giving a child a helmet and saying 'wear it' isn't enough ~ you need to teach them to be alert to what is going on around them at all times.

When we are learning to drive a car we learn that wearing a seat belt isn't necessarily going to save our lives (but it will save us going through the window) and that we need to be alert to what is going on around us ~ and stay alert. Kids should be taught this too.



Mrs.X -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/13/2008 2:44:40 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: agapetos

This is the first hit I got when I did a search.

It's frightening reading...[&:]

Wow, thanks for that! Accodring to that link, in 2006 95% of bicyclists NOT wearing a helmet who were involved in a reported accident DIED. Only 5% of bicyclists wearing a helmet involved in a reported accident died. So, according to that, your chance of survival in an accident is increased to 90% when you DO wear a helmet.

Well, that's enough info for me to enforce the "no helmet, no bike" rule in my house.



stampinlady -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/13/2008 4:11:25 PM)

Maybe it all depends on where, how and who's riding?? We never made it a rule to wear a helmet, but we also don't go on bike trips. The kids do ride to the park, Starbucks and 7-11 for slurpies.



Ellie-Mae -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/13/2008 4:19:13 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: stampinlady

Maybe it all depends on where, how and who's riding?? We never made it a rule to wear a helmet, but we also don't go on bike trips. The kids do ride to the park, Starbucks and 7-11 for slurpies.


You mean you let them drink and ride??!!!



stampinlady -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/14/2008 9:06:19 AM)

[sm=icon_smile_yikes.gif] I chuckled when my dd asked me if her and her friend could ride to Starbucks last year. They love those smoothies.[:D]



stellaluna -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/14/2008 9:23:21 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: agapetos
Giving a child a helmet and saying 'wear it' isn't enough ~ you need to teach them to be alert to what is going on around them at all times.

I wanted to make sure people saw this. I belong to a cycling forum and this has been a topic of discussion many times. In fact, it isn't enough to teach your kid to balance on a bicycle and send them off. Parents really should be riding with their 5, 6, 7-year-olds, in the street, in their neighborhoods, showing them how to navigate on a bicycle. That includes watching for drivers, local rules about riding, when it is safe to ride on the sidewalk and when it isn't, etc. Most parents don't ride with their kids at all. (Most parents don't ride at all.) Doing so will make your child a skilled cyclist by the time they're old enough for you to consider letting them out on their own. Without good training, they are no more skilled or safe at 12 than they are at 6.



TammyIsBlessed -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/14/2008 10:09:42 AM)

When is it not safe to ride on a sidewalk? Or do you mean getting out of the way of pedestrians?



stellaluna -> RE: Bike Helmet Issue (5/14/2008 10:16:07 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: TammyIsBlessed
When is it not safe to ride on a sidewalk? Or do you mean getting out of the way of pedestrians?

When there are hedges or fences that stretch all the way to the edge. When there are people mowing lawns. When there are small children playing in yards.



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