Cycle Republic recently released The British Cyclists’ Survey, with some interesting findings. According to the survey of 500 cyclists across the UK, they feel “generally unsafe” whilst cycling. So, why do we see so many people riding around without helmets?
Why Do So Many People Not Wear A Helmet When Cycling?
I recently learned it’s not illegal to not wear a helmet – something else that surprised me!
However, I do know that it’s very important to wear a helmet whilst on any moving vehicle such as a bike, scooter or skateboard.
That said, I see so many kids (and adults, for that matter) riding around with no helmets on, it just seems to be the norm not to wear a helmet.
On the school run I see kids not wearing helmets, flying down the roads, up paths, down paths, out in front of cars.
Whether their parents made their kids wear a helmet when they left the house, I don’t know, but a few certainly don’t wear them on the way to school.
Perhaps it should be illegal, and more kids will wear them?
Helmets Lessen The Chance Of Serious Brain Injury
There are plenty of reasons to adorn the head of your loved one with a helmet, but the main one is they lessen the chance of suffering a serious brain injury.
That’s quite enough for me to try to remember to bring a helmet every time my kids and I go out with a scooter or bike.
This is a very alarming stat from kidshealth.org:
Every year, about 300,000 kids go to the emergency department because of bike injuries, and at least 10,000 kids have injuries that require a few days in the hospital. Some of these injuries are so serious that children die, usually from head injuries.
There’s Really No Reason Not To Wear A Helmet
Whatever your kid’s interest happens to be – whether they’re into unicorns, sharks, or dinosaur helmets for toddlers – there’s one out there they’ll happily wear without much fuss.
I remember when the helmet ‘trend’ hit… I must have been about 7 or 8?
My mum would cycle my brother and I to school most days, and one day she told us we must wear a helmet.
She made me put a bright green SKID LID (remember those!) I looked oh so very cool along with my bright yellow ghostbusters rain cape.
I remember back then that there were a lot of awareness videos out, including ones at school.
I would hope that schools still teach cycle safety – I haven’t got to that age child yet to know (tell me in the comments if you know).
Fin loves wearing helmets. Whether he’s at the skate park, cycling or just bombing up and down our road, he doesn’t go out without one.
He has 2 different ones. He has a motorbike style one for cycling and BMXing, and a plain black one for scooting which matches his knee and elbow guards.
Indi also has a helmet, and Beau is really into hats, so helmets have never been an issue with him either.
Thank you to Cycle Republic for reminding me to put my child’s safety first. Here’s the full Cycle Republic survey.
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Last Updated on June 25, 2023 by Lucy Clarke
1 comment
Thanks for sharing this. My brother and I somehow survived biking in the US and in Europe without helmets. We were daredevils and had some very close calls. I definitely wear a helmet when I bike now, both as a role-model for our daughter, but also because it just makes sense.