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There is some serious research about indicating that the advent of cycling helmets has resulted not in a reduction in the number of accidents but an increase, the conclusion being that it is a classic case of risk compensation: the safer you think you are, the more you will test the boundaries. I must admit that I have always wondered how many cycling accidents involve head injuries that would have been prevented by these helmets.
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Amongst the cycling community discussion of helmets generates heat and light in roughly the same proportions as scameras do in here. The real argument is not over whether helmets work or not but over calls for compulsion, as introduced by Gard.
The issues for racing and for off road riding are different, but for the utility/commuter rider there are a number of arguments against. Brain injury does not require a skull fracture; a closed injury where the brain smashes against the wall of the skull under lateral forces is arguably more damaging. There is a school of thought that says a helmet can add to the rotational force in an accident and worsen that effect. There are also circs where the helmet, on account of having a larger circumference than the head, can catch on the ground and cause neck injury – particularly when hit from behind.
I’ve never tried a helmet that was not downright uncomfortable, or was without a subliminal effect on both hearing and vision. There are significant health benefits to cycling, and compulsion to find and don a helmet for every outing acts as a significant disincentive.
I always ensure my kids wear one, but for myself I’d rather be treated like an adult and take my chances.
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Bromptonaut, I had never heard of arguments that helmets can make it worse, I have always insisted my kids wear one and always wear on myself. My son came a cropper offroad on his bike last year, wrote off his helmet and walked away none the worse.
Can you point me at sources so that I can find out more about this
thanks
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Not a scientific proof but when I am out on my bike with helmet, I can hear next to nothing because of the wind roar in my ears. There may be cases where loss of hearing could contribute to an accident.
Having said that, I would always wear one.
Best
BIG
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Bromptonaut, I had never heard of arguments that helmets can make it worse, I have always insisted my kids wear one and always wear on myself. My son came a cropper offroad on his bike last year, wrote off his helmet and walked away none the worse. Can you point me at sources so that I can find out more about this thanks
There's a reference on the cyclehelmets site referred to above at www.cyclehelmets.org/mf.html?1039 . I would not regard this as conclusive; just an argument for free choice for adults. Kids are more likely to tumble and the helmet will protect them from painful injury and a trip to casualty. I insist my own kids wear one except on sustrans type tracks.
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Barchettaman made a good point about car drivers opening their doors in front of cyclists. I did it again myself the other day, distracted by conversation with my passenger. The cyclist gave the door a wide berth and uttered a brisk expletive as he passed, richly deserved.
The pavement cyclists round here do it as if by right. Some are careful not to alarm pedestrians, others need to be knocked off their bikes and the machine thrown under a passing bus.
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It´s a pity that the pavements aren´t designed as here in Germany, where they´re split in 2 with the roadside half designated for cyclists. Pedestrians are, therefore, aware of bikes and keep their wits about them.
Cyclists always bing their bells when approaching pedestrians from behind.
Narrower pavements see the bikes on the road on a designated lane. The Chermans have the right idea.
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Personally, I think the German split pavements are one of the craziest ideas the Germans have come up with. The number of accidents at traffic lights where cars turn right and collect an unseen (probably behind a row of parked cars) cyclist is staggeringly high.
BIG
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Why is that the fault of the split pavement?
Certainly turning right at a traffic light here demands more attention as if there´s a pavement or cycle path the car doesn´t have the right of way.
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If the cyclist was in the road, the car driver would have noted their presence as they passed them, and the danger of them being cut up would be reduced. With the split pavement, the car will probably not have seen the cyclist and then simply turns right without thinking of the cyclist who is fast approaching the juntion, rather than standing at the crossing waiting to cross as with pedestrians.
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If the cyclist was in the road, the car driver would have noted their presence as they passed them, and the danger of them being cut up would be reduced. With the split pavement, the car will probably not have seen the cyclist and then simply turns right without thinking of the cyclist who is fast approaching the juntion, rather than standing at the crossing waiting to cross as with pedestrians.
Which is exactly why the UK's utility cyclists do not gratefully prostrate themselves at the offer of cycle tracks/lanes.
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The pavement cyclists round here do it as if by right. Some are careful not to alarm pedestrians, others need to be knocked off their bikes and the machine thrown under a passing bus.
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I used to cycle 30 miles a day in my younger years, and started off by always cycling on the road - that is where I belonged. However, I had so many near misses with cars that I started to use pavements where possible. I respected the pedestrians right of way, and would not bother to use a pavement where I would be weaving around them or crossing multiple junctions.
The situation became very confused when councils started to introduce cycle lanes and shared cycle/pedestrian paths. Cyclists don't know where they belong now, and some car drivers are of the opinion that all cyclists should be off the road. I have had this stated to me by drivers!
People slow down for horses and pedestrians on contry lanes, but cyclists don't get a second thought. My current commute takes me past a government establishment where cycling is very popular. Cars are either passing so close to cycles it would make you wince - or pulling across to pass them, into the path of oncoming traffic, and expecting this traffic to take evasive action!!
I have to say that on balance there are many many more dumn car drivers than cyclists out there. I don't agree with cyclists flouting rules of the road, but how many car drivers are killed by cyclists each year?? I am thinking that the figure is pretty low!
HV
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I read this thread yesterday and decided to get truly unscientific overnight.
In two journeys, total distance about four/five miles last night and at 6 this morning, I saw 7 cyclists. 7 were unlit. 6 wore dark clothing. One had no lights, wore dark clothing and went across a dual carriageway against a red light at 6:15 this morning.
This (staggeringly unscientific) survey reflects my recent gut feel, which is that for some reason, the vast majority of cyclists seem happy to flout laws expressly designed with their safety in mind.
I don't know what can be done, short of getting our overstretched police force out blitzing these idiots once in a while. If risk of death won't change their behaviour, perhaps fines will. Perhaps a fine AND "impounded bike till you turn up with a set of lights" might do it.
I'm not anti-cyclist in any way, shape or form, but I don't want the death of one of these fools on my conscience, thank you. And the posters who point out that car drivers are sometimes less than perfect are completely right, however, this does nothing to solve the problem here, which is 100% caused by the cyclists themselves.
V
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Second that, Vin, all of it.
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Whenever I was riding my motorcycle around London and saw a cyclist who was riding without lights or in dark clothing I used to make a point of pulling alongside them at the lights , assuuming they stopped of course.
In a pleasant manner I would say something like 'Excuse me , but I wonder if you realise how invisible you are without lights /wearing dark clothing at night, I almost hit you because I didn't see you'. I used to particularly hate seeing kids without lights and nearly hit some kids playing on skateboards in a residential road at dusk, they were virtually invisible.
If it made one of the irresponsible so and so's think for a second then it was worthwhile but the usual reaction was apathy or astonishment and abuse to me because anyone should have the temerity to point out to them the error of their ways.....
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Some cyclists have to be seen to be believed even in daylight. There's a busy market street round the corner from where I live. At the other end it narrows over a railway bridge, then curves sharply round to the right to run straight along the railway line. In the middle of the bend there is a junction with a minor road, to the left of course, with good visibility into it. It was my habit, when coming off the bridge, to floor it happily in third and come out of the curve in a brisk 30mph cruise. I always assumed as one does that traffic in the minor road would behave.
One day as I came off the bridge, floored it and laid the car neatly on its nearside doorhandle for the bend, I heard a prolonged scream, not a shout of warnig but 'Aaaaah!'. The screamer was an adolescent seated on the handlebars of a bicycle ridden by another adolescent, coming out of the side turning and already leaning over to cross my path onto the bridge. I floored the other pedal and the car, a Skoda coupe, stopped promptly, the front wheels stepping I suppose about a foot out of line and the rears about three feet. The bike with both boys cleared its nose by millimetres and rode off, already laughing.
At the next intersection the following car pulled up beside me and the driver, an Arab, looked across shaking his head. 'Did you see that?' I asked. He nodded and said: 'They were lucky.'
So was I. I sometimes wonder whether people haven't got a point when they rebuke me for optimistic driving.
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Driving home tonight. Dark road, dark clothing, very feint flashing LEDs and rear and none at front. Even my seven year old commented on lack of visibility and non compliance with legislation vis-a-vis flashing rear lights.
Sometimes you want to run them down to teach them a lesson (but I know you can't).
--
Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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I think the flashing lights are great, they tend to catch your eye even when the batteries start to fade.
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The flashing ones are far better than the standard light and dont 'blend' into the dark like normal ones when viewed from the distance.
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Flashing rear lights are now legal.
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I have recently (at age 50) begun cycling again. I wear a fluorescent yellow sleeveless jacket for visibility, as it might make a difference. Here in New Zealand, cycle helmets are compulsory. Mine is light, comfortable, and does not compromise my visibility or hearing. The little piece of polystyrene is encased in a harder plastic to hold it together, and there are standards that cycle helmets must pass. I have ridden a motorcycle for many years, and would not dream of riding that without a helmet. The same goes for my bicycle. I regularly reach speeds of 30mph, so the potential for death is obvious. Walking, head down, into a brick wall is painful enough, and that is at less than 5 mph. (Yes, I've done it!) Comparisons with cycle racing events are hardly appropriate. Collisions with other traffic are far more likely in a commuting situation. Do I take more risks because I'm wearing a helmet? Of course not. That'a a red herring, like saying that seat belts have the same effect on car drivers.
A close relative, training for a triathlon, was hit from behind by a car doing 60 mph and badly injured. He had several limb injuries and a head injury. His helmet was completely destroyed in the accident, and his neurologist said to us that without the helmet, it is very unlikely that he would have survived. He has made an amazing recovery, and is able to function in society again. If I had harboured any misgivings about the value of cycle helmets, his experience would have given me a lot to think about.
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Flashing rear lights are now legal.
That's interesting - do you have any more details, or a reference, please?
Over recent years, the standard cycle lighting requirements have become wholly inadequate and IMHO the most useful items for being seen are A) a high viz vest and B) front and rear LEDs.
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>> Flashing rear lights are now legal. That's interesting - do you have any more details, or a reference, please? Over recent years, the standard cycle lighting requirements have become wholly inadequate and IMHO the most useful items for being seen are A) a high viz vest and B) front and rear LEDs.
Waino,
This is from the CTC website www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4071 . The SI amending the Road Vehicle Lighting Regs should be on the OPSI (ex HMSO) website but i cannot immediately locate it.
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I am not so sure about flashing rear lights. Used as a supplimentary item along with a steady light they are ok, but I have noticed a drawback when they are used on their own. On busy city streets a driver often has a lot of information to process, and relys on a sweeping glance to take in a lot of hazards in a short space of time. If that glance happens to fall on the cyclist when the light is off it is easy to miss it completely. A second look from a careful and observant driver will of course spot the cyclist, but there are an awful lot out there whose observation leaves a lot to be desired, and who will put the pedal down on the evidence of a brief glimpse.
Next time you come up behind a bike with a flashing rear light and you are doing around thirty have a look and you will find that the light seems to be off fo an awful long time in relation to your closing speed, even though it is probably less than a second.
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Some toerag nicked my front light tonight, but left the mounting on the bike. How stupid and annoying.
My fault I s´pose for leaving it on.
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I've had this happen,probably a tealeaf needed a torch to go burgling with.
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Most of the LED rear lights available now have a number of LEDs that can be all on together, or show different flashing patterns or LED 'chasing' sequences. Some are particularly eye-catching. The latest ones have high intensity LEDs which are a distinct improvement. I have seen cyclists with extra lights mounted on their helmets as well as the cycle, as the weight of the lights is very low.
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Another thing to watch with LED lights is their narrow beam. Bright red dot ahead, visible at 300metres, ago faded almost to nothing as cyclist turned 45degrees right into bend.
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Bicycle lights these days are nowhere near as powerful as the good old carbide lights.
www.dragon-speleo.co.uk/contents/carbide.html
--
L\'escargot.
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Bicycle lights these days are nowhere near as powerful as the good old carbide lights. www.dragon-speleo.co.uk/contents/carbide.html -- L\'escargot.
Not true. When I race off road at night I use an 80 watt xenon (metal halide) helmet mounted rechargable light. It costs more than double what most people would spend on a new bike; but it ain't half bright! I don't ride on the road with it for fear of dazzling oncoming drivers!
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I still have the club's Passublio lights, when I'm on the road I turn them so they're facing ahead. Have only been flashed once by a car driver, but it means they see you from a long distance away, and in their mirrors when you're behind them in a cycle lane.
Also makes pedestrians get out of the way...
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This is from the CTC website www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4071 . The SI amending the Road Vehicle Lighting Regs should be on the OPSI (ex HMSO) website but i cannot immediately locate it.
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Many thanks for the info'.
Most bike lights are, to varying degrees, directional for being seen - that's why I'm so keen on high-viz wear. I wouldn't dream of cycling after dark without a reflective waistcoat.
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I give up,just returned from a shopping centre where a copper was merrily threading his way through the peds on his bike, a road nearby so no reason for it,great example.At least it wasn't dark.
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1) Get in policeman's way
2) Get knocked over
3) Fake serious injury
4) Sue police
5) PROFIT!
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Might pass for a citizen's arrest situation. Worth a try if you're young or drunk or mad or self-righteous or bolshy enough.
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