[OHPV-list] Wear Helmet, Get Hit [???]

[Jim Lester]

If riding without a helmet caused motorist to give Dr. Walker a wider berth, perhaps he should conduct the same experiment while riding naked.  Maybe then motorists would pass him at an even greater distance.

Seriously, if you read the article, Dr. Walker never explicitly recommends riding without a helmet.  However, he does seems to suggest that it might be safer to do so.  Personally, like most everyone else on this list, I have never gotten on my bike without a helmet (intentionally), and never will.  Nevertheless, I find the results of Dr. Walker's experiment interesting and noteworthy.

Dr. Walker also conducted an experiment where he wore a women's wig to see how motorists would react.  The results: "Whilst wearing the wig, drivers gave him an average of 14 centimetres (5.5 inches) more space when passing."  So perhaps we should all wear wigs over our helmets.  Better yet, how about riding naked with a helmet and a wig.

One more thing:  The BBC title for this article was " 					Wearing helmets 'more dangerous'", and yet nowhere in the article does anyone use the phrase 'more dangerous'.  The Science Digest title for the same article is "Wearing A Helmet Puts Cyclists At Risk, Suggests Research".  Hmmm, I always thought the BBC was less sensational than other news organizations but here they appear to be more so.  Perhaps I'll write a letter to the BBC's public editor about this.

OK, I'm done.

~Jim

----- Original Message ----
From: Diane Wills <willsd at pacifier.com>
To: ROBERT JOHNSON <captjohnson5 at msn.com>; ohpv-list at ohpv.org; Bill  Stites <Bill at StitesDesign.com>
Sent: Friday, September 22, 2006 7:10:26 AM
Subject: Re: [OHPV-list] Wear Helmet, Get Hit [???]

                    I also noticed that this story was published in England , where things are probably quite different than here in the  U.S.   Even though they speak the same language, their culture is different from ours. 
     
   Diane
     
         
  From: ohpv-list-bounces at ohpv.org [mailto:ohpv-list-bounces at ohpv.org] On Behalf Of ROBERT JOHNSON
 Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 9:57 PM
 To: ohpv-list at ohpv.org; Bill Stites
 Subject: Re: [OHPV-list] Wear Helmet, Get Hit [???]
   
    
       Hello all,
   
     
   
     
   
    I can't believe that anyone would be so silly to suggest that we might be safer without a helmet!  Maybe Dr. Walker is looking for some controversial publicity to promote himself.  The fact that he was struck by a bus and a truck during the "so called experiment" tends to make me believe he is an incompetent rider or has other issues.  As far as accidents go most of mine and the other cyclist I know took place in the absence of traffic when we slipped in a corner on gravel, wet pavement, charging dogs, renegade deer in the middle of the road and other non-vehicular obstacles, a flat tire at speed, etc., etc..... We all benefited from helmets (when they were properly fitted).  There is a plethora of data from a variety of more reliable sources that state without any contradiction that "Helmets make you safer on the road". 
   
     
   
    This is a total non-issue and more appropriate for tabloid publications:  Elvis spotted at Quickie Mart, 
   
    Aliens Abducted my Dog , Bike Helmets Cause Accidents, Recumbents Can't Climb.  
   
     
   
     
   
    Have a Safe Biking Day, 
   
     
   
     
   
    Robert
   
     
     
  
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