Mandatory Bicycle Helmet Laws [View all]

[Kennah]

I have come across a few studies that try to assess "overall societal health benefits" and conclude that mandatory bike helmet laws make us unhealthy and unsafe. So goes the argument, fewer people will ride so we save some brains but lose more hearts.

DU seems like a good place to have a rational discussion on this subject.

I think it cannot seriously be argued that a bike helmet protects the individual wearing it. It obviously won't help in some circumstances, like if one meets a truck head on at 75 MPH. But there are many scenarios when it would help to reduce injury or prevent death.

Bicyclist fatalities and injuries down in the U.S., bicycle ridership up in the U.S., and at least some helmet laws enacted. All in the last two decades. The argument against helmet laws, at least here in the U.S., would seem to be a fail.

I wear one, I require my kids to wear one, and now they don't even think twice about it. They instinctively wear a helmet when they ride a bike.

If one is opposed to mandatory bike helmet laws, would you support mandatory bike helmet laws for kids, under 18, under 16, under 14, something?