Is Wearing a Helmet Rational?
A recent post on Commute by Bike discusses decisions to begin wearing helmets. The main article and most of the comments talk about the events that convinced people to wear a helmet. What I find striking is how many of the decisions to wear a helmet were based on either an accident or hearing about an accident. Even my story 'The Day I Got Helmet' was an emotional reaction instead of a well-reasoned decision.
We all like to think we act rationally -- and perhaps taking steps to do something about our fears is rational -- but it's interesting that none of the stories talked about rational decisions reached upon careful reviews of the facts.
OK, analyzing data and pointing out the result isn't nearly as interesting as splattered brains. Stories are what we want to read about and relate to. At least the data does support the stories.
Got Helmet? ;-).
Labels: bike-commuting, fun advocacy, helmet
posted by Jett @ 11:40 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
I'm not a helmet "wear'er". At one time I wouldn't go around the block without one.
Except for club rides, they are not very common in my riding area.
It's interesting that you used to wear one but don't now. Was it a gradual adjustment of attitude or did it happen all at once?
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