if helmuts, then fenders and duct tape too
i didn't make it over to simon's bike-in movie last nite. it was at monkey wrench - and on my late nite walk with molee i saw some bikers riding through the neighborhood and figured maybe they were riding home after the movie. hope some of you made it over - i'll be sure to catch the next flicks.
we ended up at the OKAY mountain art gallery opening on E. cesar chavez. it was fun and more fun just to be out on the bike riding. i can't get over this great weather. but now its muggy with the rain.
i hear the helmut law drum beating is going on again - with plans of bringing it before the city council and then the state legislature. sigh. bicycle travel education for cyclists and car drivers peoples. i mean, if your going to do something along those lines and spend lots of money on it. the golden ticket is not always the helmut. teach how to USE your brain while cycling and anticipate situations and ride with precaution and purpose.
i usually don't wear a helmut while riding in the city for many reasons. but i have on occasion. and i dont have a problem with throwing one on if i feel like the type of riding i'll be doing warrants it. i do wear one when i'm heading out on long road rides or mountain biking. although, if i get hit by a 65mph car on a road ride....i dont think the helmut will be of much use. I ride with the intent toward full awareness 'in the rice paddies, finger on the trigger' thing. giving your full attention to your ride and surroundings. I don't have any problems what-so-ever with anyone that wants to wear a helmut or not. I think each of us can decide for ourselves our own comfort level on that.
more importantly to me - especially for those just getting into riding your bike in the city and in/with traffic, is traffic bicycle safety information. and how to prevent yourself from ever meeting the pavement. granted, these things will happen. accidents happen all the time. that's how it goes. accept it. but help yourself avoid situations that would make it more likely to happen.
I've gone down a few times out in the city. each time -- no helmut. the worst being when I went over the handlebars, but I landed on my shoulder first. yes it was wrecked for a week or so. but my head never hit pavement. i think it was just quick reaction and instinct to keep my head up. I have gone down countless times on the mountainbike - landing in all kinds of ways and various body parts, including my head. one time I landed pretty much eyeball first (along with my elbow I think) on top of a protruding stick in the ground. what saved me? my sunglasses. they got jammed into my head and I got a sweet blackeye. but I kept my eye. so should we think about enforcing eyewear when riding a bike too?
and what about fenders on days when it's raining? should we really let cyclists run around with road grime swamp butt? is that what we have degenerated down to? c'mon. if we gotta wear helmuts, then eye protection too and fenders. might as well enforce a complete duct tape bubblewrap before anyone heads out on a bike. and what about peds. I've seen lots of peds fall down while just walking. and stairs. maybe there should be a mandatory helmut handout before you descend stairs. my sister fell down some stairs and knocked herself senseless once.
this is what we might be in for if we don't legislate fenders NOW.
wear a helmut or don't. more importantly. ride safely and within your means. be ninja-like aware. never assume. have fun and be kind to each other out there.
we ended up at the OKAY mountain art gallery opening on E. cesar chavez. it was fun and more fun just to be out on the bike riding. i can't get over this great weather. but now its muggy with the rain.
i hear the helmut law drum beating is going on again - with plans of bringing it before the city council and then the state legislature. sigh. bicycle travel education for cyclists and car drivers peoples. i mean, if your going to do something along those lines and spend lots of money on it. the golden ticket is not always the helmut. teach how to USE your brain while cycling and anticipate situations and ride with precaution and purpose.
i usually don't wear a helmut while riding in the city for many reasons. but i have on occasion. and i dont have a problem with throwing one on if i feel like the type of riding i'll be doing warrants it. i do wear one when i'm heading out on long road rides or mountain biking. although, if i get hit by a 65mph car on a road ride....i dont think the helmut will be of much use. I ride with the intent toward full awareness 'in the rice paddies, finger on the trigger' thing. giving your full attention to your ride and surroundings. I don't have any problems what-so-ever with anyone that wants to wear a helmut or not. I think each of us can decide for ourselves our own comfort level on that.
more importantly to me - especially for those just getting into riding your bike in the city and in/with traffic, is traffic bicycle safety information. and how to prevent yourself from ever meeting the pavement. granted, these things will happen. accidents happen all the time. that's how it goes. accept it. but help yourself avoid situations that would make it more likely to happen.
I've gone down a few times out in the city. each time -- no helmut. the worst being when I went over the handlebars, but I landed on my shoulder first. yes it was wrecked for a week or so. but my head never hit pavement. i think it was just quick reaction and instinct to keep my head up. I have gone down countless times on the mountainbike - landing in all kinds of ways and various body parts, including my head. one time I landed pretty much eyeball first (along with my elbow I think) on top of a protruding stick in the ground. what saved me? my sunglasses. they got jammed into my head and I got a sweet blackeye. but I kept my eye. so should we think about enforcing eyewear when riding a bike too?
and what about fenders on days when it's raining? should we really let cyclists run around with road grime swamp butt? is that what we have degenerated down to? c'mon. if we gotta wear helmuts, then eye protection too and fenders. might as well enforce a complete duct tape bubblewrap before anyone heads out on a bike. and what about peds. I've seen lots of peds fall down while just walking. and stairs. maybe there should be a mandatory helmut handout before you descend stairs. my sister fell down some stairs and knocked herself senseless once.
this is what we might be in for if we don't legislate fenders NOW.
wear a helmut or don't. more importantly. ride safely and within your means. be ninja-like aware. never assume. have fun and be kind to each other out there.
posted by megan | 4/28/2006 03:58:00 PM
7 Comments:
I have a long comment for this. Due to being at work and a bit hopped up on a caramel latte I will let it fly later tonight.
cool. i welcome any/all comments. i know folks have all kinds of varying opinions on this subject. this can be a passionate issue for lots of folks. feel free to post up your opinions. i heart free speech & tolerance..
I completely agree with your last statement.
"ride safely and within your means. be ninja-like aware. never assume. have fun and be kind to each other out there."
I don't think that helmets should be a requirement for those 16 and over. Requirements aka laws seem to be made to be broken and argued over. Putting that money towards more education for bike owners, more bike rodeos, and more city/state organized events that encourage safe/healthy riding. A great example of this is Bike Week.
Saying all this I do think helmets should be required for youth as it instills smart traits such as wearing your helmet as you get older. Parents should get a card at birth that gives them a list of things they should or should not do. Wearing a helmet & seatbelt. Not littering or beating their child. - All these should be on that card.
I wear a helmet even if I am riding a 2 or 3 blocks. Around the parking lot - not normally. I have commuted through major cities such as DC, Philly & Boston. I am more comfortable on the road with traffic than on a trail. This is because I become very aware of my surroundings. Cars taking illegal left hand turns, jaywalkers & debris across the road. I also tend to be a safer/smarter/moral kind of girl. I go at most 10 miles over the speed limit for example.
Education is needed more than another f'n law, but that doesn't mean I won't give you a bunch of shit for not wearing a helmet!! You never know when your front tire will blow and sends you sliding across asphalt. Your steer could crack in half like in Paris Roubaix & you face plant into the cobblestones.
Our society isn't the smartest - I would even perfer if that money went to some low income elementary school instead.
I get easily discouraged in America & the human race. This is why I don't have cable or visit CNN.com anymore
thank you arleigh. you make valid points and said it well. i appreciate your comments. (this is the part where i'd give u a hug and say lets ride over to the pub and have a drink.)
Sweet hugs from a girl with bunny ears & a drink?
When ya visiting?!?1 HAHA
"Education is needed more than another f'n law, but that doesn't mean I won't give you a bunch of shit for not wearing a helmet!"
You shouldn't. Helmets don't appear to be any better at preventing serious head injuries than a wooly cap would have been, or even a deftly placed leaf.
http://bicycleuniverse.info/eqp/helmets-nyt.html
yes
fenders and bars
I need to order fenders and bars
thanks for the reminder
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