Anger at the idiots - why?

[stephens]

That is a popular, but totally flawed argument. Statistically speaking, one is more likely to receive a head injury while driving in a car than they are while riding a bike helmetless. Are you therefore ready to make the same statement regarding tax-payer medical care for ALL drivers as you are for helmetless cyclists? How about all the other things that humans do that are statistically much more likely to result in injury than helmetless cycling?

The bottom line is that riding a bicycle is one of the safest things can do. Head injuries are basically as likely as while walking. No one wears helmets while walking.

 

[Notso Swift]

Please quote your source for that one because I would love to see the conditions around that sort of claim.
Is it on a per km traveled,
per 1000 accidents
per 1000 participants?

 

[stephens]

The wikipedia article on bicycle helmets is actually a pretty good summary of the issue. It has tons of footnotes to the sources and studies. Here's a good section to start with.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_helmets#Is_cycling_risky_enough_to_require_helmets.3F

 

[Archibald]

The wikipedia article on bicycle helmets is actually a pretty good summary of the issue. It has tons of footnotes to the sources and studies. Here's a good section to start with.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_helmets#Is_cycling_risky_enough_to_require_helmets.3F

statistics and logic can be used to twist any argument in the favour of whoever presents is...

i've just read that bit on wikipedia, which is dodgy enough to start with. many of those statements are skewed to start with - one flaw being the complete foolishness of pedestrians in the UK. They're like a heard of cats all over the streets of london here. i've clocked a couple of them on my bike as they constantly disobey don't walk signals at crossings and randomly run across roads through traffic... They're at odds with the traffic while cyclists tend to be with the traffic...

despite all that, it has nothing to do with the original question of why you get annoyed by cyclists doing stupid things on the roads...

so if helmet wearing is your issue, why are you annoyed by someone who chooses not to wear one?

 

[meremoth]

In Rural Texas if there are no cars I will slow and go thru the red light. What gets me is the new bicycle riders that ride on the wrong side of the road. I think that is a death wish. But they can ride they way they want it is their life. I think that at the end of the day only you are responsible for you.

 

[stephens]

statistics and logic can be used to twist any argument in the favour of whoever presents is...

Perhaps. But they are far more reliable and likely to lead to the "truth" than relying on personal anecdotes.

 

[Notso Swift]

The wikipedia article on bicycle helmets is actually a pretty good summary of the issue. It has tons of footnotes to the sources and studies. Here's a good section to start with.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_helmets#Is_cycling_risky_enough_to_require_helmets.3F

Err, no, that says that (per number of reported accidents), pedestrians are more likely to suffer head injuries. Since Pedestrians don't usually wear helmets, and since we do not have the statistical change if they were wearing a helmet I think that is fair summary - either way a car weighs 20 times a pedestrian or a cyclist, so you will be on the losing side

Indeed, this topic is only vaugely related to the original statement

Statistically speaking, one is more likely to receive a head injury while driving in a car than they are while riding a bike helmetless

So the question remains
On what basis, and where did you get it from.

 

[Boeing]

http://www.bhsi.org/stats.htm


Estimated Emergency Room-Treated
Head Injuries for Selected Sports
2004
note: Includes any head injury, including areas not covered by helmets: ears, mouth, eyes and face.

Sport
Category Number of Head Injuries - Number of Hospitalized Head Injuries*
Bicycles 151,024- 10,769
Baseball 63,234 - 1,346
Football 51,953- 1,324
Skateboards 18,743- 764
Kick Scooters 15,622 - n/a
Horseback riding 14,218- 2,434
Snowboarding 8,540- n/a
Ice hockey 5,944- n/a
In-line skating 3,511 - n/a
Lacrosse 1,814 - n/a

Source: National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, CPSC

n/a = Sample size too small to report estimate.

Includes injuries suffered participating in the activity and/or patients wearing the apparel and equipment associated with the activity.

Includes injuries to head, ears, mouth, eyes, and face.

*Includes cases where patient was admitted, was held for observation, was treated and transferred to another hospital, was dead on arrival, or died in the ER.

This chart also appeared in the March, 2006 press release on a CPSC Helmet Guide