To wear a helmet or not, that is the question.

[daniel]

Quite an interesting article on some research done by the University of Bath on the how close drivers pass cyclists who are wearing helmets to those who aren't:
www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-09/uob-wah091106.php

[Steve Sorba]

Maybe you should ask Will what he thinks, though admittedly the car was stationery! Wearing a helmet does not preclude educating all road users as to how to ride/drive safely.

[Deleted]

I've written off two helmets in my time, both in incidents that, I hasten to add were not my fault. I would almost certainly have smashed in my head on both occasions but for the helmet. I am not advocating that everyone should wear a helmet - it's clearly a personal choice.

There are many more variables involved in calculating how much space drivers give to cyclists, the main one being whether you cycle assertively and make yourself prominent. I remember when I was but a nipper there were adverts on television telling motorists to give cyclists the room that they would give to car, and I still tend to think that way.

I was encouraged the other morning when I heard on the news that the Cycling Proficiency Test is being re-introduced at primary schools. Perhaps children will hassle their parents to drive a bit more carefully, and if not, perhaps they will have a little more awareness of cyclists when they mature and become drivers themselves.

Anyway, I think I am becoming far too reasonable. What it really boils down to is that I hate cars with a passion and think that things were probably better in the olden days. There.