is it improtant to ALWAYS wear a helmet while riding your bike?

Answer 1

Oui, especially around autos.

Answer 2

YES, please wear a helmet. I speak from personal experience having been in an accident where the helmet saved me from a serious head injury.

I was riding my bike up to a stoplight when a cab door (about 5 cars from the light) suddenly opened infront of me. I had no time to react, I rode my face into the edge of the door and then fell over sideways. It was so sudden that I didn't even put my arm out to break the fall. Strangely, it all played out in slow motion. I fell over and my head hit the pavement. The helmet cracked, but luckily, aside from the giant cut on my face, I was fine.

The biggest shock was that this happened to me. I was a very experienced cyclist (rode halfway across Canada) and very comfortable commuting in traffic. I always rode defensively and scanned for potential issues. In this case, it was just freaky timing. No one expects a car door to suddenly open infront of you when you're riding beside the curb, parallel to traffic.

Plus, I also had several years of karate training where I learned how to breakfall. We practiced getting tossed in the air and landing without hurting ourselves to the point where it became second nature. In this situation, the instinct didn't kick in which is why I hit my head.

People think that it can't happen to them, so they don't wear a helmet. I didn't think it could happen to me, but I'm glad I wore a helmet. I always wear one because you never know what idiot you might encounter.

Answer 3

I just recently had a bad wreck and the is not much left of the helmet. But I came out of it ok. If it was not for the helmet, I don't even want to think about what could have happened.

Answer 4

While there may be some instances when it isn't necessary to wear a helmet, they would be awfully rare. What you must ALWAYS do is have the helmet properly fitted. A helmet that is improperly adjusted will be uncomfortable at best and dangerous at worst.

Answer 5

if you go huck 20 ft drops and do backflips off of dirtjumps than yes deffinately. but even if you are just riding for 10 minutes on a sidewalk into town you should wear a helmet cause you never know if youll hit a curb and a go over the handlebars and smash your head in on the cement.

Answer 6

things happen so fast, wrong part of rubber hits the wrong part of the pavement and you're relearning the alphabet. yes, always wear a helmet. We can't predict or prepare for everything that can go wrong and would not want to ride that way but take every precaution you can and get out there and have fun.

Answer 7

Kids should always wear a helmet.
For adults, if your really good and used to biking around town and your a cautious driver/biker, then I don't think you need to ALWAYS wear a helmet.

If your biking in unfamiliar routes and/or going to a far place, it's advisable to wear a helmet

Answer 8

Yes!!!

It's a shame that so many serious road cyclists in the U.S. try to be "cool" like many European racers and not wear helmets. I often run across roadies in SoCal wearing ski hats with no helmets. Ski hats in 60 degree wheather!

Image is nothing. Brains are everything. Wear your helmet.

Answer 9

YES, never for a fact doubt it. I have a cousin that is brain dead for years now because he was "only" riding in his neighborhood less than a mile from his house. What a waste. And all the heartbreak and pain. He is physically sound and could live like this for 40 more years. Is it worth it? My Aunt and Uncle tears say NO. I beg you. Do no do this to yourself or your loved ones.

Answer 10

Depends on how old you are, where you ride, distance and how fast you ride.

But I'd say no, it isn't important to always wear a helmet.

Answer 11

It's actually ilegal not to wear one if you're under the age of 18. But it's actually better to because you may be "tough" but you're not immortal so you could fall off while going 10mph and crack your head on the curb. Anything could happen and it will happen if you don't wear your helmet.