A Safety Advance...We all can be proud of..and it saved lives...(smile)

[Stuart G]

Last edited Sat Apr 8, 2017, 05:13 PM - Edit history (1)

........There has been an advance in safety in a hobby/exercise/just for happiness experience,... that needs to be given some applause.. ..

Short background..I walk from time to time in the Cook County Forest Preserves...It is a bike trail, walking trail that wanders through the forest. Spring has sprung..so I went for a walk today... Oh about a mile or so.. Well, I have been doing this on and off.. for 15 - 20 years... I watch all kinds of people jog, walk, ride their bicycles, or whatever..I have seen every kind of bicycle as I walk..(I do walk a bit slower than I used to..that's ok ) As I walk..I have noticed a significant change in the situation..

Additional note: ..This bicycle/ walking trail is perhaps the major trail of its kind in the northern Chicago suburbs located about 6 - 7 miles west of Lake Michigan...on nice days..lots and lots of people are on the trail...

About 15 years ago, I noticed that a few of the people on bicycles, some of the full time sports bicycle riders, with fancy clothes and $2000-5000 bicycles, were wearing helmets .. I do not think that it is required, put there were a few..(on a beautiful day..I might see 30-40 cycle pass me) ...Then.....about 7 years ago..I noticed ..say 25 - 40 percent had on helmets... Big improvement....

.Today..an hour ago..almost.all the bicycle people on the trail had on helmets...ALL..YES..ALL.....Now that includes the kids, teenagers, athletes with their fancy clothes and bikes, as well as us old farts who are out for a short ride.....Yes, families go out and ride..and almost everyone has on a helmet to protect their heads if there is a crash.. This is an incredible advance in the last 15 years or so..a few to almost all...Today, I saw no one without a helmet....Once in a while, I see someone, some days.. but that is very rare..

The helmets have changed..there was one kind..say 15 years ago...now there are many kinds, sizes and shapes...and a walker can see that some are exceptionally expensive. Some people color coordinate their helmets with their bike and the clothes that they wear. Some of the top riders that speed by..have on their uniforms..and every single item is color coordinated....The little kids have on kids helmets..and us old types have on old types of helmets...Yes, families take their children out on the trail..and all the children have on helmets as well as the parents....I have seen people that seem to be dating and ... they too have on helmets......

Now.. Have a great weekend..If you ride your bicycle..wear a helmet...................................and.........if you got this far...thanks for reading this...
Stuart...........

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. I was one of the original people wearing a bicycle helmet.

Back in the spring of 1975, I bought a Bell helmet. They had one model at the time. Mine is so old that it has a four-digit serial number. Once I got it, my fear of being ridiculed while wearing it was so strong that I wouldn't leave the house with it. I finally overcame my fear and went outside with the helmet on. The rest is history.

I now wear a skateboard helmet while biking. They have much better coverage of the occipital lobe.

I also wear a mouth guard while biking. You can get them for 99 cents. It's the one thing I like about George Bush. He wore a mouth guard too.

[Stuart G]

2. Thank You for post....and for telling us your experience..

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. Seriously, I looked like a complete idiot wearing that thing.

Last edited Sat Apr 8, 2017, 06:18 PM - Edit history (1)

No one else had one.

Now I look like ... well, never mind.

[Stuart G]

4. You know, I feel the same way...and I don't wear a helmet, because I

haven't ridden a bike in 28 years.....!!

[TexasProgresive]

5. I ride with a group weekly and if anyone showed up without a helmet

they would not be allowed to ride with us. Break your arm or leg and you usually heal. Break your brain and you are no longer you.

[SwissTony]

6. I'd feel naked without a bike helmet

In Australia (see avatar), it's compulsory for both adults and kids. I now live in The Netherlands. Helmets are compulsory for kids but not for adults, but I wear mine. I do see people with helmets but they are members of some cycling club and wear the full cycling gear.

I wouldn't go out without it.