What not a helmet on any of them? Bad example for the kiddies.

Not quite celebrity status, but I see Mayor Street of Philadelphia ride his bike every weekend and he's a vegetarian !
Right ON !

The Ditty Bops are touring the U.S. - by bike!

www.thedittybops.com/shows.htm

Sexy cyclists abound everyday, on the streets of L.A.

Thanks for the links and tips! More on the helmet conundrum to come ...

Clearly a helmet is a "smarter" choice, but if you go to a place like Amsterdam which has the largest bike culture I've ever seen you will find very few people wearing one. If you're racing I can see wearing one, for day to day commuting however I really don't think they're necessary for an adult who is not riding like a maniac. Why not wear a helmet at all times when on a bike or just walking to the market? You can get hit by a car while walking across the street or jogging.

Chloe Sevigny using a cell phone while biking? I'm surprised she's not "giving a hummer" while bike riding.

Jason, it isn't the bicyclist riding like a maniac that makes wearing a helmet a good idea, it is the car and truck drivers all around her driving like maniacs. I know too many people who've had bad accidents where helmets have greatly reduced the potential damage to go without mine!

Folks, see the recent post on helmets and cycling... algibson, I think we can all agree that H/hummers and bikes spell danger. Unless it's the good kind and a stationary bike.

Most car bike collisions far exceed the limited application for which an average helmet is designed. Most helmets are designed to protect the rider in an impact of about 15 mph or under and hitting a flat surface.

"... it is impossible to build a helmet that will offer significant impact protection"

Dr. George Shively, The Snell Memorial Foundation

"... helmets will mitigate the effects of falling off your bicycle and striking your head... If a cyclist is accelerated by a car, then the helmet will not work and will not prevent a severe or even fatal injury"

Dr. Michael Schwartz, neurosurgeon and member of Canadian Standards Association Committee establishing helmet standards

A rider sitting on an adult sized bicycle at a complete standstill and tipping over will hit his/her head at approximately 15 mph. A car traveling at 25 mph or higher and colliding with a cyclist will far exceed a bike helmet's protection to the rider. I'm not suggesting that it's safer to go without, it's just that the amount of protection that a bike helmet affords its user is minimal at best. Almost 80 percent of all car bike collisions are due to cyclist error. Developing competent bike handling skills and a good knowledge of how to navigate urban traffic is a far better investment in one's safety.

http://www.BikeNow.org

Personally I would rather see more people on bikes with or without a helmet upon their head, than more people in cars. We got more to worry about in this world, like global warming, than nit picking about someone wearing a helmet or not.

We should be screaming mad about people taking a trip in their global warming enhancing, asthma belching, pigging up the roadway vehicles to go run up the block for a pig out at a fast food chain, that they could easily walk or bike to; rather than complain about what a dumb bunny someone is for not wearing a cycling helmet...HELLO!

Go yell at someone driving a wetland/wildlife/human killing machine and leave the biking to people who give a damn...helmet or not. Finger wave at people driving, people who are complacent and constantly giving money to industries that commit the grossest environmental and human rights abuses the world over. Get riled up about something really important like wars for oil, ground water contamination, asthma rates in people of color who live near freeways, drunk driving, speeding, people driving 3000 or more pounds to haul their single occupant lard butts around town.

Man the list goes on and on, get a clue about what's really important here.
Why not focus all your concern towards the distracted drivers who cuts you off in the crosswalk as they talk on their cell phone, or speeds down a narrow single lane residential street that is full of blind curves and acts as if they are they only one who uses that roadway. Your venting at the wrong people.

Here we go again once again blaming the victim and not the victimizer...could it be you don’t want to change your driving habits, reduce the speed limits, demand that people take more care behind the wheel Is it the cyclist who kills over 40, 000 Americans a year and permanently injuries million more each year? If you are so concerned with safety than start demanding reduced speed limits, tougher penalties for those who drive recklessly, zero tolerance for drunk driving, drivers ed classes back in schools. Get serious about making the streets safe for all road users, and that has more to do with the way we drive than anything else.

I know two people first hand who had greatly reduced injuries because of their bike helmets. One was hit by a SUV, the other had a mountain biking accident and landed head first.

You have to remember that whether you're going 25 mph or at a stand still, if you fall and your head smacks the ground the force to your brain will be the same in either case. I wear a helmet because I'm all for slowing down how fast my brain is going to smack into my skull in the event of an accident.

Maybe we need safer bike helmets?

Umm it would not be the same force. Well I suppose it could if you fall perfectly the same way you do when standing still. But we all know that's not going to happen, your either going to get hit by a car and propelled into something else or smack the hood. It is all a matter of knowing how to fall too. Tumble.

Good to see Chloe Sevigny demonstrating exactly why non-cyclists think cyclists are all road accidents-in-waiting. Idiot.

That's my point Kpod, you can get hit by a car walking across the street. I ride a single speed Schwinn with a coaster brake and believe if you are fully aware of your surroundings at all times that it is fine riding without a helmet. I've been riding pretty much daily year round in NYC for 10 years now. I never ride with a walkman. Hearing the cars around you is a major part of knowing what's going on. The cars probably don't drive as fast here, but you have things popping out from every direction and you get no respect from pedestrians or cars. Also, all that plastic and styrofoam used in helmets are not very environmentally friendly. ;)

You sure can, Jason, which is why I am an advocate for encasing children in full body armor as soon as they are born.

Seriously, when there are steps we can take to make our lives safer, why are we arguing about them? I just don't understand what is so terrible about wearing a helmet. Do you turn off the air bag when you ride in a car, too?

Wonderful stuff about celebs using their bikes for normal riding and cruising around.

We argue about helmets because this focus on safety gear propogates the myth that cycling is a dangerous, "sporty" activity requiring special equipment and clothing, when in fact it's no more dangerous than driving and much safer than walking.

Well said Fritz, and that realization is what led me to work on my project A Girls' Bike. There are women commuting here in NYC daily in dresses and heels on old beater bikes. You don't need a tricked out bike, spandex, specail shoes and a helmet to enjoy cycling.
If I had a child I would certainly make him/her wear a helmet until they were old enough and comfotable enough on a bike to ride without one. I wear a helmet when I'm skateboarding a park, snowboarding at a resort, or mountain biking.

I commute daily wearing short skirts, funky jewelry, frivolous shoes, AND wearing a helmet. I find the helmet is what really brings the outfit together...

Great comment, KPod :)

Pics please? So what you're getting at is that helmets should be mandatory? Or only celebs should wear them to set a good example for kids? The reason I choose not to wear a helmet while commuting is not because I think they are uncool, it's because I think they're unnecessary. I hope I never fall on my head while riding as much as I hope an airconditioner doesn't fall on my head while walking.

Again, helmets are not very treehuggerish.

What about helmets isn't treehuggerish?? I doubt that encouraging helmet use is truly causing people to decide not to ride a bike, if that is your concern!

The chance of having a bicycle accident is, I would imagine, somewhat greater than that of having an air-conditioner fall on one's head. I've crashed plenty of times with mild to moderate injuries. It's just a matter of time before my head is involved - regardless of my biking skills.

I didn't say anything about mandatory bike helmets, nor that only celebrities should wear them as a good example. I just think that its a pretty simple and uncomplicated step to take to reduce the possibility of either not being around to care for my kids, or being in a state where my kids have to care for me.

You say you crashed plenty of times, yet it sounds like you do not wear any other protective clothing. So why a helmet? Bicycle helmets I've seen are made out of Styrofoam and plastic. And when you drop them your supposed to get a new one since the foam has compressed.

I don't wear other protective clothing because it is easier to recover from a gashed knee than it is from a brain injury.

The treehuggerish comment was referring to the helmets being made of plastic and styrofoam. Not so great for the environment.

If you crash often then yes, I would recommend wearing one at all times. Thankfully I don't share your problem.

When I worked on my project I was riding about 8-10 hours a day for almost 4 months. The accidents I've witnessed first hand and have heard from friends were people taking unnecessary risks or not paying attention.

And the components of the bicycle itself are sustainably produced and free of toxins?

Why are you beating up on me because I wear a helmet? Am I somehow staining the image of bicycling in a way that offends you? At least I am RIDING A BIKE, not driving a car.

Beating up on you? Because I knew you had a helmet on and could take a good knock! =)

I was under the impression that we were having a discussion in which you addressed me personally. I'm not sorry for disagreeing with you and I'm not attacking you personally.

I believe this whole thread was started in an effort to make cycling appear "cooler" to the masses. As Fritz put it so well, one misconception is that it is a dangerous activity. Yes, I suppose it can be, but when you can just as easily slip and kill yourself in the bathtub or get hit by a car walking, does that mean you should encase yourself in a giant hamster ball? People have been shot in my neighborhood, that doesn't mean I'm only going to walk the streets with a bullet proof vest on. I'm all for you taking precautions to protect yourself and your family. I never suggested you should take your helmet off.

I have witnessed a friend on a bmx bike break his nose, fracture his skull, and rub both of his eyebrows completely off in one quick thud. A helmet would not have done anything for him because he fell on his face.

Yes, bikes are made from bad materials, but if you're like me you aquire an old one from 1957, otherwise known as recycling, err no pun intended. And that original comment was a joke, that's why I used one of these =)

I applaud you for riding a bike. Sincerely, thank you. I've been automobile free since 97 and borrow or rent one once or twice a year when I travel to places with no public transportation.

As long as I don't have to foot the bill in increased health insurance premiums, I say let people choose. But you crash your bike and you're not wearing a helmet, you better not even think about trying to extract money from your insurance carrier.

Somehow I bet these supposed riding experts who can avoid all things, all the time, wouldn't go for this when that squirrel jumps out in front of them and they swerve into a parked car.

But on another track, why are you people ok with seat belt laws? Same exact situation.

I've been riding my bicycle to work for twenty years in urban environments: San Francisco, Seattle and New Haven, CT; I'm 44 now, and I have never worn a helmet or had an accident - luck and skill. I think one's risk of injury appears much greater from using toe-clips in the city than not wearing a helmet. I've witnessed numerous novice city riders and spandex clad racer boys and girls go flying - attached at the foot to their bikes, but seldom landing on their heads, because they couldn't get their feet on the ground during routine urban riding maneuvers. There has to be something in your head to protect with a helmet...

Hello Treehugger,

I would like to know about celebrity bikers in Washington D.C. Could you please let me know if you or your subscribers have any information or photos regarding celebrities from D.C.? We would like to invite some celebrities to participate in "Bike to Work Day" there.

Thank you, Kerry

To Shay:

I disagree, but I wont try to convince you about helmets because people are people and we believe what we want. I will only present

You state helmets dont necessarily save lives. Its goes without saying that everything you cite is control scenario, theorectical information with no real world reference.

>>Over 15mph, helmets useless

Rebuttal:
For example, the speeds of being hit by cars. Most real world bicycle collisions are not high speed because they happen at intersections and junctions and involve braking, not full speed. Secondly your head doesn't necessarily hit the ground at the speed at which the car is going because your head is on top of your body, meaning the head collision is usually slowed down by your feet/body impacting the ground first. Like "Boom(shoulder), boom (head)".

Finally, I am not basing this soley off books and the internet. I have a cracked helmet from when I was hit by a car that failed to yield. With my helmet, I was knocked unconsciousness, but according to you and the qualified doctors you quoted the helmet made no difference.

You can have whatever point of view you want, but please dont put peoples lives at risk by making statements that contradict reality.

Peace