Is the peer pressure around wearing helmets simply ‘group think’ and health and safety gone mad?

 

British great Chris Boardman caused a storm earlier this year when he appeared in a television item on cycling safety not wearing a helmet.

He defended his actions saying helmet wearing only deterred more people from cycling.

He also pointing out that cycling was as safe as walking and gardening, neither of which required people to wear helmets.

“There are approximately 116 cyclists tragically killed in the UK each year, that’s one per every 1000 times around the planet,” he added, insisting that helmets were not even in the top 10 issues affecting cycling.

On home shores, last month Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe took to two wheels to launch the Galway Bike Scheme.

He didn’t wear a helmet and photos of him cycling without a lid (below) appeared in the media.

 

 

 

 

And when Minister for Transport Alan Kelly (above) launched the Cork Bike Scheme, he cycled around for the cameras on open roads without a helmet.

The National Transport Authority, which runs the bike schemes nationally, said most people using its bikes don’t wear helmets and they were not about to tell them to put one on.

Against this background, there is a lot of pressure within the cycling fraternity to wear helmets, even when training and commuting despite the fact they are not compulsory.

And some clubs won’t allow people join their spins unless they are wearing a helmet.

So who’s right?

Is the peer pressure around wearing helmets simply ‘group think’ and health and safety gone mad, with no evidence to suggest the helmets make much difference to rider safety.

Or does anyone who would venture out onto our busy roads not wearing a helmet need their head examined?

Have your say in the comments section below; it’s your debate.