| https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2017/04/how-effective... Key point for this discussion: "In 1993, New South Wales, Australia, commissioned a study to see if a new helmet law for children was increasing helmet uptake. It did—but the researchers also found 30 percent fewer children were riding to school. In New Zealand, where helmet compulsion was introduced in 1994, the number of overall bike trips fell 51 percent between 1989–90 and 2003–6, according to one research paper." https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/do-bi... "Meanwhile, it seems that bicyclists wearing helmets may encourage riskier driving by motorists." Just to be clear, I'm not advocating against wearing a helmet if you DO commute on a bike. As someone who fifteen years ago cracked a helmet instead of his head after falling on some jagged pavement, I appreciate what a helmet can do for you. And there may be statistical support for wearing a bike helmet as well: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/sep/22/bicycle... However, I think the OP's basic point holds. Being sedentary is a greater health risk than riding without a helmet. |