[panglott]

There are people who ride bikes because they love cycling (by choice) and there are people who ride bikes because they can't afford other means of transportion (by need). The latter tend not to wear helmets or follow traffic rules, the former tend to do at least one of them.

Personally I almost never wear a helmet but scrupulously follow the rules: they are the only thing that protects me.

[wumbernang]

It's not about you following the rules. If someone else doesn't, your head is going to hit the ground.

[panglott]

I am very, very cautious. But bike helmets are simply not designed for high-speed collisions.

[wumbernang]

You're an idiot.

I've only ever bashed my head on the ground at very low speeds. You'd be surprised the damage you can do falling from head height. A bike merely increases the probability of that happening.

High speed; forget it. I drive a car now after I was totalled by a taxi.

[panglott]

Ah, nothing is quite so good for your health as spending your time sitting in a car.