How is it possible that bike helmets, which are supposed to be a safety precaution, are actually a major deterrent for people who want to use bicycles as a mode of transportation, thereby restricting access to healthy and sustainable transportation options? Dont the absurdly high costs of these safety devices, combined with the often-ridiculous styles and designs that scream Im a try-hard cyclist, serve as a major turn-off for people who just want to ride to work or school without being judged or breaking the bank?
And whats with the NEVER-ENDING stream of new safety features and technological advancements that helmet manufacturers keep touting, which only seem to drive up the prices and make helmets even more inaccessible to people who actually need them? Are they seriously trying to make it so that only the most die-hard, lycra-clad, stripey-sock-wearing cyclists can afford to ride safely?
And lets not even get started on the so-called safety standards that helmets are supposed to meet - who exactly are these standards designed to protect, and why do they always seem to favor the interests of manufacturers and lawyers over those of actual cyclists? Is it really too much to ask for a helmet thats both safe AND affordable, without having to sacrifice style or functionality?
And whats with the paternalistic attitude of some cycling advocates who seem to think that everyone who rides a bike needs to be wrapped in bubble wrap and helmeted up to the eyeballs, lest they suffer some catastrophic injury? Dont they trust people to make their own decisions about their own safety, or do they really think that the average person is just too stupid to ride a bike without being told what to do?
Can someone please explain to me how bike helmets, which are supposed to be a tool for empowerment and freedom, have become such a major obstacle to creating a more sustainable and equitable transportation system?