I bike commute almost everyday, I'm tired of people in the office asking "where's my helmet" then followed by a snide comment that it is dangerous and I should protect my brain.

Here are my reasoning for not wearing helmet:

I need my noise-cancelling headphone. The loud sound of cars is giving me more brain damage.
I've been cycling since I was 4, and I've never got hit by a car. I know road rules and not an aggressive cyclist when commuting.
I wear helmet when cycling for exercise, mountain-biking, when I could be distracted by either maintaining my rpm or cycling on difficult terrain. I don't cycle that fast when commuting.
Helmet-checking is victim blaming. Cars are predominantly at fault in car-cyclist crash, it is almost always car who is not paying attention, texting, had eyes going elsewhere, dozing off, going off lanes. You cannot doze off when on a bike. Cyclist had everything to lose in a crash and tend to ride conservatively, regardless of what you believe. The only exception to this rule is gig economy delivery driver who are always in a rush, and it is always the fault of delivery company to impose such ridiculous time rule that endanger their workers.
The cycling lane is for everyone. Wearing helmet creates an image that cycling on shared public road as method of transportation is inherently dangerous, and as a result, especially in North America you only see young adults cycling to commute. People go into debt to maintain their car, just because they perceive cycling as inherently dangerous. Having only fit young adult cycle also gives an excuse for your local municipality for not upgrading the public cycling infrastructure and make it safer.
Finally, it's not your business. It is considered rude to tell people they shouldn't smoke, drink alcohol, eat meat, eat ultraprocessed food. Everyone knows they are bad for you, but people still do it. Driving cars kill the planet, it is bad for every living being, but people don't get scolded everyday for car-commuting. Sure, after everything I mentioned, it is still safer to wear helmet, but it is rude to scold me on my bad habit.

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[–] IlliterateOphthalmologist@hexbear.net 4 points 2 weeks ago

Lmao, good bit. I swear I've seen this exact post but about seat belts.

Seriously tho, everybody should wear a helmet. I also commute every day. Never been hit by a car (on my commute), but did have a freaky mechanical failure that sent me over the handle bars. Hit the ground head first and left a huge dent in my helmet. Had a mild concussion still, but if I hadn't been wearing the helmet, idk if I would be able to string together full sentences today.

[–] rootsbreadandmakka@hexbear.net 2 points 2 weeks ago

Not sure if this is real or not, but this all reads like you know you should wear a helmet and are ashamed when people point it out. You’re just finding ways to avoid the fact that deep down you know those people are right.

[–] sexywheat@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago

Wear a fucking helmet

[–] CommunistCuddlefish@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Comrade, with love, your points are excuses for why you shouldn't have to take a basic safety precaution and that's not cool.

I've probably been cycling since I was 3 and I always wear a helmet. I'm glad for it too. I've wiped out when riding just because there was black ice. I've wiped out and gotten concussed because I swerved to avoid running over a turtle that was crossing the road -- I'm SUPER glad I had my helmet on then because at least my skull didn't crack! I've been run off the road by cars and fell down and hit my head on the sidewalk in the process, I've been sideswiped and knocked over and hit my head. Every time, having a helmet was an important tool in protecting me. Yeah those were bad, but concrete is HARD and it can crack a skull way easier than you think. That's why in self defense situations where you're wrestling, we're trained to be mindful about throwing someone on their head -- throwing them on their head on concrete or asphalt can actually kill a person and then there's a whole nother mess to deal with.

And I don't care if it's rude. I'm not trying to scold you, but you're taking a needless risk without benefit.

Now, to your point 1: Noise is a big deal! Cars are loud af when they pass you. I recommend earplugs instead! It's not great to wear heavy earplugs like foam ones for shooting when biking because you need situational awareness, but if your hearing is acute enough to need noise-cancelling earmuffs when on the road, then there's a better solution that will also let you wear a helmet! Active Noise Cancelling isn't great for this application anyway -- the sound of a car passing by is a sudden impulse and ANC is better at repetitive droning noises, but you don't need ANC when passive noise-blocking will work better. Try looking for reusable earplugs that are rated around 14 dB SNR, I use a brand called "DownBeats" and find they're a good balance between dealing with LOUD ambient noises and still letting through enough for me to be able to hear my surroundings. You could go with heavier earplugs as needed, 25 dB or even up to 32 dB (though I don't recommend the 32s). Passive earmuffs tend to only do about 10 dB of noise reduction, sometimes you'll get 14 or 20 if you spring for the really heavy ones. But earplugs provide much more noise reduction in a much smaller form factor, and then you'd also be able to wear a helmet.

[–] micnd90@hexbear.net 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

I appreciate the good-faith argument you and many other people brought up. But I think it is a matter of cultural perspective. Let me try to explain the other way around. In North America, and other English speaking countries (UK, Australia, New Zealand), cycling is first and foremost a sport. With "sports" you inherently internalize two things: (1) inherent risk of physical injury and (2) wearing sports gizmos to mitigate the risk of physical injury. Furthermore, the cost of injury is fully on the person doing the sports as personal responsibility (broke your leg playing soccer? well, noone forced you to do soccer).

Where I come from (Copenhagen, Denmark), cycling is a utilitarian mode of transport. This is how I grew up culturally. You see not only young adults, but people of all ages, from literal 6 years old toddler to grannies cycling, predominantly without helmet. It is a simple efficient, and unglamorous way to get from point A to point B. Yes, of course, even in cities with safe cycling infrastructure like Copenhagen, or Netherlands everyone will be better off cycling with helmet. But this is putting the emphasis the wrong way. Cycling, and bike lanes in general should be accessible to everyone (including mobility assist vehicles), and as a collective we have to demand more inclusive, safer cycling infrastructure so toddlers and the elderly can feel safe cycling in a bike lane.

I feel agitated when I, coming from a city where cycling is inclusive and accessible for all, am told off by people who never lived extensively outside North America that I have to wear all kinds of gizmos, helmets, reflector vests, multiple reflectors, side mirrors, side mirrors glasses, helmets with side mirrors and lamps otherwise I am not a responsible person. I'm not wrong, it is North American urban planning that is wrong. I'm an experienced and confident cyclist, I never been in any cycling accident and I've spent almost a good 5-10% of my life on bicycle, I've been commuting since I was a kid, cycling by myself to grade school. I follow road rules and feel like I'm comfortable with the inherent risk of eating shit on my own. If I got hit by a car, most likely it is the drivers fault, and maybe from the accident the city will develop a safer infrastructure. My co-workers always say that they are for cycling infrastructure, but it is not only yay or nay, it is how bad they want it. Maybe being argumentative about not wearing helmet, and explaining that it is North American urban planning that is wrong, and there is a better way for the city and kids who grew up in the city will put demanding safe cycling infrastructure up higher on my co-worker priority list.

[–] CommunistCuddlefish@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

That's an interesting and different perspective I'm not familiar with. But don't people still fall and get hurt? You haven't, good for you. You're just one person.

And if you're in a dangerous situation (biking in North American cities), being "right" simply isn't going to protect you in a bad situation. There is no cosmic justice that will protect you from a cracked skull.

[–] micnd90@hexbear.net 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Yes, people fall and eat shit, even with robust cycling infrastructure. Drunk cycling is a thing in Denmark, and beyond 12am a lot of people cycles in zigzags going home from bars. There are no rule against drunk cycling because it is way safer than drunk driving, and public sector workers are annoyed at drunks who take public transport. Every other week or so drunks will fall off into the canals etc., especially on this bridge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inderhavnsbroen that was built wrong, off the most famous bar street/harbor in Copenhagen, Nyhavn. The bridge was the biggest public infrastructure scandal in Denmark (they miscalculated the length, so the bridge doesn't connect and they have to add zigzags, which caused drunk people to crash and sometimes fell off bikes). These accidents are all taken with humor by most people, and Copenhagen is still amongst the safest city for cyclist.

Here's the thing, for commuting and transport most people cycle slowly. In Denmark the speed of traffic for cyclist is usually not more than 10 mph (because you have to accommodate the elderly, kids, people in cargo bikes delivering packages, parents carrying their kids in cargo bikes, etc.) and it is pretty hard to get seriously hurt cycling at 10 mph even if you crash into utility pole head on. Even amongst bike commuters in NA, a lot of people want to cycle fast "to get workout" done in the morning then take a shower at work - this is by far the least safe way of commuting because you are exerting at near physical limit and likely not paying attention to traffic.

It is clear to me that the true menace is not other cyclist or stationary objects, but cars, more importantly cars that are not used to cyclists. There are safety in numbers, a group of cyclists is more visible than individual cyclist zipping in and out parked cars on side of a street. The only way to get more people to cycle is to provide safe cycling infrastructure, and I'm only one person, so in my own way, to get my co-workers to advocate or at least strongly think about these things is to show up at work not wearing helmet and being belligerent.

[–] CommunistCuddlefish@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

10 mph! How can you stand to ride so slowly?

I like biking. It's just a pleasant physical activity. I cannot fathom being ok moving so slowly though. When I've been in a rare 10mph zone it feels just miserable trying to go so slow and it's so incredibly easy to exceed that speed without even trying.

[–] micnd90@hexbear.net 0 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Yes, that's the thing. People who cycle simply for transport don't sweat at all and don't bother doing any physical exertions. This is why the most common commuter bikes in Denmark are the 3 speed internal gear hub upright bike with coaster brakes. You chat and joke casually with your friends on a bike lane riding side by side just like how you would chat on a car. Everyone is doing the same thing and traveling at same slow speed. In comparison, all cyclists in NA are tryhards.

This is also why I'm quite confident and safe cyclist in NA. I know road rules, right of way, I take a whole lane when necessary (so cars behind me have no choice but to wait until the road is wider to pass me), I don't hide and cycle in sidewalks (which is proven to be more dangerous than being on the road), but I also don't zip across traffic and be unpredictable. The noise cancelling headphones also helps so I don't have to hear the occasional verbal insults hurled at me by angry carbrained Yankee.

[–] buckykat@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago

If I rode 10mph my commute would be over two hours each way

[–] CommunistCuddlefish@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago

Ok well honestly you've completely lost me now because I can't get over biking without physical exertion. I'm going to just disengage now. Happy cycling and stay safe!

[–] AssortedBiscuits@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago

Excellent satire on how anti-masking excuses sound like to people who aren't plague rats.

[–] adultswim_antifa@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I had a bike accident that did not involve a car and probably don't have brain damage because I had a helmet on.

[–] FloridaBoi@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago

Same

[–] FourteenEyes@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

These are all incredibly stupid reasons. It's also illegal to ride a bike wearing headphones by the way. Not being able to hear your surroundings a serious safety hazard.

[–] 7bicycles@hexbear.net 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It's also illegal to ride a bike wearing headphones by the way. Not being able to hear your surroundings a serious safety hazard.

So why are cars, enclosed and sound dampened with built in sound systems fine? Should that be illegal?

[–] Dessa@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago

It's illegal to wear headphones in cars too. Sound-dampened cars limit sounds, but they don't eliminate them to the degree that noise-cancelling headphones do.

[–] Zoift@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago

OOH SHIT, THATS A GOOOOOOOD POST RIGHT THERE.

[–] Biddles@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago

As other people have pointed out, this is terrible bait. Wear a helmet

[–] reaper_cushions@hexbear.net 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

A kid in my school once fell from his bike after slipping on an acorn and planted his head firmly on a large rock that lay by the roadside. He only ended up in a coma for a few months because he wore a helmet, without it, he would pretty much certainly have died. Wear a helmet, folks. Also, if you kick it in a car related accident but it wasn’t your fault and a helmet could have prevented that, well… you’re dead regardless of whether you were responsible, so, just for your individual safety, wear a fucking helmet.

[–] 7bicycles@hexbear.net 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Also, if you kick it in a car related accident but it wasn’t your fault and a helmet could have prevented that, well… you’re dead regardless of whether you were responsible, so, just for your individual safety, wear a fucking helmet.

this is grade A victim blaming

[–] mathemachristian@hexbear.net 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

whats the victim being blamed of?

[–] 7bicycles@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago

Their death, quite obviously, on account of not wearing a helmet.

[–] neo@hexbear.net 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

My sister, a doctor (as I just learned today on this very website it's apparently a fascist profession. lol) has told me a couple of stories of motorcyclist patients who did not wear helmets. Accidents happen. Protect your skull.

[–] Kuori@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago

as I just learned today on this very website it's apparently a fascist profession. lol

sounds like you didn't actually learn anything. go read what your disabled comrades are trying to say again. this time try to experience empathy.

[–] ClathrateG@hexbear.net 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Never realised hexbear was so carbrained

[–] FourteenEyes@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Carbrain is when you tell people head trauma is bad

[–] ClathrateG@hexbear.net 0 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Bicycles famously the only vehicle you can receive a head injury on 🙄

[–] reaper_cushions@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago

Certainly not, but definitely one of them. Cycling isn’t terribly dangerous and even less so when not involving cars, but accidents happen and basic safety precautions should be adhered to.

[–] FourteenEyes@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

You don't need to wear a helmet in a car because it would be redundant on top of seatbelts (required by law to be worn) and airbags (required by law to be included in the vehicle) and crash safety testing (required by law before the vehicle can be sold)

That said professional race drivers still fucking wear helmets so that should tell you their effectiveness

[–] ClathrateG@hexbear.net 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

professional race drivers still fucking wear helmets so that should tell you their effectiveness

Wow seems like all drivers should then

[–] FourteenEyes@hexbear.net 1 points 2 weeks ago

When racing yeah