I’ve been driving around the Milwaukee metro area a lot the past two weeks. Actually, I’ve gotten out west several times towards Oconomowoc and up to the Stevens Point area in the central part of the state. And something strikes me.
People ride their bicycles here without helmets. It’s fascinating, particularly since I am a non-bike-helmet person myself. I’ve been a serious rider for almost 40 years, riding across North America one summer, commuting in Washington, D.C. for 13 years on a 26-mile round trip almost every day, and pedaling to work in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, as well as Columbus, Nebraska, weather permitting and depending on my daily commitments.
When I took off 32 years ago on my cross country trek, I had a helmet. Friends thought I would die for a multitude of reasons (crazies attacking me while I slept defenseless by the side of the road; nut jobs running me off the road; wild animals attacking). None of those threats materialized, except a few adolescent males who thought it was funny to come up close to me and yell out the window and throw full beer cans, oranges, apples and bottles at me. That got my anger up, but didn’t increase the need the wear a helmet.
I wore the helmet for a few weeks on that trip. I don’t remember when I took it off, but it wasn’t long. I felt comfortable on the road and knew if I got hit or fell, I would get my arms out and use them to take the brunt of the hit. There was no question I could die if hit by a semi or car plowing me to the side at 60 mph. But a helmet wouldn’t help anyone in that situation.
As we’ve moved around the U.S. for my job the past 25 years, how bicyclists dress reflects that part of the country, region, city or even a small local area. That’s why seeing so many people not wearing helmets jumps out at me.
Coming from DFW, given my visual observation, I would suggest about 99 percent of bicyclists wear helmets there. They might be acknowledging how many DFW drivers are nuts. Or it might be their fashion statement (my personal favorite). Or it could be they are more aware of safety and recognize people are not paying attention to bicyclists in the metro area, so best to take the extra step of protection.
Contrast that with my initial observations in Wisconsin: Over 50 percent of riders have not had helmets on. That’s a conservative estimate, and doesn’t reflect serious riders in packs or people bike commuting in heavy traffic. But it does reflect several commuters I’ve seen in the suburbs, casual riders in downtown Milwaukee, students around the UW-Stevens Point campus, and multiple families out on bike paths.
Perhaps car drivers are more respectful of bicyclists in Wisconsin. Maybe those pedaling feel safer and more comfortable without helmets. Perhaps bikers in Wisconsin don’t care about owning the coolest, high tech helmet. I don’t know.
But it does seem to me both here and elsewhere in the country that how people use their bicycles and dress for their rides reflects a certain attitude and culture. It says positive things to me about Wisconsin people regarding a comfort zone – feeling safe in traffic.
Wisconsin has a long tradition of bicycling culture so there is an acceptance of sharing the road and awareness that cars should pay attention to cyclists on the right. No bike helmets up here.
People ride their bicycles here without helmets. It’s fascinating, particularly since I am a non-bike-helmet person myself. I’ve been a serious rider for almost 40 years, riding across North America one summer, commuting in Washington, D.C. for 13 years on a 26-mile round trip almost every day, and pedaling to work in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, as well as Columbus, Nebraska, weather permitting and depending on my daily commitments.
When I took off 32 years ago on my cross country trek, I had a helmet. Friends thought I would die for a multitude of reasons (crazies attacking me while I slept defenseless by the side of the road; nut jobs running me off the road; wild animals attacking). None of those threats materialized, except a few adolescent males who thought it was funny to come up close to me and yell out the window and throw full beer cans, oranges, apples and bottles at me. That got my anger up, but didn’t increase the need the wear a helmet.
I wore the helmet for a few weeks on that trip. I don’t remember when I took it off, but it wasn’t long. I felt comfortable on the road and knew if I got hit or fell, I would get my arms out and use them to take the brunt of the hit. There was no question I could die if hit by a semi or car plowing me to the side at 60 mph. But a helmet wouldn’t help anyone in that situation.
As we’ve moved around the U.S. for my job the past 25 years, how bicyclists dress reflects that part of the country, region, city or even a small local area. That’s why seeing so many people not wearing helmets jumps out at me.
Coming from DFW, given my visual observation, I would suggest about 99 percent of bicyclists wear helmets there. They might be acknowledging how many DFW drivers are nuts. Or it might be their fashion statement (my personal favorite). Or it could be they are more aware of safety and recognize people are not paying attention to bicyclists in the metro area, so best to take the extra step of protection.
Contrast that with my initial observations in Wisconsin: Over 50 percent of riders have not had helmets on. That’s a conservative estimate, and doesn’t reflect serious riders in packs or people bike commuting in heavy traffic. But it does reflect several commuters I’ve seen in the suburbs, casual riders in downtown Milwaukee, students around the UW-Stevens Point campus, and multiple families out on bike paths.
Perhaps car drivers are more respectful of bicyclists in Wisconsin. Maybe those pedaling feel safer and more comfortable without helmets. Perhaps bikers in Wisconsin don’t care about owning the coolest, high tech helmet. I don’t know.
But it does seem to me both here and elsewhere in the country that how people use their bicycles and dress for their rides reflects a certain attitude and culture. It says positive things to me about Wisconsin people regarding a comfort zone – feeling safe in traffic.
Wisconsin has a long tradition of bicycling culture so there is an acceptance of sharing the road and awareness that cars should pay attention to cyclists on the right. No bike helmets up here.