helmet use seems to make crashes more likely (by making bikers and/or drivers less cautious), so it’s misleading to use data about harm that’s conditioned on there being a reported accident.
I’m fairly careful to avoid roads with heavy traffic, or with cars driving more than about 30 mph. I expect that fatality rates vary a lot by these road factors.
I use a cheap bike that doesn’t go as fast as the average bike.
Alas, I don’t have good evidence about how to quantify these considerations.
Interesting. The ability to fold it enough to fit in a backpack should reduce the hassle of storing it at my destination, which has been part of why I’ve been reluctant to use one.
I also ride my bike in Berkeley without a helmet.
Some other considerations which influence me:
helmet use seems to make crashes more likely (by making bikers and/or drivers less cautious), so it’s misleading to use data about harm that’s conditioned on there being a reported accident.
I’m fairly careful to avoid roads with heavy traffic, or with cars driving more than about 30 mph. I expect that fatality rates vary a lot by these road factors.
I use a cheap bike that doesn’t go as fast as the average bike.
Alas, I don’t have good evidence about how to quantify these considerations.
It seems like it would be most effective to wear something that doesn’t look like a helmet but protect like one.
Interesting. The ability to fold it enough to fit in a backpack should reduce the hassle of storing it at my destination, which has been part of why I’ve been reluctant to use one.