There seems to be some evidence that a norm of helmet-wearing discourages people from cycling. When people don’t wear helmets, they are taking on some personal risk, but by challenging the norm it could mean that more people take up cycling. This is likely to make cycling safer (fewer cars on the roads, drivers are more used to cyclists, safety in numbers at intersections etc), and so the need to wear a helmet is reduced.
I’d prefer to live in a world where more people cycle and helmets aren’t (as) needed (like in European cities such as Berlin and Amsterdam), so I tend to feel grateful towards people who don’t wear helmets.
There seems to be some evidence that a norm of helmet-wearing discourages people from cycling. When people don’t wear helmets, they are taking on some personal risk, but by challenging the norm it could mean that more people take up cycling. This is likely to make cycling safer (fewer cars on the roads, drivers are more used to cyclists, safety in numbers at intersections etc), and so the need to wear a helmet is reduced.
I’d prefer to live in a world where more people cycle and helmets aren’t (as) needed (like in European cities such as Berlin and Amsterdam), so I tend to feel grateful towards people who don’t wear helmets.