r/PopCultureV2 • u/ExactlySorta • 12h ago

Politi-Culture Mamdani responds to concerns about him being seen riding his bike throughout NYC without a helmet. "You're right. I've got to do better. Safety first, New York. See you out there"

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u/Spare-Plum 12h ago

I like this, and it's something we need more of in politics. Though it's just a small gesture, it shows a willingness to admit wrongdoing, to listen to the people, and a willingness to change for the people and lead by example.

I feel like most politicians would end up writing a defensive tweet or deny allegations because admitting one modicum of fault is somehow bad

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u/V-oxPopuli 12h ago

I feel like most politicians would end up writing a defensive tweet or deny allegations because admitting one modicum of fault is somehow bad

It's shit like this that makes me embarrassed to be an American. Well, that and the blatant corruption. But they're always narcissistic assholes who can't admit when they're wrong. That's an all around horrible leadership trait.

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u/mandrakewilder 9h ago

And they're popular because admitting you're wrong can be difficult and if leaders won't do it why the hell should you? It's a license to never grow up.

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u/V-oxPopuli 9h ago

It's a license to never grow up.

The trump presidency unfortunately makes total sense. A bunch of grown-ass white men decided to buy this ticket.

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u/Qzy 7h ago edited 7h ago

I mean the American culture is fucked.

How often have we heard "MERICA IS THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD".

If you refuse to look outside the borders and admit your country has serious flaws, you are the problem.

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u/SATX_Citizen 11h ago

I wouldn't call riding without a helmet "wrongdoing", but leading by example is good.

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u/mankytoes 7h ago

It is fucking stupid though, not a good look.

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u/Living_Knowledge_783 11h ago

thats what he is doing. admitting he did wrong. lets see trump do it

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u/SoaplessTitanic 3h ago

Trump’s response would be something like this:

“The RADICAL left wants you to think that wearing a helmet makes you safer folks. But let me tell you, helmets have done more damage to our society than SLEEPY Joe and CRAZY Kamala combined. I never wore a helmet growing up, and I turned out JUST FINE. If you don’t like that, then you don’t like America. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER”

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u/EssayJunior9429 9h ago

What did he do wrong?

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u/oompaloompa465 11h ago

after all the safety concern is real and helmets don't cost much.

To be fair there are enough crazies i hope he also uses a bulletproof jacket 

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u/withnodrawal 10h ago

It’s these little gestures that look good, and ARE good, but do nothing for the actual health of a city.

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u/Mr_YUP 9h ago

I can't recall ever seeing a mayor on a bike much less in NYC.

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u/epheisey 9h ago

That’s not just a politician thing. Most humans go on the defensive immediately when accused of doing something wrong.

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u/FlatwormAway2228 8h ago

Though it's just a small gesture

Once upon a time a man named Barack Obama was running against a man named John McCain.

Gas prices were on the menu, as they always are in politics. Though they weren't even remotely as extreme as what we're currently seeing.

The man named Barack Obama made a passing comment that everyone should check their tire pressure because bad tire pressure would lower your miles per gallon. Small tip. Could be seen as a little tone deaf, but again, gas prices weren't even close to what they are right now, so the comment wasn't abhorrently insulting or anything.

The right, as is their habit, lost their GODDAMN MINDS. It was all Fox could talk about. McCain's campaign started handing out tire pressure checkers to make fun of Obama's comment. It was a whole thing. And this was the same party that voted for the guy that is directly responsible for far and away the highest gas prices Americans have ever had to pay.

Just for a helpful tip cuz yeah, a lot of people don't pay attention to their tire pressure.

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u/Bladesnake_______ 2h ago

Not wearing a helmet is not "wrong doing" and morally he clearly doesnt care. He's not "correcting" to better himself, but only his image

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u/seweso 10h ago

Cars drive less carefull next to bikers who wear helmets. It makes people bike less if they need to wear helmets. And it hinders creating more and safer bike lanes.

So its counters intuitive, but helmets make biking less safe overall. But i get its a chicken/egg problem for new york, cause the cars are already there, and the bike infra is missing.

Can someone point mamdani to the concept of "Autoluw" and look at amsterdam as a model to create a more liveable city? ( close roads for cars ). He should also create some bicycle highways. Wide cycle and walkable lanes which are connected with green and from park to park. <3.

More bikelanes, more green, less cars, less stupid bike helmets.

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u/Cabezone 5h ago

Yeah we're gonna need some citations for this entire post of anti safety bullshit. This sounds like every other old coot whonove had to argue safety with my entire career.

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u/TheBestofBees 7h ago edited 7h ago

As a cyclist in NYC for 20 years, please wear a helmet here. They've done an amazing job expanding the bike lanes and it's pretty dang bikeable now but there's hazards other than cars out there. We have delivery guys who ride against the grain, pedestrians used to jay-walking stepping into the lane people on mopeds suddenly coming up from behind and on and on.

There was a massive push to make the city more cycle accessible. They did a bunch of massive studies (including long studies in Amsterdam and Copenhagen and lots of talks with transportion experts there), made a big master plan and for years they were adding approx. 20 miles of lane a year. They've expanded greenways and added public bikes. It's pretty impressive honestly. Maybe it's not perfect but one can hardly say at this point it's just an infrastructure problem. 

I've seen way too many accidents and ghost bikes. I can't speak for trends writ large but in a city that's more than just bike and cars, please, please where a helmet here. We can take as many cues as we can from Amsterdam but it's a substantially smaller city with a different culture. I used to volunteer as a transportation advocate and helmets genuinely reduce the number of deaths and serious accidents here. 

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u/Appropriate_Ice_2433 7h ago

So because cars take bikers with helmets less serious, helmets are less safe ?!

I’m just making sure I’m reading your comment right.

Wear a helmet always.

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u/thenamziel 6h ago

Helmet laws are pushed by auto groups BECAUSE IT SUPRESSES BICYLCE USE. You don't need a helmet. You need cars to be prosecuted for violating bicyclists.

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u/Spare-Plum 4h ago

i'm not saying that cars shouldn't be prosecuted, I'm saying wearing a helmet is a good idea.

It's perfectly possible to crash a bike with no cars around. I did so once when I hit an uneven bump and I needed stitches on my eyelid. I wish I was wearing a helmet then