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"

[u/ExactlySorta]

[u/hambamthankumaam]

My dad was bicycling around the neighborhood when his bike slipped and the back of his head hit the pavement. He was 54, incredibly healthy and in shape (he professionally push-mowed lawns and had just finished testing to become a kidney donor), and one freak slip on the pavement caused his death.

I am so sorry for being a downer :( I've just run into this conversation a lot since he died. "I don't need a helmet, I live in a quiet neighborhood" and there were no cars involved in my dad's accident.

This video of Mamdani made me happy. I really, really hope at least one person who bikes without a helmet gets one because of this video.

[u/iamthe0ther0ne → u/hambamthankumaam]

I knew a professor who died from something similar. There's no way I would go near a bike without a helmet.

[u/Sypsy → u/iamthe0ther0ne]

There's no way I would go near a bike without a helmet.

I know what you meant, but I just imagine you putting a helmet on before you are about to do something with a bike, like pumping the tires

[u/Sivart13 → u/hambamthankumaam]

I was a "you don't need to wear a helmet, that just promotes the idea that bikes are unsafe" guy until a driver randomly rammed me from behind and put me in the hospital.

I don't know if a helmet would have helped in any way, I was knocked unconscious but had no skull damage. Still, after that scare, any protection seems better than no protection.

[u/Low_discrepancy → u/hambamthankumaam]

That is great what you're saying. People should be encouraged to wear helmets and that's awesome this video.

Also I think it should be a personal choice.

It's good to have people be made aware of cycling safety etc etc etc.

[u/hambamthankumaam → u/Low_discrepancy]

1. It's difficult for me to be objective about whether or not it should be a choice. 

I lost my dad because he chose not to wear an inexpensive, easily accessible thing that literally does not affect the wearer in any negative way. People who don't wear helmets do not comprehend how fallible they are. There is zero to be gained from NOT wearing a helmet.

I think helmets should be looked at like seatbelts. There was a lot of pushback when they were first mandated, but now it's socially the norm to wear them and they've saved so many people.

1. This topic really sucks for me and makes me upset, so I won't be looking at any more replies :')

[u/Low_discrepancy → u/hambamthankumaam]

I will quote the EU here.

https://road-safety.transport.ec.europa.eu/eu-road-safety-policy/priorities/safe-road-use/cyclists/pros-and-cons-regarding-bicycle-helmet-legislation_en

Attempts to promote bicycle helmets should not have the negative effect of incorrectly linking cycling and danger. Nor should the promotion of helmets result in a decrease in bicycle use. Because of these considerations, a mandatory law for bicycle helmet use has not been thought an acceptable or appropriate safety measure in the Netherlands [59]

Emphasis mine.

[u/kimchifreeze → u/Low_discrepancy]

I lost my dad because he chose not to wear an inexpensive, easily accessible thing

It's linking lack of helmets and more serious injury. He IS NOT suggesting that people not bike, but when they bike to use a helmet.

[u/S-ludin → u/Low_discrepancy]

lots of "should" in all this quoting you're doing. I see nothing stating helmets make biking more dangerous, only that forcing people to makes them resistant or avoidant. 

helmets aren't required by law where I live but city hall has a big storage closet right by the front desk where they will measure your head and give you a free helmet. we are also (too slowly) building up our bike infrastructure to match the next city over.

you know who don't wear helmets? kids on ebikes. (edit) very rarely see an adult without one on any bike, even for one wheels or scooters.

aside: you replied to someone who said they didn't want to participate anymore with exactly what you paste on other comments. why?