In 2010, we tried something a little unorthodox to get people thinking about bike helmet use.
We descended on 20 locations around Vancouver and left branded bike helmets with a thought-provoking message hanging from bike racks, where cyclists would be most likely to see them. We picked high-traffic locations, including: Stanley Park, Library Square, Commercial Drive, Granville Island, Gastown, Yaletown, Science World, Vancouver Art Gallery, SFU Downtown Campus, Vancouver Convention Centre, Main and Broadway, and West 4th and Yew.
Cyclists come up with lots of excuses for not wearing a helmet. “Helmets mess up my hair,” or “I just forgot to wear it,” are some of the common ones. But the fact is: When fitted and worn correctly, bike helmets act as a cushion to reduce the force of the impact and can reduce the risk of a serious head injury. But it’s not just kids that are at risk. Without a helmet, adult cyclists are susceptible to head injuries too.
What can we do? Well, the answer could be as simple as changing our attitudes about bike helmets. So let’s think before we get on a bike.
