As bike-sharing programs gain in popularity, a timely study from the American Journal of Public Health finds that cyclists utilizing a bike-sharing program in Washington, D.C., are much less likely to wear helmets than their counterparts riding personal bicycles.
Capital Bikeshare (Photo by Tricia Warin)
Researchers from Georgetown University’s School of Nursing and Health Studies set out to assess helmet use among users of the region’s popular Capital Bikeshare program. A total of 2,297 cyclists were observed. Of these, persons using Capital Bikeshare at times and locations consistent with being a daily commuter had one-fifth the odds of helmet use compared to riders using their own bicycles.
“This research suggests that bike-sharing programs should invest effort in helmet promotion activities. Some have suggested mandatory helmet laws, and past research suggests that helmet laws would likely increase the proportion of cyclists wearing helmets, but they may also impede the use of bicycle-sharing programs,” said the study’s authors.
According to an article from U.S. News & World Report, “As larger cities like New York City and Chicago prepare for new bikesharing operations, the study raises questions about if — and how — bikeshare systems should promote helmet usage.” Critics fear that bike helmet laws could impede use of the bicycle sharing program, as bikeshare systems are designed for convenience, and riders may not wish to carry a helmet all day for taking only one or two five-minute trips.
“Helmets aren’t a cure-all, of course — better bike infrastructure tends to make cycling significantly safer, after all,” wrote a blogger on DCist. “But the author of the study argues that given how unpredictable riding a bike can sometimes be, a helmet is the simplest way to stay safe.”
3 comments
Lee Watkins says:
Jun 21, 2012
the reality is that the risk of head injury is the INVERSE of the bicycle mode share, not helmet compliance. and nothing has increased bicycle mode share better than automated bike share. helmet promotion programs have show to actually increase one’s risk of injury regardless of compliance, due to the result of decreased bike mode share. That a million+ un-helmeted trips have in fact not resulted in any reported injuries supports this. The idea that promoting helmets for bike share is going to reduce the number of (almost non-existent) head injuries is completely disconnected from reality, and and from the basic logic of bike-share promotion world-wide. If you want to prevent head trauma you should require them among the travelers who are actually getting at obscene rates – motorists! A decrease in motorist mode-share that would result is also associated with significantly lower motor-vehicle injury rates.
Rahul says:
Nov 14, 2012
Most bikes have a locking helmet hook, somewhere around the tail/seat. however i have never owned any of the chinese bikes built from ripped off japanese engine designs much( although a freind bought his son a lifan 200 thats a lot of fun and looks good for the price) but i would have to assume they have hooks somewhere in the same vicinity. try lifting the passenger pad, thats where they are on a lifan
Jennifer says:
Jan 31, 2013
Helmet may not keep you safe from overall injuries that you might face after accident, but it does help you keep safe from brain injuries that are most vital. In fact, brain injuries may take place anywhere, even at workplaces. If you might have heard about traumatic brain injury, you would know. So, you should always try to prevent such things and if they do happen, you should know how to overcome them.