Use Your Head: Wear a Helmet.

Suzanne Johnson July 19, 2008

Will\'s face took a beating, but his helmet saved his head.There is a silver lining in this whole black cloud of rising gas prices, and it’s filling up the bike lanes. Business commuters with ties a-flying share the lane with serous road bikers in spandex; toddlers share space with grocery bags in the bike trailers as parents save gas money for milk and eggs. More kids are biking too, as parents shy away from providing personal taxi service to friends’ houses or sports practice. It’s a beautiful sight!

My kids bike quite a bit, both across town and off-trail. They are well versed in the helmet rule: don’t get on a bike, skateboard, or scooter without one (for fear of either a head injury or the wrath of mom – both can be life threatening.) On the trails, just about every biker dons a helmet before setting out. Rocks and trees can be a hazard, but at least they are stationary. On the roads, however, where SUV’s drift into bike lanes and distracted drivers fly through intersections, loads of bikers take to the streets bareheaded.

My son Will, in the photo, had a rough encounter with the pavement. His lip got beat up a little, but you should have seen the helmet! Lucky for us, his head came through the crash sweaty and tousled, but otherwise unscathed. If that photo is not persuasive enough, here are my top five reasons to protect your noggin:

#5: Helmets are cheap, brain injuries are expensive! Consumer Reports’ best rated adult helmet, the Bell Citi, is one of the lower priced models at $48. Kids’ helmets are even less, at around $30.

#4: Helmets give you that “I’m a serious rider” look. Ever see a pro-rider go helmet-free? No way. The bareheaded look says: “I just learned how to ride last week!”

#3: Helmets help you arrive at your destination. In 2007, almost 65,000 bikers made a detour to a hospital with a head injury. Properly fitting helmets could have prevented 85% of those injuries.

#2: Helmets are cool. Literally. Many models have sun visors that shade the eyes and face, and most have air channels that keep air moving through to evaporate off sweat.

And #1 one reason to wear a helmet? You only get one brain in life, so take good care of it!

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