Wearing a bicycle helmet has become a habit for many bicyclists. It's a good thing, because most riders realize that they are at risk every time they take to the open road. It's not only the risk of their own riding--they have to watch out for cars, motorcyclists and truckers, as well as other bicyclists. Wearing a helmet helps save bicyclists from injuries and potential fatalities.
Children's safety
According to the Children's Safety Network, more than three times as many children ages 5 to 20 were involved in non-fatal bicycle accidents than adults. Children under 15 accounted for 53 percent of all bicycle injuries treated in emergency rooms. Many bicycle-related head injuries would be prevented by wearing a helmet. The Bicycle Safety Helmet Institute estimates that between 45 and 88 percent of all bicycle-related brain injuries would be prevented with the use of a helmet.
Helmet use
Helmet use in the United States varies greatly based on the age of the riders and the region they are from. The number of white-collar workers who ride to work and wear helmets is generally around 80 percent, while rural and inner-city youngsters wear helmets less than 10 percent of the time, according to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute.
Bicycle lanes
The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute reports that most bicyclists feel more confident about their safety when they are riding in a designated bicycle lane. More than 47 percent of all bicyclists surveyed in 2008 said they were satisfied with the number of bicycle lanes available in their community. Nearly as many bicyclists suggested that their community needed more designated bicycle lanes.
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