On May 8, the Sun Journal posted an editorial about wearing bike helmets that was misguided at best, offensive at worst.
People are at risk for head injury doing many activities where wearing a helmet would seem ridiculous. I myself have had two concussions, with no one ever suggesting I wear a helmet before playing basketball or teaching autistic children.
Even more, while there are studies that show helmets reduce the risk of head injury, studies done for the journal Accident Analysis and Prevention also show that, yes, believe it or not, the risk of head injury per hour riding in a car (or even walking) is greater than that of biking.
The number one thing that will make bicyclists safer is to have more people biking. More people biking means motor vehicle drivers become more aware of bicyclists. It also creates a greater demand for safer biking infrastructure. Those are going to do a lot more to keep bikers safe than helmets. For that to happen, people must recognize biking as a safe activity. The editorial does not. What it does do is blame the victim.
News articles following the death of Joseph Lamothe reported that a truck had veered off road and hit Lamothe. Suggesting that the problem was that he wasn’t wearing a helmet is a disgusting misappropriation. It is cheap and has no place in the discussion.
Biking is fun, healthy, and gaining popularity in Lewiston-Auburn, in Maine and throughout America. Let’s embrace it.
Shane Morin, Minneapolis, Minn.
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