Helmets Are For Your Head!

Now I don't care if you wear a helmet when you ride your bike. Its your head protect it or don't as you will. I like my head, it's where I keep my brains. If you are a parent, you'll probably want your kids to wear their helmets so why don't you set a good example and wear yours?  Which brings me what inspired this rant. I see way too many young people riding their bikes with their helmet hanging off their handle bars.

I can only imagine that this comes from concerned (and rightly so) parents telling their kids "if your going to ride your bike you have to wear a helmet".  The kids either think they are too cool for a helmet, or think it's uncomfortable or something. The probably leave the house dutifully wearing their brain protection, but quickly remove it once out of site of their parents.

This is a real shame, like I've told a few of these errant youngsters, "That helmet doesn't do you any good hanging on you handlebars!". I've worn a helmet since I was 8 or so and my parents were still making sure I wore one. One day I was riding down the street "poping wheelies" as kids do, and I came down off of one of my better ones with the handle bars turned. This propeled me head first over the handlebars and onto the pavement. I was sure glad my parents made me wear that helmet. Other than a few scrapes I was fine even though I landed on my head.

So if you ride a bike, wear a helmet. The more people that do it, the more normal it will be, and the less kids will shy away from it. Especially you parents, you cannot just tell you kids to wear one "because I said so", you have to lead by example.

So, get a Helmet!  ...and wear it.