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Old 07-05-2009, 11:05 AM
 
Location: San Marcos, CA
84 posts, read 199,886 times
Reputation: 70

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Can anyone tell me why so FEW Coloradans wear/don safety helmets while riding a motorcycle, bicycle, scooter or skateboard?

My wife and I are so amazed by such risky behavior and lack of safety judgment.

As a surgical nurse, I think about this issue even more and more.
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Old 07-05-2009, 11:29 AM
 
Location: Denver
968 posts, read 1,039,947 times
Reputation: 367
Quote:
Originally Posted by RickRN View Post
Can anyone tell me why so FEW Coloradans wear/don safety helmets while riding a motorcycle, bicycle, scooter or skateboard?

My wife and I are so amazed by such risky behavior and lack of safety judgment.

As a surgical nurse, I think about this issue even more and more.
Where do you get your notion that "so FEW" Coloradans wear helmets? I'm having trouble finding relevant statistics. So far all I've found is a 2006 study that says 49.3 percent of children in Colorado aged 5-14 wear helmets. The study claims the national average is 40%.


http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/pp/injepi/HSbikefinal.pdf
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Old 07-05-2009, 11:44 AM
 
Location: CO
355 posts, read 1,404,795 times
Reputation: 103
its not just Coloradans its everywhere....people don't like to wear helmets
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Old 07-05-2009, 12:59 PM
 
11,715 posts, read 40,463,512 times
Reputation: 7586
Are you from California or some other nanny state? I admit when I'm in Colorado I do notice lots of people not wearing helmets but that's only because I'm from a state that regulates every aspect of our lives. Seeing people without helmets is a sign of personal freedom. I choose to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle because I think it's the smart thing to do but don't feel the need to force other to do the same.
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Old 07-05-2009, 04:06 PM
 
Location: Getting settled in Denver
98 posts, read 433,485 times
Reputation: 41
It's funny, when we moved here we noticed that too. I have no idea why so many people don't use them. It just seems unsafe to me! My husband used to take his scooter everywhere before it was stolen and always wore his helmet.

As for who asked about "Where do you get your notion that "so FEW" Coloradans wear helmets?" ----- you can drive around and SEE people not wearing them. I have lived in a couple of different states - but Colorado so far seems to have the least amount of helmet wearers. Then again we are from California and helmets are regulated there while driving a motorcycle.
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Old 07-06-2009, 09:23 AM
 
Location: Denver, CO
3,530 posts, read 9,723,615 times
Reputation: 847
I don't wear a helmet on my bicycle. I also do not ride on the street, only paved trails. If I have to get on the street, it's for a very brief time. I also ride with my husband only. We both ride beach cruisers. If I was a street rider, I could see wearing one.

I love love love escapecalifornia's response. Personal freedom. It seems some would rather be nannied.

oh and I'd give escapecalifornia more rep points if I could, but I have to find someone else to give them to!!
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Old 07-06-2009, 09:27 AM
 
Location: Wheat Ridge, CO
618 posts, read 1,367,028 times
Reputation: 586
I never wore a helmet until I moved to Colorado (from California). Denver has a very strong car culture and many drivers are not aware of bicyclist. I am also amazed when I see bicyclists without helmets.
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Old 07-06-2009, 12:23 PM
 
1,176 posts, read 4,484,443 times
Reputation: 470
Quote:
Seeing people without helmets is a sign of personal freedom.
I would argue it is a sign of stupidity and selfishness.

Much like seatbelts you would think that a law would not be required to point out common sense.

I'm all for not having a law that forces people to wear something which is in-line with your comment; but I would like to see all rights to prosecution and public health care waived when a person chooses not to. Of course taking away access to public health is a none starter so perhaps some manner of forced restitution, monetary or public service to recoup the high costs associated with accidents where a helmet was not in use.

Doesn't really do much if the person is dead or brain-dead though.
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Old 07-06-2009, 03:22 PM
 
2,175 posts, read 4,302,629 times
Reputation: 3491
Think of its positive aspect: thinning the herd, selecting for those who are smart enough to wear helmets
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Old 07-06-2009, 06:14 PM
 
11,715 posts, read 40,463,512 times
Reputation: 7586
Quote:
Originally Posted by steveindenver View Post
I would argue it is a sign of stupidity and selfishness.

Much like seatbelts you would think that a law would not be required to point out common sense.

I'm all for not having a law that forces people to wear something which is in-line with your comment; but I would like to see all rights to prosecution and public health care waived when a person chooses not to. Of course taking away access to public health is a none starter so perhaps some manner of forced restitution, monetary or public service to recoup the high costs associated with accidents where a helmet was not in use.

Doesn't really do much if the person is dead or brain-dead though.
Freedom means being allowed to do stupid things. Maybe having medial insurance should be a condition of getting a motorcycle license.
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