Is saying "You are riding on the wrong side of the road!" shaming? Is
telling somebody who is wandering all over the road "Hold your line!" or
"HEADS UP!" shaming?
How about ringing your bell when somebody coming towards you on the bike
trail wanders over into your lane? Is that shaming too?
On 11/25/2015 10:54 AM, Doug Williams wrote:
Do you shame people who ride the wrong way against traffic? Or is that
okay as long as they are wearing their helmet? Wearing a helmet is
prudent. Again, I wear mine every time I ride. But it is the LEAST
important safety measure that you can take behind (in order) 1. Bike
Control, 2. Rule Compliance, 3. Lane Position, and 4. Hazard
Avoidance. Each of these elements (1-4) have many details and
procedures attached to them, and each of these details is much more
important than wearing a helmet. It is MUCH safer to ride properly
without a helmet than it is to ride with a helmet and violate 1-4
above. You like data? YES, the data says that 1-4 above are much more
important to safety than wearing a helmet. MUCH more important.
So who should be shamed? Someone who rides properly without a helmet?
Or someone who wears a helmet and rides improperly? I would take off
my helmet, have three beers, and ride properly before I would wear a
helmet and ride against traffic. I would be much safer riding
helmet-less but properly after 3 beers than I would be riding against
traffic sober wearing a full face motorcycle helmet. Yet wearing a
helmet seems to be the only measure of bicycle safety and
responsibility for the helmet zealots. We need to take a broader view.
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