General Discussion

And actually my OP was about mandatory bicycle helmets vs mandatory car helmets.

The main reason I mentioned motorcycles was to subtract them from all motor vehicles as not being cars.

Then later in the thread I point out that in the most bicycle centric western nation, Denmark, practically no one wears a helmet.

My point is that far fewer people will use bikes for commuting if helmet use is mandated. I think car use would drop considerably if helmet use was mandated there too.

Now the public health argument can go either way, more people commuting on bikes leads to a more fit populace that won't have as many problems with obesity and related issues but it will also lead to more injuries and deaths from bicycle crashes.

I don't know where the balance actually lies but mandating bicycle helmets isn't going to help get people on to bikes.

People wear safety gear for *dangerous* stuff, if biking is seen as *dangerous* then only risk takers are going to do it.