It seems that Cambridge has addressed the increasing use of bicycles and the associated bicycle safety issues largely by creating bike lanes, sometimes separated bike lanes. This approach has been pushed strongly by bicycle rider groups. While this approach would seem to be positive with regard to safety, it has the disadvantage of generating conflicts, justified or not, between the bicycle rider groups and local businesses – and also generates some problems for auto traffic.
There seems, however, to be no effort – at least no apparent public effort – to develop other approaches to bicycle safety. It is obvious that many bicycle riders in Cambridge do not wear helmets. This seems to be the case especially among riders using the public Bluebikes. Yet helmet use has a dramatic impact on the damage done to bicycle riders. One recent article that looks at several studies of the issue reports results from one study that: “Head injuries were found to be reduced significantly with helmet usage by 60 percent, brain injuries by 58 percent … Fatal injuries were shown to decrease significantly by a prominent 73 percent if the cyclist was wearing a helmet.” [emphasis added.]
Given these data (even if the figures are taken as rough), wouldn’t it make sense for the city and groups concerned with bicycle safety to devote some of their funds, time and action to getting more riders to use helmets?
Arthur MacEwan, William Street, Cambridge
A stronger
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