Wear Your Helmet

Cycling is a fun way to get exercise and fresh air, and it’s an environmentally friendly form of commuting...

Unfortunately, biking accidents can (and do) happen, and most involve head injuries. Every year, roughly half a million children in the United States are seriously injured in accidents involving bicycles. Furthermore, head injuries cause about three-fourths of the 880-900 cycling-related deaths in the United States each year. A study conducted by the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center showed that helmets that meet ANSI or Snell standards can cut the risk of riders” head injuries by 85 percent. This is why it is so important to wear a helmet every time you ride–and why Bicycle Paper and Harvey Grad are committed to providing information about when and where you can get free and low-cost helmets.

Photo courtesy of ALAW 2004 (American Lung Assoc. of WA)