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Stanford students are more likely to wear masks on bicycles than helmets

stanfordreview.org

11–20 of 152 posts

Re: Stanford students are more likely to wear masks on bicycles than helmets

#11
The same is true in the Netherlands.

Honestly, if they are biking around campus, they don’t need helmets. Helmets are needed on American roads because of poor biking infrastructure (not an issue on campus or in the Netherlands). The article is taking liberties using nationwide statistics to criticize local behavior.

Re: Stanford students are more likely to wear masks on bicycles than helmets

#12
We all like to think that Stanford students may not be as bright as they're purported to be (I have fun thinking this too!) but here's my theory:

- Some people who normally wear helmets might not wear one when going slowly from building to building within a campus where there are few/no cars or other dangers around.

- These people might have had to wear a mask at the location they're coming from (e.g., a lecture hall) and the location they're going to.

- So...it may just be easiest to hop on your bike, ride to another building close by, and leave your mask on.

Re: Stanford students are more likely to wear masks on bicycles than helmets

#13
post #5

It’s interesting that the OP didn’t also consider that people wear masks on bikes to block out truck and car fumes and other particles that tend to fly in your face. I rarely wear a helmet when biking, but there’s a noticeable benefit when I’m biking around traffic and don’t have to breath in car exhaust because I’m wearing a mask.

If it’s not N95 it won’t be blocking out P2.5 particulates emitted from exhausts.

I wear KN95 masks, but I’m not breaking down the level of particulate matter that gets filtered for science. I’m saying I don’t get asthma attacks or sprayed by debris when I keep pace in traffic with a mask on.

Re: Stanford students are more likely to wear masks on bicycles than helmets

#14
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it’s not N95 it won’t be blocking out P2.5 particulates emitted from exhausts.

And if it is, you'll have a much harder time breathing.

I have been wearing N95 when biking in the city for a year now. It is great, it is not difficult to breath at all (I am really incredulous at people making that claim), and it provides a measurable difference in the air I breath (a nasty but efficient way to measure that is looking at your snot if you bike while having a cold).

Re: Stanford students are more likely to wear masks on bicycles than helmets

#15
post #5

It’s interesting that the OP didn’t also consider that people wear masks on bikes to block out truck and car fumes and other particles that tend to fly in your face. I rarely wear a helmet when biking, but there’s a noticeable benefit when I’m biking around traffic and don’t have to breath in car exhaust because I’m wearing a mask.

If it’s not N95 it won’t be blocking out P2.5 particulates emitted from exhausts.

The masks they recommend in China are the N95 ones with valves that are banned in the west. My guess why is because they have to contend with both a pandemic and high pollution levels.

Re: Stanford students are more likely to wear masks on bicycles than helmets

#16

We all like to think that Stanford students may not be as bright as they're purported to be (I have fun thinking this too!) but here's my theory: - Some people who normally wear helmets might not wear one when going slowly from building to building within a campus where there are few/no cars or other dangers around. - These people might have had to wear a mask at the location they're coming from (e.g., a lecture hall…

If there is any sense in this I suspect it's more about signaling and conformity than anything else... I wonder if those places still see joggers wearing masks.

Re: Stanford students are more likely to wear masks on bicycles than helmets

#17
post #5

It’s interesting that the OP didn’t also consider that people wear masks on bikes to block out truck and car fumes and other particles that tend to fly in your face. I rarely wear a helmet when biking, but there’s a noticeable benefit when I’m biking around traffic and don’t have to breath in car exhaust because I’m wearing a mask.

Experience and a basic level of observation would show that you're reaching to find a justification here. It's clear that the masks are covid-related and not pollution related. Gymnastics are for gymnasts not for research.

Re: Stanford students are more likely to wear masks on bicycles than helmets

#18
Nobody here wears a bicycle helmet unless he or she is a recreational rider who rides at high speeds. Helmets can help against high speed crash. Most commuters ride at low speeds. Helmets are inconvenient and pressure to increase helmet usage has been suspected to make cycling less safe in the aggregate because less people will cycle and other road users thus won't be taking them into account. If I'm being cynical it's possibly why people keep pushing for it in the first place.

Re: Stanford students are more likely to wear masks on bicycles than helmets

#19

This has been the best proof that intelligence and common sense don't necessarily go together. Not to single out Stanford students, there is no common sense to be found anywhere lately.

I am not a Stanford student, but I bike with a mask on when near traffic. It has nothing to so with the virus and everything to do with measurable quality of air. Yes, it a N95, no I have no trouble breathing (and I am not particularly fit), no it has not been a problem in the hot summer.

Re: Stanford students are more likely to wear masks on bicycles than helmets

#20
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And if it is, you'll have a much harder time breathing.

I have been wearing N95 when biking in the city for a year now. It is great, it is not difficult to breath at all (I am really incredulous at people making that claim), and it provides a measurable difference in the air I breath (a nasty but efficient way to measure that is looking at your snot if you bike while having a cold).

Thank you, I was repeating something I've heard, I do recall trying such a mask before covid in summer and finding it a bit uncomfortable, but maybe it varies.

I'm quite interested in better breathing when riding my bike when air quality ocassionaly drops so I'll give it a try!

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