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

stanfordreview.org

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

#91

Post by the-dude »

akvadrako wrote: post #76
the-dude wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We have these boomer speedsters wearing helmets now, on electric bikes racing through traffic like they were boomers. We hate 'em. I presume you meant discouragement of helmets .

> I presume you meant discouragement of helmets. I assume he didn't - the point is asking people to wear helmets discourages biking. In practice it's overall healthier to not ask people to wear helmets.

Ah, along those lines. Yes, I can confirm there is no discouragement of cycling. Like ever, not even when you are totally drunk.

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

#93

Post by dwaltrip »

cratermoon wrote: post #88
dwaltrip wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We are talking about college students.

What does that have to do with anything? They aren't immune to COVID-19.

You honestly think COVID is more dangerous to a college student than a head injury?

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

#94

Post by thinkingemote »

isbvhodnvemrwvn wrote: post #63
cratermoon wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thought experiment: what if we looked at wearing a helmet as a choice the same way that anti-vaxxers would say the COVID-19 vaccine is a choice? If so, should people who choose not to wear a helmet while bicycling be subjected to the same social and economic consequences as people who "choose" not to get vaccinated?

Not wearing a helmet does not affect people around you.

Others can see you.

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

#95

Post by pessimizer »

cratermoon wrote: post #67
weird-eye-issue wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The lack of bad anecdotes on that page combined with the fact 13k people daily ride their bike on campus would only serve to make me not feel like wearing a helmet there... Yes that first story is unfortunate but I'd bet she just wasn't that great on a bike

> I'd bet she just wasn't that great on a bike Literally blaming the victim. Not a good look.

This is a discussion about helmet-wearing, which is voluntary. The entire discussion is about whether a victim deserves blame. Don't retreat into easy clichés.

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

#96

Post by thinkingemote »

retrac wrote: post #32
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #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.

Are you sure? Just falling over on the bike while stationary (I admit I've managed this before) without being able to partially break your fall. could outright kill you if your head hits the pavement. (An uncontrolled fall from standing height to concrete such as by fainting can kill.) Even if you don't die, head impacts are really bad for the brain.

Bike helmets are mainly for falling off a bike by yourself, not being hit by a car, generally.

it's why bicyclists don't wear the same helmets as motorcycle riders.

The risk remains the same

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

#97

Post by thinkingemote »

scrose wrote: 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.

Indeed, before 2019 I would see masks most commonly on bicyclists. UK city roads are polluted.

They wouldn't have been wearing the 2 ply medical masks though if I recall correctly

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

#98

Post by jerlam »

lambdaba wrote: post #23
krastanov wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Again, thank you, you've persuaded me to give an N95 a try as I often have the snot problem when riding in traffic. Are some better than others?

The biggest difference between various N95s is fit, but that's going to rely on your specific facial characteristics. The respirator needs to seal well to your face otherwise the polluted air will take the path of least resistance, through the gaps between your face and the mask. Some respirators come in small sizes and different shapes may fit differently.

Once you achieve a decent fit, a secondary characteristic is inhalation/exhalation resistance. Good N95 filter material can achieve the required 95%+ filtration but also achieve very low breathing resistance. The N95 requirements for inhalation resistance are quite easy to achieve, being less than 35 mmH2O. Good respirators test at less than 10 mmH20.

If you are going to use an N95 frequently, it probably makes more sense to invest in an elastomeric respirator, which is made out of a softer thermoplastic or silicone material. They use separate detachable filters which are more durable than the simple folded filter material of a disposable, and do not degrade due to exhaled moisture or sweat.

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

#99

Post by pessimizer »

lambdaba wrote: post #10

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.

My common sense tells me not to waste decisionmaking effort on trying to figure out when I can get out of minor inconveniences. For example, instead if trying to figure out when I can get away with not using a turn signal, I'm as likely to put on a turn signal when turning in an empty parking lot or an empty road as I am in traffic.

Introducing decisionmaking makes you slower, and gives you the opportunity to get it horribly wrong. Not constantly trying to get out of doing little things allows me the time to contemplate more important things. I will never be the guy who gets on his motorcycle and goes "Should I wear a helmet? It's only two blocks away." Am I stupid?

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

#100

Post by AlbertCory »

pessimizer wrote: post #90
AlbertCory wrote: post #27

For those who say "you don't need a helmet on campus," there's a simple science-based way to test your theory: Look at the stats on brain injuries for bicycle accidents on campus. [1] has anecdotes, but no stats, unfortunately. You have other bikes to collide with, you have people crossing the path, and yes, there are cars on campus. I've driven there. [1] https://transportation.stanford.edu/bicycle/learn-about-bike.…

> For those who say "you don't need a helmet on campus," there's a simple science-based way to test your theory: > Look at the stats on brain injuries for bicycle accidents on campus. That's not science, that's looking. What you have to do is compare stats of the results and frequency of accidents with helmets and accidents without. There have been very good statistical cases made that the accidents that helmets prot…

There are some obvious statistical fallacies here:

1) I don't know what you consider "looking" as opposed to "science" so maybe you can help us out?

2) No, you're wrong that "What you have to do is compare stats of the results and frequency of accidents with helmets and accidents without." That takes as a prior that the bicyclist is going to have an accident.

The actual test is "head injuries from a bike accident while not wearing a helmet per units of helmet-less distance ridden." (I said "units of distance" because "miles" might be too big a unit here.)

3) who cares about motorcycles? We're talking bicycles here.

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