US: Differences in the way bicycle commuters and recreational riders think about bicycle helmets

A recent study by Kakefuda and his colleagues in Colorado found that college students’ attitudes and practices towards using bicycle helmets varied according to the kind of riding they did. National surveys indicate that the percentage of college age (16-24) riders who wear bicycle helmets varied between 5 and 27%. But in a self-reported survey conducted by Kakefuda, wearing rates varied depending on the type of riding. Among college students who commuted back and forth to school wore, helmets wearing rate was 9.4%. However, among students who rode bicycles for recreation, the helmet waering rate was 36.5%. The researchers probed more deeply into the bicyclists’ attitudes towards helmets to try to explain this difference in wearing rate.

Results: In general, bicycle commuters were more likely than recreational riders to believe that they were less likely to be injured during their ride. There were other reasons why they didn’t wear helmets: a helmet could mess up hair, carrying it around was inconvenient, and wearing a helmet was thought to be uncomfortable. Even riders who consistently wore helmets reported that wearing helmets messed up hair, was uncomfortable, and inconvenient. Kakefuda and his colleagues suggest that the differences in helmet wearing between commuters and recreational riders were based on each individual’s perception of the risk of injury.

Cognitively, riders seem to know that they should wear helmets, but simply explaining the potential danger of traumatic brain injury may not, however, be an effective strategy to increase helmet use. That’s because cognitive reasons may not be good motivators. The researchers suggest that fear may be more effective as a motivator. Fear, however, must be used judiciously in helmet promotion campaigns; it could have the opposite effect of canceling out the cognitive reasons for wearing a helmet.

The researchers conclude that knowing more about the underlying attitudes and beliefs about helmet wearing and understanding that they may be different in commuter and recreational groups is important in developing a campaign to promote helmet use.

Kakefuda I, Stallones L, Gibbs J. Discrepancy in bicycle helmet use among college students between two bicycle use purposes: Commuting and recreation. Acc Anal Prev 2009;41(3):512-21.

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