Should I wear a helmet on my bike or scooter?

This is a question that people all over the world, especially if they're new to riding, ask themselves as they head out the door. The fact is that in most places, including the UK, you don't have to wear a helmet on your bike or an e-scooter. 

The decision to put one on is almost always a personal one. There's another Newlane blog here, explaining the legal position on helmet usage around the world. 

How many riders choose to wear a helmet? 

As you might expect helmet usage varies significantly from country to country. Most research suggests the number of adults choosing to wear one is around 30% of regular riders. 

One reecent European study identified London as a helmet hot-spot. It found 61% of riders in the UK capital choose to protect their heads which is twice as many as in Vienna, the city with the second highest number of helmet users on the continent. The researchers went on to point out that they found a direct "link between a bicycle-friendly infrastructure and the rate of helmet-wearing." Urban planning is clearly another key factor when it comes the choices people make.  

So do helmets actually protect riders? 

While there are some who contest the value of wearing a helmet, the vast majority of research shows that if you're involved in an accident, having your head protected could well save you from serious injury or worse.   

The most recent major global study into the effectiveness of bike helmets involved 64,000 cyclists from around the world. 'Bicycle Injuries and Helmet Use' found that wearing a helmet reduces the risks of a serious head injury by nearly 70%. It also concluded that neck injuries aren't associated with helmet use and that riders who wear them lower their chance of a fatal head injury by 65%. 

Another study published in 2019, analysed more than 75,000 cycling injuries. It found 78% of adults and 88% of younger riders who suffered head and neck injuries were not wearing helmets at the time of their accident. 

It's these kinds of studies that have led many governments and public bodies to encourage riders to wear a helmet, even if the vast majority haven't put legislation in place to make it mandatory. 

Innovation not legislation

At Newlane we certainly aren't calling for helmet usage to be enforced. This would be contrary to the freedom that getting onto two-wheels is all about. It may also lead to a reduction in the number of people who choose to ride. 

We do however believe people should be able to protect themselves without the hassle of having to carry yet another thing around with them. That's why our innovative new helmet has been built around a patented Flip Clip system, which provides genuinely convenient protection. The Newlane Helmet - it fits in your bag and into your life!