View of Downtown ChicagoI bike to school.  It’s awesome.  If you haven’t gotten on a bike since your childhood, you should definitely get back on.  However, what is a little disconcerting to me is the number of people who are making their commute without without a helmet.

So what?  Well here are some choice stats from the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute:

  • A very high percentage of cyclists’ brain injuries can be prevented by a helmet, estimated at anywhere from 45 to 88 per cent.
  • Direct costs of cyclists’ injuries due to not using helmets are estimated at $81 million each year, rising with health care costs.
  • About 540,000 bicyclists visit emergency rooms with injuries every year. Of those, about 67,000 have head injuries, and 27,000 have injuries serious enough to be hospitalized.

So, is it worth wearing a helmet?  I’d say yes.  Are you going to school and investing heavily in the future of your brain to support you?  Maybe you should spend the $20 and hedge your risk of getting a head injury.

~ Happy (and safe) Biking ~
Jessica

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