On 4/11/2021 5:09 PM, Lou Holtman wrote:
Op zondag 11 april 2021 om 20:51:04 UTC+2 schreef Frank Krygowski:
On 4/11/2021 11:23 AM, Sir Ridesalot wrote:
On Sunday, April 11, 2021 at 10:59:20 a.m. UTC-4, Frank Krygowski wrote:

We've long since passed that point with helmet shaming, at least in the
U.S., Australia and New Zealand. Riding with a cycling cap or no cap at
all was once plenty safe, but now draws finger wagging, taunts and
lectures from intolerant people, even ones who should be allies. It's an
example of "safety inflation."

In fact, there are many who think it's better to never ride a bike, than
to ride one without a helmet. That's flagrantly stupid and contrary to
all research I've been able to find. We don't need to duplicate that
stupidity with DRLs, no matter how much some may love the gimmickry.

--
- Frank Krygowski

Funny, in all my years of riding without a helmet, I've never been told that I should be wearing one.
That amazes me. IIRC, you live in Ontario, where a mandatory helmet law
for adult cyclists was barely avoided. (One of the leaders of the
successful opposition was a man who used to post here frequently.)

There is no statewide MHL here in Ohio for kids or adults. But I've been
yelled at by passing motorists, including one who was blaring her horn
and yelling at me to ride on a sidewalk. I had a car of young girls
deliberately brush-pass me then slow way down as one yelled "Wear your
F*** helmet!" I had a bicyclist cuss me out long and loud for not
wearing one. And I've had many milder "Where's your helmet?" remarks
delivered in scolding tones, from everyone from fellow club members to
pedestrians on the sidewalk.


Move! Get out of that 'hell hole'. Rode alone today and according to my 'helmet wear algorithm' I didn't wear a helmet. No one yelled or honked at me. It was cold for the time of the year (5C) but it was a pleasant ride after a rainy day yesterday.

We just now got back from a ride for groceries. Nobody yelled, which is
normal. But as I've said, unlike Sir, it has happened to me many times
over the years, and not just here. I was yelled at in a Portland suburb.
(I was also yelled at to "get in a bike lane" there, on a street that
had none.) Idiots abound. We don't need to give them more ammunition.

Regarding bicycling, this is the opposite of a hell hole. As I've said,
we have hundreds of pleasant, small country roads to explore. On
Friday's ride with a friend from the other side of town, I chose the
route; but about halfway through the ride I said "I forget where that
little road goes. Do you mind if we explore?" Nobody did, so we poked
around for an extra 5 or 10 miles on roads with almost zero traffic. I
did eventually have to check the GPS to refresh my memory; but it was a
perfect cycling day, with beautiful skies and trilling toads serenading
us the whole way.


--
- Frank Krygowski