Rant

I was out running my usual route the other day–beautiful morning and all that jazz.

I go to step off the curb, to cross a side street, and there’s a sweet little family, out for a bike ride.  Dad has a trailer on the back of his bike, the kind that two toddlers can sit in, safely hidden behind a plastic windshield.  There are, in fact, two toddlers in said trailer. What a beautiful family.  What great parents–getting their kids out in the fresh air, modeling a healthy lifestyle.  I love to see a family that makes movement a natural part of daily life.

Dad has gotten off his bike, and is pulling it up over the curb, onto the sidewalk, dragging the trailer bumping along behind.  Mom is getting off her bike, too.  They’ve clearly decided to abandon the bike lane, and take to the sidewalk.

I’m fine with that.  They had small children.  Technically, a bicycle is a vehicle, and is not supposed to be on the sidewalk.  And this particular stretch of sidewalk is actually more of a narrow path, twisting through a mass of tall, dense shrubs, complete with blind curves.  I was running on that path–if I had been a few seconds later, I would’ve been lucky to avoid being hit.  And that particular stretch of neighborhood street has nice bike lanes, on both sides.

Nonetheless, I’m fine with it.  I understand.  Once upon a time, I too had small children.

For the record, they were going the wrong way on the bike path–they were facing oncoming traffic.  They should’ve been on the other side of the street, moving with traffic.  But I’m okay with that, too.  Dad was in front, watching for cars, and Mom was coming along behind, keeping an eye on the trailer.  Seems reasonable to me.

Here’s the problem.  THEY WEREN’T WEARING HELMETS.

If you didn’t hear me screaming those words, read them again, and pretend I used bold-face, all-caps, italics, a giant font, and 15 exclamation marks.

I know they meant well, but honestly?  I registered those bare adult heads, and thought, “Man, those people are dumber than dirt.”

People make all kinds of stupid excuses for not wearing a bike helmet.  One of my favorites:  I’m not going far; I’m just poking around the neighborhood.

One of my worst bike crashes happened less than a mile from my house.  I was on a steep hill, and barely moving.  Toby made a sharp, unexpected right turn, hit my front wheel, and there was nothing I could do.  I went down, cracking my helmet, scratching my face, and tearing up my knee so badly it’s permanently scarred.  I can only imagine what would’ve happened to my head if it hadn’t been protected by my helmet.

Have you ever tripped and hit your head on the sidewalk?  Just think about that.  If you were walking and you fell down and hit your head, you’d likely be seriously injured.  Probably a concussion.  Pavement is hard.  If you’re on a bike, you’re probably moving at least a little faster than you would be if you were walking.  And you probably have less control over the fall.

I don’t care how slowly you’re going, or how close to home, or how careful you are–riding a bike without a helmet is just an unnecessary–and stupid–risk.

The other excuse I hear people make?  It doesn’t look cool.

You’ve got to be kidding.  Having a concussion looks a lot less cool.  Having a serious head injury–not cool.  Scars on your face–unattractive, at best.  There is something seriously screwed up in the heads of people (adults–I realize children and teenagers are idiots–that’s why they have parents to keep them safe) who are willing to endanger their brains for the sake of looking cool.

I don’t understand how people can be so stupid.

Maybe it’s natural selection at work?

–End rant.–