The cycle helmet debate can get a little lively at times. I’m sure BoingBoing is better moderated than most cycling forums, but it’s still getting a taste of the strong feelings after Xeni made a throwaway comment about cycle helmets in a post. I’ve even commented.

I wear a helmet whilst riding, but I don’t think other people should be forced to. There’s no law that says you must, and there shouldn’t be. The problem is that some people insist that cyclists should wear helmets for their own safety, when they do absolutely nothing to make us safer. A helmet can’t prevent a driver cutting us up or tuning without indicating. All it can do is reduce the damage to our heads if one of these idiots hits us.

Anyone wanting to make cyclists safer shouldn’t call for mandatory helmets. They should call for mandatory cycle training for drivers- to make them more aware of whatit’s like for other drivers- and harsher sentences for dangerous driving.