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From: kjell@wisc-ai.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: life with cars
Message-ID: <115@wisc-ai.ARPA>
Date: Sat, 30-Jun-84 14:27:06 EDT
Article-I.D.: wisc-ai.115
Posted: Sat Jun 30 14:27:06 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 2-Jul-84 00:40:59 EDT
Organization: U of Wisconsin CS Dept
Lines: 18

Robert Ciamp's comment (about the person on a bicycle going the
wrong way, with a Walkman on, and a six pack in one hand...)
brings up an important point to anyone considering buying a
helmet:

There IS a way for motorists to tell the difference between
a person who happens to be on a bicycle and a bicyclist.
Bicyclists wear helmets.  I've noticed a difference in the
way cars behave on days I don't wear a helmet.  They seem
less inclined to take me seriously.  I can't say for sure
if this is merely because the helmet (mine is a Bell, white
with red stripes) is more visible, or because they have
experienced serious cyclists before with helmets on
(by serious I mean someone who uses lanes like a car, and
goes fast and straight enough not to be an extreme aggravation).

So there is a reason to buy a helmet even if you never
expect to need it:  just its presence may prevent an accident.