More reasons for helmets

Spokane City Council’s lifting of helmet requirements for bicycle riders and those using Lime scooters who obtain their vehicles through an app, while requiring helmets for all others who rent directly, is an interesting challenge to logic (Re: “Spokane Crash injures woman on Lime scooter,” July 3). I smell dead brains on the council and lawsuits and bad publicity for Spokane when an app rider’s head splits open for want of a helmet.

There are some “studies” and occasional articles about why helmets aren’t that necessary. One line of reasoning is that, on a percentage basis, pedestrians and people in cars need helmets more than bicyclists. Buy that if you want proof that you don’t need a helmet. Somehow, I don’t think one need eliminates another need.

American Medical Association studies, along with several university studies, and one cited in the New England Journal of Medicine, indicate that approximately 80% of bicycle deaths and 80% of permanent brain injuries would not have occurred if the rider had a helmet properly worn.

I’ve ridden several thousands of miles on bicycles. I’ve fallen several times, once while getting off my bike. I hit my head twice, once on pavement, and was happy that I wasn’t an app-excepted rider.

Lawrence Blakey

Sandpoint, Idaho