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Come on Boris, everyone prefers blonds wearing a cycle helmet
David Williams and Alex Stephens, Evening Standard14.05.08
It's typical, really. Months go by without anyone catching a glimpse of new London Mayor Boris Johnson in a cycle helmet - then several come along at once.
Here are four Boris wig-alikes showing that it is possible to have a ridiculous blond hairstyle AND wear appropriate cycle headgear at the same time without looking like a complete buffoon.
Well, not a complete buffoon, anyway. The challenge now is: Boris, these cyclists have braved the Boris-barnet-and-helmet combo - let's see you do it, too.
And the challenge to our readers is: if the Boris helmet we have come up with is less than flattering - and don't forget we're talking about the Mayor of London here, an august figure who should be on his dignity at all times - can you come up with a better design?
The Standard's helmet initiative was prompted by the fact that throughout the two month-long mayoral campaign, Mr Johnson was never far from his bicycle but was never seen wearing protective headgear, which is strongly advised by safety experts.
Today however, after being shamed for pedalling through six traffic lights on red and across pavements, he has chosen to mend his ways. He has invested in a £24.99 helmet, a state-of-the-art silver Bell Ukon from the Evans cycle shop a short ride from City Hall.
"It's time for a change," he said. "I need to wear a helmet and I'm going to start setting an example."
So far, he has failed to apply helmet to head - but teams of Evening Standard photographers are poised at strategic locations around the capital waiting to capture the moment he does.
Until that comes, we will have to rely on the evidence of these cyclists in Kensington Gardens about what it is like to park a helmet on top of the Boris mop. Or, to be precise, to wear a £7.95 Argos helmet together with a Boris wig of 100 per cent fire-resistant polyester.
Jakura Hingley, 26, a doctor from Chiswick said: "I think it looks hilarious - there's so much hair I can barely do the strap up. He'll have to buy an extra large helmet to accommodate it all. It'll also be very hot for him in this weather. Still, I think it's important he sets a good example and wears one." Richard Hall, 33, a fireman from High Street Kensington said: "It's quite warm under here and I'm not sure it's a great look. But my wife is always telling me I should buy a cycle helmet - perhaps I'll follow Boris's example and get one."
Govinda Kharbunda, 30, a physicist from West Kensington said: "I think it looks ridiculous but that shouldn't matter. It's good he's taking cycling seriously and important for him to be seen doing the right thing."
Rob Moore, 35, a shipping contractor from Balham, said: "Boris Johnson doesn't have a reputation for being cool - he would look no more ridiculous in a cycling helmet than he does usually. He should definitely lead the way by wearing one."
But will Mr Johnson - whose wife Marina and their four children all wear helmets - remember to wear his new accessory?
Already he appears to have given himself a get-out clause. "It might not happen every day," he said. "It will happen but I can't promise it will be all the time."
Reader views (11)
Alright! a new fashion is launched through the London streets by cyclists. It's a funny idea. Mr Johnson is cycling that is a good attitude instead using a polluting car but if he dosn't want to wear a helmet, this is his own problem. But if I look back in his previous behaviour I think he already has had a fall off his bike several times in the past. So if I were in his place I should wear a helmet to give a good example and for protecting what is left of my brain.
- Anne-Laure, geneva switzerland
The added safety claims of cycle helmets are inconclusive to say the least. The Evening Standard should promote cycling as a good thing to do. By promoting cycling it will help to reduce congestion on the streets and on public transport, reduce pollution and keep those using their bikes in better health.
- Jorrin, London
Boris is simply doing what most cyclists love to do - celebrate the freedom of the bike. So long as rides responsibly, the rest is his choice.
- David, London, UK
I will simply quote the most detailed UK study into helmet use in the UK and ask why the Standard is having a campaign to get him to wear one?
"The conclusion cannot be avoided that there is no evidence from the benchmark dataset in the UK that helmets have had a marked safety benefit at the population level for road using pedal cyclists"(Traffic Injury Prevention. 2005; 6: 127-134).
Incidentally the country with the lowest level of head injuries in cyclists is the Netherlands where no-one wears a helmet.
- Tony, Cambridge, UK
Oh pack it in. Those stupid raindrop shaped helmets are more likely to break your neck if you fall on your back and there was a recent study that said people who weren't all lycra'd and helmeted up had much better safety records because drivers gave them a wider birth.
Leave Boris alone on this one. It's his head.
- Thalia, London
Spot on Ruth. The evidence shows only one clear result from getting cyclists to wear helmets - cycle use goes down drastically, undermining its health, environmental and other benefits. Regular cycling significantly improves your life expectancy, so pressure to wear helmets almost certainly shortens thousands far more lives than it could possibly save. Conversely there is no evidence linking increased helmet-use with any detectable improvement in safety for the remaining cyclists. This may appear counter-intuitive, but bear in mind two things. Firstly, cycle helmets are (and can only be) designed for minor falls, not collisions with moving traffic (and certainly not with HGVs). Yet the constant pro-helmet agitprop leads people to think you are immune in a cycle helmet. Some cyclists (teenagers especially) ride less cautiously when helmeted, and drivers leave less room when overtaking you. And there are plenty more ways in which wearing a helmet might make you more likely to hit your head in the first place - so the net safety 'benefit' from helmet-wearing could even be negative.
Cycling is not an especially 'dangerous' activity - you are more likely to be killed in a mile of walking than a mile of cycling. In places like Holland with high cycle use and an excellent cycle safety record, helmets are almost unheard of.
Boris is a great role-model for the idea that cycling is something that anyone can do in normal clothes!
- Roger, London, UK
To Ruth in London - don't know where you got your statistics from, but certainly in Melbourne the roads are crawling with cyclists in their helmets and tight Spandex (and that is just the men!)
Let's face it - in any country that worships the car, the bigger and thirstier the 'better', anyone on two wheels is going to come off second best. Haven't seen too many motorists survive a lorry going through a red light. Holland has a long tradition of bike riding and the motorists respect them - and woe betide them if they don't! You didn't cite other cycling countries, such as China, India, Vietnam etc --- throw them into your statistics pot and see what happens ...
And as for Boris's barnet - he's got the larrikan hay-stack cut and it looks great! Wish mine was still as long and as blond! Though, I must say, a red and grey look after an accident would not be the best fashion statement! "Helmet hair" brushes out, especially with the minimum application of water (from a tap of course!)
- Ian Heritage, Melbourne, Australia
Well said Ruth. There is so much rubbish written about helmet wearing.
In Australia, cycle use has collapsed, children no longer learn any early road sense on bicycles, and published injury statistics show absolutely no change. The ONLY effect is that young children get criminalised if they venture onto the road without one.
Changing just slightly, there are now lots of injury statistics produced in the US showing the difference in injury rates between states that have compulsory motorcycle helmets, and states that do not. There is no difference.
And let's just read that again - six times more likely to be killed in the US (nearly everyone wearing helmets) than in Holland (hardly anyone wearing them).
- Ken, Croydon UK
I absolutely agree with Ruth. Cycle helmets should be left to the discretion of the rider. Not one but two people I knew were killed whilst riding off-road wearing helmets, both of whom went over the handlebars and broke their necks. Helmets made no difference, save that they may have given the riders false confidence.
- Adam, London, UK
Cycle helmets can definitely help in an impact collision, but cyclists are still often seriously injured or killed whilst wearing them, through the fault of a motorist. A helmet will not stop a cyclist being crushed under a lorry which has run a red.
So while I agree that helmets help, the constant implication that most cyclists do not wear helmets (untrue) or that if they get hurt it is somehow the cyclist's fault (usually overwhelmingly untrue) just continues the demonisation of cyclists which is a sad media and political trend.
- Reg, London
Come one what's with this pro-helmet propaganda? As far as I am aware there has not been a change in the law to make helmet wearing compulsory so why should our elected Mayor be forced to wear one? Surely that's his personal choice - and mine too. Cycling is a quick, efficient and environmentally friendly means of travel, and forcing cyclists to wear special clothing - such as helmets etc, actively discourages people from riding a bike. Just look at the countries (Australia etc) where helmet wearing has been made compulsory - levels of cycling have gone down. There isn't even a safety argument - no evidence exists to suggests helmet-wearing has a positive effect. And in fact, wearing one can make you more likely to be involved in an accident - as motorists drive closer to you. What needs to change is the attitude of car drivers towards cyclists. Fact is, you are six times more likely to be killed while riding a bike in the US (cycle unfriendly, helmet wearing) than Holland (cycle friendly, no helmets). Why is that then?
- Ruth, London, UK
