Comparative risks
So I took this:
and made this from the relative odds compared to driving:
Points:
- There is a very good reason why motorcyclists should wear a helmet
- All cycling is way safer then driving
- All cycling is very close to walking (though with Maryland being the 8th highest in pedestrian fatalities cycling maybe even safer then walking here.) If we are not considering a mandatory helmet law for pedestrians, then let's not consider one for cyclists.
- Cycling with a helmet may be biased toward bike club rides, where people drive to ride someplace nice and there is a safety-in-numbers effect when riding with a group.
- That is to say the helmet alone may not be the major factor here, bike clubs promote safe cycling practices among other things.