>>(Look at Bicycle Deaths by Helmet Use 1994-2006 chart)
>
>Ok I'm not going to rummage around for stats but I have read that the decline in cycling caused by compulsory helmet use was not matched by a similar or greater decline in injury. Additionally the "safety first " culture is producing a generation of fat lardy kids who can't get off their asses for anything. Yes an individual head injury is a tragedy and some may be averted by helmets but a risk averse society is a much bigger problem. Bring back individual choice and common sense.

And actually I feel less safe with a bike helmet. The most important thing for me, as a bicycle rider on the street, is to know what's around me, where are the other vehicles. I tried wearing a helmet a few times, and it has completely screwed up my 3d hearing. I was looking behind my back just far too often, because I couldn't understand where is each sound coming from. And my field of vision was also somewhat smaller, but not by much.