Are Helmeted Cyclists “car magnets?
” Our commenter suggested that drivers are less careful around helmeted cyclists. (“this cyclist jerk seems well enough protected to me, no need to be too careful around him”). There appears to be some truth to this. A study published Accident Analysis and Prevention was summarized in Helmets.org: test cyclists were given 8.5cm (3.3 inches) more clearance by cars if they were not wearing helmets. When the researchers donned female wigs they got more clearance, 14cm (5.5 inches) more than apparent males in helmets. They did not report on what a skirt and helmet combination would do. The author was hit by a bus and a truck during the experiment, and was wearing a helmet both times. TreeHugger Warren was not so sure about this and wrote about it here in TreeHugger. So looking at the evidence so far, we need a lot more good bike infrastructure and separated bike lanes, a lot more cyclists to get that safety in numbers effect, and if you are going to wear a helmet, put a wig over it. But no
