@kotts: yeahhh, some of our fellow bike riders dont understand that they need to follow local traffic laws if they plan on getting respect from their other road fairing peers (motorists and cyclists alike)
i’ve not had kids yet ask to ride along, as the car seat is mounted in front – but i do get a fair share of adults asking to be toted up college or main.
@harry – check out copenhagen cycle chic – you won’t find much (if any) sepcialized gear there for suiting up to ride, aside from the high heels and matching handbags!
yes cleveland. i used to live in the neighborhood rick is cartooning about. not a bad place to bike – there are a few miserable sections of road – but if you stay in the heights you should be OK.
wondering when thistle heads over with her application for that mechanics job. she should also go check out the shaker lakes. the kids will love it – esp if she takes the back on the dirt paths…
wow — has this been set in cleveland all along? i’ve never biked down coventry before (grew up on the west side), but now that i think about it, cleveland heights would be a great place to ride.
All this talk about Helmets, the way it’s being sold is that if you have so much as a zero speed tip over you will end up dead or in a permanent vegetative state, unless your wearing the latest magical foam hat. I did a lot of riding in the 1970′s and even had a few off bike experiences, including an OTB, without a helmet, I didn’t end up dead, and am not in a permanent vegetative state. I think modern society is turning everyone into a wuss……
On the Chicago Trib reader forums, some of the people act like a cyclist is responsible for whatever happens to him if he’s not wearing a helmet. Whenever there’s a(nother) car vs. bike, the first question some of them ask is, “Was s/he wearing a helmet?” I mean… Dude? What? There’s nothing magical about the helmet. IMO, a lot of people in the US are looking for a way to live their lives in a protective bubble.
It makes no sense, but then, drivers around here have a very entitled attitude when it comes to sharing the road.
“I did a lot of riding in the 1970′s … without a helmet, I didn’t end up dead, and am not in a permanent vegetative state. I think modern society is turning everyone into a wuss……”
And you rode in cars without airbags and did not end up in the morgue, too, but that does not mean that you should not take advantage of the higher safety standards in cars and that helmets on kids is a bad thing. Sure, helmets are not a “magical’ cure-all, but your arguments are weak.
Here we go with the helmets again. It would seem that fizz is strapped into the box, although that could just be a backpack or clothing design… Interesting, the different reception Thistle gets when she rides alone vs. when she brings fizz. We not only overproctection-bubble ourselves, but we do it even worse to our kids. I used to ride my bike into mudbogs or snowbanks, to purposefully throw myself over the handlebars. It was fun. I remember climbing trees. All that would be said was, be careful, don’t break your neck. (probably because I couldn’t feed the horses with a broken neck…)
In the 50s our Chevy had no seat belts, and the front seats flipped forward when you braked. They didn’t even lock in place. We all lived, but many people didn’t.
Why someone would encourage peopl eto NOT ride with a helmet, or argue that they aren’t ALWAYS a good idea is beyond me. Maybe I’ve just got more in my head worth protecting.
It appears to me that they are helicopter parents that are extending their over protectiveness to Fizz. I wouldn’t be surprised if the lady on the cell phone is calling the police to report her endangering her child.
She might be. Many locations have mandatory helmet laws for children. I am sure some police intervention will do wonders for Thistle’s bicycling resolve.
I’ve connected up to the Amsterdam WebCam provided by SwarmPlayer (google it) to test a P2P technology. I figured the webcam would be more entertaining than 5 mins of BBC. In the first few minutes, I saw more bicycles than cars, by a 3:1 ratio and at least one box-bike zip by.
@Blue
No, I think the woman on the cellphone is just being representative of moms who drive – unable to survive without being regularly hooked up to a cellphone, whether on the road or not.
I love this comic, I have read the entire series, and link to it on my website.
Does the mandatory helmet law apply to a bakefits? What about when you are walking your child near traffic? Do you have to have a helmet then? You are more likely to have a head injury as a pedestrian than on a bike. (Google it)
I thought the reason children were required to wear helmets on a bike is they are more likely to have an accident caused by them.
“Overall, according to CTC, the UK’s national cyclists organisation, “the evidence currently available is complex and full of contradictions, providing at least as much support for those who are sceptical as for those who swear by them.”"
I wear my helmet into cafes and gas station toilets — cleats are awfully slippery, you never know when you might slip and fall. The same goes after the ride: I might slip and fall in my bathroom too.
I am really enjoying this cartoon, but i am glad that mostly adults are reading it because of this helmet thing. All dedicated cyclists know people who have crashed badly and NOT smashed their heads because they were wearing a helmet. I’m sorry you’re such an anti-helmet person, i think you’re picking the wrong battle here.
Do not forget the shower, do you know how many head injuries were caused by slipping in the shower without a helmet? How could you even conceive of taking a shower without one. For shame, tsk tsk.
I am not opposed to helmets, I am opposed to narrow minded people deciding for me what risk/reward I am willing to put up with. I maintain that the entire benefit of helmets is inflated. Many people die wearing them. The problem is all the cars running over people and killing them and not even getting ticketed. And all of these shallow narrow-minded people are more concerned about my use of a “brain bucket” Seriously, let us put all of our attention on the real problem. Motorists who are reckless and/or careless on the road and speed. Causing far more cyclists to die.
My helmet is what I call “lawyer protection.” The only thing protective about a helmet to me is the fact that then the lawyer for the person who crashed into you can’t say I wasn’t wearing one.
Did you know that motorists pass cyclists closer if they are wearing a helmet? On the other hand, however, they also give women more room, so maybe it would balance out.
Thistle and Fizz don’t need helmets on that thing. I got to ride the BIG Bakfeits that seat like FOUR kids recently…That thing is a TANK, and it’s probably less likely to fall over than the average Lincoln Compensator…Our 21-mo-old is in a rear seat currently, but the Bakfiets belongs to her daycare provider (also cool as F-), and I don’t care if they rider her in it helmetless. Prediction: the more bikes we start seeing, the sooners we’ll lose the dork lids.
Drivers also give you more room if you festoon your kid’s front/rear seat or trailer or bike box with all kinds of lights, flags, ribbons and other assorted attentiion grabbers. Ours has a retro 70s sign on back that says “Mom likes me! WATCH IT!”
@Lisa, et al – let me preface this by stating that the comment board of a cartoon is not the place to be carrying on a discussion (if one could call it that) about helmets. That being said, it’s comments like those above (“dork lids”) that bring the level of discourse down to nothing more than hurling grenades over the back fence. There are those of us who wear helmets all of the time, not because some nanny state has told us to, or because we fear that every mile we ride leads us closer to certain calamity and permanent injury. Rather it’s a choice we’ve made and one that we’re perfectly content with. And, speaking only for myself, while I would like to see more people make the choice, it remains just that, a choice. If people who argue against helmet use would simply state “I don’t like helmets, I don’t see a reason to wear one, and so I don’t”, I would be fine with that. Instead we get conspiracy theories about helmet manufacturers, or we hear how pervasive helmet use scares away potential new cyclists, or I’m told (by helmet non wearers) that there’s tales (which I’ve yet to ever hear) of an epidemic of bike related head injuries used to sell helmets to newbies, or we get statistics/anecdotal evidence of how relatively dangerous other activities (walking, showering) are etc, etc. Just tell me you choose not to wear one. End of story.
Reading this thread, and based on lots of experience in other cycling forums, I’ve come to the conclusion that anti-helmet zealots are just as obnoxious as pro-helmet “Why aren’t you wearing a helmet!?!?!?” zealots. Get over it, let people decide how to manage their own risk, their decision on helmet-wearing will not hurt you one way or the other. The way they spout on makes the zealots sound like Timecube-ist cranks.
Public Health
——————————————————————————–
What are the ordinances regarding bicycle helmets and bicycle safety?
All bicycle operators and passengers over five years of age must wear properly sized ANSI or SNELL approved helmets with fastened chinstraps. Required equipment includes such things as properly colored reflectors and audible warning devices.
And here’s the deal from Cleveland heights, where Coventry is located…
BICYCLES & SKATEBOARDS
The City requires licenses and registration for all bicycles operated within the city. Cyclists can buy their permits at the Treasury Window on the entry level of City Hall. They need to supply the color, make and model/serial number of the bike. The registration fee may be waived by the City if, at the time of registration, the applicant offers a satisfactory proof of ownership of a bicycle helmet and signs a pledge agreeing to wear the helmet at all times when riding the registered bike. Bikers should, of course, follow traffic safety rules. Bicycles and skateboards should not be ridden on sidewalks in commercial districts, nor in areas that have posted signs prohibiting riding on walkways.
@riderage: I am in the “because we fear that every mile we ride leads us closer to certain calamity and permanent injury” camp, but I still think they’re dorky. Especially on the 90-degree plus summer days when everyone else with any sense is half-naked, but here I am with a hunk of plastic on my head. My helmet has saved my melon twice now, but sometimes I still have to ditch. Most of the time I just crown myself Queen of the Dorks and live with it.
Note: this is a comment about the comic. Sorry to jab you forumatics. The author put a new spotlight on marginalization. I like the soft pedal style of Rick Smith and am proud to be a patron. I assume that so many readers solve their transportation needs sensibly fundamentally we all agree. I think if either Yahuda or Joe were called to the cross I would stand up for them, now let them bicker.
The Travel Channel had a program host build up a used bicycle at West Town Bicycles, and tomorrow they film her riding it at Chicago’s Critical Mass ride, where the Blues Brothers pay their taxes.
Holy helmet debate again! I had written up about a page and a half about it again, but it’s been said again and again. One thing that I would like to say is this: Be cautious when you read statistics, and interpret graphs. More pedestrians get head injuries than cyclists? Think about this: Almost everyone alive on earth today is a pedestrian at some point in the day, however briefly, but relatively few of us are cyclists everyday. Everything must be viewed in terms of relative frequency, duration, etc… you need to compare apples to apples, and bin to bin. comparing a truckload of apples to a basket of oranges doesn’t help anything.
Careful with statistics, they can easily mislead.
@ Mirco: a cross modal study which compares fatality rates per 100 million kilometers travelled and per 100 milllion hours travelled. Look at table 4, you’ll see that cyclists don’t fair that much worse than motorists and better than pedestrians.
Helmets look dorky, I agree, but which is worse–looking like a mushroom or being a vegetable?
I haven’t any kids, but if I did I wouldn’t like the idea of their little skulls bouncing on the pavement without some sort of protection. YMMV of course.
They don’t have helmets in the Netherlands. Too bad this is Cleveland.
fizz is cool as fuck.
Uh oh… “Fizz doesn’t have one.” I can see potential conflict brewing between Thistle and the other parents…
These are just random images I found on Google, but it probably is close to what comes to mind when riders prepare to go for a ride:
In the US:
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g213/slightlyslack/Neighborhoods/Koreatown/larger/018.jpg
In Holland:
http://www.andrewlove.org/blog/blogpics07/N10-8.jpg
No wonder we talk about helmets so much!
Yeah, that would be why…or at least partially.
I got slammed into by another cyclist yesterday because he decided that a “Yield” sign didn’t apply to him.
@kotts: yeahhh, some of our fellow bike riders dont understand that they need to follow local traffic laws if they plan on getting respect from their other road fairing peers (motorists and cyclists alike)
Local traffic laws – like stopping at red lights? There’s some controversy about that in the UK:
http://karlmccracken.sweat365.com/2008/07/23/stop-at-red/
i’ve not had kids yet ask to ride along, as the car seat is mounted in front – but i do get a fair share of adults asking to be toted up college or main.
@harry – check out copenhagen cycle chic – you won’t find much (if any) sepcialized gear there for suiting up to ride, aside from the high heels and matching handbags!
yes cleveland. i used to live in the neighborhood rick is cartooning about. not a bad place to bike – there are a few miserable sections of road – but if you stay in the heights you should be OK.
wondering when thistle heads over with her application for that mechanics job. she should also go check out the shaker lakes. the kids will love it – esp if she takes the back on the dirt paths…
wow — has this been set in cleveland all along? i’ve never biked down coventry before (grew up on the west side), but now that i think about it, cleveland heights would be a great place to ride.
All this talk about Helmets, the way it’s being sold is that if you have so much as a zero speed tip over you will end up dead or in a permanent vegetative state, unless your wearing the latest magical foam hat. I did a lot of riding in the 1970′s and even had a few off bike experiences, including an OTB, without a helmet, I didn’t end up dead, and am not in a permanent vegetative state. I think modern society is turning everyone into a wuss……
Is that one woman, with the short hair in the background, callling as a concerned citizen about Thistle and Fizz riding without a helmet?
On the Chicago Trib reader forums, some of the people act like a cyclist is responsible for whatever happens to him if he’s not wearing a helmet. Whenever there’s a(nother) car vs. bike, the first question some of them ask is, “Was s/he wearing a helmet?” I mean… Dude? What? There’s nothing magical about the helmet. IMO, a lot of people in the US are looking for a way to live their lives in a protective bubble.
It makes no sense, but then, drivers around here have a very entitled attitude when it comes to sharing the road.
“I did a lot of riding in the 1970′s … without a helmet, I didn’t end up dead, and am not in a permanent vegetative state. I think modern society is turning everyone into a wuss……”
And you rode in cars without airbags and did not end up in the morgue, too, but that does not mean that you should not take advantage of the higher safety standards in cars and that helmets on kids is a bad thing. Sure, helmets are not a “magical’ cure-all, but your arguments are weak.
Here we go with the helmets again. It would seem that fizz is strapped into the box, although that could just be a backpack or clothing design… Interesting, the different reception Thistle gets when she rides alone vs. when she brings fizz. We not only overproctection-bubble ourselves, but we do it even worse to our kids. I used to ride my bike into mudbogs or snowbanks, to purposefully throw myself over the handlebars. It was fun. I remember climbing trees. All that would be said was, be careful, don’t break your neck. (probably because I couldn’t feed the horses with a broken neck…)
It would appear that Thistle got her bike put back together.
In the 50s our Chevy had no seat belts, and the front seats flipped forward when you braked. They didn’t even lock in place. We all lived, but many people didn’t.
Why someone would encourage peopl eto NOT ride with a helmet, or argue that they aren’t ALWAYS a good idea is beyond me. Maybe I’ve just got more in my head worth protecting.
Sweet, first one to make this comment
Anyone notice that Thistle got the bike back together?? She’s freakin awesome. I wonder if her wheels are true tho
Go Thistle! Woohoo!!
A side note…
Hey Rick you forgot the disclaimer again
It appears to me that they are helicopter parents that are extending their over protectiveness to Fizz. I wouldn’t be surprised if the lady on the cell phone is calling the police to report her endangering her child.
@Kapp
She might be. Many locations have mandatory helmet laws for children. I am sure some police intervention will do wonders for Thistle’s bicycling resolve.
I’ve connected up to the Amsterdam WebCam provided by SwarmPlayer (google it) to test a P2P technology. I figured the webcam would be more entertaining than 5 mins of BBC. In the first few minutes, I saw more bicycles than cars, by a 3:1 ratio and at least one box-bike zip by.
Yes that woman is calling the Child Protection Services.
I should call the lawyers of FLDS sect in Texas to help Thistle out before they take her kid away…
Damn government!
@ James Bond: No kidding! Americans are afraid of life…
@Blue
No, I think the woman on the cellphone is just being representative of moms who drive – unable to survive without being regularly hooked up to a cellphone, whether on the road or not.
I love this comic, I have read the entire series, and link to it on my website.
Does the mandatory helmet law apply to a bakefits? What about when you are walking your child near traffic? Do you have to have a helmet then? You are more likely to have a head injury as a pedestrian than on a bike. (Google it)
I thought the reason children were required to wear helmets on a bike is they are more likely to have an accident caused by them.
http://www.canada.com/richmondnews/news/community/story.html?id=95733ec5-7471-44a1-8e2f-9740b3d3dfa1&p=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_helmet#Are_helmets_useful.3F_Desirable_effects_of_helmet_use
“Overall, according to CTC, the UK’s national cyclists organisation, “the evidence currently available is complex and full of contradictions, providing at least as much support for those who are sceptical as for those who swear by them.”"
oh and please make sure the child takes his/her helmet off before getting on the playground, there have been several deaths CAUSED by helmets:
http://www.helmets.org/playgrou.htm
Is Fizz strapped in? Or is that a backpack or suspenders?
@Dave: Fizz is strapped in. This model bakfiets comes standard with two sets of 3-point safety harnesses for kids.
What’s the disclaimer?
I wear my helmet into cafes and gas station toilets — cleats are awfully slippery, you never know when you might slip and fall. The same goes after the ride: I might slip and fall in my bathroom too.
I am really enjoying this cartoon, but i am glad that mostly adults are reading it because of this helmet thing. All dedicated cyclists know people who have crashed badly and NOT smashed their heads because they were wearing a helmet. I’m sorry you’re such an anti-helmet person, i think you’re picking the wrong battle here.
The yehuda character is against helmets (I guess), though the Joe character is for them… do we know that Rick is really against them?
Do not forget the shower, do you know how many head injuries were caused by slipping in the shower without a helmet? How could you even conceive of taking a shower without one. For shame, tsk tsk.
I am not opposed to helmets, I am opposed to narrow minded people deciding for me what risk/reward I am willing to put up with. I maintain that the entire benefit of helmets is inflated. Many people die wearing them. The problem is all the cars running over people and killing them and not even getting ticketed. And all of these shallow narrow-minded people are more concerned about my use of a “brain bucket” Seriously, let us put all of our attention on the real problem. Motorists who are reckless and/or careless on the road and speed. Causing far more cyclists to die.
My helmet is what I call “lawyer protection.” The only thing protective about a helmet to me is the fact that then the lawyer for the person who crashed into you can’t say I wasn’t wearing one.
Did you know that motorists pass cyclists closer if they are wearing a helmet? On the other hand, however, they also give women more room, so maybe it would balance out.
Thistle and Fizz don’t need helmets on that thing. I got to ride the BIG Bakfeits that seat like FOUR kids recently…That thing is a TANK, and it’s probably less likely to fall over than the average Lincoln Compensator…Our 21-mo-old is in a rear seat currently, but the Bakfiets belongs to her daycare provider (also cool as F-), and I don’t care if they rider her in it helmetless. Prediction: the more bikes we start seeing, the sooners we’ll lose the dork lids.
Drivers also give you more room if you festoon your kid’s front/rear seat or trailer or bike box with all kinds of lights, flags, ribbons and other assorted attentiion grabbers. Ours has a retro 70s sign on back that says “Mom likes me! WATCH IT!”
@Lisa, et al – let me preface this by stating that the comment board of a cartoon is not the place to be carrying on a discussion (if one could call it that) about helmets. That being said, it’s comments like those above (“dork lids”) that bring the level of discourse down to nothing more than hurling grenades over the back fence. There are those of us who wear helmets all of the time, not because some nanny state has told us to, or because we fear that every mile we ride leads us closer to certain calamity and permanent injury. Rather it’s a choice we’ve made and one that we’re perfectly content with. And, speaking only for myself, while I would like to see more people make the choice, it remains just that, a choice. If people who argue against helmet use would simply state “I don’t like helmets, I don’t see a reason to wear one, and so I don’t”, I would be fine with that. Instead we get conspiracy theories about helmet manufacturers, or we hear how pervasive helmet use scares away potential new cyclists, or I’m told (by helmet non wearers) that there’s tales (which I’ve yet to ever hear) of an epidemic of bike related head injuries used to sell helmets to newbies, or we get statistics/anecdotal evidence of how relatively dangerous other activities (walking, showering) are etc, etc. Just tell me you choose not to wear one. End of story.
*Yawn* – Where are the Shakers?
Reading this thread, and based on lots of experience in other cycling forums, I’ve come to the conclusion that anti-helmet zealots are just as obnoxious as pro-helmet “Why aren’t you wearing a helmet!?!?!?” zealots. Get over it, let people decide how to manage their own risk, their decision on helmet-wearing will not hurt you one way or the other. The way they spout on makes the zealots sound like Timecube-ist cranks.
This needs to run again tomorrow: http://www.yehudamoon.com/index.php?date=20080624
The Blonde is a “Nightline Mom”.
Took me reading the comments to realize that Thistle had gotten her bakfiets back together!
Also note well that Thistle no longer has sweat stains on her blouse.
What a great idea…
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://redjar.org/jared/projects/communitybike/summary/images/white_bikes_2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://redjar.org/jared/projects/communitybike/summary/&h=960&w=1280&sz=187&hl=en&start=34&sig2=v94hfIGRE69NMxoXHs__7w&um=1&tbnid=cjy5qGUY9KtbJM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&ei=NdqISLeHHJKUigHi4aXyDA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbikes%26start%3D18%26ndsp%3D18%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DN
Too bad Thistle has run into a Shaker Nark!
From the Shaker Heights website:
Public Health
——————————————————————————–
What are the ordinances regarding bicycle helmets and bicycle safety?
All bicycle operators and passengers over five years of age must wear properly sized ANSI or SNELL approved helmets with fastened chinstraps. Required equipment includes such things as properly colored reflectors and audible warning devices.
http://www.shakeronline.com/dept/law/FAQ.asp#whataretheordinancesregardingbicyclehelmetsandbicyclesafety?
And here’s the deal from Cleveland heights, where Coventry is located…
BICYCLES & SKATEBOARDS
The City requires licenses and registration for all bicycles operated within the city. Cyclists can buy their permits at the Treasury Window on the entry level of City Hall. They need to supply the color, make and model/serial number of the bike. The registration fee may be waived by the City if, at the time of registration, the applicant offers a satisfactory proof of ownership of a bicycle helmet and signs a pledge agreeing to wear the helmet at all times when riding the registered bike. Bikers should, of course, follow traffic safety rules. Bicycles and skateboards should not be ridden on sidewalks in commercial districts, nor in areas that have posted signs prohibiting riding on walkways.
Ah, the helmet debate is back…
Let’s not all forget what tomorrow is: Last Friday of the month, and that means? CRITICAL MASS!
@riderage: I am in the “because we fear that every mile we ride leads us closer to certain calamity and permanent injury” camp, but I still think they’re dorky. Especially on the 90-degree plus summer days when everyone else with any sense is half-naked, but here I am with a hunk of plastic on my head. My helmet has saved my melon twice now, but sometimes I still have to ditch. Most of the time I just crown myself Queen of the Dorks and live with it.
@adriel and Yehuda: Right on. It’s a CAR problem.
Note: this is a comment about the comic. Sorry to jab you forumatics. The author put a new spotlight on marginalization. I like the soft pedal style of Rick Smith and am proud to be a patron. I assume that so many readers solve their transportation needs sensibly fundamentally we all agree. I think if either Yahuda or Joe were called to the cross I would stand up for them, now let them bicker.
Signed,
I am Yahuda but I am more like Joe.
The Travel Channel had a program host build up a used bicycle at West Town Bicycles, and tomorrow they film her riding it at Chicago’s Critical Mass ride, where the Blues Brothers pay their taxes.
@Ride Rage
I belong to the Critical Mass crowd. Just because someone says I ought to be wearing a helmet doesn’t mean that I am going to wear one.
Just because someone says I ought not be discussing about helmet use in a comic strip comment area does not mean that I am going to refrain from it.
We have all… been there done that… I’m kind of like Yehuda… but I am aspiring to be just like Yehuda….
@Mile Schwab
How I miss Chicago… Go West Town…
Holy helmet debate again! I had written up about a page and a half about it again, but it’s been said again and again. One thing that I would like to say is this: Be cautious when you read statistics, and interpret graphs. More pedestrians get head injuries than cyclists? Think about this: Almost everyone alive on earth today is a pedestrian at some point in the day, however briefly, but relatively few of us are cyclists everyday. Everything must be viewed in terms of relative frequency, duration, etc… you need to compare apples to apples, and bin to bin. comparing a truckload of apples to a basket of oranges doesn’t help anything.
Careful with statistics, they can easily mislead.
word. we need sabermetrics for cyclo-stats.
i’m also hoping that by just mentioning sabermetrics, y’all will start fighting over VORP instead of helmet use.
@Mirco
I agree with you. But nobody has the rights to make decisions for others.
Live and let live…
Or live and let die..if you are a helmet believer.
@ Mirco: a cross modal study which compares fatality rates per 100 million kilometers travelled and per 100 milllion hours travelled. Look at table 4, you’ll see that cyclists don’t fair that much worse than motorists and better than pedestrians.
http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/2005/pdf/Cross_modal_safety_comparisons.pdf
@Brian R. There are a few thousand bicycle ride journals at http://www.bikejournal.com/ that you can analyze.
I found http://www.ribcap.ch/cms/pages/index.php?idcatside=120 at http://helmetornohelmet.com/. Helmets that look like hats.
Take a look at this article.
http://www.palmbeachbiketours.com/2008/07/09/do-bike-helmets-really-save-your-life/
Helmets look dorky, I agree, but which is worse–looking like a mushroom or being a vegetable?
I haven’t any kids, but if I did I wouldn’t like the idea of their little skulls bouncing on the pavement without some sort of protection. YMMV of course.