And as ebikes proliferate among casual cyclists (especially in those hilly areas where acoustic bikes aren't realistic for many folks), high speeds become ever easier to achieve, and "helmets are for those dorks in lycra" messaging becomes that much more dangerous

That said, I also think the flat terrain part is really key. I live in a hilly area where there are many grades exceeding 10%. Even on a "slow" bike, it's easy to reach 30+ mph on those descents. No amount of infrastructure would make it safe to ride helmetless at those speeds

Nowhere in North America does the Netherlands' combination of high-quality cycling infrastructure, cognizant and courteous drivers, low bike speeds, and flat terrain exist. Instead of playing a game of cope and spurning our helmets, we should focus on building that safe environment

Counterpoint: wearing a helmet for non-sport cycling sets a helpful example that a helmet can be a normal piece of everyday safety gear, akin to a seatbelt, instead of some piece of niche athletic equipment to be paired with a full lycra getup

west, texas! a location notably not in west texas

yeah could be them too

probably carrying the nuggets from nyc to philly