Interesting supposition. I very rarely wear the things myself, maybe for this very reason.
Bicycle Helmets Put You at Risk For years, cyclists who ride on city streets have cherished an unusual superstition: if they wear a helmet, they are more likely to get hit by a car. ... Ian Walker, a psychologist at the University of Bath who rides his bike to work every day...decided to find out — putting his own neck on the line. He rigged his bicycle with an ultrasonic sensor that could detect how close each car was that passed him. Then he hit the roads, alternately riding with a helmet and without for two months, until he had been passed by 2,500 cars. Examining the data, he found that when he wore his helmet, motorists passed by 8.5 centimeters (3.35 inches) closer than when his head was bare. He had increased his risk of an accident by donning safety gear.Why? You might suspect that cyclists wearing helmets are more prone to take risks. But studies have found otherwise. The real answer, Walker theorizes, is that helmets change the behavior of drivers. Motorists regard a helmet as a signal that the cyclist is experienced and thus can be approached with less caution. “They see the helmet and think, Oh, there’s a serious, skilful person,” Walker says. “And you get hit.”
Okay, if you get hit and you're not wearing a helmet it's pretty much kaput if your head hits the curb or the pavement. And that is what matters, not the three inches more or less the car drivers will risk getting close to you.
C'mon, it's like those couples who blame the condom that "broke" or the "method." Just say you don't like helmets, but please wear one or I'll be worried sick.
Let your freak flag fly! I did wear it on the Bike the Drive event the above photo was taken at, but often I think helmets are too hot.