User friendly bicycle helmet for commuters
(2013) International Cycling Safety Conference- Abstract
- The number of adult bicycle helmet users in Sweden has stayed over the years relatively stable around 20 % [1]. In Europe the number of helmet users varies between 1 and 40 % depending on country. Research has shown that the use of helmet considerably diminishes head injuries in the case of traffic accidents [2]. In spite of that it is not fully clear what are the main factors why only a small number of bicyclists use a helmet. In order to raise awareness of helmet use and improve traffic safety COST Action supported a European initiative “Towards safer bicycling through optimization of bicycle helmets and usage”.
Why helmet use is not popular? Several reasons could be pointed out: design, destroys the hair style, attitudes... (More) - The number of adult bicycle helmet users in Sweden has stayed over the years relatively stable around 20 % [1]. In Europe the number of helmet users varies between 1 and 40 % depending on country. Research has shown that the use of helmet considerably diminishes head injuries in the case of traffic accidents [2]. In spite of that it is not fully clear what are the main factors why only a small number of bicyclists use a helmet. In order to raise awareness of helmet use and improve traffic safety COST Action supported a European initiative “Towards safer bicycling through optimization of bicycle helmets and usage”.
Why helmet use is not popular? Several reasons could be pointed out: design, destroys the hair style, attitudes against helmet use, nowhere to put, too warm etc. Often the initial complaints are related to heat [3]. In cold additional insulation from the helmet may be a positive factor while compatibility issues may rise.
As the professional bicyclists and most training/competing amateurs do wear the helmets then the aim for traffic safety should be increasing helmet use among commuters and bicyclists who do it just for fun. Therefore a project was initiated where main issue was to reduce initial thermal disturbance from a bicycle helmet while keeping in mind visibility, protection aspects, look, issues related to wearing comfort etc.
Some relevant factors to be considered are:
• The motion speeds of commuters would stay on average around 15 km/h (4.2 m/s) with average high speed not much above 20 km/h.
• Aerodynamics and placement of the vents and air channels.
• The effect of hair should not be underestimated – these may fill air channels with very effective insulation material. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/4438469
- author
- Kuklane, Kalev LU and Heidmets, Sixten Sebastian
- organization
- publishing date
- 2013
- type
- Contribution to conference
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- bicycle helmets, heat stress, ventilation, design
- pages
- 4 pages
- conference name
- International Cycling Safety Conference
- conference location
- Netherlands
- conference dates
- 2013-11-20 - 2013-11-21
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Abstracts papers and presentations are available at http://icsc2013.blogspot.nl/
- id
- 5fc1c615-4931-4ff0-afca-29994507d3d6 (old id 4438469)
- alternative location
- http://icsc2013.blogspot.nl/
- http://www.icsc2013.com/papers/Kuklane2013_user%20friendly%20bicycle%20helmet.pdf
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-04 14:29:22
- date last changed
- 2018-11-21 21:20:37
@misc{5fc1c615-4931-4ff0-afca-29994507d3d6, abstract = {{The number of adult bicycle helmet users in Sweden has stayed over the years relatively stable around 20 % [1]. In Europe the number of helmet users varies between 1 and 40 % depending on country. Research has shown that the use of helmet considerably diminishes head injuries in the case of traffic accidents [2]. In spite of that it is not fully clear what are the main factors why only a small number of bicyclists use a helmet. In order to raise awareness of helmet use and improve traffic safety COST Action supported a European initiative “Towards safer bicycling through optimization of bicycle helmets and usage”.<br/><br> Why helmet use is not popular? Several reasons could be pointed out: design, destroys the hair style, attitudes against helmet use, nowhere to put, too warm etc. Often the initial complaints are related to heat [3]. In cold additional insulation from the helmet may be a positive factor while compatibility issues may rise.<br/><br> As the professional bicyclists and most training/competing amateurs do wear the helmets then the aim for traffic safety should be increasing helmet use among commuters and bicyclists who do it just for fun. Therefore a project was initiated where main issue was to reduce initial thermal disturbance from a bicycle helmet while keeping in mind visibility, protection aspects, look, issues related to wearing comfort etc.<br/><br> Some relevant factors to be considered are:<br/><br> • The motion speeds of commuters would stay on average around 15 km/h (4.2 m/s) with average high speed not much above 20 km/h.<br/><br> • Aerodynamics and placement of the vents and air channels.<br/><br> • The effect of hair should not be underestimated – these may fill air channels with very effective insulation material.}}, author = {{Kuklane, Kalev and Heidmets, Sixten Sebastian}}, keywords = {{bicycle helmets; heat stress; ventilation; design}}, language = {{eng}}, title = {{User friendly bicycle helmet for commuters}}, url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/6372193/4438470.pdf}}, year = {{2013}}, }