I'm still blown away, in this day and age, by how many parents don't make their kids wear helmets on bike trips. It's almost as shocking to me as people who take up smoking.
I mean, the Dutch are less than 1% of the world's population, I feel like you've got a pretty good chance of saying that about anything.
At least smoking is relaxing and delicious. There's zero upside to not wearing a helmet.
Not to your own personal choice, but there absolutely is downside to stigma and helmet mandates. Studies show they reduce cycling numbers which means people drive instead, which increases death and injury, because spoiler, cars are dangerous.
Good article with references:
https://slate.com/technology/2023/01/bike-helmets-cyclist-deaths-do-you-need-to-wear.html
And more on other issues too with helmet mandates, like how police enforce… https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/apr/20/us-helmet-laws-police-citations-cyclists-of-colour-homeless
You don't need a special item for every damn activity. That's capitilasm at its finest. You don't need to go buy a special suit to ride a fucking bike around without your asscrack hanging out. You just need to not be a fatass and wear clothes that fit you.
I don't think I've ever seen someone wearing cycling specific clothes for normal commuter trips. Other than maybe putting on a rain coat/pants over their normal clothing.
I wear different clothes for my commute to work. If I didn't I'd be sweaty and dusty. Some of them are cycling specific.
