Observations of cyclists by Gorski Consulting in London Ontario have shown that two-thirds of male cyclists do not wear helmets. Yet for females that percentage is about half. More recent observations have taken place in 2025 such that over 1000 additional cyclists have been documented just to the end of August. This data will likely be revealed at the end of the calendar year. The table below shows the results from cyclist observations between the years 2022 to 2024.
While more females appear to wear helmets the numbers of females observed on or near roadways is much lower than males.
For example the above table shows that in the years 2022 to 2024, 2736 male cyclists were observed, yet only 428 females were observed. Thus only 13.53 % of the observed cyclists were female.
Little attention has been paid to these facts. While there is considerable publicity in official circles that we must increase the number of cyclists while decreasing the use of motor vehicles no one has publicly noted that observations of female cyclists are uncommon.
Similarly, any emergency department physician will tell you that the use of a helmet reduces the severity of cyclist head injuries. Yet nothing is done in the region of London Ontario to publicize that fact. Major head injury is not just a statistic. It is a fact that visits many cyclists at a time when it is too late to change the outcome because the injury has already occurred.
A recent encounter with a cyclist emphasized the point that cyclist helmets are not something that every cyclist believes they can afford. On July 30, 2025 we encountered a male cyclist at the intersection of Highbury and Huron Street in London, as shown in the photo below.
A closer view of his bike is shown below.
The bike has no reflectors or lights and is not equipped with a bell. The owner complained that police had pulled him over and charged him for these omissions and also because he was not wearing a helmet. He felt he was targeted by police. He told us that he understands a helmet would help reduce his chances of head injury but he complained that helmets were too expensive. He observed that very often helmets cost almost as much as his bike.
In contrast one of my cycling buddies recently bought a brand new MIPS helmet for $49 in a sporting goods store in London. For the average person that cost is not a problem. However many cyclists are at the low end of the economic scale and any cost could be prohibitive. A program could be engaged whereby helmets are purchased for some lower income riders but that has not happened. The costs associated with major head injuries are astronomically higher than the price of a helmet therefore it is a societal benefit to fit as many cyclists as possible with helmets.
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