Variation of bicycle helmet use rates with route distance

The relationship between bicycle helmet use and demographic measures has been studied extensively. To date, however, there have been very few studies of helmet use by amateur cyclists in organized, noncompetitive, long distance events. Seven hundred eleven riders were observed during three organized events offering route distances ranging from 16 to 161 kilometres. Helmet use ranged from 59% in the shorter distance groups to one hundred percent in the longest distance group. This information can assist organizers of bicycling events by permitting estimation of helmet use rates for planned routes of varying distance.