Use your head, wear a helmet

The Taipei Times today reports that 185 people die in bicycle accidents in Taiwan every year. It also says the main cause of death is, "head injuries resulting from not wearing helmets."

The article also says that "approximately 3,700 people are injured every year while riding a bicycle." The real number is probably much higher as this figure is likely to be based on the number of hospital admissions or accidents reported to the police.

More bicycle lanes would help increase safety for cyclists, but engineering is only part of the solution. A compulsory helmet law would also be a good idea, or at least a campaign to encourage cyclists to wear helmets. I've said before that the best way to improve road safety is a combination of public education and law enforcement. How many more people have to die or suffer injuries before the government begins to take this problem seriously?