so in 2014 approximately 44 million people older than 6 had ridden a bike with the last 12 months we had a population in the usa of 317 million
in 2014 726 cyclists were killed by cars with 50,000 injuries

so 0.1% of the biking population where involved in a accident resulting in an injury. .0016% where killed....

you more likeley to get killed or injured as a pedestrian.

the kid broke the house rules...so you need to address that...

but here is a list of things that you are more likely to die from than riding a bike in order from most deaths to least don't ever leave the house its a dangerous world...

Intentional self-harm
Other and unspecified land transport accidents
Assault
Intentional self-harm by firearm
Other and unspecified person
Car occupant
Falls
Accidental poisoning by and exposure to noxious substances
Assault by firearm
Accidental exposure to other and unspecified factors and sequelae
Other and unspecified fall
Narcotics and psychodysleptics [hallucinogens] n.e.c.
Pedestrian
Intentional self-harm by hanging, strangulation, and suffocation
Other accidental threats to breathing
Intentional self-poisoning
Other and unspecified drugs medicaments and biologicals
Other and unspecified means and sequelae
Event of undetermined intent
Accidental drowning and submersion
Exposure to smoke, fire and flames
Occupant of pick-up truck or van
Inhalation and ingestion of other objects causing obstruction of respiratory tract
Complications of medical and surgical care and sequelae
Uncontrolled fire in building or structure
Exposure to inanimate mechanical forces
Motorcycle rider
Poisoning
Other and unspecified means and sequelae
Other fall on same level
Assault by sharp object
Other and unspecified drowning and submersion
Fall on and from stairs and steps
Exposure to forces of nature
Drowning and submersion while in or falling into natural water
Struck by or striking against object
Air and space transport accidents
Firearms discharge
Inhalation and ingestion of food causing obstruction of respiratory tract
Exposure to excessive natural cold

I would. People overestimate how helpful helmets are.

Anonymous wrote:A lot of people here are really bad at risk assessment and/or math. A really small risk (head injury while riding a bicycle) doubled (by not wearing a helmet) is still really small. Plus, as some have mentioned, most of us grew up never wearing helmets. Head injuries are bad, of course, but this particular case (riding without a helmet once) is pretty low on the list of risks that are worth worrying about.

It may be a small risk, but it's potentially catastrophic consequences. That changes the equation.

For me, I'd say no, and the result of not getting to go to his friend's house after school would mean he'd be more likely not to forget next time. (A helmet doesn't seem like an easy thing to forget before you leave the house -- if you always wear a helmet, wouldn't you notice right away when you get on the bike that it feels different, wind on your hair, etc.? If he forgot to take it but realized shortly after getting on his bike, he could have turned right around and gone back for it.)

Anonymous wrote:I dont get it. The option is bike home without helmet or bike to friends house without helmet?

Agreed, how is he supposed to get home?
Or are we saying walk the bike home?

I dont get it. The option is bike home without helmet or bike to friends house without helmet?

Fortunately, you can pick and choose the random circumstances that will result in falling awkwardly on your head.

Just make sure that the trip without the helmet isn't one of those times.

No, because he broke your house rule. If you make an exception, he's going to expect exceptions in the future. If you want to avoid this situation again in the future, you enforce the rule the first time, and every time.

Anonymous wrote:In our house the consequence of biking without a safety helmet, which everyone in the family must wear, and breaking the law is a locked-up bike - not another helmetless ride. And if DH found out about the "forgotten" helmet the bike would be locked up for even longer.

Dude, the kid is 14. He called and said he made a mistake. Land the helicopter with your "house consequences." Do you have 3yr olds or are you just this anal of a human being to your teen kids?

No. Because he shouldn't have left the house without it in the first place, and I wouldn't enable/reward that with another ride unless I absolutely had to. Alternatively, if for logistical reasons I had to, I'd fine my kid.

Anonymous wrote:Y'all are lunchin'. Only nerds wear helmets.

LOL 90s

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, one story for those who don't believe in helmets. A girlfriend and I were biking 20 years ago and we were kind of idling, so maybe going 5mph. A group of cyclists came blazing out of nowhere and my friend fell. Her helmet CRACKED. Again, we there was no speed and no collision. We were in our 20s and training for a massive bike ride (so it wasn't like she was a novice). That helmet saved her.

The OP isn't talking about junking the helmet forever. She's asking about a one-time exception. It's pretty clear no one is saying they don't believe in helmets.

You obviously haven't read this thread. Plenty of people saying what's the big deal and one poster after who said, incredulously, that it was nerdy. Nerdy it may be, but after that we say that anyone who rides a bike without a helmet has a brain not worth protecting.

No because it teaches him that he doesn't always need a helmet. So it practically guarantees that he will end up not wearing it in the future.

No

Why don't you helicopter people insist that your kids wear helmets in the house? There are far more accidental falls resulting in deaths that happen in the house than there are in the street.

Anonymous wrote:Not a chance. Not even to the mailbox and back.

No helmet, no biking, skiing, hockey, skateboarding, sledding.

I agree with not letting him bike all the way home, but this is a little too cuckoo for cocoa puffs!
You won't let your kid bike to your mailbox & back??
That's not even worrying about cars hitting him, that's called not having faith in your kids biking skills.