HALF of cyclists admit to not wearing a helmet - with worries about getting ‘bad hair’ one of the top reasons

 

HALF of cyclists admit to not wearing a helmet - with worries about getting ‘bad hair’ one of the top reasons

 

12th March, London: Half of cyclists (47%) don’t always wear helmets when out on the road - often because they’re seen as ‘uncool’ - according to new research. In addition, many cyclists are not even aware that the Highway Code applies to them, and admit to regularly breaking rules. 

The research - conducted by Halfords amongst adults who regularly ride a bike - found the most common reason for avoiding the protective head gear is because many feel the vital piece of safety equipment is not needed for short distances (31%). Meanwhile  a fifth (20%) say it is too much hassle to carry one around when they’re not cycling.

But perhaps most surprisingly, nearly one in seven (13%) admit to not wearing one because they want to avoid getting bad hair - rising to almost a fifth (18%) of women. . 

Helmets aren’t the only safety measures getting left at home. Many cyclists admit they don't always use front (54%) and rear (55%) lighting - despite it being an offence to cycle without them after dark. A further 51% admit to not carrying a bike bell (51%), and more than four in ten (43%) say they do not wear reflective clothing. 

Yet more than a third of cyclists (35%) say they’ve experienced a cycling accident or near miss on the roads.

For many, this experience became a turning point - with nearly three quarters (73%) saying it made them take cycling safety much more seriously afterwards. 

Rules of the Road 

The research also suggests many riders could benefit from a quick refresher on the rules of the road. 

A quarter of cyclists in the study (26%) didn’t even know there was a section in the Highway Code for cyclists. This covers a variety of road laws to keep cyclists safe, including what equipment they are required to use and where they should cycle. 

One of the biggest areas of confusion include knowing where to cycle; With more than half (53%) believing you can cycle on pavements up until the age of 18 – despite the laws suggesting that no one should cycle on pavements, and a quarter (21%) admitting they regularly ride on footpaths. 

More than a quarter (28%) think you can’t cycle in bus lanes, but the code suggests cyclists can go in most of them. While 10% cycle through red lights often or all the time when taking to the road.

On the other hand, 39% don’t believe you must obey all traffic signs and traffic light signals and a similar amount think you can cycle on motorways (40%) - both of which are required by the Highway Code.

Meanwhile, one in six (15%) have ridden their bike while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, despite it being against the law – something 43% didn’t know was included in the Highway Code. 

Should cyclists take a test?

Many cyclists believe more formal guidance could help, with nearly three quarters (70%) saying you should take a cycling test before riding a bike on public roads. 

However, almost half (48%) of those polled admit they’ve never taken a cycling proficiency test or Bikeability training themselves. 

Pippa Wibberley, Cycling Director at Halfords said: “Cycling is one of the easiest ways to get around and stay active, but our research shows many riders are skipping safety measures, often for relatable reasons. While relatable, safety items like helmets, lights, and reflective clothing are there for a reason and can be the difference between a minor injury and something more severe. At Halfords, there is a wide variety of helmets and cycling accessories, meaning there are plenty of options to find something comfortable and to your taste. Also our colleagues are knowledgeable and on hand to help cyclists choose the right kit and make sure their bike is properly set up, so they can ride with confidence.”

 

-ENDS-

 

For further information please contact Halfords@vccproar.com or 0207 932 3693

 

Notes to Editors

Research carried out by OnePoll between 26th February - 5th March 2025, amongst 1,000 UK adults that cycle at least once a month.

 

About Halfords

Halfords is the UK's leading provider of motoring and cycling products and services. Customers shop at 404 Halfords stores, 3 Performance Cycling stores (trading as Tredz and Giant), 604 garages (trading as Halfords Autocentres, McConechy's and National) and have access to more than 200 mobile service vans. Customers can also shop at halfords.com and tredz.co.uk for pick up at their local store or direct home delivery, as well as booking garage services online at halfords.com.