Helmet use among university bicyclists

College-aged individuals are at risk for bicycle-related head injuries, but the risk of such injuries can be reduced by their use of bicycle helmets. The objective of this research was to measure the rate of bicycle helmet use by university bicyclists at a large public university in the southwestern United States at three different times. Bicyclists riding onto campus were observed as they rode through a main campus entrance in 1985, 1990, and 1994, and the percentage of bicyclists who were wearing a helmet was recorded. The bicyclists were unaware that their helmet use was being monitored. In 1985, 10% of bicyclists were wearing helmets; in 1990, only 4.4% wore helmets. In 1994, the proportion of helmet-wearing bicyclists had increased to 24%. Although the sample sizes were small, the 1994 increase was statistically significant. The reasons for the increase are unclear, and further study is needed to identify factors related to university bicyclists' use of bicycle helmets.