A Gentle Scolding from your Friendly Neighborhood Bostonist

No one likes bike-related head injuries less than Bostonist. Last fall we had an unfortunate run-in with the unused trolley tracks on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain. Riding at a too-shallow angle to the tracks, our front tire jammed in the groove and we were rudely and rapidly sent over the handlebars and onto our head. Banged up but generally intact, we were helped to our feet by kindly passersby, and, after a brief self-inspection, got back on our bicycle and continued on our way. Almost immediately, however, it became clear that we did not know our destination, our current location, our place of employment, or for that matter, anything else.

We sat down on a park bench across from the Harvest Co-op and puzzled over our predicament. It was as if Bostonist had been suddenly awakened from a dream and were deposited onto a bicycle riding down the street of some anonymous town. We had become “Nowhereist.” Soon enough, the mundane details of our life began to trickle back, and though we had to actively retrieve and re-process every piece of information (What kind of name is Jamaica Plain? What happened to Denise’s Ice Cream?), within 20 minutes we were basically back to normal. We had experienced brief but absolute amnesia, most likely due to a mild concussion.

Our helmet did not survive. The front right quarter was crushed and crumpled, a disturbing illustration of what would have happened to our skull sans protection. Later, some research into the subject showed us that between two-thirds and three-quarters of bicycle deaths are from head injuries. In all likelihood, Bostonist is still riding today because of the helmet that gave its life for ours.

As such, we continue to be baffled by the number of bicyclists, presumably of sound mind, who ride around without helmets. Is it a coolness thing? Bostonist definitely wants to be cool. But, then, how could we enjoy all the friends and influence of raging coolness with a massive head injury? We’re keeping our new helmet, and we’re rocking it. (Bostonist doesn't mean to get all preachy, but damn! You should wear a helmet when you ride your bike.)

Post contributed by Vance Edwards-Orr, shown above looking cool with his new helmet on.