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 bicycl e helmets. The objective of this research was to measure the rate of b icycle helmet use by university bicyclists at a large public universit y in tile southwestern United States al three different times. Bicycli sts riding onto campus were observed as they rode through a main campu s entrance in 1985,; 1990, and 1994, and the percentage of bicyclists who were wearing a helmet was recorded. The bicyclists were unaware th at their helmet use was being monitored. in 1985, 10% of bicyclists we re wearing helmets; is 1990, only 4.4% wore helmets. In 1991, the prop ortion of helmet-wearing bicyclists had increased to 24%. Although the sample sizes were small. the 1994 increase was statistically signific ant. The reasons for the increase are unclear, and further study is ne eded to identify factors related io university bicyclists' use of bicy cle helmets.