I'm sorry to say that Julia's days are numbered unless she adopts safer biking practices. Lane splitting, running reds, no helmet, passing on left, no lights, no reflectors, traveling in danger zone of opening car doors, not signaling. There's a way to bike in safely in Manhattan and this is not it.
Lights help where drivers are polite. Not sure about NY, but in Boston, "if cars can't see you, they can't aim for you" ;) Obeying traffic laws helps a lot. Reflectors help a tiny bit. Being doored sucks. But I know of no credible evidence that helmets do any good--the studies that "proved" that have been thoroughly discredited. Stop repeating urban myths.
dude, of COURSE helmets do good. I've come off my bike more than once and I've always been glad that the loud cracking and scraping noise I hear is only my helmet smashing into the tarmac, rather than my head. Well done to Julia for cycling; kudos for being brave enough to do it in Manhattan, but seriously, get a helmet and a hi-vis vest.
Keep riding, Julia! If more people did like us urban cyclists cities would be safer and cleaner places to live. I don't think she rides agressively but very consciuosly and wisely (she's quite experienced by now, isn't she?). And helmets must remain optional!
Extreme Commuter Julia Hecker of Manhattan rides mor...
Extreme Commuter Julia Hecker of Manhattan rides more than 200 blocks to and from her nursing job at Mt. Sinai Hospital. She takes the bike over the subway any time of day, and in any kind of weather. amNewYork's Justin Rocket Silverman reports.