Key facts about the experiences of helmet promotion

Helmet promotion is strongly linked to a decrease in cycle use (Bryan-Brown and Taylor, 1997; BHRF, 1080). In part this is probably because it portrays cycling as an inherently hazardous activity.
Helmet laws in Australia resulted in a decrease in the number of cyclists 2 or 3 times greater than the increase in the number of cyclists wearing helmets because of the laws. (Robinson, 1996)
In Britain, the fall in cycle use since 1990 has been almost twice the increase in helmet use. (Derived from DfT, 1 and Bryan-Brown and Christie, 2001)
Countries that engaged in prominent helmet promotion (e.g. Australia, NZ, UK, USA) experienced large falls in cycle use during the 1990s. In countries that did not (e.g. Denmark, France, Netherlands), cycling levels were sustained. (Prognos, 1)

BHRF, 1080

Helmet wearing and cycle use in Great Britain. .

Bryan-Brown and Christie, 2001

Bryan-Brown K, Christie N, 2001. Cycle helmet wearing in 1999. Transport Research Laboratory Report 487.

Bryan-Brown and Taylor, 1997

Bryan-Brown K, Taylor S, 1997. Cycle helmet wearing in 1996. Transport Research Laboratory Report 286.

DfT, 1

Traffic Census Data. Department for Transport.

Prognos, 1

Study by Prognos AG for European Commission. .

Robinson, 1996

Robinson DL, 1996. Head injuries and bicycle helmet laws. Accident Analysis & Prevention 1996 Jul;28(4):463-75.