7A

Enforcing the use of protective headgear while riding scooters/bicycles

• Opportunity: 
• If you have been on the University of Florida campus, then I guarantee you have seen a student riding to class on their scooter or bicycle. More times then not, you will also see them without a helmet or anything on to protect their heads. 
• The Who: Particularly UF students, but more generally anyone who rides a moped, motorcycle, skateboard or bicycle. 
• The What: “The Who” who do not wear helmets or any form of head protection while operating their vehicles. 
• The Why: Helmets are rather large and clunky, and do not fit the societal norms that define what is considered “cool” or socially acceptable. Helmets are also rather inconvenient on campus as they do not fit in a backpack and cannot be mobilized easily. So some avoid them all together. 

• Testing the who: As stated before I believe this a need for anyone who operates a motorcycle/moped/bicycle/skateboard but feels pressured by societal norms not to wear a helmet, because they are not fashionable or all that convenient. It can expanded to ages young and old, for instance toddlers on tricycles, or adults operating luxury toys like the “Polaris Slingshot,” a hybrid motorcycle that requires a helmet but resembles a car. 
• Testing the what: Some people do choose to wear helmets because they know they are necessary, but I am sure you could find people who if given the option to wear a more stylish alternative would switch over. It can be argued, however, that a more stylish and more convenient form of a helmet would also be dismissed. 
• Testing the why: The why is rather tricky, because it is rational to protect yourself and stay safe. Further, in 19 states it is an enforced law to wear a helmet while driving a motorcycle. However, the laws are less clear and not as strictly enforced when it comes to moped, skateboards and bicycles. For the most part, I believe people choose not to sport a helmet because it is inconvenient and not fashionable. I am eager to explore if some individuals have a different “why” reasoning. 

Interview #1 

• Bella, a Sophomore at the University of Florida, involved in greek life and a variety of other organizations on campus explained that having a scooter here is practically essential. She elaborates on how having a car is inconvenient to park due to such limited available parking spaces, and is less quick to operate. Bella mentions how during a regular day she needs to “zip” to class, or to a meeting and a scooter can simply get here there faster and more easily than a car could. However, when I asked if she regularly wears a helmet, she responded with “honestly I never do.” She goes on to say how it “just isn’t cute to have something so big on your head, and if your on campus everyone is bound to see you.” When I asked if an alternative were available where she could wear something less bulky but still protective she says she “totally would.” 

Interview #2 

• Ryan, a Senior at UF, who is applying to UF law school says his primary mode of transportation is either the bus system, walking, or riding his bike. He says he knows its not always the most efficient but it is what he can afford to do. He mentions how the hot summer / beginning of fall afternoons make him hate walking or biking, and the current bus system being inconvenient makes him wish he could have a car or motorcycle up here. When asked if he wears his helmet while biking he says “sometimes when I remember to be safe I do.” “I know its whats best for me because what if I fall off but I feel like its so much easier to fall off a motorcycle or scooter, that I’m not too worried about it.” When asked why he doesn’t wear it more if he knows it is safer he responds “its just annoying to lug around with me and I don’t want to just clip it on my bike during class because someone would easily steal it.” 

Interview #3 

• I interviewed my dad to ask about him about the times I was growing up learning how to ride a bike. When I asked why it was more common for me to wear a helmet then as opposed to older adults now he said “well I guess its partly due to the fact that you were young and parents particularly worry about their young children’s safety. And you weren’t actually going anywhere, you would ride up and down the block so there was no need for you to take off your helmet for any reason. I agree that as people grow older they place less emphasis on the need for a helmet because they do not fear a fall of a bike would affect them as much as it would a child. But thats no reason not to wear one, people believe they are indestructible until it turns out they really are not. Not protecting yourself no matter if its a bike or a moped would just be foolish.” 

Interview #4 

• Julia, a Junior at UF who recently transferred from Babson University in Boston, responded that she too has already purchased a scooter since arriving here. When I asked her why she got one and about her helmet safety she responded: “a lot of people have them and it seemed like the best way to get around.” “I didn’t even buy a helmet because I didn’t really think I needed one, a scooter cant go as fast as a motorcycle and no one on campus who scoots wears a helmet so I wasn’t planning on it either.” When I asked if she is worried she may ever injure herself without protection she claimed “yeah of course thats always in the back of my head when I’m scooting, and there are tons of people who have gotten injured I just have to ride cautiously.” 

Interview #5 

• Nico, a Sophomore at Santa Fe Community College is always seen riding his skate board to and from his friends houses or food joints. I asked how he gets around Gainseville and he stated “I take my car to fe (referring to Santa Fe) because its too far to ride to, but anything close to my house I just ride my skateboard to.” When asked if he regularly wears a helmet he says “almost never.” I proceeded to ask him why he does not and he said “it would just look weird if I wore my helmet everywhere. Like its so big and unflattering and no one really wears it unless they’re at the skate park and trying new tricks.” I then asked if he would ever wear protective gear if it look more flattering, and he responded “I don’t know, it would have to be something everyone else would hop on to, like I wear hats when I ride, a hat isn’t uncool to wear around and everyone wears those especially since its hot.” 

Given your interviews, what do you know about the opportunity that you didn't know before? 

• Although I knew that helmets were unstylish, I did not know that students were choosing not to wear them because it had become the norm. Multiple times when I asked my subjects why they didn’t choose to protect themselves they responded along the lines of “no one else wears a helmet, so I don’t either.” It also struck me during my phone interview with my dad that children are more likely to wear a helmet because they are told to do so, do not have to carry it around with them afterwards or worry about it being taken, and do not care what others think of them.